Current News

Vermont State Police On April 15, 2025 the Vermont State Police began investigating Allen-Michael Ashline (31) of Saint Albans for the crime of Embezzlement after it was discovered by a select board member he had been using a town issued credit card for personal use. Ashline was the Road Foreman for the Town of Bolton and was issued a credit card by the town for work related projects. A thorough investigation revealed Ashline had used the town issued credit card to purchase gas for his personal vehicle along with numerous other personal items. The sum of the charges exceeded $6,730.

Vermont Business Magazine Each year, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce honors an outstanding Vermonter as the “Citizen of the Year.” This award is presented to the individual who has made major contributions to the betterment of Vermont; has been distinguished through outstanding service to their community and region; and typifies the true spirit of service and self-sacrifice in representing the finest ideals of Vermont citizenship. A lifelong Huntington resident, Major General Knight has over 40 years of uniformed service. From the U.S. Coast Guard to leading the Vermont National Guard, his distinguished career includes a Bronze Star, deployments abroad, and pivotal leadership as Adjutant General. He’s guided Vermont through historic floods, the COVID-19 pandemic, and championed a culture of inclusion and connection within the Guard.

by Maggie Lenz and Nick Charyk “Dear Andy” The FY26 budget, known as the Big Bill, is usually the final domino to fall before adjournment. Passing the budget signals the end of negotiations, funds the state, and sends weary lawmakers home. On Friday afternoon, budget conferees finalized and signed off on a nearly nine billion dollar spending package, which now heads to the House and Senate floors for final debate and votes early next week. After that, it goes to the Governor. This year, the Big Bill is doing more than usual. Earlier this session, a standoff between the Legislature and the Governor over the midyear Budget Adjustment Act, which normally serves to tweak the current year’s spending, resulted in two vetoes. Rather than continue the stalemate, lawmakers folded those adjustments into the FY26 budget itself. That means there's real urgency around these items that should have been approved many months ago.

Vermont State Police The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington completed the autopsy on Joshua Many on Sunday, May 11, 2025. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the torso, and the manner of death is a homicide.  The Vermont State Police is able to identify the victim in this case as Joshua Many, 37, who had recently been living in Swanton. Investigators arrested Mitchal Shedrick, 52, a resident of the Swanton home where this incident occurred, on a charge of second-degree murder. He was ordered jailed without bail at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans Town and is due for arraignment at 1 p.m. Monday, May 12, 2025, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in St. Albans.

by Amanda Youngsman, Community News Service When one of Vermont’s oldest lumber mills, run by the A. Johnson Company in Bristol, shut down its saws in 2023 after 117 years in business, it seemed like another sign of a waning timber industry. Now, a sweeping executive order from President Donald Trump has stirred fresh debate in the Green Mountain State over whether a surge in federal logging might revitalize local forest economies or imperil treasured woodlands. The March 1 directive mandates an aggressive push to harvest more timber from federal lands — a move with outsize implications for Vermont’s vast forests and small communities. 

Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of May 12, 2025. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.     

by Rep. Martin LaLonde (D-South Burlington) and Sen. Nader Hashim (D-Brattleboro) When floodwaters tore through Vermont in July 2023 and then again exactly a year later, they left more than physical destruction in their wake. They also revealed to Vermonters the mounting price tag of climate change. While national media attention may have shifted to climate-change catastrophes in other parts of the country, Vermont families are still displaced, businesses are shuttered or drowning in debt, and communities are struggling to rebuild. The financial toll of climate change in Vermont is real and ongoing. Every washed-out road, damaged bridge, and flooded home and business represents a cost someone must pay – and right now, that burden falls squarely on Vermont taxpayers. We see it through higher property taxes, rising insurance premiums, and reduced municipal services.

Brattleboro Museum & Art Center On Friday, June 20, we will have the privilege of honoring former Senator Patrick and Marcelle Leahy for their decades of public service and unwavering support for the arts across Vermont and our nation. We will gather with the Leahys for a Summer Garden Party in their honor. Together we will enjoy summer libations, al fresco dinner, and live jazz, amid a picturesque backdrop of flower gardens, rolling meadows, and distant views, at a private home in Guilford, Vermont. Proceeds from the event will establish the Patrick and Marcelle Leahy Fund for Photography, a new fund to support photography exhibitions and programs at BMAC.

Vermont Business Magazine Zero Gravity Craft Brewery has debuted on the Brewers Association’s 2024 list of the Top 50 U.S. craft breweries by production volume—a first‑ever achievement for the independently owned Vermont brewery. The honor arrives during the company’s 21st anniversary year, capping more than two decades of intentional, steady growth. Building on the momentum from this 2024 accomplishment, Zero Gravity has added North Carolina, Delaware, and broader reaches of Pennsylvania to its network in 2025, bringing the brewery’s crisp lagers and expressive ales to audiences across 12 states.

The Vermont State Police is investigating a suspicious death in the Franklin County town of Swanton. The investigation began at about 3:15 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2025, when police received multiple 911 calls that originated at a home on 4th Street. First responders found a man in his 30s deceased inside. This investigation is in its early stages and involves members of the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene Search Team, Field Force Division and Victim Services Unit. The Swanton Police Department is providing assistance.

Vermont Business Magazine The Cirque Series is breaking trail in New England with two new races this summer: Cannon Mountain in Franconia, NH (Saturday, June 7), and Killington Mountain in Killington (Saturday, June 28). Known for its high-energy, scenic races on renowned ski mountains, the Cirque Series brings people together at their favorite winter destinations and helps support the year-round outdoor economies that power ski towns. With over 4,200 runners expected in the 2025 season, Cirque is now the largest trail race series in the U.S. Along with Cannon and Killington, Cirque is also adding Crystal Mountain, Washington, to its national lineup of eight races this year. Community engagement and environmental stewardship are at the core of Cirque Series, with a portion of proceeds from each race supporting local trail conservation efforts and a nonprofit partner.

Vermont Business Magazine The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is honoring Smokeshire Design as our Member of the Month for April 2025! Nestled between the picturesque towns of Ludlow and Chester, Smokeshire Design embodies the spirit of Vermont craftsmanship, creativity, and Vermont’s pride in its history. A Hub of Handmade Creations Smokeshire Design is more than just a shop—it’s a celebration of artistry and a testament to the talent of local artisans. From hand-thrown ceramic bowls to custom-designed furniture, each piece reflects the passion and craftsmanship that make Vermont special. Located in the lovingly restored historic Gassetts building, Smokeshire Design offers a welcoming atmosphere where visitors can discover unique treasures that blend tradition with inspired design.