Current News

The J Warren & Lois McClure Foundation, a supporting organization of the Vermont Community Foundation, has announced $339,650 in grants to support programs promoting college and career education for Vermonters—with a particular focus on low-income students, first-generation college students, adult learners, and veterans. The McClure Foundation is guided by a vision of a vibrant, world-class economy in Vermont where no job goes unfilled for lack of a qualified applicant and in which each citizen is encouraged to learn and to contribute.

by Morgan True vtdigger.org Vermont’s largest health insurer said Tuesday that any reduction to its requested rate increase for plans it offers on the state’s health exchange could hurt its solvency, but consumer advocates argue the increase will make coverage less affordable. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont is requesting an average 9.8 percent rate increase for its Vermont Health Connect plans in 2015. That translates to a $20 to $75 monthly increase in premiums, depending on the plan. Blue Cross covers more than 90 percent of those who purchased commercial insurance through Vermont Health Connect, the state’s health insurance marketplace.

by Tom Pelham, Campaign for Vermont So now the fiscal ship of state has hit the rocky shoals, as predicted. Almost a year ago, those of us at Campaign for Vermont clearly made the case that Vermont’s fiscal ship was heading toward treacherous waters (click for 'Shipwreck'). The Shumlin administration’s (click here) response was that the fiscal ship was in good hands.

More recently, Campaign for Vermont predicted the revenue down grade: Pelham: Government growing faster than the economy

Vermont Gas will offer landowners with whom they’ve not yet reached an easement agreement the option of participating in a new, neutral third-party mediation process. In a statement released Teusday, the company said it hopes this neutral process results in agreements that will eliminate the need for full, litigated eminent domain proceedings. Since 2001 Vermont Gas has installed over 250 miles of pipeline and has never had to use eminent domain. However, Vermont Gas said that in order to maintain the schedule necessary to deliver the 4,000 residents and business of Addison County the 40-50 percent savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions that the project can provide, Vermont Gas must proceed with the regulatory process. This means Vermont Gas will have to initiate eminent domain proceedings for a small number of landowners, but in these cases landowners have been, or will be, offered neutral, third-party mediation as an alternative.

Vermont Business Magazine MPHJ Technology Investments, LLC, lost its latest attempt to avoid litigating its case in Vermont state court when the United States Appellate Court for the Federal Circuit dismissed an appeal of the federal district court’s decision to send the case back to the state court for resolution. “We’re pleased the Federal Circuit has rejected MPHJ’s appeal. Now we can turn in earnest to litigate the case in state court – where it began and where it rightfully should be,” said Attorney General Sorrell.

Green Mountain Power began construction Tuesday on an innovative new solar project to improve resiliency and safety in communities, by generating clean energy that can be stored and used to power an emergency shelter at Rutland High School during a storm. According to the US Department of Energy, The Stafford Hill Solar Farm is the first project to establish a micro-grid powered solely by solar and battery back-up, with no other fuel source. GMP received a Certificate of Public Good for the project on June 15 and preliminary site work is under way. The $10 million project is expected to be complete in mid-December.

Susan L Donegan, commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) today announced the appointment of Kaj Samsom as deputy commissioner of the Insurance Division. Samsom joined DFR in 2006 as insurance examiner and in 2011 became director of the Insurance Division’s Licensing and Examinations section. In that role, he managed a team of CPAs and was responsible for all licensing and examinations of insurance companies, as well as financial analysis-related decisions for the Division. He has been a key adviser to DFR leadership on complex evaluations requiring Departmental approval.

Donegan said, “Kaj is invaluable to our team; he shows initiative and seriousness of purpose while balancing many responsibilities,” she said, “I look forward to continuing to rely on Kaj’s good counsel and willingness to tackle tough issues as he joins the other deputies in helping me to oversee DFR.”

by Laura Krantz vtdigger.org The Vermont Department for Children and Families was fined at least $139,000 by the federal government after failing an audit of its child welfare system, but avoided paying the penalty by improving its practices, according to the federal Administration for Children and Families. The ACF in 2007 audited Vermont and every other state as part of the Child and Family Services Review. That federal audit is the most recent; the next review is scheduled for next year.

Lynne Klamm, interim director of the Department for Children and Families Rutland office, testifies alongside DCF Commissioner Dave Yacavone before a joint legislative committee investigating child protection in Vermont on July 23, at the Statehouse. Photo by Laura Krantz/VTDigger.org

Vermont Business Magazine One of the hallmarks of the Shumlin Administration has been its consistency of leadership. With rare exception the major posts have been occupied by the same people who were there at the governor's first swearing in ceremony. But that has now changed. Governor Peter Shumlin Tuesday announced that Doug Racine will be stepping down as Secretary of the Agency of Human Services. Racine later confirmed he was fired Monday. Harry Chen, a physician and current Commissioner of the Department of Health, has stepped in as Interim Secretary while a search for a permanent replacement is conducted.

GDF SUEZ Gas NA (GSGNA) has announced it has entered into a purchase agreement with Gaz Metro LNG, LP of Montreal that will make available up to 1.0 Bcf (billion cubic feet) of additional LNG (liquefied natural gas) to meet the peak 2014-2015 winter demand in New England.

"This second annual arrangement with Gaz Metro represents an important step in the further diversification of our supply portfolio, as well as an opportunity for us to take advantage of gas purchases on this continent to increase our supply assets, and to continue to ensure reliability to New England when resources can be tight—the winter heating season," said Frank Katulak, President and Chief Executive Officer of GSGNA. "Additional and reliable supplies such as these will also allow us to cost effectively provide more services to the marketplace by optimizing existing natural gas infrastructure in the region."

Becker's Hospital Review included Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in its 2014 list of "100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs." Organizations included on this year's list are considered to be leaders in quality patient care, cancer outcomes, and research.

The Becker's Hospital Review editorial team selected hospitals for inclusion based on rankings and awards from a variety of reputable sources. The following awards were considered as part of the criteria for inclusion on the list: U.S. News & World Report cancer rankings, Truven Health Analytics, CareChex cancer care rankings, National Cancer Institute designations, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer accreditations, American Nurses Credentialing Center designations, and recognition from the BlueCross BlueShield Association.

Vermont will receive $1.68 million from the US Department of Veterans Affairs to help address veteran homelessness, US Senator Bernie Sanders, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, announced today. The grant to the University of Vermont is part of the VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, which is providing approximately $300 million to 301 community agencies to help low-income veterans and their families.

Nationwide, homelessness among veterans declined 24 percent from 2010 to 2013. These grants will help roughly 115,000 veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

“Veterans' homelessness is a national disgrace. In recent years we have made some good progress in lowering the rate of veterans' homelessness in Vermont and throughout the country, but we still have a long way to go. This grant will enable us to continue going forward and provide dignity to some struggling veterans and their families,” Sanders said.