Current News
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Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has received the highest grade in the nation in a report on school asthma and allergy health care. With schools across the United States soon to be, back in session, it's never too late – or too early – to ensure that students and faculty with asthma, food allergies and other allergic conditions remain safe. Today, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) unveiled its 2015 report, the State Honor Roll of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools. Fourteen states made-the-grade this year, with Connecticut tying Vermont for the top spot (21 points, Georgia was last with 7).
SEE VERMONT REPORT BELOW
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The 19th Annual Rabies Bait Drop will take place (weather permitting) Aug. 11- 20 across nine Vermont counties, including all of Chittenden County, to help stop the spread of the potentially fatal viral disease.
Nine of the 11 animals that have tested positive for rabies so far in 2015 have been in Chittenden County, including five in Burlington.
“Police Departments in Chittenden County do a really good job of responding to reports of animals acting strangely and making sure the animal is trapped and tested,” said Robert Johnson, DVM, state public health veterinarian.
Baits will be dropped into rural parts of Vermont, primarily across the northern region along the Canadian border, from low-flying planes for five days. More than 450,000 baits will be dropped from Beechcraft twin-engine airplanes at an altitude of 500 feet along planned flight lines at a rate of about 91 baits per linear mile.
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Vermont Business Magazine Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'AA' rating to the following Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) bonds. The bonds are general obligations of the agency and are secured by single-family mortgages, portions of multi-family loans, mortgage-backed securities (MBS), and certain cash and investments held under the resolution. The multiple purpose bond program rating does not rely on the general obligation pledge to maintain the 'AA' rating currently assigned to the bonds.
--$10.63 million VHFA multiple purpose bonds 2015 series F;
--$15.365 million VHFA multiple purpose bonds 2015 series G.
Additionally, Fitch has affirmed the ratings on approximately $209 million in parity debt (see full list at the end of this release).
The Rating Outlook on all bonds is Stable.
SECURITY
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Vermont Business Magazine Vermont is one of the three top states in its legislative activity to reduce the incidence of cancer. Legislation that includes smoke-free public areas and laws against tanning booths are two of the methods states can employ to reduce the chance its citizens get cancer. But all states, including Vermont, could do more, according to a recently released national report. Indeed, a majority of states are not measuring up on legislative solutions that prevent and fight cancer, according to a report released by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality” rates states on the strength of proven policies that help to prevent a disease that kills more than 1,600 people a day nationwide and will cost the country an estimated $216 billion in health care costs this year alone.
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Vermont Business Magazine The Red Sox Foundation has announced that Sox fans from across Vermont have voted for the Brattleboro Retreat as the state’s favorite nonprofit and qualified the hospital to receive the Foundation’s IMPACT Award. The award will be presented during an on-field ceremony on Sunday, August 16th, which is Vermont Day at Fenway Park.
As Vermont’s top vote getter, the Brattleboro Retreat will receive a $10,000 charitable contribution. In addition, a Retreat representative will be invited to promote the work of hospital from the NESN broadcast booth during Sunday afternoon’s game against the Seattle Mariners.
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The oldest public health lab facility in the U.S., built in 1952 in Burlington, will close its doors at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13. The lab will be closed for business Friday Aug. 14 through Monday, Aug. 17.
The Health Department’s new laboratory at the Colchester Business and Technology Park (359 South Park Drive) will be open for business five days later, on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Source: VDH 8.10.2015. For more information on West Nile virus, health news, alerts and information, visit healthvermont.gov.
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Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Gas today summed up its key arguments for its Middlebury natural gas pipeline project in a submittal to the Vermont Public Service Board. The PSB is considering whether to reopen Vermont Gas' Certificate of Public Good because of two cost increases in 2014. It is expected to decide whether to do so by the end of the summer. If it does reopen the CPG, it could ultimately cancel the project, put new requirements on the project or let the existing CPG stand as is. Vermont Gas recently hired a new contractor for 44-mile project, which will connect the gas line now serving Chittenden and Franklin counties with Addison County.
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Vermont Business Magazine The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Vermont are holding a series of public meetings in August to discuss new pollution reduction targets - often referred to as a TMDL - to prevent pollution from flowing into Lake Champlain and its tributaries. The meetings will be moderated by the Lake Champlain Basin Program. All interested persons are encouraged to participate. The meetings will be held in St Albans on August 26 and in Rutland and South Burlington on August 27.
Lake Champlain Basin Phosphorus Clean Water Act TMDL Public Meetings
St. Albans
August 26, 2015, 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Bliss Room, St. Albans Historical Society, 9 Church Street, St Albans
South Burlington
August 27, 2015, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Burlington Doubletree, 1117 Williston Road, South Burlington
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by Mike Smith A recent poll by a New Hampshire media outlet must be worrisome to the Hillary Clinton campaign. WMUR’s Granite State Poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire shows Vermont’s junior U.S. senator, Bernie Sanders, closing in on Clinton, 42 to 36 percent. Sanders is surging in Iowa, too, but Clinton still has a commanding lead, according to a July NBC/Marist poll showing Clinton with support from 49 percent of Democrats to Sanders’ 25 percent.
The trend is what should be disconcerting to the Clinton camp. They are well aware that victories in early primary states are essential in order to create momentum going into later primaries. In fact, Clinton’s opponent in 2008, then Sen. Barack Obama, had his breakout moment by winning the Iowa caucuses, coming in a strong second in New Hampshire, and then winning South Carolina.
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Vermont Business Magazine Senator Leahy announced Friday that a $3 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) was awarded to the Vermont Department of Health to increase access to Medication Assisted Treatment in Vermont for high risk individuals with an opioid dependency. Howard Center, the Northwestern Medical Center, and the West Ridge Center at Rutland Regional Medical Center will receive funding from the grant to coordinate services for 375 individuals statewide.
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Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin has ordered that the Vermont State flag fly at half-staff from Monday through Wednesday following the tragic death of Department of Children and Families (DCF) employee Lara Sobel. The full order is included below. Shumlin, Secretary of Human Services Hal Cohen, and DCF Commissioner Ken Schatz attended a vigil for Sobel in Barre Sunday. Monday, the governor will spend time meeting with DCF and other state employees affected by this tragedy.
Where the flags will be lowered:
The Vermont State House, all Federal and State Facilities around the state and public buildings and grounds around the state.
Which flags will be lowered:
The Vermont State flag
Date the flags are to be lowered: (at sunrise):
Monday, August 10, 2015
Date flags are to return to full staff: (at sunset):
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Vermont Business Magazine SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) announced Monday that it will bring its rooftop solar energy systems to Vermont and with it about 100 jobs. From its warehouse and office in South Burlington, SolarCity will market initially to residential customers in Chittenden County and nearby areas. The California-based company, whose chairman is Tesla's Elon Musk, will feature a no-money-down, lease program. The advantage to customers is, depending on location, they could effectively save 10-20 percent on their electric bill.
"It's a great market for solar," Regional Vice President Lee Keshishian said of Northwestern Vermont.