Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark announced her office’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU) prevailed in a civil enforcement lawsuit against Phoenix Counseling & Wellness, PLC, and the company’s owner, Lauren Ann LaSante of Poultney, Vermont, for violations of the Vermont False Claims Act, which penalizes knowing or reckless abuse of taxpayer-funded programs. Yesterday, the Court, Judge Samuel Hoar, Jr., presiding, issued a judgment in the amount of $2,733,989.47 against Ms. LaSante and Phoenix PLC. The judgment consists of an unmitigated Vermont False Claims Act award of three times the amount in fraudulent claims and mandatory inflation-adjusted civil penalties for 164 false claims made for Vermont Medicaid payment between January 2019 and September 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Safer States released its 2025 Analysis of State Legislation Addressing Toxic Chemicals and Plastics finding that PFAS “forever chemical” policies will likely be more expansive in states this year. Other anticipated key focus areas for state policies addressing toxic chemicals include cosmetics and personal care products as well as plastics. The analysis also finds that states are continuing to lead the nation and the world through policies that, overall, have clear pathways to safer solutions which include transparency, phase out of bad chemicals, promotion of safer solutions, and accountability. Overall, the 2025 analysis finds that 32 states and the District of Columbia are anticipated to consider at least 340 policies on policies that address toxic chemicals and plastics in products. 

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Madison Carrig, 30, of Whitehall, New York, was sentenced Tuesday in United States District Court in Burlington to four months of imprisonment following her guilty plea to charges of access device fraud. Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss ordered that Carrig pay restitution in the amount of $141,000 and serve three years of supervised release following completion of her prison term. The court ordered Carrig to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on March 18 to begin serving her sentence. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today members of the Long-term Care Crisis Coalition, comprised of long-term care providers and advocates for older Vermonters, released statements to the Legislature on the crisis facing access to the long-term care services older Vermonters depend on, and the need for investment in the state fiscal year 2026 budget to protect the vital care that enables Vermonters to age with dignity in our communities. The Governor’s proposed budget does not include support for the most vulnerable Vermonters among us who need help with bathing, dressing, cooking, cleaning and socialization in their homes, in the communities they live in, and in residential settings. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, KeyBank launched a year-long bicentennial celebration. Throughout 2025, Key will celebrate two centuries of service to clients, teammates, and communities. Events are planned across the company's national footprint. "KeyBank was founded in 1825 in Albany, New York. Our roots trace back to a time before electricity illuminated the night, before the automobile ruled the roadways, and before the telephone carried our voices across the continent," said Chris Gorman, KeyCorp Chairman & CEO. "I look forward to celebrating our company's rich history and showing that yesterday, today, and tomorrow, KeyBank will be here to help our clients, our colleagues, and our communities thrive." The company unveiled a digital KeyBank Heritage Center. The site gives visitors an interactive look at KeyBank's two centuries of history, highlighting important milestones and events that have shaped the bank from its founding in 1825 to its presence today, as one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies.

Vermont Business Magazine For 25 years Vermont Healthcare and Information Technology Education Center (Vermont HITEC) and the Institute for American Apprenticeships (IAA), have provided workforce and apprenticeship services to job seekers, employers, professional associations, and government agencies. As of January 1, 2025, Vermont HITEC joined forces with TFP Group, Inc. dba Training Funding Partners (TFP), a workforce funding and consulting firm located in Huntington Beach, California. The new corporate name, JobForward, represents the combination of the strengths of the two organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Matthew Luzzatto, 49, of Colchester, Vermont, was sentenced yesterday in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count of possession of child sexual abuse material. The Court, David Fenster presiding, sentenced the defendant to one to two years all suspended to be served while on probation supervision until such time that the court orders otherwise. The judge also imposed probation conditions that restrict Mr. Luzzatto’s access to electronics, the internet and minor children. 

Vermont Business Magazine Breeze Airways, the premium leisure carrier offering affordable nonstop service across the U.S., today announced new nonstop service from Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport to Charleston, South Carolina, beginning May 30. Starting today, Burlington travelers can book summer seasonal flights to Charleston on Mondays and Fridays with fares from just $49* one-way. “The addition of Charleston marks another new milestone for Leahy BTV as we continue expanding connectivity for our passengers with direct access to yet another vibrant destination,” said Nic Longo, director of aviation at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport. “With destinations now available across 14 states/districts, we are offering the most extensive network and highest quantity of destinations from Burlington!”

The Vermont State Police is investigating a missing-persons case in Bradford involving a 43-year-old man who was last seen in early January. Initial investigation suggested the disappearance of Corey Crooker was not suspicious, but further efforts by VSP have developed evidence that indicate the circumstances are potentially criminal in nature. As a part of the ongoing investigation, the Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team spent the day Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, carrying out a court-ordered search at a property on Old Post Road in Bradford. The on-scene investigation is planned to continue Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Vermont Business Magazine Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) on Tuesday joined her colleagues, including Senate leadership and Ranking Member Raskin and others at the Treasury building to call out Musk’s hostile takeover of the US Treasury Department. Members of Congress demanded to speak to the Secretary and conduct oversight of the department but were denied entry. They said that President Trump has handed over the keys to the federal government and its checkbook to an unelected billionaire. He’s invading financial systems that hold all Americans’ addresses and personal information. This information is used to send out Social Security checks, Medicare reimbursements, and tax refunds–upwards of $5 trillion in transactions a year. 

Vermont Business Magazine Promoted as the “Biggest Business Night of the Year,” the Southwestern Vermont Chamber's 2025 Annual Membership Meeting took place on Friday, January 31, 2025, at the Kimpton Taconic in Manchester, Vermont. This year's event highlighted the Chamber’s Vision 2027, a forward-thinking initiative that aims to cultivate a vibrant regional economy driven by innovation and collaboration where commerce thrives in harmony with the stunning natural landscapes and welcoming, diverse communities.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association The Department of Housing & Community Development and other state entities, engaged extensively with stakeholders and focus groups to gather ideas and suggestions for increasing affordable housing in and around state designated centers. The report outlines actionable recommendations to expand the housing supply, including updates to Act 250, increased funding for housing programs, infrastructure, the modernization of local bylaws, improving the appeals process, and exploring tax policy changes.