Current News

Vermont State Police On Thursday, Nichole LaFrancois (age 27, Rutland VT) was issued a citation to appear in Rutland Criminal Court (May 18th, 2026, at 10 AM) for Transportation of Contraband into a Place of Detention. The investigation determined that LaFrancois transported marijuana and tobacco into the Marble Valley Correctional Center while visiting incarcerated inmate Jacob Alberico on 4-4-2026. When LaFrancois arrived at the VSP Rutland barracks to receive a citation for the above offense, it was determined that she had an active arrest warrant for an unrelated court matter (retail theft from Bennington Criminal Court).  LaFrancois was transported to Rutland Court where $200 bail was posted for her release.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont initial weekly unemployment claims fell last week for the first time in three weeks. For the week ending April 18, 2026, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that there were 411 new claims, down 69 from the previous week and down 85 from last year at this time. New claims had leveled off at under 400 after the holiday season, other than one spike in February. Meanwhile, the Vermont unemployment rate fell one-tenth to 2.6% in February and is the third lowest in the US, but the Labor Force also fell and is well below last year's level. Tax revenues, however, rebounded, with the Personal Income tax exceeding expectations in March by over 7%. The US stock markets were down and up all week depending on the latest news from the Middle East.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) today announced the second round of Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant awards totaling $10,218,236. The funding is in response to the July 2023 floods that devastated communities throughout the state and will benefit those most impacted in regions designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in consultation with state officials. The designated Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) areas include Washington and Lamoille counties.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 14 states and local governments in suing the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its failure to implement a lifesaving 2024 Clean Air Act rule strengthening national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), commonly known as soot. In a lawsuit filed earlier today, the coalition called for a court order to ensure EPA takes the key steps required by Congress to initiate the rule’s protections and kick off implementation planning. Soot is a deadly air pollutant emitted from a variety of sources including combustion-engine vehicles, factories, and construction sites.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak announced the hiring of Lisa Gerlach as her new Chief of Staff. Gerlach brings more than a decade of experience in politics, including working on the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, along with numerous other campaign roles. After working for Lieutenant Governor Zuckerman as his Chief of Staff, Gerlach has served as the Lead Organizer for the American Federation of Teachers Vermont Branch, sharing Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak's history of union organizing.  

Vermont Business Magazine DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont has been recognized with the DoubleTree by Hilton Award of Excellence for 2025 by Hilton Hotels. Presented as part of the DoubleTree by Hilton Annual Brand Awards, the Award of Excellence recognizes hotels performing at the highest level across the global portfolio. This distinction celebrates teams that demonstrate consistent operational excellence, strong service performance, and a deep commitment to delivering on the DoubleTree Customer Promise. The recognition is awarded to hotels that consistently deliver exceptional stay experiences across key performance metrics including service quality, guest satisfaction, problem resolution, and overall stay performance.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, celebrated the Senate’s passage of the Conflict-free Leaving Employment and Activity Restrictions (CLEAR) Path Act, bipartisan legislation introduced alongside Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), which would mitigate foreign influence on U.S. policymaking by prohibiting former Senate-confirmed government employees from lobbying on behalf of countries of concern. The bill passed the Senate with unanimous bipartisan support.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, FEMA announced nearly $2.2 million in funding to support recovery for past disasters in Vermont for Public Assistance projects. Through Public Assistance, FEMA empowers state and local-led recovery following a major disaster, including debris removal, emergency protective measures and the repair or replacement of public infrastructure damaged by recent disasters. This funding is part of the $1.2 billion that FEMA announced today for over 200 large Public Assistance projects nationwide.

Vermont Business Magazine On April 23, 2026, the Vermont General Assembly read into public record a Resolution recognizing University of Vermont (UVM) Distinguished Professor and Vermont State Climatologist Dr. Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux for her many years of service to the State of Vermont and her recent receipt of the Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement in Science, awarded earlier this year by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The Resolution celebrates Dr. Dupigny-Giroux’s distinguished career as a scientist, educator, and public servant, as well as her nationally recognized leadership in climate science and public engagement.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Speaker Jill Krowinski issued the following statement after the appointment of Kate Webb to the State Board of Education: “I am pleased to announce I have appointed Kate Webb to the State Board of Education,” says Krowinski. “Kate is an ideal candidate, bringing nearly 30 years of experience as a special educator in Vermont schools, and 14 years in the State Legislature, spending four of those years as Chair of the House Committee on Education. She currently sits on the Champlain Valley School District Board of Directors.”

Public Assets Institute Vermont’s federal workforce decreased by over 600 workers—or 11 percent—between the end of the fiscal year in September 2024 and February 2026. This count includes personnel at federal agencies but excludes the U.S. Postal Service. It is the lowest number of federal employees in at least 10 years. Vermont’s rate of decline is slightly lower than the country’s as a whole. Washington D.C. and Western states such as Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming saw losses closer to 20 percent over the period.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $4.03 per gallon, down 5 cents per gallon from last week, up 17 cents/g from last month and up 94 cents/g from this time last year. The lowest price in the state this week was $3.83/g while the highest was $4.19/g, a difference of 36.0 cents per gallon. Prices are lowest in Windham ($3.98/g) and Addison ($3.98/g) counties and highest in Grand Isle ($4.06/g), Washington ($4.07/g) and Essex ($4.21/g), according to AAA. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.03/g today.