Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, House Speaker Jill Krowinski and Representative Marc Mihaly, Chair of the House Committee on General & Housing, issued the following statement following the tri-partisan vote to pass H.479, an act relating to housing. Among other elements, the bill reforms the appeals process to ensure that those who challenge housing appeals have to show specific harm to their personal interests and demonstrate that the proposed housing violates the applicable zoning laws. The bill now moves on to the Senate for consideration. 

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today released the following statement announcing his intention to bring to the Senate floor two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) to block the sale of certain offensive U.S. weaponry to Israel: "Next week, I will force Senate votes on two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval I have introduced to block certain offensive arms sales to Israel. These sales, proposed by the Trump Administration, would provide $8.8 billion in bombs and other munitions to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s extremist government to continue its destruction of Gaza. Netanyahu has clearly violated U.S. and international law in this brutal war, and we must end our complicity in the carnage."

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) honored outgoing Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD Wednesday night during its annual Medical Staff Recognition. SVMC, a member of Dartmouth Health, hosts the annual event to recognize physicians and advanced practice providers for excellence in practice, teamwork, and tenure. This year’s event included a special honor for Levine, who was named an honorary member of SVMC’s Medical Staff.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced the formation of a Vermont Baby Bonds Advisory Committee. The Committee will convene local and national experts to support the development of a baby bonds pilot program in Vermont. In 2023, Treasurer Pieciak and legislative leaders brought forward a proposal to implement a baby bonds program in Vermont, which would have invested $3,200 for every Vermont child born on Medicaid. When the child reaches adulthood, they could access the funds for wealth-building activities like buying a home in Vermont, starting or investing in a local business, pursuing higher education or job training, or saving for retirement. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Brattleboro Retreat mourns the passing of Tom Huebner, our esteemed Board Chair, whose leadership and vision have left an enduring mark on healthcare in Vermont. Tom dedicated his life to improving healthcare access, quality, and collaboration, first as CEO of Rutland Regional Medical Center and later as a transformative force at the Retreat and many other healthcare systems across the region.  A deeply respected figure in the state’s healthcare community, Tom dedicated nearly three decades to Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC), serving as CEO from 1997 until his retirement in 2018. Under his leadership, RRMC earned recognition as one of America’s best regional hospitals and became a model for collaboration, quality improvement, and financial stability. 

by Charlotte Oliver, Community News Service On a Sunday night Kelsey Rice found her abuser at her home again, out on bail after an arrest hours earlier. The courts had ordered him to stay away. He didn’t. He assaulted her that March 2019 night, she said, threatening to kill them both — and not for the first time. Authorities should’ve told Rice that the man was getting out. She didn’t get a call till days later, she told state lawmakers this past fall. Crime victims in Vermont have the legal right to get timely notifications about the movements of those charged with or convicted of harming them. It’s through a system called VINELink, which Vermont pays hundreds of thousands of dollars for and is managed by the state. But gaps are common, say victims and advocates, and Rice’s experience shows one of many ways those lapses can have dangerous consequences. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce that a sixth and seventh lake have achieved the Gold Lake Wise Award. Halls Lake in Newbury and Little Averill Lake in Averill join Echo Lake, Seymour Lake, Lake Iroquois, Lake Raponda, and Lake Morey in reaching this accomplishment. The Gold Lake Wise Award is granted to lake associations when 15% of the properties surrounding a lake have received an individual Lake Wise Award.

Vermont Business Magazine As spring approaches, it brings the possibility of flooding and the opportunity for spring cleaning. During the floods of 2023 and 2024, dangerous items like batteries, broken lamps, paint, and old oil and gasoline containers were found buried in muddy basements or scattered in flooded fields. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) encourages Vermonters to responsibly dispose of unwanted items frequently to minimize the amount of debris and potential damage during a flood.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.11 per gallon, down 1 cent/g from last week, as there has been little movement the last couple of weeks. Prices are down 4 cents/g from last month and down 27 cents/g from last year. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.82/g while the highest was $3.27/g. The lowest prices in the state are in Rutland ($2.98/g) and Windham ($3.01/g) counties. The highest prices are in Essex ($3.38/g), Grand Isle ($3.22/g) and Lamoille ($3.20/g) counties. Prices are generally lowest in the southern part of the state and rise as you go north.

Vermont Business Magazine Encore Renewable Energy, a leading renewable energy developer and operator, delivered a $10,000 donation to Barre Unified Union School District (BUUSD) earlier today. The company co-hosted a small event with BUUSD at Spaulding Educational Alternatives (SEA), a school adjacent to Encore’s I Love Cows Solar array, which will be energized later this year. The donation will be directed toward workforce education programs for SEA, an alternative school within the school district that supports students with tailored educational plans that address their academic and social/emotional needs. This can include vocational learning opportunities for fields directly supporting the energy transition.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) has amended the Willoughby State Forest Long-Range Management Plan to allow expanded equestrian use in Willoughby State Forest. Developed collaboratively with the Vermont Horse Council (VHC), the amendment is intended to enhance equestrian opportunities while ensuring sustainable land management and recreation practices. The amendment authorizes equestrian use of approximately 14.5 miles of existing roads and trails and establishes a new overnight parking area in the southern portion of Willoughby State Forest.

Vermont Business Magazine Brightwater Tools, a pioneering Vermont-based company, is making a national wave with its groundbreaking approach to sustainability and resource recovery. The company is turning human urine into a viable and environmentally friendly fertilizer alternative—helping to combat soaring fertilizer prices and worsening water pollution while strengthening Vermont’s reputation as a hub for innovative startups. A spin-off of the Rich Earth Institute, Brightwater Tools is scaling up technology that has already proven successful in addressing key agricultural and environmental challenges. With nitrogen fertilizer prices up 300% since 2021 and over 15,000 U.S. bodies of water contaminated by nutrient pollution, the need for alternatives is more urgent than ever.