Current News

Attorney General William Sorrell has announced that Vermont has joined with other states and the federal government and reached agreement with four pharmaceutical companies that paid a total of $124 million to resolve claims that they violated the False Claims Act by failing to pay appropriate rebates for drugs that were paid for by Medicaid. As a result of the settlements, Vermont received a check for $110,643 this week.

Related Company: Bolton Valley ResortBolton Valley Resort has become the first ski area in Vermont and only the second in the nation to utilize wind power from an on-site wind turbine. Bolton Valley commissioned its 100 kilowatt wind turbine, located at the top of the resort’s Vista Quad lift. It will produce the equivalent of electricity consumed annually by 40-to-45 Vermont homes.
“This a watershed moment for the Vermont ski industry and in many ways the energy industry in Vermont,” said Larry Williams, who with Doug Nedde, owns Bolton Valley. “We’ve demonstrated a commitment to 21st century approaches to energy generation and consumption solutions on a Vermont scale. Bolton Valley and its skiers and riders take great pride in being eco-friendly and will continue to work toward decreasing our impact on the environment.”

Odds are good that either you or someone you know has unclaimed financial property in Vermont. There currently are more than 211,000 claimable properties in Vermont’s unclaimed property database. With Vermont’s population at around 621,000, potentially one in every three people in the state could be linked to one of these properties. There is currently more than $47 million waiting to be claimed.
“We receive new financial property year-round,” said State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding. “While my office returned more than $5 million to Vermonters last year, at the same time we received just more than $8 million in new property. I urge everyone to check our online database every year.”

As events continue to unfold in Washington that could alter the scope of the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, the nonprofit organization took time recently to recognize the anniversaries of its major college planning programs.
· For 40 years, VSAC has provided Vermonters with individual counseling through TRiO, a group of programs that use a combination of federal and VSAC funds to help low-income, first-generation, college-bound students prepare for and succeed in education or training beyond high school.
· Ten years ago, Vermont was among the first states to receive funding through GEAR UP, another federal-VSAC partnership serving disadvantaged students. GEAR UP was created by former US Senator James Jeffords of Vermont.

Standing on the land-based part of the Vermont side of the closed Champlain Bridge, New York Acting Commissioner of Transportation Stanley Gee delivered the structure’s death warrant. At a hastily called press conference at Chimney Point yesterday (November 9, 2009), Gee said NYS-DOT and three consulting engineering firms had analyzed all the data from all the inspections of the 80-year-old bridge, and had concluded that it had indeed passed its predicted 70-year lifespan. Unsafe for anyone to work on, and so close to collapse that the waterway beneath has been close to boat traffic, the rusting steel trusses have to go as soon as possible, he said.

Three Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) officers have announced their retirement after distinguished careers spanning 30 to more than 40 years each. Scheduled to retire later this month are Mike Kansler, president, chief executive officer and chief nuclear officer of Entergy Nuclear; John McGaha, senior vice president of Entergy Operations; and Bud Storey, vice president and deputy general counsel.
"Mike, John and Bud have all made invaluable contributions to the company throughout their many years of service," said Entergy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer J. Wayne Leonard. "All three have been outstanding leaders and will leave big shoes to fill at Entergy. They have planned for this day and helped to develop successors that are prepared and eager to continue the record of achievement set by their predecessors."

WCAX-TV announced today that Molly McKenna Smith will lead its news coverage in Rutland, Bennington and Windham Counties. Smith will be based out of Channel 3’s Rutland Bureau.
“We are excited to welcome Molly as our newest journalist. Molly's presence in Rutland will enable us to cover stories more readily from that important region,” noted Anson Tebbetts, WCAX News Director.
Smith is a graduate of Rutland High School and earned her broadcasting degree from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, in Athens, Ohio.
Smith stated, “I am delighted to be home, and look forward to telling stories that resonate with Vermonters."
WCAX, which is based in Burlington, maintains bureaus in Rutland, Montpelier, West Lebanon, NH, and Plattsburgh, NY.
WCAX-TV is the CBS affiliate in Burlington, VT and is owned and operated by Mt. Mansfield Television, Inc.
Source: WCAX. 11.9.2009.

New York Governor David A Paterson and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas have received a report from their states’ respective transportation agencies which finds that it is not feasible to rehabilitate the Lake Champlain Bridge. Engineers have declared that the 80-year-old span is too unstable to be renovated, and recommend demolishing the bridge for the safety of motorists and boaters. The states will accept these recommendations based on the overwhelming safety issues enumerated in the report and will begin planning the construction of a new bridge in its place. We expect the Federal Highway Administration to concur with this recommendation based on their preliminary review of the report.

Governor Jim Douglas invites the public to join the Vermont Fallen Families to observe the Veterans’ Day holiday and the unveiling of the Vermont Global War on Terror Memorial at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph. Vermont’s Gold Star Families and friends along with state officials have worked hard to organize and create a lasting monument to honor our 36 Vermont servicemen who have given selflessly and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great nation. The Memorial will forever recognize their patriotism and courage and will include tributes to all service men and women who continue to defend our freedoms each and every day.
WHAT: Global War on Terror Memorial unveiling and Veteran’s Day observance
WHEN: Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2009 – 2:00pm
WHERE: Vermont Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Cemetery Chapel, 487 Furnace Road Randolph Center, Vermont
Source: Governor's office.
###

A Barre Town company that makes wind turbines is hoping to find local businesses who can supply it with components and services as it expands its business. Northern Power Systems and the Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development are teaming up to hold a “Supply Chain Open House” to match up potential suppliers with the company on November 13.
“As we expand our production – particularly into the utility-scale turbine market – Northern Power is looking to ‘buy local’ wherever possible,” said Taylor Robinson, Vice President of Global Supply Chain for the firm. “Not only does this reduce transportation and other procurement costs, but it helps our neighbors and the state’s economy.”
Northern Power President and CEO John P. Danner; Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie; and Commerce and Community Development Secretary Kevin Dorn will join Robinson at the day-long open house.

SELF, the national women’s well-being magazine, announces Burlington, Vermont as the nation’s healthiest city in its 10thannual Healthiest Places for Women survey. Analyzing 100 US metropolitan areas, this examination is the most comprehensive of its kind. Using a broad scope of research criteria, SELF evaluated more than 8,000 bits of data to determine each city’s level of healthy living.
SELF polled a panel of experts to find out which factors most affect a woman’s ability to live her healthiest. Then compiled a list of 50 criteria, including rates of diseases such as cancer and depression; health care factors such as: the number of doctors per capita and the percentage of population with health insurance; environmental and community measures such as: air quality, crime rates and unemployment statistics; and habits such as exercise, diet and smoking.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) enhancements to US Small Business Administration loan programs have led to a significant rebound in Vermont of SBA-backed loans for small businesses and greater access to much needed capital.
As a result of the credit crunch, SBA lending significantly declined in the fall of 2008 and early 2009. Following the signing of the Recovery Act on Feb. 17, 2009, Vermont’s monthly loan volume remained relatively flat until mid-March, 2009, when the number of loans began a sharp and steady climb from 13 loans in March to a high of 49 in September.
By the close of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, 2009, the SBA Vermont District Office had achieved 128.39% of its loan goal, the highest in the country. With an original goal of $45,491,700, the SBA Vermont District Office closed FY09 with a total loan volume of $58,406,600, an increase of 28% over the same period last year.