Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday afternoon, hundreds of healthcare professionals, community members, and legislators lined main roads at Central Vermont Medical Center and the Mad River Family Clinic in a display of public opposition to the UVM Health Network’s recently proposed cuts to essential patient care services. The Network’s plan would close Central Vermont Medical Center’s Inpatient Psychiatry unit, two primary care clinics and multiple rehab therapy clinics in Central Vermont, dialysis centers in Newport, Rutland and St. Albans, the kidney transplant program at University of Vermont Medical Center, as well as limiting emergency, after-hours surgeries at CVMC, and decreasing UVMMC’s overnight capacity by 50 beds, among other cuts.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burke Area Chamber of Commerce held their Annual Meeting of Members at The Wildflower on November 18th which featured updates from the community, remarks from Lindsay Kurrle, Secretary of the VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and the presentation of the Business of the Year award to East Burke Market. Chamber President, John Kascenska, began the meeting with updates from Burke Mountain including the plan to begin snowmaking as soon as it is cold enough to do so with the goal of opening for the season in early December. Kascenska noted that the mountain was still in receivership and looking for a buyer. There was talk of a potential buyer in recent months, but that is no longer in the cards. Kascenska also introduced attendees to Christine Emmons who is the new (and first ever) Executive Director of the Burke Mountain Club. 

by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First, Vermont Business Magazine The owner of a Rutland roofing company cheated the Internal Revenue Service out of nearly $300,000 by underreporting his annual income for four years, federal court records show. James Mailhiot Jr., 56, has agreed to plead guilty in federal court to a single count of income tax evasion for 2022, court records note. Part of his penalty will be to pay full restitution. He operates a partnership under the name Jim Mailhiot Roofing, the criminal charge said. Mailhiot's roofing company had generated about $1.6 million in revenue between 2019 and 2022, court papers note. He understated his income by $819,897 across those four years

Vermont Business Magazine The average gasoline price in Vermont today is $3.09 per gallon, unchanged from last week, down 6 cents/g from last month and down 37 cents/g from last year, according to AAA. The lowest price in the state this week was $2.75/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 54.0 cents per gallon. The lowest prices are in Bennington and Rutland counties and the highest are in Grand Isle, Lamoille and Windsor counties. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.06/g today. The national average is down 11 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 23 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union presents an on-court donation of $2,125 to Vermont Works for Women, continuing its ongoing partnership with University of Vermont Women's Basketball and She Roars. As a women-led Credit Union and the Presenting Sponsor of University of Vermont Women's Basketball and the University of Vermont She Roars program, Vermont Federal Credit Union advances its mission of supporting Vermonters through its "When Women Win" initiative. Through this program, Vermont Federal Credit Union has pledged to donate $25 to Vermont Works for Women each time a University of Vermont women's athletic team secures a home game victory. At the end of the 2023 season, the program generated a total of $2,125, a testament to the dedication and hard work of the women's athletic teams.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard resort in Eastern North America, is pleased to receive a positive snow control announcement from FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation), the governing body of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup. With this announcement, Killington Resort can assure international race teams and ski racing fans traveling to central Vermont for Thanksgiving weekend that both the giant slalom and slalom races will take place as scheduled on November 30 and December 1.

by Secretary Anson Tebbetts, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets This season, we gather with friends and family. Perhaps you’re getting together for a home cooked meal, a potluck, or a special holiday celebration at the office or workplace. Maybe it’s to visit your favorite restaurant. We are fortunate in Vermont to have extraordinary food and beverages in every corner of our state. This time of year, we enjoy feasts with fresh local veggies, meat, dairy, and specialty food and beverages made right here in Vermont. Your local farmer works many long hours to produce a harvest that all of us may enjoy. You might find this season’s bounty at the farm at the farmstand, farmers’ market, CSA, retail store or co-op, or maybe delivered to your home. 

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09) introduced the bicameral American Renewable Energy Act (AREA), legislation to establish a 70% renewable energy resource standard by 2034 and up to 100% by 2044 to drastically reduce emissions, decrease pollution, and promote community resilience. In order to achieve this goal, AREA prioritizes the development and implementation of solar, wind, and geothermal energy, as well as marine energy, limited hydropower, and methane digesters for smaller farms and wastewater plants.

by Lt. Col. Meghan Smith, 158th Fighter Wing The Vermont Air National Guard began the third and final phase of a photovoltaic power project, an ambitious solar energy initiative aimed at bolstering energy resilience, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing emergency readiness. The initial solar array was made possible through an $8.8 million grant facilitated by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, while the nearly $2.8 million expansion is funded by the Energy Resilience & Conservation Investment Program, a subsection of the Defense-Wide Military Construction Program specifically intended to fund projects designed to provide energy resilience to critical electrical loads, implement energy and water conservation measures and renewable energy technologies at military installations.

Vermont Business Magazine World Cup ski racing returns to Vermont’s Killington Resort with the 2024 Stifel Killington Cup taking place on Thanksgiving weekend, November 29 - December 1. This year's event will have no shortage of passion and excitement, especially since Mikaela Shiffrin is on track for her historic 100th win as the fastest female ski racer. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Stifel Killington Cup. 

Vermont Business Magazine After filing Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD) in September to block the sale of certain offensive arms to Israel, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today rose to bring the JRDs up for a vote by the full Senate. The JRD is the only formal mechanism available to Congress to prevent an arms sale noticed by the Administration from advancing. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in collaboration with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), will adjust hours of operation for 38 ports of entry (POEs) along the U.S. northern border, beginning at midnight, Jan. 6, 2025. Most of the border crossings in Vermont and the New York North Country that are being affected will see their hours reduced. The CBP said these changes will allow it to increase border security while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade and travel. CBP officers will be deployed to busier ports of entry, enabling the agency to use its resources most effectively for its critical national security and border security missions.