Current News

by Beth Parent, Community Engagement and Outreach Manager at CSWD With Earth Day just around the corner (Tuesday, April 22), it’s the perfect time to reflect on the small actions we take that add up to a big impact—like recycling. Have you ever paused before tossing a box or plastic bottle in the blue bin and thought, “Is this really going to be recycled?” You’re not alone. In a world where national headlines question the integrity of recycling, it’s easy to feel skeptical. We certainly cannot speak to what happens in other states, but we can say with certainty here in Chittenden County, your recycling matters—and it works.

Public Assets Institute Vermont produced $45.7 billion in goods and services last year. That was a 2.3 percent increase in the state’s gross domestic product, after adjusting for inflation. The increase was better than the previous year, but the smallest increase among the New England states. Meanwhile, Vermont total personal income reached $45.5 billion in 2024. That represented a 4.9 percent increase from 2023, but the smallest increase in the New England states and smaller than the country as a whole.

by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First, Vermont Business Magazine An internationally known scientist based in Los Angeles was found guilty Friday in federal court in Burlington on Friday on all 3 counts in a "Murder for Hire" and wire fraud case that showed he was the mastermind in the killing seven years ago in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Serhat D. Gumrukcu, 42, showed no emotion as the foreman read the 3 verdicts about 3:15 p.m. Friday to end the five-week trial. Gumrukcu faces a possible mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Adam Ranslow, 40, of Whitingham, Vermont, was arraigned on four felony counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials. The charges brought against Mr. Ranslow are the result of a criminal investigation, including the execution of search warrants conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), which included personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Vermont State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations.

by Maddie Lindgren, Community News Service Not many would venture out into icy water during the middle of winter, but Silas Loomis made it just another day at work. When a car crashed through the ice, Loomis didn’t flinch. “I knew it was going to be a wet one,” chuckled Loomis. He took off his gear and braced himself for what was going to occur. Then the ice began to break. “I knew it was gonna happen,” he said. “We pulled him out of there by the hair on his head and saved him, but let me tell you, the water was cold. We were all fortunate that night,” Loomis said. For a little more than half a century, luck may have played a role in Loomis’ career, but his passion, instinct and strong ties to his community were what truly established his legacy. Whether he was rescuing someone from icy waters, cruising through town on his police motorcycle, or helping deliver not one, but three babies on the side of the road, Loomis became a local legend in his time.

National Life Group Join us for the National Life Group Do Good Fest on Saturday, July 12, featuring multi-platinum band The Fray as headliner, with two-time Grammy-nominated Plain White T’s and festival favorite Sammy Rae & The Friends, all on our beautiful back lawn. Now in its 11th year, Do Good Fest embodies our "Do good, Be good, Make good" values, raising over $2 million since 2014 (except during two pandemic years) by bringing national acts to Montpelier. Advance tickets are required, starting at a minimum donation of $5, with all proceeds benefiting the Vermont Foodbank to help end childhood hunger, one of National Life’s core corporate causes.

Vermont Business Magazine New Chapter, a Vermont-based vitamin and supplement company known for its commitment to science-backed, whole food-based vitamins and supplements, is expanding its retail footprint with a launch at Target. Three of New Chapter's best-selling supplements - Every Woman's One Daily Multivitamin, Every Woman's One Daily 40+ Multivitamin, and Magnesium + Ashwagandha - will now be available in select Target stores and on Target.com.

Vermont Business Magazine For the first time, Comcast is introducing the option to choose a five-year price guarantee when customers sign up for a new Xfinity Internet package. The nationwide offer includes Xfinity’s best-in-class WiFi gateway and unlimited data – for one simple monthly price starting as low as $55 per month. The rate is locked in for five years with no annual contract required, giving customers the freedom and flexibility to cancel at any time without penalty. The price guarantee is rolling out as part of Xfinity’s mission to deliver transparent, nationwide pricing that is clear and consistent, and increase the value customers receive from its fast, reliable, and secure Internet products.

VermontBiz Today, the Vermont House of Representatives voted to approve S.27, an act relating to medical debt relief and excluding medical debt from credit reports. 

The bill would relieve Vermonters of qualifying medical debt and protect them from the long-term financial impact of that debt on their credit reports. It allocates $1 million to contract with a nonprofit to purchase and forgive certain medical debts and prohibit reporting medical debt to credit agencies.

VermontBiz James M. Betts, ’69, MD’73, a pediatric surgeon, former Olympic Team Physician and volunteer firefighter drawn to helping communities hit by natural disasters, has been selected as the University of Vermont’s 2025 commencement speaker.   

Dr. Betts will address UVM’s newest graduates at the University Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 18. The UVM alumnus is one of three outstanding individuals receiving a 2025 UVM honorary degree. The university will also present its highest honor to former UVM board chair David A. Daigle ’89, whose leadership provided much-needed STEM facilities for UVM faculty and students; and Roy V. Hill II, for invaluable contributions to Vermont’s faith-based, educational, and community institutions. 

VermontBiz Chroma Technology, a leader in optical filter solutions, has announced a major upgrade to its Spectra Viewer, bringing powerful new tools and expanded functionality to researchers, engineers, and scientists. The enhanced Spectra Viewer makes it easier than ever to model optical filters, compare light sources, and optimize optical system designs with greater precision and flexibility.

VermontBiz U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s efforts to reduce the workforce of U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD) offices in Vermont and New Hampshire through buyouts and early retirement offers:

"Across America, and especially in Vermont, USDA-RD is critical to the success of our rural economy. This small but talented office makes the impossible, possible—providing services, grants, loans, and technical assistance to help strengthen rural communities. Their expertise is far-ranging, and goes well-beyond the field—from disaster recovery, to affordable housing support and health care access, to business development, to funding new energy and infrastructure projects.