Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The American Red Cross of Northern New England volunteers and staff teamed up with the Brattleboro Fire Department and Team Rubicon on Saturday, April 11th to install more than 30 free smoke alarms for local families during a Sound the Alarm home fire safety event in Brattleboro and surrounding communities. Ten of the alarms were combination carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, donated by the Vermont State Fire Marshal’s Office.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has reported have COVID-19 hospitalizations remain at a very low level, similar to the negligible level seen last summer. There were no measles cases after one reported in Vermont in February in Washington County and the rate nationally is low. While there was no measles virus detected recently, RSV, Influenza B and Norovirus remained elevated at all the Vermont wastewater testing sites. There was 1 COVID outbreak last week (0 the week before), with 1 in Long-Term Care Facilities and 0 in schools.

Vermont Business Magazine Join the Vermont Department of Labor for an upcoming Town Hall focused on Filing Quarterly Wage and Contribution Reports in the modernized Unemployment Insurance (UI) system. This virtual session is exclusively for VLCT and PACIF members, and will provide employers, payroll professionals, and other stakeholders with important updates and a firsthand look at what to expect as the department transitions to the new UI platform.

Ben & Jerry's Homemade Today’s finally here – the most Ben & Jerry-est day – Free Cone Day!🍦🎉 As you may know, Free Cone Day was officially born in 1979, a day that has always been about thanking the fans, and this year will be no different. Here’s the scoop: From 12-8PM, fans can stop by their nearest participating Scoop Shop for their go-to flavor, or to try some of the latest innovations (hello Honey Graham Latte!). And yes – ice cream lovers can get in line as many times as they would like all day. We encourage it!

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) is pleased to announce its celebration of the Week of the Young Child, April 11-17, 2026. This special week coincides with the national Week of the Young Child celebration organized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and comes 100 days into NAEYC’s centennial year. The Week of the Young Child — now in its 55th year — is an annual celebration that focuses public attention on the needs of young children and their families and recognizes the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

by Devon Green, VAHHS There was a moment last week where I had my hand on the doorknob to the House Health Care Committee room and two visitors came up to me. “Can we just go into any of these rooms?” one of them asked. “Yes, of course,” I responded. “This is the people’s house!” They excitedly rushed off. “It might be boring!” I called after them, but it was too late—I had caught some of their enthusiasm, which is a pretty refreshing reminder when you’ve been in the thick of it for a couple of months.

Vermont Business Magazine The Neurovisions Film Festival, a student-run festival dedicated to films by neurodivergent filmmakers and stories exploring neurodivergence, will return to Landmark College from April 24–25, 2026. Now in its second year, the festival continues to expand its mission of amplifying neurodivergent voices through film—highlighting perspectives, storytelling styles, and first-hand experiences that remain underrepresented in mainstream film and media. This year’s festival will screen 41 films at least nine different countries, bringing together a global range of voices. This curated selection explores themes of identity, communication, and perception, with many films offering first-hand perspectives of autism and neurodivergence. 

Vermont Business Magazine Delta Dental Plan of Vermont announces the election of a new trustee to its board. Sue Caswell will serve a three-year term which began on March 27, 2026. Caswell is the Director of Technology for Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL), a nonprofit that assists Vermont health care providers with adopting and using health information technology to improve patient care. Previously, she held the position of Director of Network Services for Champlain College. She also served there as an adjunct faculty member in the computer networking program.

Vermont Business Magazine LaunchVT, a division of the Lake Champlain Chamber, has continued its partnership with All Stage, a company based in Boston, for the third year in a row. All Stage’s products connect the best investors with entrepreneurs, aiming to create a strong investing community that benefits all stakeholders. By leveraging community partnerships and its proven flagship acceleration program, LaunchVT equips Vermont entrepreneurs with the tools and mentorship necessary to solve complex problems and create meaningful economic opportunities within their communities.

Public Assets Institute Over the past two decades, real wages for the lowest earners in Vermont grew more slowly than in any other New England state or in the U.S. as a whole. In 2025, 10 percent of Vermonters earned $15 per hour or less. That was higher than the U.S. wage for the same group but represented a smaller increase: 25 percent in 20 years in Vermont, compared with 32 percent growth for the U.S. The state’s minimum hourly wage was just over $14 in 2025, but the livable wage was closer to $20.

The Land Use Review Board Act 181 of the 2024 Vermont Legislative Session modified Act 250, Vermont’s land use law. The Land Use Review Board has published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to explain the changes under Act 181, the ongoing roll out of Act 181, and address concerns raised by Vermonters. In the Frequently Asked Questions, the Board provides up-to-date and factual answers to questions posed about the regional planning process, future land use maps, Tier 3, and road construction jurisdiction (aka road rule). The Land Use Review Board is striving to engage the public in its work and recognizes the need to provide straight-forward answers to questions it receives. The Frequently Asked Questions will provide current information which can be updated as work continues to evolve.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Laura Brewer, 42, of Charlotte, Vermont, was sentenced in Vermont Superior Court, Addison Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of embezzlement. The Court, Judge Alison Arms presiding, imposed a six-year deferred sentence which requires Brewer to repay the embezzled funds, totaling $8,763. Additionally, Brewer must stay in regular contact with a probation officer, complete 50 hours of community service, and must not go to the Stewart’s Shops location.