Current News

by Helen Argraves, Community News Service The federal government’s efforts to cut expenditures have not skipped Vermont. The Elon Musk–led Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has terminated leases for three federal office buildings here since the second Trump administration’s launch in January, touting claimed savings achieved on its website. The buildings in question are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration building in Barre, the Department of Housing and Urban Development building in Burlington and the Natural Resources Conservation Service building in St. Johnsbury. Together the leases account for 8,342 square feet of office space, and as of March 26 DOGE claims $170,306 in savings from the conservation service lease and $13,161 savings from the NOAA one. 

by Charlotte Oliver, Community News Service Early last month, legislators sat around their committee table and shared stories of loss. Rep. Mary Howard, D-Rutland, said she would wipe tears from her eyes on her morning drive to work after the death of her husband. Other lawmakers joined in — and no one was off topic. They were discussing a bill, H. 461, which could widen the circumstances under which employees can take unpaid time off. It would also expand the definition of family under state time-off laws, changing language to include more non-traditional family structures. 

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce today announced that they will hold a press conference alongside food service and airport workers on Tuesday, April 8, to introduce the Raise the Wage Act. This bicameral legislation will ensure American workers make a living wage, drive economic growth, and reduce income inequality by raising the minimum wage to $17 over five years for all workers and gradually eliminating subminimum wages for tipped workers, workers with disabilities, and youth workers.

by Katie Grenon Equity is meaningless when it is defined by those in power, rather than by stakeholders. Legislators need to keep this in mind as they reimagine Vermont’s education system. Living in a rural area is a social determinant of health, of educational outcomes, and, I would argue, of power. Nearly 65% of Vermonters live in small towns, rural, or remote areas. This means that policies with unique impacts on rural communities affect a substantial majority. Legislators should be quick to consult rural constituents about our experience of the factors that most influence educational outcomes. If they asked rural folks, this is what they would hear: Retaining our local elementary schools is the most important factor in supporting educational equity. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) has developed an interactive, self-guided challenge to mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the important contributions of the Adirondack region to the nation’s history. The Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest invites visitors to follow a themed trail, using their mobile device to guide them along the route. Quest participants will have access to information about the attractions along the way as they are guided to key sites throughout the Lake Champlain region. The quest is scheduled to be available on May 3, ahead of the anniversary marking the capture of Fort Ticonderoga from the British on May 10, 1775, by Ethan Allen and Vermont's Green Mountain Boys. That pivotal event is considered by many historians to be the Continental Army’s first victory of the Revolutionary War.

Vermont Business Magazine The “Economic Benefits of Mountain Biking" report was released this week by Trust for Public Land and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). The report extols the virtues of the sport and of Vermont's Kingdom Trails. The East Burke-based organization gets much attention in the report as an international mountain bike tourism destination. According to the report, Kingdom Trails generates a $10.3 million economic boost locally by attracting 94,000 visitors each year who drop an average of $176 per day in the community. The report is compilation and analysis of 50 recent studies and is designed to help communities and advocates better understand the opportunities and challenges around the creation, expansion and enhancement of their local trail systems.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University is honored to announce United States Army Brigadier General Shane P. Morgan as the ROTC Joint Commissioning Ceremony speaker for the Norwich University graduating Class of 2025. BG Morgan, Norwich University Class of 1994, is currently assigned to the Joint Staff, Pentagon as the Deputy Director for Regional Operations, J35. Norwich University honored his contributions as an undergraduate student-athlete when he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the recent 2024 homecoming festivities. The distinguished letter winner played both baseball and football during his time on The Hill. Following his graduation at Norwich, he received his commission in Field Artillery. 

Vermont Business Magazine On April 8th Ben & Jerry's is throwing its annual Free Cone Day celebration, serving up free scoops of ice cream to fans around the world. During the much-loved tradition, Ben & Jerry's aims to spread some joy across the globe, one ice cream filled cone at a time. Last year fans showed up in record numbers, helping Ben & Jerry's scoopers serve up over 1 million scoops of free ice cream; if you laid those cones down end to end, it would create an ice cream trail 80 miles long*! This year we want to go just as big, giving thanks to our fans with as much joy as possible in the form of chunky, swirly flavors.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont weekly unemployment claims for the week ending March 29, 2025, increased slightly after falling to their lowest level of the year last week. A spike at the beginning of March carried them over 600. New claims were 313, up 19 claims from the week before and 71 more from last year. 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 58%, up 2 points. Construction was at 10%, down 4 points. Manufacturing accounted for 12% of claims, down 1 point. For the week, Vermont total unemployment insurance claims were 3,760 for the week (down 144 for the week and up 444 from this time last year). 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today returned without signature and vetoed H.489, An act relating to fiscal year 2025 budget adjustments. The Senate passed the bill Thursday in a 17-13 vote. The revised Budget Adjustment Act bill retained language to extend the Hotel/Motel program for the homeless through June, with no new allocation but with funding already available in the current (FY25) budget. The Hotel/Motel program was scheduled to end on April 1. Scott had vetoed the first iteration of the $163 million BAA. The governor then signed an executive order extending the Hotel/Motel program for families with children and medically vulnerable individuals who were scheduled to exit the General Assistance program on April 1. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) voted to approve a comprehensive settlement agreement with the University of Vermont Health Network (UVMHN) and the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC), resolving matters related to significant budget overages in Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024 and outlining a path forward for system-wide financial accountability and healthcare reform.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 20 other state attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries and museums, workers, and minority-owned businesses nationwide. The three agencies include Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Clark and the coalition seeks to stop the targeted destruction of the IMLS, and two other agencies targeted in the administration’s Executive Order that millions of Americans rely on, especially those in underserved communities.