Current News

by Dean Whitlock Governor Shumlin has been parroting the Marijuana Policy Project's emotionally charged polemics about prohibition, about being first, doing it right, having the courage. Let's take a closer, calmer look. Prohibition of alcohol failed politically because we cut off the country cold turkey, relied on jails, and failed to treat the national addiction. It did not fail from a public health standpoint: the illnesses, the family violence, the alcoholism rates all plummeted. Now what about marijuana?

Vermont Business Magazine Cancer is the leading cause of death in Vermont. Vermont has a higher cancer rate than the US average, with  higher rates of melanoma, lung, bladder, and uterine cancers. However, Vermont generally has lower rates of prostate, colorectal, cervical, and stomach cancers. Since 2005, the Department of Health — together with Vermont’s statewide cancer coalition, Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer (VTAAC) — has published a five-year strategic plan to reduce the impact of cancer on individuals, families, and communities in Vermont. "The 2016-2020 Vermont Cancer Plan: A Framework for Action" is a guide for cancer control and prevention practices across the state and represents the collective efforts of cancer stakeholders throughout Vermont.

by Carolyn Shapiro Are we genetically doomed when the double helix we all identify with DNA breaks? No, say a team of researchers led by University of Vermont (UVM) immunologists, who discovered a novel mechanism that provides life support to cells while DNA double-strand break repairs are in progress. The study, authored by Mercedes Rincon, PhD, UVM professor of medicine, and Tina Thornton, PhD, UVM research associate in medicine, was published recently in Nature Communications.

by John McClaughry The House of Representatives has completed its work on the FY2017 General Fund appropriations bill, plus the annual tax increases.  All in all, it’s not pretty. First, the (limited) good news. The House bill keeps three ironclad commitments: interest on state debt, the Act 60 annual transfer to the Education Fund, and required contributions to the two state-managed retirement funds. Those two funds, however, are $3.8 billion out of actuarial balance.

A year ago, in the spending bill, the legislators announced a “multiyear process to align State spending and bring revenues and spending into long-term balance.” This year they stayed on that course. The budget is balanced.  But that “balance” was achieved by jacking up revenues – taxes and fees – to fill the hole caused by the legislature’s inability to cut spending.

Vermont Business Magazine Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN) have introduced legislation to improve care coordination for Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions. The Better Care, Lower Cost Act would establish voluntary programs aimed at reducing expensive hospital readmissions and providing better health outcomes for patients. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 68% of Medicare enrollees suffer from multiple chronic conditions and account for 93% of health care costs.

Vermont Business Magazine Effective April 1, Green Mountain Orthopaedic Surgery (GMOS) will join University of Vermont Health Network - CVMC Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. The integration will combine GMOS Orthopedic Surgeons Dr. Christian Bean and Dr. Christopher Meriam with CVMC Orthopedic Surgeons Dr. Mahlon Bradley and Dr. Sara Graves into one practice. “The integration will give all general orthopedic patients the benefits of being part of a larger group, not only in terms of improved clinical and surgical access, but also through shared electronic medical records and consistent financial assistance,” said David Turner, CVMC Vice President of Physician Services. “It will also allow for a single point of entry through one shared phone line.”

Vermont Business Magazine The SVHC Foundation is pleased to announce sponsors for the Dine to Your Heart’s Delight “Shop Local” Week April 1 – 8. The ‘Shop Local” Week is a part of a series of Dine to Your Heart’s Delight events, including an upscale dance party at the Taconic Hotel in Manchester on April 9, and $10,000 cash raffle. The proceeds of all three events will support heart health programs and education at SVHC.

Sponsoring businesses include:

GOLD:            Elm Street Market, Bennington
                        The Four Chimneys Inn, Bennington
                        Pangea Restaurant, North Bennington
                        Taconic Hotel, Manchester
                        Time for Yourself Massage and Personal Training, Bennington

SILVER:         Anytime Fitness, Bennington

Curves Fitness, Bennington
            Madison Brewing Co., Bennington

Man of Kent, Hoosick Falls

Vermont Business Magazine Eight public media stations in New England, including Vermont Public Radio, have received a $625,538 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to establish a regional news collaboration. The New England News Collaborative (NENC) will produce multimedia coverage focusing on the region's energy usage, climate, transportation infrastructure, and its people and immigration issues. This robust partnership will produce dynamic reporting projects for on-air broadcast, digital and web presentations, and a series of public Town Hall-style meetings centered on issues facing New England and its residents.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power crews are ready to respond to a windstorm that is forecasted to hit Vermont late this evening through tomorrow afternoon.  The storm has the potential to blow down trees and branches onto power lines, causing outages. Green Mountain Power has already lined up additional lineworkers to assist GMP crews in any power restoration work required. Crews will be available in all parts of the state to begin to restore outages as they occur.

“Our top priority is restoring power as quickly and safely as possible,” said Dotty Schnure, GMP spokesperson. “We are prepared to respond to outages and have crews placed around the state.”

The forecast is calling for wind up to 55 mph, mixing with rain and snow. The storm is expected to hit late Monday evening, and continue through 3 pm Tuesday.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont, with 16,400 workers, is among the leaders in adding construction jobs over the last year, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. New England overall had a good year, with Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire ranking second, third and fourth respectively. Forty-three states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between February 2015 and February 2016, while construction employment increased in 27 states between January and February, according to analysis of Labor Department data. Association officials said the pullback in energy prices and farm income appeared to be dampening demand for construction in some states while firms in other states continue to expand.

by Mike Smith According to the poll, 57 percent have an unfavorable view of Trump, and 52 percent view Clinton unfavorably. These are disapproval ratings no candidate should feel good about. Yet both seem to be on their way to winning their respective parties’ nomination.

Donald Trump has experienced success in the Republican primaries by connecting with a group of voters that feels disenfranchised and who have a strong emotional reaction to Trump’s style and willingness to challenge the political elites. They are mostly white middle class Americans who feel the Democratic and Republican parties have abandoned them for other constituencies.

by Representative Sarah Copeland Hanzas (D-Bradford) The Vermont House has a proven track record of fighting for Vermont’s working and middle class families. These families are the backbone of the state and deserve a fair shot at success. Every March, the House passes a budget for the state that affirms our commitment to the safety, health, and success of every Vermonter. During this tough economic time we stand by this commitment and concentrate on the promises we’ve made and by funding our core priorities, rather than on starting new programs.