Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Leonardo’s Pizza in Vermont and Maine Donates 33% of 2024 Profits to Community Initiatives
— Leonardo’s Pizza, a cherished delivery and take-out pizza company serving Vermont and Maine, is proud to announce that it has given back 33% of its 2024 profits to the community. This contribution, in alignment with the company’s mission of sharing love through pizza, includes 22% in cash donations and free pizzas, as well as 11% in discounted pizzas to nonprofit organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Attorney General’s Office announced Friday that David Mumley, 32, formerly of Swanton, Vermont, now a resident of Florida, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Franklin Criminal Division, after entering guilty pleas to misdemeanor neglect of a vulnerable adult, voyeurism, and health care fraud. From December 2020 to February 2022, Mr. Mumley was paid by Vermont Medicaid and Champlain Community Services (CCS) to provide in-home care to a severely disabled, vulnerable adult. The vulnerable adult lived in the home of Mr. Mumley and his spouse and depended on the couple for feeding, toileting and other personal necessities.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont weekly unemployment claims for the week ending April 5, 2025, increased to their highest level since the end of February. A spike at the beginning of March carried them over 600. New claims this week were 449, up 136 claims from the week before and 26 more from last year. The end of the winter tourism season tends increase claims. Claims, which tend to be lowest in the summer, were 181 at the end of September 2024. In Vermont for the weekly report, the Service industry accounted for the most claims last week with 60%, up 2 points. Construction was at 6%, down 4 points, as that industry ramps up. Manufacturing accounted for 20% of claims, up 8 points. 

Vermont State Police On Wednesday at approximately 1835 hours, Vermont State Police were notified of a body located in the Winooski River in the area of the Bolton Falls Power Dam in Duxbury, VT.  The discovery was reported by a person who was walking in the area along the river. Members of the Vermont State Police responded to the scene, where they were assisted by personnel from the Waterbury Fire Department. The body was brought to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington, VT for an autopsy to determine identity and the cause and manner of death. Following autopsy at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office today (4/11/25), the deceased individual is identified as John Gaye, age 45, of Essex, VT.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in American Association of University Professors, et al., v. Marco Rubio, et al. in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, supporting a challenge to the Trump Administration’s “Ideological Deportation Policy,” which targets and punishes noncitizens with lawful status, especially college students and faculty, who express political beliefs with which the Administration disagrees. In filing the amicus brief, the coalition urges the court to block the Administration’s policy, arguing that it violates the First Amendment and irreparably harms colleges and universities, public health and safety, and freedom of religious worship.  

Vermont Business Magazine Linda Rossi, State Director of the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC), announced that Nancy Shuttleworth has been named the organization’s 2025 State Star. The award, presented annually and recognized nationally, celebrates a member of the organization’s team who makes significant contributions to their clients and region, and is deeply committed to Vermont’s small businesses. Shuttleworth is the Area Business Advisor for Rutland and Bennington counties. 

Vermont State Police At approximately 1215 hours on Friday, the Vermont State Police were notified of a reported verbal threat involving students bringing firearms into the Danville School. Troopers from the Vermont State Police and Officers from the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles immediately responded to the school to begin an investigation. As of 1340 hours, the Vermont State Police, in conjunction with officials from the Danville School, have determined that the school and everyone inside it are safe. No firearms were located during this investigation, and the students involved were determined not to have any immediate means to carry out the reported threat. Detectives from the Vermont State Police Criminal Division are actively investigating this incident in conjunction with the Caledonia County State Attorney's Office; however, no criminal charges are pending at this time.

by Virginia Holt, Community News Service A key environmental program at Vermont’s only law school is figuring out how to respond to challenges posed by the new Trump administration. On one hand, there are threats to the rule of law, said Christophe Courchesne, interim director of the Environmental Law Center at Vermont Law and Graduate School. “There are extraordinary efforts to punish lawyers and law firms for representing clients that are disfavored by this administration,” he said. Meanwhile, he said, “it’s a challenging time for the priorities of climate change, climate action and environmental justice.” Like many higher education institutions in America, Vermont Law and Graduate School faces financial uncertainty with federal funding cuts to education. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont House of Representatives passed H.454, the House’s comprehensive education reform bill. The legislation, which received tri-partisan support, marks a major step toward building a more equitable and student-centered public education system and a more stable, resilient financing system. “I voted yes because the status quo is unacceptable for our kids, teachers, and communities,” said Speaker of the Vermont House, Rep. Jill Krowinski. “I know change is hard, but we must lead and create stability in our public education system. This is our moment. Let’s show every kid in our state, no matter where they live, they will have the best education at a price we can afford.”

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday afternoon, 4/11/25, over 500 support staff at Central Vermont Medical Center voted to ratify their first union contract, seven months after their union election. Negotiations concluded on April 4th at 2am after an 18-hour overnight bargaining session. The contract raises wages by an average 27% over the three-year contract, establishes the highest starting rate for support staff job titles in the UVM Health Network ($21/hour), provides paid time off to recover after staff are assaulted at work, lays the foundation for safer staffing, and improves job security, amongst many other provisions. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) has been awarded a $111,323 grant from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to help offset the costs of providing convenient facilities and public education for the safe and proper disposal of hazardous waste generated by residents and qualifying businesses. The grant is part of a solid waste assistance fund provided by the state to help towns and solid waste planning entities implement their solid waste plans, as required by state law. The grant is awarded annually by the DEC, an arm of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. CSWD uses the grant to help fund the District's hazardous waste collection program, which includes the Environmental Depot, a facility located in South Burlington.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Matthew Isaacs, 33, of Hartford, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with producing child sexual abuse materials (previously referred to as child pornography). Isaac’s initial appearance in court was scheduled for Friday before United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford in Burlington.