Current News

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) today launched an investigation into soaring generic drug prices.

“We are conducting an investigation into the recent staggering price increases for generic drugs used to treat everything from common medical conditions to life-threatening illnesses,” Sanders, chairman of a Senate health care subcommittee, and Cummings, ranking member of the House oversight committee, wrote in letters to 14 pharmaceutical companies.

They pointed, for example, to the price hike for Albuterol Sulfate used to treat asthma and other lung conditions. The average cost for a bottle of 100 pills was $11 last October. The average charge by this April had shot up to $434. An antibiotic, Doxycycline Hyclate, cost $20 last October for a bottle of 500 tablets. By April, the price was $1,849.

Governor Peter Shumlin, Speaker of the House Shap Smith, Mayor Miro Weinberger, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Director Jesse Bridges, other State and City officials, and bike path stakeholders today broke ground in Waterfront Park on the first phase of a multi-year effort to completely rebuild, expand, and enhance the entire eight-mile Burlington Bike Path. State tax increment financing (TIF) funds have paved the way for the first phase of the rebuilding of the City’s recreation crown jewel, improving user safety, and continuing the annual economic impact benefit for our City.

Funding awarded for innovative project to help businesses stabilize their transportation costs

The Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) has won funding to help businesses reduce their transportation costs. VEIC was one of just eight entities selected for funding by the 11th Hour Project, out of a nationally competitive pool of more than 100 applicants. The 11th Hour Project is a program of the Schmidt Family Foundation, which is dedicated to the advancement of clean energy development, and the promotion of electric vehicles.

Lyndon State College’s Atmospheric Sciences Department and its Vermont Institute of Applied Meteorology (VIAM) were awarded $200,000 fromVLITE (Vermont Low Income Trust for Electricity), a public benefit and nonprofit corporation. The support allows VIAM to conduct a three-year applied research project along with Vermont Electric Power Company (Velco) and IBM’s “Deep Thunder” project.

The Chittenden Solid Waste District has been studying more efficient and cost-effective ways to collect residential trash in Chittenden County. The District has been looking at a system known as consolidated collection. Many residents and haulers expressed concern over residents losing their ability to choose their hauler and the proposed system's potential negative impact on small haulers, leading CSWD's Board of Commissioners to call a time out at its monthly meeting on September 24, directing staff to consider additional options.

Public and municipal official informational meetings on consolidated collection, scheduled on Oct. 30 and Dec. 3, have been cancelled.

Vermont will receive $594,645 in federal grants to promote local food systems and organic agriculture. The grants were released by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to five organizations across the Green Mountain State as part of the 2014 Farm Bill’s commitment to promoting access to local and organic agriculture. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) made the announcement Wednesday.

In a joint statement, Leahy, Sanders and Welch said, “Vermont has been a leader in organic agriculture and local food systems. These grants are an investment in that progress to ensure more people have access to these healthy foods and Vermont farmers can promote their products.”

by Noelle MacKay, Department of Housing and Community Development commissioner and resident of Shelburne Vermont residents and businesses showcased their resourceful, self-reliant, community spirit in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene. While many communities and individuals continue to grapple with the consequences of Irene, the conversations have shifted to how we address our long-term vulnerability to future storms and flooding.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets has announced $49,000 of available funding for Vermont schools interested in Farm to School programing. Any Vermont school, consortium of schools, or school district interested in a Farm to School grant can find more information and download applications at www.agriculture.vermont.gov. All Vermont Farm to School Program applications must be received by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture no later than 4:30 pm on Tuesday, October 28, 2014.

The state of Vermont has appropriated nearly $775,000 over the past seven years to support Farm to School programming. Since its creation, the Vermont Farm to School grant program has awarded 70 schools or supervisory unions throughout the state funds to support the integration local foods in school cafeterias, classrooms and communities.

PC Construction is giving away a total of $15,000 to nonprofits in the town of Waterbury. The South Burlington, Vermont-based general contractor announced Wednesday the 10 finalists for the second round of its 2014 charitable giving program: “Building Communities: PC Construction Gives Back” in which the public is asked to decide which organizations will receive $10,000, $3,000 and $2,000 in donations. The 100 percent employee-owned company started the crowdsourced giving program in 2013.

Waterbury was selected in part because of the devastating impact on the town during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. Last year, PC Construction began work on the largest construction project ever awarded by the State of Vermont, the reconstruction of the Waterbury State Office Complex in the center of Waterbury on the banks of the Winooski River.

The foliage progression has intensified with near-peak to full color change throughout northeastern Vermont and along the spine of the Green Mountains from north to south. Vibrant colors are also emerging in the higher elevations of southern and central Vermont as well as blossoming in central Vermont valleys. Veteran foresters report an exceptional "hyper-vibrancy," calling the colors "practically neon," and note excellent viewing throughout much of the state at this time. As Addison County Forester, Chris Olson says, "Awesome colors are rolling down off the Green Mountains, into the western foothills and the Champlain Valley."

The US Small Business Administration reminds Private Non-Profit Organizations (PNPs) in Vermont that Oct. 29 is the deadline to submit Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications. These loans are available from the SBA as a result of severe winter storms on December 20-26, 2013. Loans are available to PNPs in Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orleans counties in Vermont.

The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help eligible non-critical PNP organizations meet their working capital needs such as ongoing operating expenses. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers and colleges.

The first woman to serve as President of the Vermont Association of Broadcasters and two legendary news reporters will be inducted into the VAB Hall of Fame later this year. Candis Leopold has worked in radio sales in Vermont since 1981, starting at WNCS in Montpelier. She later worked for Vermont Broadcast Associates stations WKXH and WSTJ in the Northeast Kingdom before being named Sales Manager for Hall Communications stations WIZN and WBTZ in 2010. She served more than 12 years as a member of the VAB Board, including four straight years as president, the first woman to hold that position. She continues to serve as a Legislative Liaison for the VAB.