Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Robert Bowdish, 78, of Weybridge, Vermont, was sentenced today in Vermont Superior Court, Addison Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials. The Court, Judge Robert Katims presiding, sentenced the defendant by agreement to eight years of probation with conditions that restrict his access to the internet and contact with minors, and require him to successfully complete sex offender treatment. If Bowdish violates the terms of his probation, he may face two to five years in jail. Bowdish will also be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years after the completion of his sentence.

Vermont Business Magazine A local partnership has broken ground on a new brewery and taproom on Rt. 7A in Manchester, adjacent to the Hampton Inn & Suites hotel. The Lost Marble Brewing Company will serve as a new destination for local residents and visitors, providing a convenient and fun place to gather for freshly brewed beer and a locally inspired family-friendly menu. Opening Fall 2025, the 9,725 square foot facility will include a 2,500 sq ft brewing room, housing a state of-the-art 10-barrel brewing system, as well as a commercial kitchen and pizza oven. Guests can enjoy freshly brewed beer in the 3,500 sq ft taproom, spacious south patio and outdoor bar, and north terrace and lawn. A private mezzanine space overlooking the brewing room will also be available.

by Tom Cheney of Jericho, executive director of Advance Vermont In the coming weeks, the Legislature and governor will make critical decisions about the future of prek-12 education in Vermont—decisions that will impact generations to come. While there will be much debate about the number of school districts and the tax formula to fund them, there should be little debate that the new system must better ensure that every high school graduate is prepared for their next step in life, whether that path begins with an apprenticeship, a certificate, military service, a college degree program or an employer-supported opportunity.

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS And just like that, we’re already staring down the barrel of crossover on March 14. This week will be extremely busy, as policy committees work on their budget priorities and advancing bills before they go home for Town Meeting week. Health Care Reform: VAHHS testified on the Senate Health and Welfare committee bill outline and supported a statewide plan with stakeholder oversight, including a VAHHS nominee to the advisory committee. In moving forward, VAHHS would like to understand where the Act 167 feasibility work with the Rural Health Redesign Center fits into the planning, and noted government overreach in a requirement for approving hospital strategic plans. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.11 per gallon, down 2.9 cents per gallon from last week's $3.14/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.85/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 44.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 3.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.08/g today. The national average is down 4.4 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 18.2 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Taste the Valley, hosted by ACORN Food Hub, is a networking event that offers an opportunity for local food producers to meet and connect with new customers and buyers in their region. This event was last hosted in 2023 and was a smashing success. They have secured a larger venue this year, expecting an even greater turnout of both producers and buyers. Producers will have the chance to set up tabletop displays to showcase their brand. Table space is limited, so if you'd like to claim a spot to set up an engaging display, register soon. No table? No problem! Producers are also encouraged to register even if they do not want to set up a display and prefer to mingle around the room. 

by Maggie Lenz and Nick Charyk on behalf of Atlas Government Affairs On Tuesday, a host of climate activists gathered in the Cedar Creek Room to raise the alarm about the state’s lack of action on climate change and to criticize Governor Phil Scott’s omnibus climate bill, recently released as H.289, which they dubbed the “rollback” bill. Members of the activist group Third Act, founded by Bill McKibben, were sporting shirts with the slogan “Our Time is Now” on the back. (Passersby could be pardoned for some confusion. Professional wrestler John Cena, who has long used that same tagline, was not, in fact, seen in the building.)

Vermont Business Magazine America’s fragile environment is in danger; her social fabric is unraveling. One man believes that Vermont offers the country a way to avoid catastrophe. Retired business executive Will Patten places the blame for our dire condition on the supply-side economics experiment that for 40+ years has encouraged a singular focus on maximizing corporate profits without considering the impacts on natural and human resources. In his book, Rescuing Capitalism, Vermont Shows a Way, Patten recounts that Vermont has never participated in the supply-side experiment. Instead, Vermont businesses have been thriving financially while innovating solutions to our social and environmental problems. He describes a democratic capitalism that still exists in Vermont, a fractious balance between public and private interests that existed in America before the advent of “Reaganomics.” 

by Rob Roper Vermont Democrats passed the Global Warming Solutions Act in 2020 over the veto of Governor Scott and the Republican legislative minority. That law mandates strict targets and timelines for greenhouse gas reduction set at 26% below 2005 levels by 2025, 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. And, so the law allows, if Vermonters fail to achieve those targets, any individual or organization can sue the state at taxpayer expense. That was nearly five years ago. And since then, the party that passed those mandates has done pretty much nothing new to meet them. The 2025 deadline has come and gone, and Vermonters are currently being sued by the Conservation Law Foundation as a result. 2030 looms with no realistic proposals on the table to meet that even more challenging target either.

Vermont Business Magazine Skiers and snowboarders are reveling in this season’s abundant snowfall resulting in prime skiing and riding conditions across the state. Ski Vermont wants to remind snow sports enthusiasts to learn about and prioritize safety in deep snow. To help educate skiers and snowboarders, Ski Vermont has added deep snow safety information to its Mountain Safety page. Many snow sports enthusiasts have been taking advantage of consistent powder drops, but those accumulated snow depths and loose snow can create potential hazards like tree wells, which can increase immersion and suffocation risks.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program has won the 2023-2024 General Douglas MacArthur Award for Leadership. This is the third time UVM ROTC has won the MacArthur Award in the last 10 years. The award is given to the best ROTC program in the Northeast region of the U.S. Army Cadet Command (USACC). USACC is comprised of 9 separate regions consisting of 275 host programs across the country. The Northeast consists of 42 host universities which include all Ivy League schools and other elite universities.

Vermont Business Magazine Rogers Sugar Inc (TSX: RSI) has issued an additional $15,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Eighth Series convertible unsecured subordinated debentures at a price of $1,000 per Additional Debenture, pursuant to the exercise in full of the over-allotment option granted by the Company in connection with its previously announced bought deal offering. The Additional Debentures were offered in each of the provinces of Canada pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated February 12, 2025, to the Company's final short form base shelf prospectus dated August 14, 2023. After taking into account the Over-Allotment Option, the Company will have raised aggregate gross proceeds of $115,000,000 under the Offering. Rogers Sugar intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to reduce amounts outstanding under the credit facility of Lantic Inc, a subsidiary of the Company, and for general corporate purposes. Lantic operates a subsidiary plant in Vermont.