Current News

Vermont League Of Cities & Towns Unable to find consensus on education transformation, the legislature has entered a ‘token session’ and will not reconvene again until the veto session, which is already scheduled to begin on June 16. Before gaveling out late Friday night, both chambers passed the most significant investment in municipal infrastructure in state history. In this Weekly Legislative Report, we will recap the final, dramatic hours of the regular session and break down the historic housing bill S.127. The final day of the regular session got off to a sluggish start, came to a boiling point, and ended with a fizzle.  

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remain low and falling statewide, after a spike during the winter. Wastewater testing indicates that virus levels also fell after they had spiked in January, with the exception of the Montpelier site, which showed an increase last week. The Vermont pandemic death total stands at 1,293 as of May 24, 2025, with 1 reported death from the previous week (the most recent data available from the CDC). WHO also reported that COVID-19 deaths keep declining. There has been a total of 1,228,393 COVID-related deaths to date in the US (CDC) and 7,096,187 globally (WHO), with only 190 reported in the last week.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) joined Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) for a roundtable highlighting the harmful consequences of Republicans’ reconciliation bill for patients in Vermont. The Republican budget would prohibit Planned Parenthood’s participation in Medicaid, end the Affordable Care Act’s Premium Tax Credits, and take away healthcare from children, seniors, Americans with disabilities, veterans, and rural Americans. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office determined that “defunding” Planned Parenthood would cost $300 million, increase the deficit and rip away health care coverage for more than 25 million Americans.

Vermont Business Magazine The 2025 Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics Vermont will take place June 3–6, bringing together members of the law enforcement and first responder communities from across the state to raise awareness and support for Special Olympics Vermont athletes. Officers and supporters will carry the Flame of Hope through towns and communities as it makes its way to Opening Ceremonies at Saint Michael’s College, where they will light the cauldron and mark the beginning of our 2025 Special Olympics Vermont Summer Games! 

by James Rea, UVM On June 17, hundreds of innovators and leaders from all sectors and all corners of the region will come to the University of Vermont’s annual RISE Summit to explore the theme “Research as a Public Good.” RISE stands for Research, Innovation, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship, all of which will be on display as participants discuss the ways in which university-community partnerships can be harnessed to advance the well-being of our communities.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, joined a forum hosted by the Energy Action Network (EAN) and the EAN Climate Workforce Coalition on how Congressional policy and budget decisions may impact Vermont’s energy transformation and climate action initiatives, including Vermont’s climate workforce. Republicans’ reconciliation bill will repeal clean energy programs established through the historic Inflation Reduction Act and raise energy costs for American households and businesses. It will eliminate jobs in manufacturing, clean technologies, and budding industries, and has already sown economic uncertainty throughout the energy sector.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Cody Laduc, 22, of Orwell, Vermont, was arraigned on one felony count of felony Lewd or Lascivious Conduct with a Child and one felony count of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct. The charges brought against Laduc were the result of criminal investigations conducted by the Vermont State Police. Laduc pleaded not guilty at the arraignment today in Vermont Superior Court, Addison Criminal Division. The Court, Judge Robert Katims presiding, ordered conditions of release that limit his access to minor females under the age of 16.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Daniel Ciofreddi, 39, of Middlebury, Vermont, was arraigned on one felony count of Promoting Child Sexual Abuse Material, one felony count of Luring a Child, and one misdemeanor count of Dispensing Cannabis to a person under the age of 21. The charges brought against Ciofreddi are the result of an investigation conducted by the Vermont State Police in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security. Ciofreddi pleaded not guilty at the arraignment today in Vermont Superior Court, Addison Criminal Division. The Court, Judge Robert Katims presiding, ordered conditions of release that limit his access to social media and minor females under the age of 16. 

Vermont Agency of Transportation On June 2, 2025, at approximately 5:20 p.m., inspectors from the Motor Vehicle Enforcement and Safety Division responded to a single-vehicle crash involving a commercial motor vehicle. Upon arrival it was found that the commercial vehicle was traveling northbound on I-89 North in Bolton in the area of MM 70 when the commercial vehicle left the roadway and crossed the median into the southbound lane. The commercial vehicle traveled a short distance north in the southbound lane and then crossed over the median again, overturned, and ultimately came to rest across both northbound lanes of travel.    

Vermont Business Magazine When Nikki Juvan’s husband, Trent Campbell, suffered his first diagnosed stroke in 2018, the family assumed it would also be his last. Campbell, an award-winning photojournalist, and Juvan, a kindergarten teacher, also knew their lives were about to change. Campbell spent a month in inpatient care at University of Vermont Medical Center and inpatient rehabilitation at Fanny Allen. He returned home with physical limitations – like needing a walker to get around – but also information and a plan. After his care team discovered evidence Campbell had suffered a stroke prior to 2018 – the result of uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and other factors – Campbell focused on changing his habits to reduce his risk of another stroke.

Vermont Business Magazine Summer is here, and with it, the promise of long days, warm weather, and ample sunshine. Embracing all that summer has to offer without increasing your risk of skin cancer is crucial. University of Vermont Cancer Center is reminding people to practice sun safety – that is, protecting yourself from the harmful rays of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which cause sunburns, skin cancer and premature aging. Sun safety is easy and essential in the summer — especially in Vermont, where skin cancer rates are among the highest in the U.S.

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center's Nursing Excellence Team recently presented the Carol P. Welsh, RN, Nursing Education Scholarship to Andrea Borchlewicz, MSN, RNC-MNN, CLC, RNCOP; Benjamin Mahoney, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, CARN-AP; and Elizabeth Oshinaike, BSN, RN. Each recipient was presented with their respective award during a surprise visit and presentation by Kelly Watson, Chief Nursing Officer, and Carole “Gert” Mayes, Manager of Nursing Excellence for Rutland Regional, along with other hospital leaders.