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A bipartisan group of Senate leaders introduced legislation today to provide economic relief for Vermonters impacted by Tropical Storm Irene.
S250, the Irene Economic Stimulus Bill, directs tax relief and incentives both to Vermont consumers as a whole, and to populations disproportionately impacted by the storm. It would establish a sales tax holiday on August 28, 2012, the 1-year anniversary of Irene, to encourage Vermonters to shop locally and support the state’s economy. The proposal also sets up a weeklong sales tax holiday, from August 26 to September 1, for the purchase of home weatherization items.

Finally, it declares a sales tax holiday on mobile homes purchased between August 28, 2011 and June 30, 2012, to replace mobile homes damaged or destroyed as a result of Irene. The proposal would waive or refund sales tax or property transfer tax, either of which can be applicable to mobile home purchases.

Vermont Law School has surpassed its goal of $15 million for the Campaign for Vermont Law School, with total gifts and commitments currently totaling $15.3 million.
The funds will support student financial aid, a new Center for Legal Services, programs that improve national environmental and energy policies, and educational initiatives that produce highly skilled lawyers at home and abroad.
VLS hopes to raise another $1 million to $2 million before closing the campaign when Dean and President Jeff Shields retires at the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

It has been VLS’s most successful capital fund drive in its nearly 40-year history, surpassing the $11.3 million raised in 2005 for the renovation of historic Debevoise Hall, the main administration building, and the $6 million raised in 1998 for the construction of Oakes Hall, the main classroom building.

Relying heavily on broad-based taxes, the Tax Foundation ranked Vermont 47th in the nation in its 2012 version of theState Business Tax Climate Index. The Foundation states that it compiles this informationto enable business leaders, government policymakers, and taxpayers to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare.

The 10 best states in this year’sIndexare:

1. Wyoming
2. South Dakota
3. Nevada
4. Alaska
5. Florida
6. New Hampshire
7. Washington
8. Montana
9. Texas
10. Utah

Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBVT), the parent company of Merchants Bank, today announced net income of $14.62 million, or diluted earnings per share of $2.35 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to earnings of $15.46 million, or diluted earnings per share of $2.51 for the year ended December 31, 2010. Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2011 were $3.71 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.59. This compares with net income of $2.54 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.41 for the fourth quarter of 2010. The return on average assets was 0.95% and 0.97% for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2011, respectively, compared to 0.68% and 1.07% for the same periods in 2010. The return on average equity was 13.77% and 14.11% for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2011, respectively, compared to 1 0.31% and 16.18% for the same periods in 2010.

by Paul Cillo publicassets.org It was an easy vote in the Vermont House on Friday. Fifteen years ago, it would not have been so.
Without a single nay, the House voted to use future budget surpluses to restore General Fund support for education. For the last three years, the Legislature has cut the annual transfer from the General Fund to the Education Fund, which covers all pre-K to 12 education costs in Vermont. The effect has been to push up property taxes even though local school boards have held the line on spending. Now the House wants to reverse that trend and dedicate half of any future budget surpluses to restore the transfer to pre-recession levels (with an adjustment for inflation).
Why the change of heart all of a sudden? And why was the vote so easy? Two reasons.

Broadway headliners Alexander Gemignani (Les Miz, Sweeney Todd) and Sherie Rene Scott (Aida, The Little Mermaid) and award-winning composersStephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Seussical) and Polly Pen (Bed and Sofa, Goblin Market)are among the artists to appear in ‘Celebrating the American Musical,’ a 90-minute concert benefitting Vermont’s esteemed Weston Playhouse Theatre Company at New World Stages on Tuesday, February 28 at 7:30pm.

By Alan Panebaker vtdigger.orgVermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell has been meeting with the governor, the Department of Public Service and legislative leaders as he weighs whether to appeal Judge J Garvan Murtha’s decision to rule against the state in a lawsuit involving the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant.

You might not realize that Mocha Joe’s Cafe, down a short flight of stairs off of Main Street in Brattleboro, is one of the most serious coffee roasters and cafes in the state.
Open for 20 years, the café, owned by Pierre Capy, is a mainstay in Brattleboro and a gathering spot for locals. It is a cozy, well-lit shop perfect for catching up with friends or hosting a relaxed, any-time-of-the-day coffee with work colleagues. There is plenty of space, and even a couch, along with free Wi-Fi and delicious baked goods made by the owner's sister, Beth Ann Ortiz, to make your stay all that much more pleasant.
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All Bob Stiller wanted was a good cup of coffee. And he wanted it whether he was on the Village Green in Waitsfield, in a gas station’s convenience store, or even at home.
Thirty years ago that simple desire for consistently high quality coffee led him to found Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. The company has since become one of Vermont’s greatest success stories and has revolutionized how people brew and drink coffee ‘ one cup at a time.
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Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
All Bob Stiller wanted was a good cup of coffee. And he wanted it whether he was on the Village Green in Waitsfield, in a gas station’s convenience store, or even at home. Thirty years ago that simple desire for consistently high quality coffee led him to found Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. The company has since become one of Vermont’s greatest success stories and has revolutionized how people brew and drink coffee ‘ one cup at a time.
Three Forks: Mocha Joe’s

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company based in Rutland, has announced that it has priced the previously announced conversion and remarketing of $21.4 million aggregate principal amount of Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds (Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Project) Series 2005 (the "Bonds"). The Bonds will bear interest at 6.25% until January 31, 2017 and be subject to mandatory tender on February 1, 2017. The Bonds have a final maturity of January 1, 2025 and will include additional covenants and credit support for the bene fit of holders, including guarantees by certain subsidiaries of Casella. The Bonds will not be secured by a letter of credit.

Today, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released its 17thReport Card on American Education: Ranking State K-12 Performance, Progress, and Reform. The comprehensive report grades all 50 states and theDistrict of Columbiaaccording to data from national test scores, state education policy, charter school regulation, and other benchmarks of quality. Additionally, the report discusses what resources are being wasted, what students are being left behind, and what administrators, parents, and teachers can do make a difference in education. This year,Massachusettsbeat out all other states whileWest Virginiaplaced last.
Authors Dr.Matthew Ladner,Dan LipsandDavid J. Myslinskirank states based on two factors. The first is student performance and their progress on National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exams.

Student Performance (NAEP Scores)

Top Five

Bottom Five

1. Massachusetts

47. Missouri