Current News

Anne Galloway, vtdigger.org and Vermont Business Magazine

Sen. James Jeffords died this morning at the Knollwood Military Retirement Residence in Washington, D.C.
He was 80 years old. Jeffords had lived at the residence since his wife died of ovarian cancer eight years ago.

The Vermont congressman and senator served 32 years in Congress until 2005 when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Jeffords became famous in May 2001 when he left the Republican party to become an independent and began caucusing with the Democrats in the Senate.

[Sen. Jim Jeffords, R-Vt.]

“Single payer” is the buzzword of Vermont’s 2014 election. A candidate’s pledge to support single payer is the litmus test for some. Big money – mostly from out-of-state unions – is flowing into Vermont to support candidates who pass the single payer test.

So, what’s the big deal? If the State delivers on its promise: the same or better health care at a lower cost, we’re ALL going to support single payer! This is really a non-issue.

But, perhaps Vermonters are starting to have doubts. The single payer political action committee, Vermont Leads, has found only 10 candidates out of the 34 contestants to endorse in the 2014 legislative primary races. (Full Disclosure: If I were running for reelection, I assume I would have passed the test and gotten an endorsement, too, because I voted for Act 48.)

Bellows Falls, Vt. - The employee-owners of Sonnax Industries are pleased to announce the acquisition of Valve Body Xpress (VBX) and Valve Body Xtras of Paulsboro, N.J. Founded in 2006, VBX is a leading remanufacturer of automatic transmission valve bodies and solenoids. Valve Body Xtras is a VBX subsidiary focused on valve body components.

The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for July 2014 was 3.7 percent. This represents an increase of three-tenths of a percent from the revised June rate (3.4 percent). The equivalent national average was 6.2 percent, which increased by one-tenth of a percent from the previous month’s estimate. This is the second monthly increase to the statewide unemployment rate in Vermont in the past year. Vermont’s unemployment rate is tied for fourth lowest in the country.

Sugarbush Resort begins their fall season pass campaign today, launching sales of 2014/15 season passes at their lowest available prices through September 10.

Sugarbush continues to offer four standard passes – the All-Mountain Pass for unlimited skiing and riding at Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen; the Mt. Ellen Pass offering unlimited skiing at Mt. Ellen; the Mt. Ellen Plus Pass with five days at Lincoln Peak during the season and spring skiing at Lincoln Peak after Mt. Ellen closes; and the All Resort Pass, a year-round pass to all resort activities.

Fletcher Allen announced that it has met the electronic medical record (EMR) system Stage 2 requirements for quality, safety and efficiency that were developed by the federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These standards, part of the CMS Meaningful Use program, help hospitals focus on aspects of EHR implementation deemed most important by CMS, namely those that improve patient safety, quality of care and health system efficiency.

Meaningful Use is a multi-year government incentive program created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to encourage health care providers across the country to make the switch to electronic health records. Fletcher Allen was in the first wave of hospitals recognized for successfully meeting the program’s Stage 1 requirements in early 2012.

by John Herrick vtdigger.org Six members of the Vermont Air National Guard were hospitalized Friday after toxic fuel spilled at the South Burlington base Friday morning, the Guard said in a statement. Guard spokesman Major Chris Gookin said the Guard members were given First Aid treatment and later transported to Fletcher Allen Health Care in an ambulance after experiencing a bad taste in their mouths. He said it was a precautionary measure. Gookin wrote in a follow-up statement, “The Hangar is secured while the maintenance and the Hydrazine Response Team survey the area, there is no danger to the public.”

The colorless chemical hydrazine is used in the Guard’s F-16 fighter jets’ Emergency Power Units. The spill occurred at 9:35 am Friday during normal maintenance operations at the base, the Guard said. The guard notified the media at about 10:15 am.

US Representative Peter Welch, D-Vermont, says Vermont student-loan borrowers need to protect themselves from a new breed of predatory debt relief companies targeting $1.2 billion in education loans. “Unfortunately, these types of companies prey on borrowers who may be struggling to pay their education loans. Unsuspecting borrowers could end up paying more – a lot more – without any added benefit but with the potential to suffer real consequences,” Welch said at an event with Vermont Attorney Bill Sorrell and the Vermont Student Assistance Corp.

“They charge large upfront fees for services that are available for free from the federal government. And they often convince borrowers to turn over their personal information – everything from Social Security numbers to assigning powers-of-attorney to the company.”

by Eileen Simollardes, Vermont Gas There is no doubt that the Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project will strengthen our economy, help retain and create jobs by cutting heating bills by 40 to 50 percent and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions – advantages that help Vermont transition toward a cleaner and more affordable energy future. However, one of the most challenging elements of all public infrastructure projects is their impact on landowners.

AB Acquisition LLC, which operates Albertsons stores under Albertson's LLC and ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, and Shaw's and Star Markets under New Albertson's, Inc, recently learned of an unlawful intrusion to obtain credit and debit card payment information in some of its stores, including in Vermont. The appropriate federal law enforcement authorities have been notified, and AB Acquisition is working closely with its third party IT services provider, SUPERVALU, to better understand the nature and scope of the incident. Third-party data forensics experts are supporting an ongoing investigation. AB Acquisition has not determined that any cardholder data was in fact stolen, and currently it has no evidence of any misuse of any such data.

AB Acquisition believes that the intrusion has been contained and is confident that its customers can safely use their credit and debit cards in its stores.

The partnership of Nedde Real Estate, Redstone and Youkel Architecture + Development has broken ground for the Riverrun luxury apartments located right on the Winooski River in downtown Winooski. With occupancy slated for June 2015, the energy efficient building will feature triple glazed windows and other good sustainability practices and will contain 56 high-end apartments plus luxury amenities including on-site covered parking, a combination of enclosed and climate controlled storage units, a fitness center, balconies on all apartments and walking path to the river boardwalk. The building is being constructed by Wright & Morrissey Construction.