Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on April 15, 2026, Samantha Danforth, 36, of Pownal, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 46 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Danforth previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base and Fentanyl. Danforth conspired with William McLaughlin to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl in and around Bennington. As part of the conspiracy, Danforth sold drugs for McLaughlin, acted as his driver, accompanied him to obtain drugs from New York, assisted in cooking crack and packaging drugs for sale, possessed firearms, and at times supported McLaughlin’s violence and acted as his enforcer.

Vermont Business Magazine KeyBank has named Leonid (Len) Batsevitsky commercial leader for the Boston and Vermont Markets, as well as president of KeyBank’s Boston Market. In his new role, Batsevitsky will drive collaboration and coordination of KeyBank activities and resources in the market, serve as the face and voice of KeyBank in the Greater Boston community, and oversee middle market business development, team building and client relationships. Prior to joining KeyBank, Batsevitsky spent nearly a decade at TD Bank, where he served as a senior relationship manager in the Middle Market group. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House Democrats are calling on Governor Phil Scott to explain his ongoing pattern of delaying the appointment of Democratic legislators and ignoring the good-faith recommendations by a local appointment committee. The local committee tasked, by law, with recommending names to the Governor following House district Chittenden-18’s vacancy delivered three qualified, active members of the Chittenden-18 district.

Vermont Business Magazine A national real estate data firm is reporting that Vermont has the second lowest foreclosure rate in the nation (1:6781 properties), behind only South Dakota (1:7107). The two states also had the fewest number of total foreclosures (Vermont 50; South Dakota 57). ATTOM, the leading provider of property data, AI-powered analytics, and real estate intelligence solutions, today released its Q1 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows a total of 118,727 U.S. properties with a foreclosure filing during the first quarter of 2026, up 6 percent from the previous quarter and up 26 percent from a year ago.

Vermont State Police Following the announcement of the filing of charges against Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer, additional women have come forward and reported being victims of sexual misconduct by Palmer. As a result of this continuing investigation by the Vermont State Police, detectives submitted a new affidavit in support of additional charges against Palmer including solicitation of prostitution and lewd and lascivious conduct. The charges allege Palmer paid a woman on multiple occasions to participate in sex acts, and that he sent unsolicited sexual material to another woman. VSP detectives submitted the new affidavit to the Bennington County State’s Attorney’s Office, which is handling the prosecution of this case.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $4.08 per gallon, down 4 cents/g from last week, up 47 cents from last month and up 99 cents/g from last year at this time. The lowest price in the state this week was $3.79/g while the highest was $4.29/g, a difference of 50.0 cents per gallon. Prices are lowest in Windham ($4.02/g) and Bennington ($4.00/g) counties and highest in Washington ($4.11/g), Chittenden ($4.10/g) and Grand Isle ($4.10/g), according to AAA. The national average price of gasoline is down 7 cents/g in the last week, averaging $4.09/g today. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP) has announced a series of facilitated community conversations focused on the future of the Bennington Battle Monument. These meetings provide a vital opportunity for the public to learn about the landmark tower’s condition, and for stakeholders to gather critical feedback about how to best improve, operate and maintain it. The first meeting is April 29 in Bennington.

Vermont Business Magazine Treasurer Pieciak is joining state fiscal officers in recognizing #ABLEtoSave Month this April. The outreach campaign promotes Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts and the life-changing financial benefits they offer to individuals with qualifying disabilities and their families. ABLE accounts allow eligible individuals with disabilities and their families to save and invest for qualified disability-related expenses, including housing, education, transportation, and healthcare—all without jeopardizing eligibility for public benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, cosponsored the Senior Hunger Prevention Act, bicameral legislation led by Senate Aging Committee Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) to expand Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—called 3Squares in Vermont—benefits for older Americans. U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06) introduced companion legislation in the House.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced his appointment of Democrat Kevin Scully of Burlington to fill the vacant Chittenden-18 seat in the House of Representatives. He takes the spot of Bob Hooper who resigned his seat in March, after an internal legislative panel found that he violated the Vermont House’s sexual harassment rules. Scully is a former Burlington police chief.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark and a bipartisan coalition of 33 other attorneys general on Wednesday won their lawsuit against Live Nation after a jury found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated federal and state antitrust laws by eliminating competition and driving up costs for fans, artists, and venues across the country. After a five-week trial, the jury found that the coalition successfully proved that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have unlawfully maintained and abused their monopoly power that prevents other ticketing services, venue owners, and concert promoters from successfully competing. As a result, fans are charged higher prices for tickets. 

Vermont Business Magazine With spring underway and the bulk of construction season ahead, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is reminding those who withdraw surface water to track and report usage. Under Act 135 of 2022, any person withdrawing surface water must file an annual report with DEC each January. The purpose of Act 135 is to collect baseline data on the use of surface waters such as rivers, streams, brooks, creeks, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Anyone who withdraws 10,000 gallons or more of surface water within 24 hours – or 150,000 gallons or more over 30 days – is required to fill out an online form to register and report their withdrawal.