Current News

Origin Consulting LLC, has announced the go-live of Oracle Utilities Operational Device Management at Green Mountain Power (GMP). Oracle Utilities Operational Device Management, selected in February 2014, provides inventory, asset and configuration management of smart grid devices. It provides operational knowledge of each device’s location, characteristics, firmware updates, configuration management, scheduled activities and audit compliance. GMP, a cutting-edge power utility serving 250,000 customers throughout Vermont, will use this product to initially manage current and voltage transformers, AMI meters, non-AMI meters and customer-leased heat pumps.

The Vermont State Police have announced the formation of a Major Crime Unit within its Criminal Division. The Major Crime Unit will consist of a group of experienced investigators who's primary responsibility will include investigations of homicide, officer involved shootings, missing persons where foul play is suspected, cold case homicides/missing persons and other complex criminal investigations deemed appropriate.

While the concept of a Major Crime Unit is new to Vermont, it is consistent with the operations of other state police agencies and large police departments across the country. Detectives in the Major Crime Unit will receive additional specialized training directly related to the investigation of major crimes.

Thirteen Vermont cities and towns will receive more than $4 million in grants to make them more resilient, affordable, and accessible, Governor Peter Shumlin announced today in Montpelier. The municipalities will use the funds to build and improve affordable housing, complete disaster repairs, make public spaces accessible to all residents, and revitalize community centers.

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“Spring is coming and soon these grants will lead to construction projects across state that will help improve communities, grow jobs, and spur economic growth,” Gov. Shumlin said. “From Lyndon to Wilmington, these projects will help our small towns complete disaster recovery projects, create more affordable housing, and further develop their communities.”

Darn Tough Vermont, American manufacturer of premium, performance socks, has recently been recognized in a speech by Vermont Senator Partick Leahy. Per Senator Leahy’s request, an article about Darn Tough’s planned mill expansion, which appeared on VTDigger.org, a Vermont-focused news website, has been entered into the Congressional Record.

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Nominations are now open for the 2016 Vermont Teacher of the Year program. The public is being invited to join Vermont educators in going online to directly nominate teachers for the prestigious statewide distinction; the winner serves as an advocate for Vermont’s teachers, students, and education system.

Nominations can be completed through April 10 at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TOY2016. To encourage more submissions, the process has been simplified to require only the most basic information about the nominator, the nominee, and their school, as well as a short overview of what makes the nominee an extraordinary teacher.

The Economist has launched a Case Study Competition called "find a zero." Eighteen teams representing 17 universities will compete for the grand prize of $15,000. The competition, conducted in partnership with Kerrisdale Capital, an investment research firm and private investment manager, invites competing teams to find a conventional market view that is demonstrably misguided, and ought to be debunked. The teams are challenged to "find a zero" – that is, predict which billion dollar market cap company will be bankrupt by 2020.

The annual “Big Change Roundup for Kids” raised $292,755.92 to support specialized care provided at The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital. The Roundup is the largest fundraiser each year for Vermont Children’s. The total surpassed last year’s tally of $268,136.69.

The three-month-long coin collecting campaign is a joint project of the hospital and 98.9 WOKO-FM with support from hundreds of local businesses and community groups, and thousands of volunteers from throughout the region. Key sponsors this year include Maplefields, New England Federal Credit Union, Walmart and Pete’s RV Center.

Highlights

Vermont Business Magazine In Vermont, 31,619 consumers selected or were automatically re-enrolled in health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace as of February 22, according to a report released today by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Of the consumers with a Marketplace plan selection, 62 percent (19,667 people) qualified for financial assistance to help with the cost of monthly premiums.

In Vermont, 8,980 consumers under the age of 35 are signed up for Marketplace coverage (28 percent of all plan selections). And 6,956 consumers 18 to 34 years of age (22 percent of all plan selections) are signed up for Marketplace coverage. These are below average for all the states. The state does have a higher enrollment of for children under 18, which could be related to Vermont's already low uninsured rate for minors.

A Buffalo, NY, manufacturer has acquired Vermont-based medical device maker Vermed Inc. Vermed, located in Bellows Falls, manufactures medical devices, electrodes, line care products, electrotherapy devices, urethral catheter support, topical skin adhesives and other similar products. The news was announced today by Citizens Bank, which arranged financing for Graphic Controls to acquire Vermed. Terms were not disclosed, including whether local staffing and operations in Vermont would change.

Graphic Controls is a leading supplier of consumable products for industrial, medical and gaming markets with manufacturing operations and sales offices in the United States, Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom.

A buffalonews.com story says that Graphic Controls is getting back into the medical device business and this acquisition allows them to do that with an established company. It also has acquired two other medical device companies in recent years.

Morgan True vtdigger.org The backlog of requested coverage changes at Vermont Health Connect has ballooned to more than 11,000 and completing the exchange is now projected to hit $200 million, according to state officials. Change requests range from updating an address to reporting new income, new dependents or even just terminating a plan after gaining health insurance through an employer. The exchange has carried a backlog since it launched and reached a high of 15,000 in August. That number was reduced to a manageable figure prior to this year’s open enrollment, but is now close to 11,200, officials said.

At 10:14 am this morning, a lone male suspect entered through the rear entrance of TD Bank in Enosburg Falls dressed in a black ski mask, dark jacket with blue stripes down the arm, a blue hoodie sweatshirt, black pants, black gloves, and white sneakers.
The suspect was a white male approximately 5'6" - 5'8" tall, with a slender to medium build. The suspect leaned onto the counter, verbally demanded cash, and put it into a plastic bag that he brought with him. The male then exited the bank with the bag and took off on foot, followed by a customer who witnessed the event. James Marshia, an off-duty Customs and Border Protection Officer, was able to track the suspect for about a quarter mile, where he lost sight of the male, who headed in an unknown direction of travel.

Governor Peter Shumlin issued the following statement on the death of former Governor Ray Keyser Jr. The governor has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Governor Keyser. He died Saturday at his daughter's home in Brandon. He was 87.

"Vermont has lost a faithful public servant who showed his love for this state and its people through his years of service. My thoughts are with Governor Keyser's family and friends. I know I join all Vermonters in being thankful for Governor Keyser's dedication to Vermont."

Governor Keyser, far right, with, from left, Governors Douglas, Salmon and Kunin in 2012. VBM file

Congressman Peter Welch made the following statement on the passing of Governor Kesyer: