Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In response to inaccurate statements, the Governor Phil Scott’s office issued the following statement: Governor Scott’s education plan strengthens our public education system by improving quality, creating equity across the state, and building a sustainable funding structure that Vermonters can afford. Vermonters have identified this as a top priority, and this bold plan lays the groundwork for Vermont to have the best public education system in the nation. Yet, defenders of the current system – which has declining test scores, massive annual property tax increases and pays teachers unequally – have misleadingly referred to this proposal as a “voucher system.”  They are wrong.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark today joined a coalition of 19 state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop the unauthorized disclosure of Americans’ private information and sensitive data. The lawsuit asserts that the Trump administration illegally provided Elon Musk and the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)” unauthorized access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system, and therefore to Americans’ most sensitive personal information, including bank account details and Social Security numbers. This expanded access could allow Musk and his team to block federal funds to states and programs providing health care, childcare, and other critical services.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Eric Chambers, 55, of Springfield, Vermont, was arraigned Saturday on six felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials. The charges brought against Mr. Chambers are the result of a criminal investigation, including the execution of search warrants conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), which included personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Kansas Bureau of Investigations, Hartford Police Department, and Springfield Police Department.

by Kevin Chu Personal growth is universally celebrated. We encourage people to pursue education, seek professional development, and advance in their endeavors. We applaud entrepreneurs who take risks, innovate, and build successful enterprises. We praise people who overcome adversity and become more resilient in the process. Yet, when it comes to Vermont’s communities, there is hesitation to embrace the same idea of growth, with some even calling for degrowth. Population growth and new housing developments are treated as threats that need to be protected against. Protection of what and for whom? What if the real danger is not growing? We celebrate growth on an individual level—let’s extend that sentiment to our state as a whole.   

Vermont Business Magazine To celebrate McDonald’s 50th anniversary in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities, Vermont McDonald’s restaurants have extended their fundraising window for the iconic Shamrock Shake from two to six weeks this year. Beginning February 10th, local owner/operators will donate $0.25 cents from each fan-favorite shake sold during this time to provide support to families with children who are ill or injured. Restaurants across New England have raised a combined $270,000 over the past three years for RMHC during the Shamrock Shake fundraiser, with Vermont McDonald’s customers having helped raise $23,000 of that total. New England operators have set a goal of raising $100,000 this year.

Vermont Business Magazine Mack Molding, a leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services, announces it has made its largest investment in plastic injection molding presses in more than 25 years, with over $3 million dedicated to new presses, auxiliary equipment, and automation enhancements. This major upgrade is set to bolster manufacturing capabilities, improve efficiency, and strengthen the company's ability to meet increasing customer demand.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) this week in introducing the Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure that hospitals caring for large numbers of Medicaid and uninsured patients in Vermont and other rural states receive their fair share of federal funding. The Senators’ bill would establish a nationwide federal funding minimum for disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) and create a federal floor of $20 million per state for the Medicaid DSH program. The program will then grow at a “low” DSH percentage inflation rate after the first five years.

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that during an arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on February 5, 2025, Alex Patin-Patin, 28, of Ecuador, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with being unlawfully present in the United States after having been previously removed by immigration officials. At a detention hearing held on February 6, 2025, Judge Doyle ordered that Patin-Patin be detained during the pendency of this matter.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims fell to their lowest levels in almost three months for the week ending February 1, 2025. New claims were 348, down 43 claims from the week before and are 49 fewer from last year. The holiday season brings wild swings in claims as temporary workers are hired and then laid off. The stability of the last few weeks should last until the end of the ski season. Claims were 181 at the end of September 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine After four months of organizing, today a majority of the roughly 150 Registered Nurses at Northwestern Medical Center (NMC) in St Albans voted 72-45 to formalize their union. Emily Millman, RN and union organizing committee member, said, “Today the nurses spoke loud and clear– we want to be part of the decision-making team at NMC. We want safe, compassionate, excellent care for our patients. We want our little hospital to be the pride of our community– not least because most of us and our families are part of this community.  Once the votes are certified, RNs will begin the process of bargaining their first contract with the NMC administration. 

Vermont Business Magazine Members of Vermont's congressional delegation voiced their disapproval over several moves by the White House, questioned nominees to key posts, demanded answers on the impact of current and impending tariffs on the local and national economies and opposed attempts to close the Department of Education.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced Commissioner of Health Mark A. Levine MD will be retiring at the end of March 2025. “Dr Levine has been a tremendous asset, to not only me, but the entire State of Vermont. I know this decision weighed heavily on him, as he deeply loves helping others, which was apparent throughout his career in medicine as well as his last eight years in public service,” said Governor Phil Scott. “I will be forever grateful for his advice and counsel over the years, but especially during the pandemic, as he appeared with me daily at press conferences during those difficult days, giving much comfort to Vermonters as our very own “Country Doc.” I wish him well in the next chapter of his life.” Dr. Levine, 71, of Shelburne was first appointed by Governor Scott in 2017 and is currently one of the Administration’s longest-tenured commissioners. He led his department through the COVID-19 pandemic and has served as a key advisor on public health matters.