Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Mura Kvec, 39, Manix Razmias, 38, and Geto Kvec, 19, all citizens of Romania, pleaded guilty to a criminal complaint charging each of them with illegally entering the United States at a time or place other than designated for entering the country by immigration authorities.

Vermont Business Magazine Advocates working to expand the existing scope of optometrists in Vermont have again taken the conversation to the state's capital. Bill S.64, introduced in the Vermont Senate on Feb. 11 by Sen. Rebecca White and 18 others, urges lawmakers to statutorily empower optometrists to perform additional procedures in their offices. A House bill is expected to follow shortly. With an expanded scope, optometrists would be able to offer laser surgery for post-cataract haze, prevention of glaucoma and early glaucoma treatment.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Juan Carlos Jacinto-Ramos, a citizen of Guatemala, and Qing Zhu, of China, have been charged by criminal complaint accusing Jacinto-Ramos with bringing three Chinese nationals into the United States at a place other than an open port for entering the United States, and Zhu with entering the country illegally. On February 10, 2025, the defendants appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Jacinto-Ramos be detained during the pendency of his prosecution. Judge Doyle also ordered that Zhu be detained during the pendency of his prosecution, and also because Zhu is a material witness against Jacinto-Ramos.

Vermont Business Magazine Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) introduced two amendments to the Republican Budget plan to hold Republicans accountable for protecting affordable health insurance and Social Security. Both were rejected by every single Republican on the committee. The first amendment introduced by Rep. Balint would protect healthcare for millions of Americans. It strikes language in the Republican budget that would take away the tax credits that help people afford their health insurance. The second would prevent the House of Representatives from considering legislation that would cut Social Security benefits, increase the retirement age, or privatize Social Security.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott’s education transformation plan is a comprehensive approach that involves changes to funding, governance, and education quality. ​ This report explains the proposed governance changes that support the education quality objectives that the revised funding formula is intended to support. ​ The governance model was developed to optimize support, promote equitable budgeting, foster local engagement, and develop a cohesive education ecosystem built upon strong public schools. ​ The proposal adopts a systems change approach that centers governance considerations around the goal of equity for students and taxpayers. ​ Changes are being proposed at the state, district, and school levels to promote alignment and build capacity of the whole Vermont public education system, fostering shared accountability, responsibility, and creativity. The implementation of the plan would not take place until September 2027, if approved.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today, along with 13 other state attorneys general, announced the filing of a lawsuit challenging the unlawful delegation of executive power to Elon Musk. The lawsuit argues that President Trump has violated the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution by creating a new federal Department without Congressional approval and by granting Musk sweeping powers over the entire federal government without seeking the advice and consent of the Senate.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 13 state attorneys general in releasing the following statement in response to a preliminary injunction being granted by a federal judge against President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order terminating birthright citizenship: "President Trump may believe that he is above the law, but today’s preliminary injunction sends a clear message: He is not a king, and he cannot rewrite the Constitution with the stroke of a pen. The President and his allies made clear long before he was sworn in that they would pursue this illegal action, and our coalition was prepared to challenge it as soon as President Trump fulfilled this unconstitutional campaign promise on Inauguration Day."

Vermont Business Magazine Over 100 non-profit trail stewards, outdoor business owners, ski area managers,  and municipal leaders traveled to the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday for the second annual Vermont Outdoor Recreation Day to share the success of the sector and to urge strategic investment in our outdoor businesses that foster the healthy, resilient communities we want to live and play in. The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation also announced the launch of Move Forward Together Vermont, a strategic vision for the State's outdoor recreation economy over the next five years. Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy continues to grow, bringing $2.1 billion annually, which amounts to 4.8% of State GDP, according to 2023 US Bureau of Economic Analysis. In 2023, Vermont also saw a record $4 billion in visitor spending, with outdoor recreation activities like skiing, snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking, and camping as key drivers for travel. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.14 per gallon, unchanged from last week, up 4 cents per gallon from last month and down 8 cents/g from last year, according to AAA. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.85/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 44.0 cents per gallon. The lowest prices in the state are in Rutland County ($3.03/g) and the highest are in Franklin and Lamoille counties ($3.22/g). The national average price of gasoline has risen 3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.16/g today. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) today announced $4,764,010 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to benefit 15 projects in 14 communities. Projects include supporting the creation of the regional Orange County Parent Child Center in Randolph, renovating the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi headquarters in Swanton which includes a food pantry that serves the entire region, and increasing home ownership services provided by the Windham and Windsor Housing Trust.

Vermont Business Magazine The 30th Annual Penguin Plunge presented by Community Bank, which took place on Saturday, February 8th at the Burlington Waterfront Boat Launch, was a resounding success, raising over $550,000 for Special Olympics Vermont. More than 1,000 brave participants took the icy plunge into the frigid waters of Lake Champlain, showing their unwavering support for over 2,900 athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across the state of Vermont. The event marked a major milestone for the Penguin Plunge, as it celebrated three decades of plunging for a cause that has impacted thousands of lives across Vermont. The funds raised will go directly toward supporting Special Olympics Vermont’s year-round sports training and competition programs, providing athletes with the opportunity to develop physical fitness, experience joy, and participate in a global community of inclusion.

Let’s Grow Kids On January 28, Governor Scott unveiled his FY26 state budget and it included a troubling proposal that threatens to derail critical progress in addressing our state’s child care crisis. Despite lawmakers’ promise from Act 76 to use the new payroll tax funds (the Child Care Contribution) for their express purpose—addressing Vermont’s urgent child care crisis—the Governor has proposed to divert over $20 million in child care funds to be used for completely unrelated government expenses. If lawmakers go along with his proposal, it would go back on the commitment that was made to Vermonters and jeopardize the progress we’ve made to date on child care.