Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Pieciak’s proposal to create a free prescription drug discount card program in Vermont (H.577) passed out of the Senate Health and Welfare committee on a unanimous, bipartisan vote.  The program would provide immediate relief at the pharmacy counter—lowering drug costs, supporting healthier outcomes for patients, and saving Vermonters over $20 million annually on their medications. With broad support across the Legislature, the measure now approaches final consideration in the Senate. The Vermont House recently approved H.577 on a near-unanimous voice vote. 

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday at 10:53 am, troopers of the Vermont State Police Shaftsbury Barracks were notified of a two-vehicle crash in the area of 1660 Vermont Route 9 in the town of Searsburg. It was reported one of the operators was entrapped and unresponsive. Initial investigations revealed operator one, identified as Alan Vautrain (53), was traveling East on Vermont Route 9 and entered the oncoming lane of traffic. Operator two, identified as Robert Ruhl (72) attempted to swerve into the other lane of travel to avoid a collision. Operator one also attempted to swerve back into his lane at the last second, causing a head-on collision. Both vehicles were totaled as a result of the crash. Operator one was pronounced dead at the scene and operator two was transported to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced action on the following bills, passed by the General Assembly. He singed into law S.210, An act relating to access to autopsy reports, but vetoed S.183, An act relating to home improvement and land improvement fraud. The veto was related to an editing error in the bill and not based on its content. Scott said once the bill is corrected, he will sign it into law as intended.

Vermont Business Magazine Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison and Vermont State Police Director Col. Matthew T. Birmingham today issued the following statement related to prosecutorial decisions arising from the March 11 incident on Dorset Street in South Burlington: "Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George’s recent statement just gave permission for people at large gatherings to obstruct police officers and interfere with arrests. This is a disheartening decision that sets a dangerous precedent. State’s Attorney George has a vastly different vision from our own for what public safety and the rule of law looks like. She has missed an opportunity to delineate between the lawful conduct the First Amendment protects and the lawlessness of criminal behavior that escalates volatile situations and harms communities."

Vermont Business Magazine As Vermont’s construction season ramps up, the Associated General Contractors of Vermont (AGC Vermont) is marking Work Zone Awareness Week by reaffirming its commitment to jobsite safety and honoring the lives of construction workers who have lost their lives on the job. This week, AGC Vermont is recognizing Work Zone Awareness Week alongside its annual Workers Memorial observance in Montpelier, a solemn reminder of the human cost of preventable workplace incidents and roadway crashes. The memorial serves as a powerful call to action for motorists, employers, and policymakers alike: safety must always come first.

Vermont Business Magazine Today is Earth Day and members of the Vermont environmental community, including Vermont Natural Resources Council, Vermont Conservation Voters, VPIRG, Sierra Club of Vermont, Third Act, Renewable Energy Vermont, and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, gathered for a press conference alongside Vermont elected leaders to speak out against the unprecedented dismantling of federal environmental protections - and what Vermont leaders are doing to protect our air, water, land, climate, and democracy. The event was held at the State House.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich university Board Chair Al Gobeille recently outlined decisive actions the university will undertake that are focused on affordability, workforce investment, and the long-term strength of the university. These include: Tuition Freeze, Norwich will not raise tuition for the coming academic year, reinforcing its commitment to affordability at a time of national financial pressure on families; Employee Investment, the board approved wage increases to keep pace with inflation and funded healthcare premiums to maintain current benefit levels; Record Endowment, the university’s endowment has reached a historic high of $328 million; Long-Term Stability, these decisions are supported by a measured endowment draw, underscoring the balanced approach to near-term needs and long-term institutional strength.

Vermont Business Magazine In a subcommittee hearing Tuesday, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, pushed back on Republicans’ sham hearing on the Arctic Frost investigation, led by independent special counsel Jack Smith, which they argue targeted President Trump and Republicans in Congress. Republicans’ star witness, Jeffrey Clark, led Donald Trump’s attempts to overthrow the 2020 election.  Welch’s opening statement set the record straight, outlining how President Trump incited a violent mob to attack the Capitol and overthrow the free and fair 2020 election, and the president’s continued efforts to dispute his 2020 election loss.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor reported today, according to household data, that the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for February was 2.6 percent. This reflects a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. The comparable United States rate in February was 4.4 percent, an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from the revised January estimate. Vermont is still tied for the third lowest rate in the US, with North Dakota. Hawaii and South Dakota are first (2.3%) and California and Delaware are tied for highest (5.4%). However, a steep decline in total Employed in Vermont was offset by a steeper decline in the Labor Force.

Vermont Business Magazine Hunger Free Vermont, state leaders, and other advocates gathered at the Statehouse on Tuesday to oppose the Scott administration's intent to pursue a SNAP Food Restrictions Waiver. The speakers included Senate Majority Leader Kesha Ram Hinsdale, state Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Lt. Gov. John Rodgers, and Sen. Ginny Lyons, among leaders from Hunger Free Vermont, Feeding Champlain Valley, and NOFA-VT. A SNAP Food Restrictions Waiver would add more restrictions on what people can buy with their 3SquaresVT benefits. Vermont leaders are considering “non-nutritious foods” as part of this ban. While not required for any state to adopt, these waivers are being encouraged by the federal administration, and a number of states have already rolled them out.

Vermont Business Magazine Funding is now available through the Walter Cerf Community Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation to nonprofits and municipal organizations working to address charitable needs across Vermont. The fund prioritizes support for the arts, education, historic preservation, and social services, with particular interest in efforts that address the needs of underserved populations. Grants are awarded to organizations that serve Addison County, the town of Brandon, or offer a unique, statewide contribution to Vermont. Approximately 70% of available funding will support programs and projects in or serving Addison County and Brandon, while the remaining 30% will fund statewide efforts. Priority will be given to statewide proposals that include a meaningful benefit to Addison County and Brandon communities. 

Vermont Business Magazine For many drivers, the most stressful part of a journey doesn’t happen on the highway - it happens when trying to get off it. Off-ramps are where traffic patterns suddenly shift, decisions have to be made quickly, and small design flaws can create outsized frustration. Short merge lanes, confusing signage, blind curves, last-second lane changes, and backed-up exit queues can all turn a routine exit into a daily flashpoint. These moments often trigger the kind of stress and impatience that lead to risky driving behaviors - from abrupt braking to aggressive lane cutting.