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GetEducated.com, LLC, an online education research firm that reviews and ranks accredited online university degree programs, has released its 2010 Rankings of Best Buys in Online MBAs, Regionally Accredited. According to GetEducated's online university rankings, graduate students should be prepared to pay as little as $6,750 or as much as $68,400 for a regionally accredited graduate degree in business administration (MBA). Average cost for a regionally accredited online MBA: $22,924. GetEducated.com found 51 regionally accredited online MBA programs charging less than the average cost. Its top 10 Best Buys all charged below $14,000.Which schools charged the most for a distance MBA? Which charged the least? What other online MBA trends are notable? Click here for more information about GetEducated.com's 2010 Online MBA (Regionally Accredited) rankings.
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Today, more than 30 organizations and individuals participated in a press event at the Vermont State House to emphasize the importance of sound tax policy for Vermont’s job creators. Businesses are making tough choices each and every day about how they will continue to make payroll and keep their doors open in this economy.
According to one study, Vermont has the 2nd highest cumulative tax burden in the nation. Small business owners across Vermont continue to trumpet their desire for Vermont to get on a sound fiscal path; while resisting unsustainable spending and punishing tax increases.
Last year, this business group opposed:
· the income tax proposal that shifted more than $5.5 million onto family farms and small businesses because most small business owners report their business income on their personal income tax;

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin and Majority Leader John Campbell today announced passage of legislation that will curb predatory practices by credit card companies and protect both Vermont businesses and consumers.
“Almost every Vermont family and store owner has a story to tell about one of the major credit card companies charging them exorbitant and unfair fees or leveraging unjust fines,” said Senator Peter Shumlin. “This legislation will help the Vermont consumer and store owner by prohibiting these abusive practices.”
The legislation will allow merchants to set a minimum amount for credit card purchases and offer discounts for cash payments, and prohibit credit card companies from fining merchants for their pricing displays.

Vermont Public Television (VPT), the statewide public television network, received a My Source Education Innovation Award from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) recently. VPT was honored for an extensive educational initiative related to the project Lake Champlain Voyages of Discovery: Bringing History Home and the documentary “Champlain: The Lake Between,” part of the 2009 Champlain Quadricentennial observance. Focusing on the history of regional Native nations as well as early French heritage, the educational component included public screenings, question-and-answer sessions with the filmmaker, Caro Thompson of Broadwing Productions, teacher training workshops, a companion website and a CD-ROM with extensive teaching materials.

Citizens Bank Foundation recently made a major investment in Lund Family Center s work to improve the educational outcomes for pregnant or parenting young women. The Foundation issued a $5,000 grant for Lund s New Horizons Education program, which annually offers high school, G.E.D. education and college support to more than 40 pregnant or parenting young women ages 12 to 27.
Cathleen Schmidt, President of Citizens Bank in Vermont, commented on the grant saying, The Lund Family Center is a vital part of our community. The New Horizons Education Program provides women with a flexible classroom atmosphere helping build a new beginning for themselves and their children. We at Citizens Bank are proud to support Lund and the New Horizons program.

The Mount Family Group (MFG), operator of Westaff offices in Burlington,
St. Albans, St. Johnsbury and Barre was named Franchise Business of the
Year by the Westaff Franchisor, The Select Family of Staffing Companies.
MFG also operates Westaff branches along the Connecticut River Valley in
New Hampshire and in New York and southern New England.
In presenting the award, Irwin Much, President of the Select Franchise
Division cited the group s sales level and its expansion during the
recent economic downturn. The award was presented at the Select Managers
Meeting in Newport Beach, California.
Accepting the award were David Mount, James Mount and Karen Mount. This
award is really accepted on behalf of all of the employees of our company
both our full-time staff and our temporary associates. It is a great
honor for us and for them and we thank them for all that they do, said
David Mount.

Central Vermont Public Service today announced that it will purchase the assets and service territory of the Vermont Marble Power Division of Omya Inc. for $33.2 million.
Included in the sale are rights to serve about 890 customers in Proctor, including the Omya industrial facility in Florence, which will become CV s single-largest customer. Significantly, the sale also includes four hydroelectric facilities with a combined capacity of 18.1 megawatts.
This purchase will create economies of scale that will benefit all of our customers, and will lead to expansion of the generation output from the four Vermont Marble dams through increased investment, CVPS President Bob Young said. It maintains Vermont control over the plants, which produce clean, reliable energy, and expands CV s role as the operator of the largest fleet of renewable hydroelectric generators in the state.
Young said there would be significant benefits to the purchase:

Amartya Sen, sometimes known as the Mother Teresa of Economics and the conscience of the profession, will be the principal speaker for the 103rd Saint Michael s College commencement ceremonies on Thursday, May 13, 2010, in the Ross Sports Center on the suburban Burlington, Vermont, campus. Some 505 students will receive bachelor s degrees and 52 will receive master s degrees at the ceremonies.

A baccalaureate mass will be held on Wednesday, May 12, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel with the Most Rev. Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Burlington, as principal celebrant and homilist. A baccalaureate awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 12, at 4 p.m. in the Ross Sports Center with Saint Michael s President John Neuhauser presiding.

The Company's capital stock, business and operations will not be affected by this name change. The Company's stockholders will not be required to exchange their Vermont Pure Holdings, Ltd. stock certificates for Crystal Rock Holdings, Inc. stock certificates. The Vermont Pure stock certificates will continue to represent shares of stock of the Company.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is seeking applications from farmers, agricultural producers and owners of rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. The funding is provided through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill).
The funding notice dated April 26, 2010 notes the deadline of June 30, 2010 for nation-wide applications, however, states have also been given funding for in-state competition. Applicants wishing to be considered for the in-state funding must submit applications no later than close of business (4:30 P.M.), Friday, May 21, 2010. A second round of applications will be accepted for in-state funding and must be received by 4:30 P.M., Friday, June 4, 2010.

Facing escalating deficits, while borrowing money from the federal government since January, Governor Jim Douglas, Speaker Shap Smith and Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin today announced they have reached an agreement on reforms to shore up the unemployment insurance (UI) trust fund. The agreed upon reforms are expected bring the fund in to the black by 2015 reducing expected borrowing from the federal government and accompanying interest payments from the state s general fund and limiting the amount of time that Vermont employers will forgo a valuable federal tax credit. The compromise will also set the fund up for long-term sustainability.

Average retail gasoline prices in Vermont have fallen 0.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.89/g yesterday. This compares with the national average that has increased 4.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.90/g, according to gasoline price website VermontGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Vermont during the past week, prices yesterday were 84.6 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 5.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 7.9 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 84.3 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.
Source: VermontGasPrices.com 5.3.2010