Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark will hold a Town Hall concerning her recent work to protect the rule of law and Vermont’s sovereignty, including filing six lawsuits against the Trump administration since President Trump took office in January. The Town Hall will occur on Tuesday, March 18th, in Montpelier, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. It will be open to the public, but capacity is limited. Those unable to attend in person may watch the livestream hosted by ORCA Media. The lawsuits against the Trump administration filed by Attorney General Clark since Inauguration Day have blocked acts and Executive Orders that were unconstitutional and illegal. 

by State Rep. Monique Priestley & State Rep. Angela Arsenault In July 2020, a man fueled by hate and armed with an address he found online, traveled to Judge Esther Salas’s New Jersey home to murder her. Her 20-year-old son, Daniel, happened to be home that day and answered the door when the killer came knocking. Daniel was shot and killed. His father was gravely wounded. Judge Salas, by sheer chance, survived. This horrific tragedy exposes the brutal truth of our digital age: Big Tech has made personal information a weapon. While they peddle the illusion of connection and convenience, these unscrupulous data brokers and tech giants are profiting from selling the information that puts our public servants in the crosshairs. They've built a system where home addresses and private details are readily available to anyone – stalkers, extremists, and those bent on violent revenge. They are complicit in the danger.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Heading into next week’s public hearings on deer, moose, turkey and importation rules, here are the top three things to know about the proposed changes to deer hunting: The proposed new regulations would let hunters use antlerless permits during the regular November season; The proposed new regulations would allow hunters to take a “conditional” second buck; The proposed new regulations would simplify the archery season and provide additional archery hunting opportunity in select areas.

Vermont Business Magazine On March 13, 2025 GNAT-TV has successfully concluded its 2024 Fiscal Year Annual Meeting and Open House, offering a dynamic overview of the organization’s progress over the past year and its vision for the future of community media in the Northshire region of Vermont. The event highlighted GNAT-TV’s continued commitment to transparent government coverage, educational access, and the amplification of local voices through independent storytelling. Attendees gained insight into GNAT-TV’s strategic goals, evolving services, and new initiatives designed to expand accessibility and deepen community impact.

Farm to Plate The Federal Government has cancelled the Local Food for Schools and Child Care program, which was intended to provide $600 million in funding nationwide. The USDA entered into a cooperative agreement with he Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM) for $1,222,076 in LFSCC funding. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced its list of state and territory Small Business Persons of the Year ahead of this year’s National Small Business Week, which will take place May 4-10, 2025. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler will kick off the week with a ceremony in Washington, D.C., where she will name the National Small Business Person of the Year before embarking on a national small business roadshow. Over the course of the week, she will visit four cities to highlight the impact, economic contributions and importance of small business owners in communities across the nation. The Vermont winner is Christopher Swasey of Lewis Creek Builders in Essex Junction.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) Wednesday spoke in opposition to the continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Democrats are split on the bill because, on the one hand, they feel it is a terrible piece of legislation, and on the other they acknowledge it would give President Trump more ability to consolidate power. Sanders: "As people all over this country understand, we are a nation that faces enormous crises. Sadly, the continuing resolution passed Tuesday in the U.S. House, which will come to this body very shortly, not only does nothing to address these crises, but in fact, it makes a bad situation much worse."

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott this morning returned without signature and vetoed H.141, An act relating to fiscal year 2025 budget adjustments. As he had stated in his press conference Wednesday, and previously, Scott opposed additional spending this fiscal year (ending June 30) on the hotel/motel program which serves the unhoused. He also opposed other non-time sensitive, but unspecified, spending items in the $162.7 million BAA, which the Legislature sent to him on Wednesday. The veto was expected. A new BAA could be negotiated and passed. 

by Tanya Marshall As the days are getting longer and snow is melting it is fitting that this is Sunshine Week – an annual celebration of government records and information as the cornerstone of government accountability and transparency. A government “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” as President Abraham Lincoln famously stated in his Gettysburg address, means people must have access to authentic and reliable records and information. Without this, we’re in the dark. As we face an increasingly complex landscape of disinformation and misinformation, access to authentic, reliable and trustworthy government records and information is more important than ever. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Suicide Prevention Center (VTSPC), a program of the Center for Health and Learning, has been prominently featured in a recent report by the Pew Charitable Trusts, recognizing its significant contributions to suicide prevention efforts in the state. ​ The report highlights the VTSPC's effective leadership, collaborative initiatives, and innovative programs that have made a meaningful impact on the integration of suicide prevention within primary care settings. ​The VTSPC operates as a public-private partnership, bringing together professionals from various sectors to advance best practices in suicide prevention. ​ Its collaborative efforts with the Vermont Suicide Prevention Coalition have been instrumental in coordinating statewide initiatives that address the multifaceted nature of suicide risk. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly today to outlaw the use of toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in dental floss, cleaning products, and fluorine-treated containers—a critical step in reducing Vermonters’ exposure to these harmful substances. According to the Vermont Department of Health, PFAS exposure can lead to reproductive and developmental disorders, decreased antibody response to vaccines, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, certain types of cancer, and more.

Vermont Business Magazine Southern Vermont community and business leaders: Plan to join hosts Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) and Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC) at Mount Snow in Dover, VT, on May 20 for the 8th annual Southern VT Economy Summit. The theme of this year’s Summit, “Adapt and Thrive” is centered around the findings of the 2024 SoVermont Zone Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), which stresses the need for our region to foster a shared culture of adaptation in the face of rapid economic, technological, and environmental change.