Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for October was 2.3 percent. This reflects an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. The civilian labor force participation rate was 65.6 percent in October, a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. All three major indicators were negative for the month, with the Labor Force and Employment down, while the number of Unemployed rose. The comparable United States rate in October was 4.1 percent, no change from the revised September estimate. Vermont continues to have the second lowest rate in the US. South Dakota is lowest at 1.9 percent and Nevada is highest at 5.7 percent.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today held a press conference with Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) to discuss the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD) to block the sale of certain offensive arms to Israel. Sanders will bring the JRDs to the Senate floor for a vote this Wednesday. The resolutions were officially introduced on September 25, 2024. Sens. Merkley and Welch are cosponsors on resolutions to block the sale of 120mm mortar rounds and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMS). Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) joins them as a cosponsor on a third resolution to block the sale of tank rounds.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine For the week ending November 9, 2024, the Vermont Department of Health reported that the number of COVID-19 cases fell dramatically while hospitalizations also fell. There was only one fatality last week. Hospitalizations and general "syndromic" cases decreased to5 cases statewide for the week. The number of reported COVID cases fell from 146 to 69. Cases had been falling in April and May and were as low as 31 at the beginning of May. Along with the case numbers, wastewater monitoring also has shown a decrease in levels of virus. The pandemic death total stands at 1,227.

Vermont State Police November 19, 2024, 12:07 pm The covered bridge in Waitsfield on Bridge St is closed for an undetermined amount of time due to a crash that has impacted the stability of the bridge. This incident is expected to last until further notice.  Specific details are not yet available and updates will be provided as appropriate. Motorists should expect delays in the area, or seek alternate routes.

Vermont Business Magazine On November 14th the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference recognized the contributions of Julie Bond and Rick DeAngelis of Good Samaritan Haven by selecting them for this year’s Vermont Housing Hero award. Good Samaritan Haven is a non-profit providing emergency assistance to people experiencing homelessness in Central Vermont. Bond and DeAngelis were selected to receive the award due to their dedication to expanding shelter capacity, providing stability for people experiencing homelessness and for shaping the non-profit into a critical resource of Central Vermont’s most vulnerable residents.

Vermont Business Magazine Police Chief Jon Murad today announced publicly his decision not to seek reappointment in June of 2025. Chief Murad informed the Mayor of his decision in a letter dated November 4, 2024, and informed Police Department staff earlier this morning, November 19. He will continue to lead the department through the early part of 2025, while the administration engages in a search process to find the next Chief of Police. Murad, a native of Burlington, did not offer a reason for stepping down in his resignation letter.

Vermont Business Magazine The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy has released a new Policy Focus Report, Preserving Affordable Homeownership: Municipal Partnerships with Community Land Trusts, by John Emmeus Davis and Kristin King-Ries. Drawing on insights from 115 community land trusts (CLTs) that were interviewed or surveyed by the International Center for Community Land Trusts, the report explores how CLTs are partnering with public officials to help address the housing affordability crisis. In this innovative model, individuals buy homes on land that is leased from a local CLT and agree to limit the resale price, reducing the upfront cost of homeownership and keeping those homes affordable for one income-qualified household after another.

by Mike Del Trecco, CEO of VAHHS It’s been a busy and noisy last several weeks in health care. We’ve had federal, state and local elections on top of it all. We cannot ignore the stress we feel, and know our neighbors feel, in this moment. But what we can do is act. We can lean into things that represent progress. As Vermont moves forward with health care transformation, the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) remains committed to advancements in areas that we know align with what Vermonters want and deserve: equitable access to high-quality care (especially in rural Vermont), stabilization and strengthening of our health care ecosystem (nursing homes, transportation, mental health, etc.), and affordability (we must continue to find efficiencies and cost-saving where possible).

Vermont Business Magazine VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) will be hosting a Hospice Volunteer Training session on Thursday, December 5, from 8AM to 4PM at the VNAHSR Office (8 N. Main Street, St. Albans, VT). This comprehensive, one-day training is designed for individuals interested in becoming hospice volunteers and supporting patients and families facing serious illness. The training session is free and open to individuals aged 16 and older who are interested in providing compassionate care and support to hospice patients. No prior healthcare or hospice experience is required. Participants must pass a background check, and pre-registration is required.

Vermont Business Magazine The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont joins communities across the U.S. in celebration of National Rural Health Day (NRHD) on November 21, 2024. The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and rural-focused organizations throughout the United States set aside the third Thursday of November to recognize NRHD. This annual event is an opportunity to celebrate the “Power of Rural” and honor individuals and organizations dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of nearly 61 million people currently living in rural America. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Vermont has the highest rural population in the country with 64.9% of its population living in rural areas. 

Vermont Business Magazine Northeast Delta Dental Foundation has awarded a substantial grant to fund a statewide initiative delivering essential dental care to underserved Vermont communities. This collaborative effort brings together the Vermont Department of Health District Offices and Office of Oral Health, Vermont’s Free & Referral Clinics, local dentists, and a committed team of clinical volunteers and community partners to bring dental care to Vermonters in need. Over the upcoming months, a series of free pop-up dental clinics will provide vital oral healthcare and oral health education to children and adults in Vermont, focused on community members who have historically faced significant barriers to oral healthcare, though all are welcome. The first in this series of 6 clinics was held recently in Brattleboro, with much success. 

Vermont Business Magazine VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) has announced the upcoming dates for its popular community discussion series, Death, Dying & Danishes. This free, informal gathering provides an opportunity for individuals in the local community to engage in open and honest conversations about life, death and the emotional aspects of grief in a welcoming environment. The series is led by Hospice volunteers, and aims to create a safe space for people of all ages to explore these often-difficult topics.