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People's United Financial, Inc (NASDAQ: PBCT) today reported net income of$58.6 million, or$0.17per share, for the first quarter of 2012, compared to$51.7 million, or$0.15per share, for the first quarter of 2011, and$43.0 million, or$0.12per share, for the fourth quarter of 2011. Operating earnings were$60.6 million, or$0.18per share, for the first quarter of 2012, compared to$53.8 million, or$0.15per share, for the first quarter of 2011 and$58.7 million, or$0.17per share, for the fourth quarter of 2011.
The Board of Directors of People's United Financial voted to increase the common stock dividend to an annual rate of$0.64per share. Based on the closing stock price onApril 18, 2012, the dividend yield on People's United Financial common stock is5.0 percent. The quarterly dividend of$0.16per share is payableMay 15, 2012to shareholders of record onMay 1, 2012.

A celebration took place on Thursday evening, April 17, at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, where individuals and organizations were recognized for their leadership and contributions to Vermontâ s environment.
Twelve finalists from around the state were present at the annual Green Mountain Environmental Leadership Awards hosted by ECHO, AllEarth Renewables and FreePressMedia.
The guests were treated to an inspirational keynote address by Dr. Mary Watzin, Dean and Professor in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, at the University of Vermont. Her address touched upon the immense importance of citizen science in helping to understand, interpret and learn from our world and environment.
The awards were presented immediately following Dr. Watzinâ s remarks, in the following categories and to individuals/organizations:

Union Bankshares, Inc (NASDAQ - UNB) today announced Net Income for the first quarter 2012 of $1.2 million, or $0.28 per share, compared to $1.0 million, or $0.23 per share, for 2011. Results for 2012 reflect a year to year increase in net interest income of $748 thousand or 16.5% and noninterest income of $502 thousand or 35.8%.

Governor Peter Shumlin said today that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will reimburse the state for $4 million in Irene-related expenses for work performed by National Guard units. The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) successfully appealed a decision of the FHWA that would have made those expenses ineligible for reimbursement under the Emergency Relief program. FHWA is now allowing eligible emergency repair work performed by the National Guard to be reimbursed under the relief program when such work is not otherwise funded by another federal government agency.

by Alan Panebaker April 17, 2012 vtdigger.org Richard Saudek, a former state utility regulator, said thereâ s no easy answer to the question of whether the Legislature should pass a law requiring Vermontâ s two largest utilities to give $21 million in â windfall’money to ratepayers.