Current News

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.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today released the following statement regarding Trump's widespread tariffs on more than 60 countries. "Most importantly, what Trump is doing is illegal and another step toward authoritarianism. In pushing his tariffs, he is usurping the power of Congress and abrogating existing agreements under “emergency” provisions - when there are no real emergencies. In other words, he is incorporating more and more power into his own hands. That is unacceptable."

Vermont Business Magazine The leadership of University of Vermont and UVM Staff United announced that they have reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement. The agreement is subject to ratification by the union’s membership and approval by the UVM Board of Trustees. Specific terms of the tentative three-year agreement will be released after the approval and ratification process is completed.

Vermont Business Magazine The Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont announced a community engagement session on Monday, April 7th from 5:00pm - 7:00pm at the South Burlington School District Office (577 Dorset Street, South Burlington VT). 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union in the month of March 2025 donated a total of $9,000 to Vermont nonprofits, administered by the Vermont Federal Foundation (Vermont Federal's 501(c)(3) non profit charitable organization).

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 19 state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against President Trump, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the federal Election Assistance Commission, and other Trump Administration officials over Executive Order No. 14248 (the Elections Executive Order). The coalition argues the Elections Executive Order is an unconstitutional, antidemocratic, and un-American attempt to impose sweeping voting restrictions across the country. Among other restrictions, the Elections Executive Order attempts to conscript State election officials in the President’s campaign to impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements on voters. It also seeks to upend common-sense, well-established State procedures for counting ballots — procedures that make it easier for Americans to exercise their right to vote. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced a slate of bipartisan bills to lower the cost of prescription drugs, including several sponsored by Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont). “We’re facing an affordability crisis right now, and the cost of health care and prescription drugs is adding to the pain. The importance of lowering the cost of drugs, helping more generics enter the market, and taking on pharmaceutical middlemen is something we can all find common ground on,” said Senator Welch. “I'm pleased to see our bipartisan bills advance out of the Judiciary Committee this morning. Vermont patients, seniors and families will benefit from these commonsense bills, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to join us in passing this legislation.” 

Vermont Business Magazine Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), the region’s premier discount retail chain with 159 stores across the Northeast, is hiring for 16 new stores as part of a major expansion effort. The company is in the process of acquiring 15 former Big Lots locations and will open up to 22 new stores in 2025, including new entries into Maryland and Delaware. Hiring is now underway for 16 locations with each store offering approximately 30 temporary positions to start, as well as part-time, full-time, supervisory, and leadership opportunities.