Current News

Vermont Business Magazine For the second time this year, a case of West Nile virus disease in a Windsor County resident has been reported to the Vermont Department of Health. The individual was hospitalized in mid-July and was diagnosed with neuroinvasive West Nile virus disease, which is a more serious form of the illness that affects the nervous system. West Nile virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitos that carry West Nile virus can be found throughout the state. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets began conducting mosquito surveillance throughout the state in June. So far this season no mosquito pools have tested positive for West Nile virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

by Harry Chen, MD, Vermont Commissioner of Health I hope to answer some lingering questions about public health and refugees. Let’s start with the conclusion first: there is no significant public health risk associated with 100 Syrian refugees coming to Rutland. In clearing these individuals for entry into the US, extensive efforts are made to ensure good health. An approved physician conducts a medical screening, which includes a physical examination and a chest X-ray. People who have an abnormal chest X-ray, or who are suspected of having TB based on their physical exam, are tested for TB. In addition, children in countries with a high incidence of TB are tested for TB. Anyone who is identified with TB is treated for at least six months and cannot enter the U.S. until they are cured.

by John McClaughry For decades – indeed, centuries – American politics has been a rough game. The Adams-Jefferson contest of 1800 was notably ugly, when the Federalists and their media constantly attacked Jefferson for being a pro-French revolutionary, a religious heretic, and the secret lover of “Dusky Sally." Abraham Lincoln was mocked as a “baboon.” In 1884 a prominent minister backing Republican James G Blaine (“the continental liar from the State of Maine”) attacked the Democrats as the party of “Rum, Romanism and Rebellion”. (That backfired; Cleveland won.)

In 1971 Richard Nixon’s notorious “enemies list” came to light. As Nixon’s counsel later testified,  “This memorandum addresses the matter of how we can maximize the fact of our incumbency in dealing with persons known to be active in their opposition to our Administration; stated a bit more bluntly—how we can use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) will hold the following public meetings in August.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power today announced it filed a new rate plan that calls for a modest 0.93 percent increase in electric bills. The filing, which is subject to Public Service Board approval, will take effect on October 1, 2016, and follows two consecutive years where customers have seen bills decrease. The proposal is part of the company’s overall commitment to keep rates low and stable for customers and if approved, customers will be paying 1 percent less next year than they were paying in 2012. 

“Our commitment is to provide the most reliable, clean and cost-effective power we can and this proposal is part of that commitment to maintaining low rates for customers, even as cost pressures continue to push rates up elsewhere,” said Mary Powell, president and CEO of Green Mountain Power.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Cheese Council (VCC), an organization dedicated to the production and advancement of Vermont Cheese, announced that Vermont cheesemakers took home 34 ribbons from 13 cheesemakers and companies at the 33^rd annual American Cheese Society competition in Des Moines, Iowa last evening. In addition, a cheese named “Greensward” made at Jasper Hill Farm and aged in the caves of Murray’s Cheese Shop in New York City won third place in the prestigious Best in Show Category. This is the fourth consecutive year that a Vermont cheesemaker has placed in Best of Show Category. There were 15 cheeses from Vermont that won first place in their class, nine in second place and 10 in third place.

Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of State Jim Condos reminds all Vermonters to register to vote for the August 9th Primary by this Wednesday, August 3rd at 5 pm. Voters can register by mail, in their town clerk’s office, or online at https://olvr.sec.state.vt.us/ Registered voters are welcome to vote anytime in the next two weeks by requesting an early or absentee ballot. Early voting is a wonderful program for busy Vermonters who may not be able to make it to the polls on August 9^th. Simply go to your town clerk’s office to vote early, call your town clerk to request a ballot, or request a ballot online at https://www.mvp.sec.state.vt.us/

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance has been formed to increase the voice of dairy farming in both the Regulatory and Legislative arenas. Membership is growing and attracting dairy farmers from working farms of all sizes. The Alliance will work together with members, industry partners and state government to adopt regulations that won’t cripple the economic viability of the Vermont dairy industry.

The Alliance serves to promote both the growth and vitality of agriculture here in Vermont while being mindful of its environmental impacts to Vermont's working landscape and waterways.  It is important to recognize that within Vermont agriculture, dairy farming alone contributes $2.2 billion in economic activity each year.

by Mike Smith Bernie Sanders was right all along. The Democratic presidential nominating system is rigged. Leaked emails prove the Democratic National Committee headed by their recently ousted chairwoman, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, was putting both feet on the scale to give Hillary Clinton the edge during close Democratic primaries. Of course, the DNC is supposed to be neutral in the Democratic presidential primary process.

Sanders' supporters have every right to be angry with Democratic leaders and are now reluctant to back Clinton because they suspect her campaign was in on the dirty tricks. Many believe the election results would have been different without party interference. While we'll never really know the full extent of the DNC's bias, some Sanders supporters will always believe the election was stolen.

by Lindsay Quella, Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program In early 2014, Chris and Annie Wagner, owners and operators of Green Dream Farm in Enosburg Falls, faced a challenge with which many farmers are familiar. They wanted to make several small upgrades that would greatly impact their farm, but at the time they were not in a financial position to do so. Worn stalls needed replacing; they wanted to add misters and new mattresses for the cows; and after building a manure composter, they needed a structure to house the compost bedding. At the same time, “we were purchasing the neighboring farm to better manage our heifers,” said Annie. In July 2014, they applied for a $32,250 Dairy Improvement Grant through the Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program, a program of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board. They were awarded the grant, which the Wagners matched nearly two to one. 

Vermont Business Magazine The campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Lisman today announced that five prominent Chittenden County leaders have endorsed Bruce Lisman for Governor.

Vermont Business Magazine In a 3-2 vote Thursday night, the Hinesburg Selectboard signed off on an agreement to allow Vermont Gas to continue its pipeline project through the Town of Hinesburg. Vermont Gas now has secured agreements with all landowners along its 41-mile route connecting Chittenden County with Addison County and Middlebury. The Hinesburg deal still needs regulatory approval by the Public Service Board. The agreement includes a permanent and a temporary easement through Geprags Park, for which the town will receive $250,000. The town will receive another $1,000 for plantings and as part of the Warbler Protection Plan and Audubon itself will also receive $1,000 for the Warbler Protection Plan. Vermont Gas has agreed to employ only horizontal directional drilling (versus the typical open trench digging) for the Geprags Park section. The horizontal drilling is less intrusive but also more expensive.