Current News

by Maggie Lenz and Nick Charyk Many of us first learned about the legislative process from a cartoon that featured a sad little scrap of paper sitting on the Capitol steps. He sang about committee hearings, floor votes, and presidential vetoes. "Gee, Bill, you sure have a lot of patience and courage," the boy says. "Well," Bill replies, "I got this far. When I started, I was not even a bill. I was just an idea." (On a related note, the Saturday Night Live parody from the height of President Obama's executive order days is worth revisiting.) Changing a state constitution is an even more arduous process. It is rigid and demanding to crack open a living time capsule every now and then, to adjust it to meet the present day. A proposed constitutional amendment known as Prop 3, which would guarantee Vermonters the right to organize and collectively bargain, reached another milestone last Thursday with a public hearing at the State House. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.06 per gallon, down 2.7 cents per gallon from last week's $3.08/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.83/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 46.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline is unchanged  in the last week, averaging $3.10/g today. The national average is down 3.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 52.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The Big E — New England’s largest fair — returns to West Springfield, Massachusetts this fall from September 12th –28th. Vermont businesses are invited to apply to vend on the lawn of the Vermont Building on the Avenue of States during two special events. These events are a great way for Vermont business to try out vending at the Big E without a multi-day commitment. Vermont Day – Saturday, September 20th

by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First, Vermont Business Magazine The insurance company that had provided coverage for a Pawlet man who was part of a triple homicide at his home last fall, is asking the federal court in Vermont to intercede on how to handle the money earmarked for the accused killer. Brian M. Crossman Jr., 23, of Granville, N.Y.  has pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated murder in the death of his father, stepmother and her son. If convicted, on any of the charges, Crossman will face a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The son might normally be entitled to about $258,000 in life insurance proceeds from a routine death of his father, but federal and Vermont law does not allow a person involved in a death of another person to benefit financially, according to court papers.

by Charlotte Oliver Tim Cook’s eyes widened as he threw his hands up in exasperation. Sitting in his living room, the 78-year-old explained how much his community of manufactured homes means to him — and how frustrated he is with the state. Along the curved roads of Williston Woods Homeowners Association, most residents like Cook are seniors who get by on a fixed income. They can’t afford to make home improvements, Cook said. And some renos, like bathtub railings, are especially important for seniors, he said. Usually someone who lives in a manufactured or mobile home park can apply for state money to help pay for home-improvement projects. But Cook’s community, as a homeowners association, isn’t a mobile home park under Vermont law — so the state won’t list it on the registry that opens up those funds.

by Henry Miller, Community News Service There are only 25 TetraSkis in the world and now there’s one in Vermont. Green Mountain Adaptive Sports and the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association fundraised for years to make it happen. A TetraSki is a sit-ski designed for athletes with complex disabilities. Skiers control their turns and speed with a joystick or a “sip and puff” mouthpiece. It’s a lot like steering a wheelchair down the mountain. Vermont skier Chuck Petipas recently raced at the international TetraSki championship in Utah. Before the competition, Henry Miller hit the slopes with Petitpas to see the TetraSki in action.

Vermont Business Magazine 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 April 28, 2025. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Construction Academy will host an official launch event on Monday, April 28, bringing together industry leaders, educators, and state officials to mark the opening of Vermont’s only post-high school hands-on training and certification center for the skilled trades. “Construction is more than a job—it’s a career with purpose, pride, and potential,” said Josh Reap, President and CEO of ABC NH/VT and President of the Vermont Construction Academy Board. “The Vermont Construction Academy is about investing in people and equipping them with the skills and support to thrive in an industry that’s essential to our state’s economy and future.”

Vermont Business Magazine FoodScience, LLC, a leading provider of premium health and wellness solutions for pets and people based in Williston, has announced the acquisition of Natural Dog Company, a brand known for its high-quality dog care products. Founded in 2006 and based in North Carolina, Natural Dog Company has earned loyal customers through its dedication to effective solutions. This marks the first acquisition for FoodScience since becoming a portfolio company of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (MSCP) in November 2024.

Vermont State Police An autopsy was completed Friday, April 25, 2025, on Aaron LaRoche, 38, who shot and injured a Milton police officer Wednesday night before barricading himself inside his apartment on Main Street.  The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office determined LaRoche died of a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death is a suicide. The injured officer, Sgt. Paul Locke, is home and recovering.

The Vermont State Police has taken the lead role in investigating a shooting that occurred Thursday evening, April 24, 2025, in Barre City following the death of the victim Friday morning. The victim is a 45-year-old man from Barre. He was shot once in the abdomen at about 5:25 p.m. Thursday inside a home at 879 N. Main St. First responders brought the victim to Central Vermont Medical Center and later transferred him to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, where he died at about 4 a.m. Friday. His name is being withheld at this time pending notification of relatives. An autopsy was completed Friday afternoon at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the abdomen, and the manner of death is pending. During the initial investigation, police detained Donna Robinson, 43, of the town of Washington.

Vermont Business Magazine Walmart is deepening its commitment to Vermont by investing in local stores, empowering associates and enriching the communities it serves every day. Today, Walmart unveiled details of a planned store remodel this year in Vermont and new investments focused on enhancing the associate experience and community engagement. The Walmart in Bennington will be getting a remodeling. These initiatives underscore Walmart’s goal of being Vermont’s favorite place to shop.