Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s annual, statewide Summer Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 14 this year, and it will be highlighted by a free family fishing festival in Grand Isle as well as opening day of the state’s regular bass fishing season. Free Fishing Day in Vermont also will be celebrated at the “Grand Isle Family Fishing Festival,” to be held at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station at 14 Bell Hill Road in Grand Isle.  The festival will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery (VAMHAR) has announced the reimagining of its statewide learning management system. Formerly known as Recovery University, the platform will now be called the Collective Learning Institute of Vermont (CLI-VT) — a shift that reflects VAMHAR’s deepening commitment to and leadership in fostering collaboration, equity, and innovation in mental health and addiction recovery education.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) announced Tuesday that Rob Katz, current Executive Chairperson and former Chief Executive Officer, has been appointed CEO of the company. Katz, 58, succeeds Kirsten Lynch, who has stepped down as CEO and as a director of the Board. Lynch will remain in an advisory role to the company for an interim period to facilitate a smooth transition. Vail owns three resorts in Vermont: Mount Snow, Okemo and Stowe Mountain Resort. The news that Lynch was removed and former CEO Katz brought back sent Vail shares higher Wednesday nearly 9% to about $165, even as the broader markets waivered. Still Vail is down year-to-year (52-week range, 129.85 - 199.45). When Lynch took over in 2022, shares had been trading near $350.

by Lucia McCallum, Community News Service Vermont is an idyllic place to grow up. I was born and raised in Cabot. And as a kid there, I thrived in our small, tight-knit community. Now, I’m living in Burlington. I just graduated from the University of Vermont. And as much as I love this state, I wonder if it makes sense for me to stay. As a 21-year-old with an English degree, I worry about finding a job, affording a place to live, and building a strong community of people my age here. Moving to a larger state with bigger cities might make all that a little easier. I know it's a privilege to get to choose where I want to begin the next chapter of my life. But still, I’m struggling with this decision. And I’m not alone.

by Yoram Samets, Co-Founder & Rachel Feldman, Community Organizer, Shalom Alliance In moments of crisis, history judges leaders not by their rhetoric, but by their response. Today, Vermont lawmakers are facing a defining moment—a moral crossroads where their decisions will profoundly impact the safety and well-being of Jewish people in Vermont. As the war in Israel and Gaza continues and antisemitic violence surges worldwide under the guise of “Free, Free Palestine,” Jewish communities worldwide, including Vermont, are seeking safety and solidarity. Vermont has the opportunity, and indeed the responsibility, to act, because it is not a matter of if this behavior escalates into violence in Vermont. It’s a matter of when.

VermontBiz U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) traveled to Ottawa, Canada late last week to meet with Canadian dignitaries, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Minister of National Defense David McGuinty, Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly, the Business Council of Canada, and other leading Canadian companies and business groups. The Senators underscored bipartisan support for a U.S.-Canada partnership and reiterated their commitment to a strong trading relationship between the United States and Canada.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak issued a statement regarding harmful and divisive actions by multiple parties following the May 19 City Council meeting and the adoption of Resolution 8.1 related to Support of Local Businesses and a Vibrant, Welcoming, Safe Downtown, which she has not yet signed. On Thursday, May 29, the Mayor’s Office is hosting our fifth Public Forum on Community Safety – we will have a panel discussion on homelessness and mental health, and we will discuss concerns related to the downtown.

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, which had increased at the Montpelier facility recently, also fell after they had spiked in January. The Vermont pandemic death total stands at 1,292 as of May 17, 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. The VDH is no longer reporting COVID fatalities and cases in Vermont. 

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS As we head into the last week of May, I’ve heard a lot of “I’ve never seen anything like this before” both in and outside of the health care space, including: 340B Protections and Prescription Drug Price Cap: The House passed an amended version of H.266 that includes a price cap on prescription drugs administered in an outpatient setting in addition to 340B protections. And, S.126, the health care reform bill that includes reference-based pricing and a 2.5% reduction in operating costs for hospitals, is going to conference committee. The main difference between the bills is the prioritization of global hospital budgets.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Natural Resources Council has announced the latest grant recipients for the Small Grants for Smart Growth program. Grantee selections are made by VNRC and a grant selection committee on a rolling basis. The Committee chose the Bridport Housing Task Force, the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region, and the South Burlington Energy Committee to be awarded a combined $6,750 in the most recent round of funding.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation announces the installation of 15 new Roadside Historic Sites Markers for 2025. These iconic green and gold markers allow places and people to come alive, sharing glimpses into the history of our Brave Little State. To date, there are 335 markers placed throughout Vermont.  

VermontBiz Average gasoline prices in Burlington are unchanged in the last week, averaging $3.15/g today, according to GasBuddy's survey of 100 stations in Burlington. Prices in Burlington are 1 cent per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 45.9 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 3.2 cents in the last week and stands at $3.476 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Burlington was priced at $3.01/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.19/g, a difference of 18.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.80/g while the highest was $3.19/g, a difference of 39.0 cents per gallon.