Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Cindi Wight, Director of Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront (BPRW) announced her decision not to seek reappointment for Fiscal Year 2026. Her last day with the City of Burlington will be June 30, 2025. First appointed in 2017, Director Wight has led the BPRW team through moments of change and opportunity, including the COVID-19 pandemic, when our City parks and natural areas served as a vital reprieve, offering space to safely visit with friends and loved ones.    

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) has approved the Rutland Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Master Plan, marking a significant milestone in the city's efforts to revitalize its downtown. This approval paves the way for the next step: phase approval, which involves taking the first TIF project through the process with the Board of Aldermen and then to VEPC again. The first phase filing, if approved by the Board of Aldermen and subsequently by VEPC, will focus on infrastructure improvements in the northern section of Wales Street—a key area supporting the proposed hotel development. Planned upgrades include water, sewer, and stormwater improvements, as well as brownfield remediation to address existing environmental contamination.

by Morgan Kelly, Dartmouth Drought-fueled wildfires in Southern California, a devastating hurricane in the southern Appalachian Mountains, and catastrophic floods in New England are among the most recent disasters to bring the astronomical costs of climate change into focus. As a growing number of local and national governments struggle to recover from—and protect against—more frequent and destructive climate disasters, some have sought compensation directly from fossil fuel companies through civil cases and “polluters pay” laws. But many of these actions are being challenged or slowed in court, partly due to the difficulty in showing that specific climate impacts occurred because of any one company’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Vermont Business Magazine In the United States, roughly 15 workers lose their lives each day due to work-related injuries. In 2023, a reported 5,283 workers suffered fatal injuries while on the job site. On April 28, 2025, Vermont, along with the rest of the Nation, will honor Workers Memorial Day by acknowledging the family members, friends, and coworkers behind these somber statistics.  

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s catch-and-release bass fishing will be underway with some of the hottest bass fishing action in New England happening with the start of warmer weather. “Spring catch-and-release bass fishing is a really special time to be on the water in Vermont, and the fishing can be truly spectacular,” said Bernie Pientka, state fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish and Wildlife. “Combine warming weather, minimal boat traffic and feeding largemouth and smallmouth bass, and spring bass fishing is hard to beat.” Vermont’s catch-and-release bass fishing runs until June 14, when the regular bass season opens, and the harvesting of bass is allowed. Bass fishing regulations can be found in the 2025 Fishing Guide & Regulations, or by using the Online Fishing Regulations Tool found on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont walleye fishing season opens on Saturday, May 3, marking the return of some of the best walleye fishing in New England. Excellent spring walleye fishing can be found in several Vermont lakes and rivers, including Lake Champlain and its tributaries – the Missisquoi, Lamoille and Winooski rivers and Otter Creek.  In the Northeast Kingdom, Salem Lake and Island Pond also have walleye populations that are on the rebound thanks to stocking by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. A trio of additional waters – Lake Carmi, Chittenden Reservoir and the Connecticut River, also offer quality walleye fishing. 

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Julio Pinto, 57, of Canada, has been charged by criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after having been previously deported. On April 22, 2025, Pinto appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Pinto be detained during the pendency of this matter. According to court records, Pinto was served an Expedited Order of Removal in October 2023 and thereafter departed the United States. He was barred from entering the United States for five years. Nevertheless, he illegally crossed the United States-Canada international border on April 21, 2025, and was found in a gas station in Alburgh, Vermont.

Vermont State Police As the investigation continues into Wednesday night’s shooting in Milton, the Vermont State Police is able to identify the people involved. The injured Milton police officer is Sgt. Paul Locke, who has served with the department since he graduated from the Vermont Police Academy in 1999. Sgt. Locke is known for building connections throughout the Milton community and for his work as a drug recognition expert, a specialized field within law enforcement that focuses on identifying and reducing impaired driving. Sgt. Locke was shot twice when he arrived along with firefighters after smoke was seen coming from a window at 78 Main St. One round struck Sgt. Locke’s bullet-resistant vest, and the other passed through one of his legs. He was brought by Milton Rescue to the University of Vermont Medical Center, where he was treated and released late Wednesday to continue his recovery at home.

Vermont Business Magazine Citizens today named veteran banker Marc Lubelczyk as its New Hampshire and Vermont president, succeeding Joseph Carelli, who will retire from the bank effective May 2. A New Hampshire native, Lubelczyk began his career at Citizens in 1993 after graduating from the University of New Hampshire. Over the last 32 years, he has held roles of increasing responsibility within corporate banking, establishing a strong track record as a trusted advisor to businesses of all sizes across New England. Lubelczyk earned his MBA from Southern New Hampshire University.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.09 per gallon, unchanged from last week. They are up 2 cents/g from last month and down 52 cents/g from last year, according to AAA. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.79/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 50.0 cents per gallon. The lowest prices are in Rutland ($2.98/g) and Windsor ($3.00/g) counties. The highest are in Essex ($3.20/g), Franklin ($3.18/g) and Grand Isle ($3.21/g) counties, as prices generally get higher the farther north one goes. The national average price of gasoline has risen 1 cent per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.17/g today. The national average is up 5 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 49 cents per gallon lower than a year ago

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University, a nationally recognized leader in the cyber domain, will officially break ground on the construction of the new 13,000-square foot Cyber Fusion Research and Development Center (CFC) on April 25. Senator Patrick Leahy, Lt Gen John J. Broadmeadow, USMC (Ret), 25th President of Norwich University, and Phil Susmann, President of Norwich University Applied Research Institutes (NUARI) will be speaking about the significant and far-reaching impact of this project. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont now has nearly 18,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on its roads, a 41% increase in the number of EVs on the road since last year, according to data from Drive Electric Vermont. The surge in EV adoption shows Green Mountain State residents are embracing the savings and simplicity of driving electric—and the environmental benefits of driving cleaner vehicles ahead of Earth Day. Governor Scott said at his regular press conference Wednesday that it's clear the state needs many more fast chargers.