Current News

Governor Peter Shumlin and the co-chairs of his Criminal Justice and Substance Abuse Cabinet are urging the maker of the opiate overdose reversal drug naloxone to take steps to stop a price spike that has seen the cost of the drug surge by over 60 percent in Vermont. Other states across the country have reported similar price increases. As part of his efforts to address the opiate addiction challenges facing Vermont and the rest of the country, Shumlin proposed and signed legislation that has expanded the availability of naloxone, equipping every Vermont State Trooper with the drug and distributing it to first responders and addiction recovery centers.

As a result of those efforts, 1,869 naloxone kits have been dispensed and about 190 have been used to reverse an overdose, according to the Vermont Department of Health.

by Jack Hoffman All we’ve heard from Montpelier this year, from the governor to legislative leaders, is that Vermont has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. A new analysis by the Joint Fiscal Office (JFO) shows this conventional wisdom is wrong. The JFO data show state spending has gone down as a percentage of the economy over the last 10 years.

Vermont’s gross state product — the sum of all the goods and services produced and sold — is growing again. We are essentially tied with Massachusetts for having the fastest growing economy in New England since the bottom of the recession in 2009. That’s good news.

Free ice cream all day at Ben & Jerry’s? No, it’s NOT an Internet prank, a hoax, or a practical joke. For more than three decades it has been the day to rush to your local Ben & Jerry’s and try the latest flavor or your old favorite – absolutely for free! On Tuesday, April 14, you can participate at your local Scoop Shop for Ben & Jerry’s 36th annual Free Cone Day.

CATMA announced today that it has changed its name to Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association, a 501(c)(3) member based non-profit organization, whose acronym remains. This change reflects CATMA’s expanded service area from the Campus Area to Chittenden County in offering employers a managed commute program that has proven to influence people’s travel choices and reduce single occupant vehicles.

“We are really excited to share our sustainable business model, expertise and comprehensive commute programs with employers and developers in Chittenden County,” says Sandy Thibault, Executive Director. “The commitment and collaboration of our founding institutional members has been instrumental in CATMA’s success, and we now look forward to engaging and working with new members.”

The Vermont Mayors Coalition today honored AmeriCorps and other service members and highlighted the value of their national service to their communities through a joint proclamation and during events in Burlington and Montpelier. Vermont’s eight mayors, represented by Winooski Mayor Seth Leonard and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger at an event at the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Family Room in Burlington and represented by Montpelier Mayor John Hollar and Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon at an event at the Basement Teen Center in Montpelier, joined more than 1,800 mayors from around the nation offering similar recognition of their cities’ service members during the third annual Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, a nationwide bipartisan effort to:

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) Tuesday announced the Northern Border Regional Commission (NRBC) will begin accepting applications for the next round of grants to encourage economic development and job creation along the Northeast border. The Commission has approximately $4.5 million in federal funding to award to projects in five northern counties in Vermont, and certain counties in New Hampshire and Maine. Eligible projects in Essex, Caledonia, Franklin, Orleans and Lamoille Counties can apply for funding through NBRC.

The Vermont Attorney General’s Office has resolved a complaint arising out of advertising by Pam Pac in support of candidates in the 2013 South Burlington City Council election. The State has reached settlement agreements with Pam Pac, a political committee whose treasurer was Pamela Mackenzie, and with candidates Patricia Nowak and Chris Shaw.

Fayneese Miller, dean of the College of Education and Social Services, has been named the 20th president of Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. Miller, who has served as dean and professor of Human Development, Educational Leadership and Social Policy at UVM since 2005, begins her tenure at the small private liberal arts college of 2,100 undergraduates and 2,800 graduate students on July 1. She is Hamline’s first African American president and second female to hold the top post.

Fayneese Miller (Photo: Sally McCay, UVM Photo)

A new agreement between the Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center means that patients will have access to a broader range of services and the local cancer program will be linked directly to one of only three NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in New England.

“This agreement helps us align our cancer services with those of Dartmouth-Hitchcock,” explained Dr. Orion Howard, medical director of Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center. “As a result, we will be more involved in research, able to offer a wider range of clinical trials, and able to access the expertise of this world-class cancer program.”

The agreement, which officially began in January, will provide patients and doctors in Bennington with access to clinical trials and specialty services. It also means SVMC’s oncologists can take part in tumor boards and meetings using a special telemedicine link.

Porter Medical Center Board Chair, Bill Townsend, has announced that Lynn Boggs, MBA, MSN, RN, will be Porter’s new president and chief executive officer, succeeding James L Daily who will retire this spring after 31 years in this role.

“After a comprehensive national search for a new leader for Porter Medical Center, we are absolutely thrilled to have found an exceptional health care executive with more than 35 years of experience to help guide Porter Medical Center into the future” he said.

Life just got a little bit easier for people in drug treatment programs in Rutland. Burlington Labs opened the doors to its newest collections site last week. The walk-in collections center, located at 10 Merchants Row, offers area residents a convenient place for drug testing services. Drug testing is often a part of addiction treatment programs, and can also be part of medical pain management programs. When routine drug testing is more accessible to individuals in treatment, they are more likely to stick with their treatment program.

Burlington Labs is a clinical drug testing laboratory focused on bringing more compassionate, faster-turnaround, higher-quality drug testing services to the recovery community. The company is also committed to enhancing resources and reducing stigma for people looking for help overcoming addiction. Collection centers provide strong anchor points in each community for that local outreach.

Three more students at Charlotte Central School had positive skin tests evaluated by Health Department nurses during the final round of screening clinics held March 30 through April 3. None of the 31 adults or children (12 adults, 19 children) tested positive at the Freedom Rains day care in Colchester at clinics on March 17 and 19.

A total of 19 children and two adults have tested positive out of 349 students and 84 adults who have been tested and evaluated at Charlotte Central School.

The Health Department is working with parents and the school to arrange testing for approximately 30 remaining students and adults who have not yet been tested.

It is perfectly safe for children and adults with positive skin test results to be at the school, and for others to be around them, because they are not sick with TB and cannot spread the bacteria.