Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), along with the six other organizations comprising the NOFA Interstate Council (NOFA I.C.) in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, joined a broad lawsuit to challenge the Trump administration’s unlawful reorganization of the federal government. The lawsuit was filed on April 28 by a multi-sector coalition that includes nationwide labor organizations, cities and counties, and vital non-profit groups. The NOFA I.C. supports over 2,500 farmers. Farmers have been raising alarms about cuts to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff since the executive order was signed in February. At the time of filing the lawsuit, USDA has not publicly shared their Agency Reduction in Force and Reorganization Plan. 

Join the Lake Champlain Committee this season to monitor aquatic invasive species through our community science initiative—the Champlain Aquatic Invasive Monitoring Program (CHAMP)! Now entering our third season of CHAMP, LCC recruits, trains, and supports volunteers to survey for aquatic invasive species (AIS) at sites throughout Lake Champlain. As a volunteer, you'll paddle or walk along a shoreline site, rake in samples of aquatic life, assess what you’ve gathered, and report your findings of key target invasive species to LCC via an online form.

Vermont Business Magazine As we approach Memorial Day, the “unofficial” start of summer in Vermont is just around the corner. After a long winter, many Vermonters are eager to spend more time outdoors. Thoughts of boating come to mind along with the warmer air temperatures, but people should not be fooled. Vermont’s waterway temperatures remain dangerously cold, only in the 40s to low 50s, during the month of May.

Vermont Business Magazine It’ll soon be “lights out” on lighting rebates for Vermont businesses and nonprofits that have yet to switch to energy-saving LED lamps and bulbs. But farms, businesses, and nonprofits that act fast can still take advantage of increased incentives from Efficiency Vermont before rebates end. For a limited time, Efficiency Vermont is offering increased incentives for pre-approved commercial lighting projects. These offers are designed to be flexible for a dynamic pricing landscape and changing costs. Projects must be planned and approved before final rebate amounts can be determined.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (VT NDCAP) will hold its first regular meeting of 2025 on Monday evening, May 12th, from 6:00 PM to 8:45 PM.  At this meeting, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) representatives will discuss the recently published Vermont Yankee (VY) Spent Nuclear Fuel De-Inventory Report.  The De-Inventory Report includes a comprehensive evaluation of transportation infrastructure near VY and enumerates the expected tasks necessary to transport VY’s spent fuel inventory to the Geographic Center of the United States (GCUS).  (The GCUS is used in lieu of a specific repository location for transportation planning purposes.) 

Vermont Business Magazine Cathedral Square’s Bayview Crossing in South Hero received Efficiency Vermont’s Best of the Best Award for Residential New Construction in the Multifamily Large Projects category at the Better Building by Design conference. Efficiency Vermont’s annual event brings together design professionals, leaders in building construction, and experts in climate workforce trades. Thirteen “Best of the Best” awards were given out to builders, architects, designers, and HVAC and plumbing installers for their commitment to energy excellence. Weinmann Lamphere Architects designed the project and ReArch Company was the construction manager. Both firms accompanied Cathedral Square staff in receiving the award.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Parks Forever, the only non-profit foundation for Vermont’s 55 state parks, is excited to announce a first-in-the-nation, privately funded pilot program that will provide free day-use entry to Vermont State Parks for over 100,000 income eligible Vermonters this 2025 park season. In partnership with Vermont State Parks, the Department for Children and Families’ Economic Services Division, and the Department of Health’s WIC Program, this initiative will run from the end of May through October and is available to families and individuals receiving services through the Economic Services Division and WIC. This pilot program is an expansion of Vermont Parks Forever’s Park Access Fund that has been creating a more equitable outdoor experience since 2016.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from illegally terminating billions in congressionally approved funding for electric vehicle infrastructure. Unless the courts check the president’s overreach, Vermont stands to lose nearly $16 million in electric vehicle infrastructure funding. In 2022, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. One provision of the IIJA appropriated $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, or NEVI, to facilitate electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the states. Under the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the authority to appropriate funds. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) this week introduced the Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2025, legislation to help more Americans access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as 3SquaresVT in Vermont. The Senators’ legislation would lift Republicans’ punitive three-month time limit on SNAP eligibility to allow able-bodied adults without dependents to receive benefits for longer than three months even if they are unable to find work. The bill would also repeal additional eligibility criteria that imposes the three-month rule on adults up to age 54 over a three-year period. 

Vermont State Police The Vermont State Police is continuing to investigate a shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon, May 6, 2025, at a residence in St. Johnsbury. VSP is identifying the victim as Adam Belliveau, 30, of St. Johnsbury. He remains hospitalized Wednesday, May 7, and is receiving treatment for his injuries. Information on his condition is unavailable at this time. No arrests have been made to this point in the investigation. 

Vermont Business Magazine According to Burlington-based Migrant Justice, of the nine members of Vermont’s farmworker community detained by Border Patrol in April, three have been deported to Mexico while five others remain in immigration detention. Community supporters and elected officials are continuing to advocate for the release of those held in detention. On April 21st, Border Patrol agents entered a Franklin County farm and detained eight workers in one of the largest worksite detentions in recent Vermont history. Less than two weeks prior, on April 9th, Border Patrol agents pulled over and detained Arbey Lopez as he was driving to the same farm to deliver groceries to the workers. 

Vermont State Police Justin Stacy is scheduled to be arraigned at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Brattleboro. He was ordered jailed without bail pending his initial court appearance. The Vermont State Police is identifying the victim as Robert J. Francis, 75, who lived in the same home with Stacy. Further information is contained in the affidavit of probable cause, which is filed with the court and available for release following arraignment. The investigation began Tuesday, May 6, 2025, when an individual arrived at the Rutland Barracks and reported having information about a possible homicide that had occurred in February at a home near the intersection of Vermont Route 100 and Corse Road.