Current News

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in introducing the Equality Act, historic, comprehensive legislation to enshrine civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ people in federal law. The Equality Act amends landmark federal anti-discrimination laws to explicitly add sexual orientation and gender identity to longstanding bans on discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, access to credit, federal funding, and more. The bicameral legislation, led by U.S. Representative Mark Takano (D-CA-39) in the House, would also add protections against sex discrimination in parts of anti-discrimination laws where these protections had not been included previously, such as public accommodations and federal funding.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), alongside Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), today introduced the Medicare for All Act. Hundreds of nurses, health care providers and workers from around the nation joined the lawmakers for a press conference in front of the Capitol. In America today, despite spending twice as much per person on health care as other wealthy nations, more than 85 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured, one out of every four Americans cannot afford their prescription drugs, over half a million people go bankrupt due to medically-related debt, and more than 60,000 die because they cannot afford to go to a doctor.

Vermont Business Magazine Following a one-day trial in Vermont Superior Court, Bennington Criminal Division, a jury has found Max Misch, 42, of Bennington, Vermont, guilty of two counts of misdemeanor possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices. The case against Mr. Misch was brought by the Attorney General’s Office in February 2019 as the result of a criminal investigation conducted by the Vermont State Police with the assistance of the Bennington Police Department.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor is proud to spotlight the growing success of the Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program, a recent initiative designed to support aspiring educators, strengthen Vermont’s schools, and foster community investment in education. The concept of the program is simple: take established members of a community with a bachelor’s degree (often already working in a school as a paraeducator or support staff) and provide them with a low-cost, peer-supportive pathway to teaching credentials. Following the “earn while you learn” Registered Apprenticeship model, participants leverage work under a two-year provisional teaching license to accumulate the requisite experience, instruction, and portfolio to lead to full licensure. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remains low, at about 5 after a spike in January. Wastewater testing indicates that virus levels edged up slightly in recent weeks but have fallen steeply after a surge, which was also in January. The Vermont pandemic death total stands at 1,289 as of April 19, 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. There were 2 outbreaks last week (2 the week before), with 1 in Long-Term Care Facilities and none in schools. 

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth celebrated with community members, state officials, and public funders at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester Monday, marking the completion of 65 new permanently affordable apartments. The apartments, across three buildings, were completed in phases over the past five months. The 65 apartments are a mix of one-bedroom and studio apartments, which are lacking in the neighborhood. Eighteen will come with rental subsidy committed by the Burlington Housing Authority, capping rent at 30% of the renter’s income. CHT is also renting fifteen of the apartments to people who had been experiencing homelessness. Rents will average about $1,200, including heat and hot water – newly constructed apartments in the region are renting for twice that much.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today, as part of a multistate coalition, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s termination of AmeriCorps grants and the dismantling of the agency though an 85% reduction of its workforce. AmeriCorps is an independent federal agency tasked with engaging Americans in meaningful community-based service that directly address the country’s educational, public safety, and environmental needs — every year, the agency provides opportunities for more than 200,000 Americans to serve their communities. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Trustees of Putney-based Landmark College—the world’s first college built to exclusively serve people who learn differently—announced today that current Interim President Dr. James Dlugos will serve as the fifth president in the College’s 40-year history, effective May 1, 2025. Dlugos previously had an 11-year tenure as president of St. Joseph’s College of Maine in Standish, Maine. Upon his retirement in 2023, he founded a higher education consulting firm with his wife, Melissa, which led him to the interim opportunity at Landmark College in the summer of 2024 following the departure of Dr. Peter Eden. 

Vermont Business Magazine April is National Volunteer Month, and while Age Well celebrates its volunteers year-round, this month provides a special opportunity to recognize their selfless dedication. With one of the largest volunteer teams in Vermont—over 1,100 strong—these dedicated individuals deliver Meals on Wheels, even on the coldest mornings! They also provide companionship and assist with a wide range of essential services. We could never do what we do without them. To every volunteer: thank you for your unwavering dedication and support. In a state where 1 in 4 individuals face food insecurity, Age Well’s volunteer-driven services are lifelines. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that Americanadian LLC, owner of a commercial property in St. Albans, was fined $4,000 for storing and disposing solid waste on their property without required certifications and approvals. The investigation was conducted by an Environmental Enforcement Officer with ANR.

Vermont Business Magazine Springfield Regional Development Corporation (SRDC) and the Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) are pleased to announce two recent Vermont Employment Growth Incentive (VEGI) awards to Springfield companies to support their planned expansion projects. Vermont Packinghouse received Initial approval for an Estimated Incentive of $576,909, including a Labor Market Area (LMA) enhancement, given the location in an economically distressed area of the state. ImageTek Manufacturing also got Initial approval for their VEGI application, with an Estimated Incentive of $429,850, also including the LMA enhancement, given the project location. 

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Health Network and Vermont State University are pleased to announce a new partnership to advance opportunities for full-time nurses at the health system to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Current registered nurses (RNs) with an Associate of Science in Nursing degree will be able to pursue the advanced credential of a bachelor’s degree from Vermont State at a preferred rate.