Current News

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.

Saint Michael's College announces 2025 Commencement speaker: Fr. Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries. Fr. Gregory Boyle, S.J., the founder of the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world, will deliver the Commencement address at Saint Michael’s College to the Class of 2025. Also receiving honorary degrees – Phish and Dismas of Vermont founder.

Vermont Business Magazine This morning, President Trump directed the FBI to arrest trial court judge Hannah Dugan in Milwaukee. She is being charged with obstructing law enforcement, a federal crime. Let’s be clear. Trump‘s arrest of Judge Dugan in Milwaukee has nothing to do with immigration. It has everything to do with his moving this country toward authoritarianism. He is illegally usurping Congressional powers. He is suing media that he dislikes. He is attacking universities whose policies he disagrees with. He is intimidating major law firms who have opposed him. He is ignoring a 9-0 Supreme Court decision to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back from El Salvador, where he was illegally sent. He is threatening to impeach judges who rule against him.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont weekly unemployment claims for the week ending April 19, 2025, rose and are at their highest level since the end of February. A spike at the beginning of March carried them over 600. New claims this week were 496, up 64 claims from the week before and are 42 more from last year. The end of the winter tourism season tends to increase claims. Claims, which are lowest in the summer, were 181 at the end of September 2024. Vermont total unemployment insurance claims were 3,689 (up 75 for the week and up 394 from this time last year). 

Burlington Business Association Based on tax filings, economic activity is down about 10%. This reflects what we have been hearing from our BBA members, with some reporting even softer sales numbers. When compared to the same period last Fiscal Year (Jul. to Feb.) The city raised the taxes on these sales. In an effort to raise revenue and with the assumption that sales numbers would stay the same or grow. The result is the city is getting about 19% more tax revenue even though sales are lower.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) today announced the death of Gene Peterson, a sentenced individual receiving palliative care at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in New Hampshire. Gene Peterson, 67, of Readsboro, Vermont, was lodged at Southern State Correctional Facility on June 2, 2021. On April 20, 2025, Mr. Peterson was transported to Springfield Hospital to receive medical care. He was subsequently transferred to DHMC and transitioned to comfort care measures on April 23. Mr. Peterson was pronounced deceased at DHMC on April 24. 

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s threat to withhold federal funding from state and local agencies that refuse to abandon lawful programs and policies that promote equal access to education in K-12 classrooms across the nation. On April 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education informed state and local agencies that they must accept the Trump Administration’s new and legally incoherent interpretation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts — or else risk immediate and catastrophic loss of federal education funds. 

Vermont Business Magazine Promoting health and wellness in the communities University of Vermont Health Network serves does not begin or end in the hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics and community-based health centers that serve a region of more than 1 million people in Vermont and northern New York. Each year to celebrate Earth Day, health system employees in Vermont have planted trees at their homes and in their communities to support and celebrate a healthy and vibrant environment. The trees and shrubs from Intervale Center are native species to the region and integrate seamlessly into each community’s natural habitat.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The sale of Burke Mountain Resort was approved Thursday, April 24, 2025, by Judge Darrin Gayles in an order from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Gayles approved the sale of Burke to Bear Den Partners LLC for $11.5 million. The prospective new owners expect to close in early May. The sale was the most notable lingering case involving Ariel Quiros, William Stenger, and other entities associated with securities fraud at Jay Peak and Burke Mountain Resort. Quiros was owner of both resorts. The case stems from a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement action against Ariel Quiros, William Stenger, and their affiliates for alleged securities fraud brought in April 2016. The court appointed a receiver, Michael I. Goldberg, to manage and dispose of assets within the receivership estate, which includes Burke Mountain Resort.

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bancorp Inc (NASDAQ: NBTB), with NBT Bank branches in Vermont, reported net income and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was $36.7 million, or $0.77 per diluted common share, compared to $33.8 million, or $0.71 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2024, and $36.0 million, or $0.76 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2024. Operating diluted earnings per share(1), a non-GAAP measure, was $0.80 for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $0.68 for the first quarter of 2024 and $0.77 for the fourth quarter of 2024.