Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Saint Michael’s College in Colchester will host a talk by Sha’an Mouliert, a longtime community organizer, educator, artist, and racial justice advocate who hosts the “I Am Vermont Too” YouTube series. Mouliert’s talk “What Does it Mean to Be a Vermonter?” will take place at 1:45 p.m. on March 6, 2025, in the College’s Dion Family Student Center. The event is free and open to the public. Mouliert’s remarks will focus on her own personal story as well as her experience with the “I Am Vermont Too” series, which highlights the diversity of identities and experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) across Vermont. The event is being sponsored by the College’s Presidential Committee for the 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation and its Institute for Equity and Justice.  

Vermont Business Magazine Fidium is expanding its all-fiber internet network in the White River Junction-area, including Hartford and Hartland in Vermont, and Lebanon in New Hampshire. More than 7,300 homes and businesses will gain access to Fidium’s symmetrical, multi-gig speed internet service, with fiber internet service plans starting as low as $30 per month. Construction is scheduled to begin as soon as March 10, with start dates varying by location. 

by Governor Phil Scott Over the past few months, my Administration has rolled out a plan to transform and strengthen our public education system. After last year’s double digit increase in property taxes, Vermonters made it clear that we need to make major changes to a system that no longer meets the needs of our students, educators or taxpayers. Our plan is focused on three critical areas. The first is quality. Vermonters spend more money per student on education than nearly every other state. But because of the way our system is designed, we’re not leading the pack in terms of outcomes, in fact we’re moving in the wrong direction. A report released just last month shows that our test scores in key areas are continuing to decline. Which means we’re not getting the best return on our substantial investment.

by Sam Hartnett, Community News Service As Vermont closes in on every home having high-speed internet access, some legislators have wondered if the state needs better consumer protections on the broadband marketplace. Two House bills have been introduced that would bar service providers from deceptive business practices and require them to offer cheap broadband plans, both in the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure. But lawmakers say they need more time with the proposals — which have faced opposition from the industry and scrutiny from some state offices.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on February 20, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging the following 25 Canadian nationals with participation in a “Grandparent Scam” that defrauded elderly individuals in Vermont and more than 40 other states. According to the Indictment, which was unsealed on March 4, 2025, between the summer of 2021 and June 4, 2024, the defendants engaged in a “Grandparent Scam” involving phone calls made from call centers in and around Montreal, Québec. During these phone calls, defendants falsely claimed to be an elderly victim’s relative, typically a grandchild, who had been arrested following a car crash and needed money for “bail.” Other defendants posed as an “attorney” representing the elderly victim’s relative. The conspiracy defrauded elderly Americans out of more than $21 million. 

Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center Last month, we released our annual impact report. And now we're unveiling a 30th Anniversary edition to further celebrate our three decades in business! Highlights include job creation and retention, increased and retained sales, client investment and our history along with stories and words from manufacturers and others we've had the honor to partner with since 1995. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations is down. Hospitalizations fell to just over 5 after a recent spike. Wastewater testing indicates that virus levels fell steeply also after a spike, especially in Montpelier, but also at most test sites. Still, virus levels are higher than they were last fall. The Vermont pandemic death total stands at 1,276 as of February 22, 2025, an increase of 3 from the previous week (the most recent data available from the CDC). The VDH is no longer reporting COVID fatalities and cases in Vermont. 

by Devon Green, VAHHS Town Meeting Week, an oasis amidst the legislative chaos where everyone empties the State House and goes home to participate in Town Meeting Day on Tuesday. It’s also a great opportunity to recharge before the firehose that is the policy bill crossover deadline next Friday. Speaking of firehoses, see below for all that happened last week, including: Health Care Reform Bill: The Senate Health and Welfare’s health care reform proposal has finally gone from an outline to a bill. It eliminates the audit requirement and oversight of hospital board strategic plans. It includes beginning implementation of reference-based pricing for FY 2026 hospital budgets and reference-based pricing for nonhospital services. It also requires all hospitals to be in global budgets by 2030 regardless of the AHEAD model and addresses administrative versus direct care compensation.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Monday released the following statement introducing the American people to the background and history of Russian dictator, and apparent ally of President Trump, Vladimir Putin: "Donald Trump’s attacks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump is dividing the Western alliance, and undermining Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. His actions may prolong the war by convincing Putin he can manipulate Trump into a deal with concessions he couldn’t win on the battlefield. Trump is cozying up to Vladimir Putin – so, who is Putin?"

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday will deliver livestreamed remarks following President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress. His response will stream live on the Senator's Facebook, YouTube, X and Instagram accounts.

Vermont Business Magazine A longtime social worker and complex care manager at University of Vermont Children’s Hospital has been named Mental Health Advocate of the Year by the National Alliance on Mental Health of Vermont (NAMI) for her care and support of pediatric patients and their families. Kate Cappleman Sinz, LICSW, a social work care manager with the Integrated Care Management program at UVM Children’s Hospital Pediatric Primary Care, works with young patients and their families across a broad spectrum of needs. From families in need of housing support after being evicted during winter months, to young adults struggling with suicidal ideation, Cappleman Sinz blends hope and compassion with an exhaustive knowledge of local and regional support systems and resources.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) announces she will not attend President Trump’s joint address. She will instead join programming that will provide real time fact-checking, a Democratic pre-buttal and live reactions. She will join Senators Murphy, Schatz, Markey and Alsobrooks along with other elected leaders, political commentators, and Move On, an organization focused on mobilizing for political progress.