Current News

Vermont Business Magazine As President Trump continues his attempts to intimidate the media and those who are critical of him, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today warned Paramount Global Chair Shari Redstone not to capitulate to Trump. Lawyers for Trump and Paramount, the parent of CBS News, have begun mediation over a lawsuit brought by Trump that accuses '60 Minutes' of deceptively editing an interview with Kamala Harris. Legal experts have called the suit baseless and an easy victory for CBS. But Paramount is entering the talks prepared to make a deal. It has been reported that Shari Redstone, the company’s controlling shareholder, is considering settling with Trump in return for his administration's approval of Paramount’s $8 billion sale to Skydance.

by Noah Diedrich, Community News Service Ask any Vermont legislator, and they’ll tell you that two of the issues that have dominated discussion in the last five years are climate change and Act 250 reform. Multiple ideas have been floated to solve these issues to no avail. But a recent bill in the House hopes to remedy both problems at once. The solution? Host the Olympics in Vermont. So says Rep. Brian Cina, P/D-Burlington, the author of H.367. The bill would create a Vermont Olympics Task Force to examine the possibility of hosting the Olympic Games and how they could address perennial problems surrounding land use and climate change.

Vermont Business Magazine 802 Cars has sold its Burlington Subaru and Burlington Hyundai dealerships in Vermont to Hoffman Auto Group. Both dealerships rank #1 in Vermont for their respective franchises and boast strong customer loyalty. In addition to Burlington Subaru and Burlington Hyundai, 802 Cars also owns 802 Honda, 802 Toyota and 802 Subaru – all located in Berlin – which will be retained by owner Dave Birmingham post-transaction.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) invites you to attend a public meeting about upcoming bridge projects in Plymouth on Vermont Route 100 and Vermont Route 100A. The Agency will deliver a public presentation at the Town of Plymouth Select Board meeting to provide information on the short- and long-term construction schedule and traffic impacts. WHEN: Monday, May 19, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. WHERE: Municipal Building Meeting Room, Plymouth Town Hall, 68 Town Office Road, Plymouth.

The Vermont State Police has concluded its investigation into the May 9, 2024, murder-suicide in South Hero in which Andrew “Drew” Lalumiere was shot by his uncle John Lalumiere. VSP presented the case for review to Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito, who determined no further action was necessary. “Clearly, this was a murder-suicide,” DiSabito wrote to the state police in formally declining prosecution associated with this incident. “I don’t see anywhere in the investigation that warrants any criminal charges against anyone who is not already deceased. There will be no court action. This matter is now closed.”

Vermont Business Magazine VHB has relocated its South Burlington team to a new office in the historic Champlain Mill in Winooski, VT. Located along the scenic Winooski River, the new office provides a vibrant and engaging environment for more than 100 dedicated engineers, scientists, planners, and designers. Situated in the heart of downtown Winooski, the new office at 20 Winooski Falls Way offers team members easy access to a host of amenities, including walkable restaurants, housing options, and public transit links, enhancing both their professional and personal lives.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) is seeking current and former Medicaid members, or family members and caregivers of members, to join the Beneficiary Advisory Committee (BAC). Anyone enrolled in Vermont Medicaid, or previously enrolled in Vermont Medicaid, and their family members and caregivers is eligible to apply. The BAC is a new advisory body made up entirely of people with direct Medicaid experience. Vermonters can join the BAC and get paid to share their experience with the program. The BAC aims to help identify gaps and barriers to coverage and access. This committee will advise State Medicaid Leadership.

by Paul Cillo, et al More than 50 years ago, Vermont recognized the hardship faced by homeowners whose property taxes were rising faster than their ability to pay them. Since then, state fiscal policy has moved, in fits and starts, toward a system where school taxes are based on Vermonters’ income, the best measure of their ability to pay. We, former Vermont legislators, urge you not to abandon a half-century of progress. Instead, we hope you will fulfill the promise of Act 60, which we helped pass in 1997, and ask Vermont homeowners with the most income to contribute their fair share to the cost of education by paying based on income. Vermont’s education funding system is committed both to fair taxation and local decision-making, and we can strengthen both of those. Instead, H 454, the education reform bill that recently passed the Vermont House of Representatives, weakens them.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont House of Representatives voted 142-2 to pass S.51, supporting Vermont’s families, workers, retirees, and military veterans. The legislation, among other things, provides assistance to: Low-income households without children, often living paycheck to paycheck, who continue to be taxed even when they are at or below the poverty line; Households with children who have the highest household expenses in their lives and the lowest household income; Military retirees; Military retiree survivors who continue to live in Vermont; Veterans who are struggling to make ends meet.  

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 5, 2025. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it. 

Vermont Business Magazine ZymoChem, developers of the world's most carbon-efficient bio-manufacturing platform with a division in Vermont, today announced the closing of a financing round led by lululemon, with participation from existing investors Toyota Ventures and GS Futures and new investor FreshTracks Capital, based in Shelburne. This new capital will accelerate the commercialization of ZymoChem's sustainable bio-based materials and expand manufacturing capabilities for its first commercial product.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remain low and fell to under 5 cases statewide after a spike during the winter. Wastewater testing indicates that virus levels increased at the Montpelier facility, where they had spiked in January. The Vermont pandemic death total stands at 1,290 as of April 26, 2025, with 1 reported death from the previous week (the most recent data available from the CDC). The VDH is no longer reporting COVID fatalities and cases in Vermont. Vermont has the second lowest state fatality rate in the US (147.2 per 100K; Hawaii 112.9/100K). Mississippi (464.4/100K) and Oklahoma (460.6/100K) have the highest rates. The US average is 307.5/100K (CDC data).