Current News

There were 1,179 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, an increase of 707 from the week before in the wake of tropical storm Irene. The previous week saw a seasonal low of fewer than 500 claims. Altogether 6,869 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 408 from a week ago and 1,233 fewer than a year earlier. The Department also processed 1,470 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 5 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 739 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is a decrease of 4 from the week before. The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/. Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc

Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration Commissioner Steve Kimbell has issued two bulletins to insurance companies related to the after-effects of Tropical Storm Irene:
· Bulletin 165 authorizes insurers to use catastrophe adjusters and appraisers. The authorization allows insurers to bring in additional staff to process Vermont claims.
· Bulletin 166 reviews the Commissioner’s expectations of insurers as they assist Vermonters with storm-related claims. Insurers are asked to provide temporary suspension of premium payments for Vermonters affected by the flooding and not to cancel or refuse coverage due solely to an individual’s status as a victim or evacuee of this disaster.

Today the Agency of Natural Resources issued guidance to homeowners about the need to take action if they have reason to believe their septic system has failed.
‘Vermont homeowners and businesses served by onsite wastewater disposal systems who see wastewater on the ground must take action,’ said Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz. ‘Improperly treated wastewater is a risk to human health, both through direct exposure and by entering and contaminating water supplies.’
‘Many wastewater systems will properly function once the water recedes, while other systems will require repair or replacement," said Ernie Christianson, program manager for the Wastewater Management Division of the Department of Environmental Conservation. ‘Call our regional offices for help.’

The Senate appropriations panel with jurisdiction over the budget for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) voted Tuesday to begin replenishing the depleted coffers of the agency’s Disaster Relief Fund, which had fallen to insufficient levels even before Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene pummeled the East Coast and New England.

Secretary of State Jim Condos announces that since the Governor has declared a state of emergency, temporary emergency licenses for out-of-state health care providers and veterinarians are available.
Use of Vermont providers should be our highest priority before reaching out to other states.
Secretary Condos said this provision was enacted so Vermont would be better prepared to respond in the event of a disaster. It expedites the licensing process for the emergency assistance needed in the wake of a disaster like that caused by tropical storm Irene. Under normal conditions, the licensing process takes longer.

The Vermont Specialty Food Association is sponsoring two workshops on meeting the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 in Colchester (Hampton Inn) on October 4, 2011 and Rutland (Franklin Conference Center) on November 3, 2011.
Known as FSMA 2011, the law will result in some of the most sweeping changes in decades to our food safety and regulatory system. Brian Norder of Vermont Food Consulting Services and Bob Weybright of Weybright and Associates, Inc. will guide participants through key provisions of the law, and, through hands-on exercises, how to write a food safety plan to comply with the law and private food safety audits. Special emphasis will be placed on differences in requirements for small and large producers.
This project is funded in part by a USDA Rural Development Grant (USDA-RBEG.). More information of the sessions can be found at www.vtspecialtyfoods.org.

As President Barack Obama prepares for a Thursday address on jobs to a joint session of Congress, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) called today for putting Americans back to work through a series of bold measures that include rebuilding the country’s crumbling infrastructure.
As part of a four-point plan to jumpstart the economy, Sanders also said the federal government should do more to help cash-strapped states and local governments that have been forced to furlough teachers, firefighters, police officers and other workers. He advocated transforming our energy system with job-creating investments in renewable and sustainable energy sources. And he called on Congress to reconsider so-called free-trade policies that have decimated manufacturing in the United States.

IBM has awarded the DREAM mentoring program a $10,000 Catalyst Grant to develop an environmental education program using the organization’s 50-acre property bordering the Metcalf Pond in Fletcher Vermont.
IBM is awarding Catalyst Grants in recognition of its 100th anniversary. The grants support IBM employees applying their professional skills to volunteer projects with schools or community organizations, or that demonstrate a connection to a local, sustainable issue. IBM is awarding 100 Catalyst Grants of $10,000 worldwide in 2011.

Governor Peter Shumlin announced today that Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are available to help those Vermonters left without work as a result of tropical storm Irene.
President Obama and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) have declared the following counties as official disaster areas eligible for individual assistance: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Orange, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor counties. Under this declaration, individuals living, working, or scheduled to work in those counties may be eligible for disaster unemployment benefits.

The US Senate Tuesday night took an important step toward final passage of legislation to make the first comprehensive reforms to the nation’s patent system in nearly six decades.
‘The discoveries made by American inventors and research institutions, commercialized by American companies, and protected and promoted by American patent laws have made our system the envy of the world,’ said Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the bill’s chief Senate sponsor. ‘We cannot stand on a 1950s patent system and expect our innovators to flourish in a 21st Century world.’
‘The America Invents Act will keep America in its longstanding position at the pinnacle of innovation,’ said Leahy. ‘This bill will establish a more efficient and streamlined patent system that will improve patent quality and limit unnecessary and counterproductive litigation costs, while making sure no party’s access to court is denied.’

Vermont Agency of Transportation Secretary Brian Searles today reminded the public that "tremors" from Tropical Storm Irene in the form of sink holes and slope failures continue to occur across the state, especially in the southern tier.
Recent rains continue to soften the state's soil, intensifying the probability of such tremors. These dangers can occur on roads that previously experienced no damage. Travelers need to be on the lookout and drive with care.
"We appreciate there are some long detours to take in light of roadway closures," Searles said. "Trying to make the longer commute shorter by driving aggressively may cost you your life. Everyone's focus needs to be on safety."

The e-Vermont Community Broadband Project will join with local leaders in Poultney on September 8 to officially launch the community’s downtown wireless Internet zones. Irene showed how important the Internet is for communication. This new tool will expand public accessibility and offer an additional option for residents and tourists to connect their laptops and smart phones 24/7. Early response to the project has been overwhelmingly positive, with more than 100 users logging onto Poultney Wi-Fi during its testing stage and some businesses planning to purchase laptops or work stations for customers to use.
Inspired by Wireless Woodstock, the free service will also highlight local events, weather, businesses, services, and community organizations (at www.poultneywifi.com). The zone extends the Poultney Public Library’s wireless signal along Main Street from Maple Street to Beaman Street.