Current News

This afternoon, the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation that resolves a long standing dispute over the reimbursement of physicians participating in the Medicare program. Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) voted for the legislation which included two Welch-authored rural health care provisions of critical importance to Vermont. The inability of Congress to resolve the dispute in recent years has led to unacceptable delays in physician reimbursement and uncertainty for doctors and seniors in the operation of medical practices. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (HR2) passed the House by a vote of 392 to 37.

Governor Peter Shumlin, House Speaker Shap Smith, Representative Jill Krowinski, the president of the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC), and other supporters today called for the creation of child savings accounts to give every child born in Vermont a head start on saving for higher education and boost the number of Vermont kids who move beyond high school.

“Vermont has one of the best high school graduation rates in America,” Shumlin said. “But we need to do more to move kids beyond high school so they are prepared for the jobs of their future. These accounts will help us do that and give students and families much-needed financial assistance as they work to pay for higher education.”

For most traveling into Vermont from the south or west, Bennington is the first town they pass through of a significant size. It is considered the hub of business, culture and community in the southwestern portion of the state, and is known for its deep-rooted history as the first chartered community in the state of Vermont. It was with this in mind that a small group of individuals began an effort to design, develop and implemented a three-part marketing strategy aimed at promoting Bennington as the place where Vermont begins.

In late 2013 the marketing subcommittee of the Bennington Economic Development Partners, applied for and received a $13,000 grant from the United State Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program. It was this funding that moved the project from concept to action.

Governor Peter Shumlin today announced that his Chief of Staff Liz Miller will leave state government at the end of the legislative session. The governor has tapped Darren Springer, currently the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Service (DPS), to serve as his next Chief of Staff.

“Liz agreed to leave the private sector and serve in state government during my first term,” Shumlin said. “Four and half years and two jobs later, she has decided it is time to leave state government. She has been an amazing Chief of Staff, and while I wish I could keep her around longer, I’m thankful for her dedicated service to me and to Vermont over these past years.”

A study by University of Vermont Cancer Center researcher and clinician Susan Lakoski, MD, and colleagues has found that higher levels of mid-life fitness provide a mortality benefit in older age even in the setting of a cancer diagnosis. Their findings appear in the March 26, 2015 edition of JAMA Oncology.

As the spring thaw gives way to potential flooding of Vermont rivers and streams, heating fuel providers throughout the state are participating in a tank safety education campaign. Propane and fuel oil tanks can shift during floods, breaking fuel lines and even dislodging tanks. The outreach effort reminds Vermonters that there are a number of things homeowners should do before, during and after a flooding event to protect their family and home.

Sugarbush Resort plans to replace the Valley House Lift this spring with a new Doppelmayr Fixed-Grip Quad. The new Valley House Quad will increase the uphill capacity of the current lift from 748 to 1800 people per hour and cut the ride time to approximately 8 minutes. The lift should help eliminate any lift lines in the base area and provide a reliable back-up lift to the Super Bravo Express Quad.

The base of the new Valley House Quad will include a loading conveyor--allowing for easier loading and increased lift speed--and will be located where the current mountain operations building now sits. The new lift will also terminate lower, between towers 13 and 14 of the current lift on The Mall, which will eliminate the intersection of people off-loading from the lift with those skiing and riding on Valley House Traverse.

Vermont is the first state to require single-use manufacturers to develop a program for collecting and recycling spent primary batteries (including AA, C, D, and other household alkaline batteries), removing them from local landfills. This innovative recycling law goes into effect January 1, 2016. Call2Recycle, Inc., North America’s first and largest consumer battery stewardship organization, has been selected by 11 initial companies [Anchor] to develop, implement and promote a mandated single-use battery recycling program in Vermont.

As required by the Vermont law, Call2Recycle will submit a plan by June 1, 2015, on behalf of the following companies, which currently include: Ace Hardware Corporation, Dorcy International, Duracell/The Gillette Company/Procter & Gamble, Energizer Battery Manufacturing, Interstate Batteries Recycling, Panasonic Corporation, Polaroid, Rayovac/Spectrum Brands, RiteAid, Sony Electronics, and Varta Microbattery.

Employees at Carris Reels-Plastics Division in Rutland are already pining for that first bite of fresh tomato from their soon-to-be planted garden this summer. The company received a Green Thumbs Community Garden grant from the Vermont Department of Health.

“We thought a garden would be a great addition to our Health and Wellness program,” said Patricia Blake, site manager for Carris Plastics. “Our hope is to also be able to offer an activity to get our employees outside and doing some exercising, as well as enjoying that first ripe tomato. Nothing beats that taste.”

Other Green Thumbs at Work garden grant winners are Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region, Hickok & Boardman Financial Planning in Burlington, Milton CAT in Richmond, NEKCA Head Start in Barton, Sunrise Family Resource Center in Bennington, Transportation Security Administration in North Clarendon, and Washington Electric Coop in East Montpelier.

Public Assets Institute Vermont’s income tax is among the lowest in the country: 2.7 percent of the state’s total personal income.

Money is available for Vermont communities for the purpose of mitigating the effects of future disasters on public infrastructure and some private property. Communities, tribal organizations, and private non-profit organizations may still apply for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds following the most recent federal disaster declaration and previous disasters.

HMGP grants cover up to 75 percent of costs associated with lessening the potential damage from a future disaster. Projects like flood-proofing of public buildings, culvert replacement, riverbank stabilization and many others have been completed in the past under the HMGP with local jurisdictions paying for 25 percent of the work.

Connie Sanderson, Kurn Hattin Homes for Children's Executive Director, has announced her plans to retire after nearly three decades of service to the 120-year-old non-profit children’s services agency. Sanderson intends to step down from her current position later this year. She will assist in the transition to a new Executive Director and remain on staff until a new leader is in place, after which time she will continue to serve Kurn Hattin as a key fundraiser on a part-time basis.