Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and members of his cabinet will be in Orleans County on Wednesday, September 25 for its Capital for a Day 14-county tour. Governor Scott first launched this initiative in June 2018, and he and his cabinet visited all 14 counties over the following 10 months. Capital for a Day gives local constituents, municipal government leaders and other partners the opportunity to connect directly with state leadership and staff. In addition to the public schedule listed below, Governor Scott and members of his cabinet will participate in meetings to discuss municipal flood response and recovery, public safety, and challenges business owners are facing which are not open to the general public.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine For the week ending September 14, the Vermont Department of Health reported that the number of COVID-19 cases in Vermont reversed course after a brief lull and increased by nearly 100 cases. Hospitalizations likewise saw an increase in visits. The VDH did not have any updated results on COVID-related fatalities. Hospitalizations and general "syndromic" cases increased to about 20 cases. Overall, COVID results have been increasing in the late summer. At the beginning of the summer there were only about 5 hospitalizations a week, but have been running, for the most part, at 20 or more for the past month. The number of COVID cases, which had fallen for the first time since the end of June, spiked last week to 367 cases. Cases had been falling in April and May and were as low as 31 at the beginning of May. New outbreaks are also up at schools at long-term care providers.

Vermont Agency of Education With the start of the 2024-2025 school year, the AOE would like to share important reminders and resources to help support efforts to maintain and improve school health. Per the Vermont Department of Health, Vermont’s reportable disease rule requires school nurses to report any COVID-19 cases in school, as well as any outbreaks (defined, for COVID-19, as three or more cases that the nurse believes are connected to in-school transmission). There is also resources for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Naloxone & Opioid Overdose Prevention, the Vermont Asthma Program has launched a new webpage, testing and remediating for lead in drinking water, and more.

Vermont Business Magazine The Associated General Contractors of Vermont (AGC/VT) has announced it has been awarded the prestigious James E. Cashman Award. This honor recognizes AGC/VT’s exceptional achievements in growth, engagement, advocacy, and communication within the construction industry. The James E. Cashman Award is presented annually to organizations that demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing the construction sector. AGC/VT has been acknowledged for its significant contributions in fostering industry growth, enhancing member engagement, advocating for critical issues, and effectively communicating with stakeholders.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont (UVM) Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical (Post-Bacc Pre-Med) Program celebrates its 30th anniversary this academic year. Since 1994, UVM’s Post-Bacc Pre-Med program has provided support and preparation to nearly 4,000 students aspiring to enter medical school, helping to empower individuals to embark on successful careers and shape the future of healthcare. ​​The program’s impressive 83% matriculation rate into medical schools reflects its effectiveness in preparing students for advanced studies. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) Auxiliary is excited to announce that it will award $19,861.72 in Wish List requests to several hospital departments. Every year the Auxiliary and its members raise monies to benefit NVRH patients and staff. This funding comes from sales in the Auxiliary’s Cherry Wheel Gift Shop and vendor sales, and is operated by NVRH volunteers.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University is excited to introduce its new online Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program, and to welcome its first class this fall. With its 200-year military heritage, Norwich has developed its MPH program to prepare students to take on leadership roles in addressing today’s most pressing public health challenges. Public health, the science of improving the health of communities and individuals through preventive measures, intersects with the growing areas of artificial intelligence, nursing, national security, climate and environmental issues, and mental health. Norwich’s science-based MPH program emphasizes the leadership and human impact required to effectively address these key areas.

Vermont Business Magazine As millions of Americans struggle with diabetes and obesity, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), on Tuesday will lead the committee in a hearing to examine why Novo Nordisk charges the American people the highest prices in the world for its lifesaving drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy. Epidemiologists have estimated that more than 40,000 lives per year could be saved if Wegovy and other weight-loss drugs were made affordable and widely available in the United States. Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen will join the hearing to provide in-person testimony on a solo panel.

Vermont Business Magazine SASH (Support and Services at Home) has been named a recipient of a 2024 IPRO Quality Award presented in recognition of its significant achievements in improving healthcare quality. SASH is a participant in the IPRO Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO). QIN-QIO is a federal program focused on improving the quality of care provided to Medicare patients across the United States. It is funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS). SASH was recognized for chronic disease management. SASH worked with Healthcentric Advisors, a collaborator in the IPRO QIN-QIO, to achieve measurable quality improvement outcomes working with the IPRO QIN-QIO on a project that provided a focused intervention to improve hypertension among older adults.

Vermont Business Magazine Finding the right senior care options for a loved one, especially after a hospitalization or health change, is daunting. From the individualism of independent living, the security of assisted living, and even specialized memory care, the options can feel overwhelming, especially when time is of the essence. CarePatrol’s senior care advisory services offer tailored support to find high-quality senior care solutions at no cost to the families and older adults they help. New owner Chris Foran understands the challenge firsthand from personal experience with a family member.  This inspired him to help more families, and CarePatrol is the perfect way to do this. Chris is both honored and humbled to give Vermont families peace of mind during a stressful time of transition in their lives.  

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.22 per gallong, down 3.7 cents per gallon from last week's $3.26/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.76/g while the highest was $3.49/g, a difference of 73.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 1.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.16/g today. The national average is down 18.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 67.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Public Assets Institute Vermont median household income rose to $81,211 last year—a 5.4 percent increase, after adjusting for inflation. Half of Vermont’s 280,000 households earn less than the median and half earn more. The rebound followed a drop in real income—that is, a loss of buying power after adjusting for inflation—in 2022. The one-year increase led the other states. Vermont also saw growth of 7.8 percent in median household income from 2019, before the pandemic, through last year—the nation’s greatest rise during that period.