Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The ACLU filed a lawsuit yesterday to obtain public records wrongfully withheld by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department (ECSD). At issue is the ECSD’s compliance with Vermont’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy (FIPP)—which limits local police involvement in immigration enforcement. The Department failed to provide copies of the records as required by state law, instead insisting that the ACLU travel to the sheriff’s office to first “inspect” the records in person, thus compelling the ACLU to file suit. 

Vermont Business Magazine Hub International Limited (Hub), a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, announced today that it has acquired The Essex Agency. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Located in Essex Junction, Vermont, The Essex Agency is an independent insurance agency specializing in personal and commercial insurance, including in the construction and real estate industries. This focus also supports Hub's Specialty practices by complementing and strengthening its existing capabilities. David Holton, President, and John Handy, Vice President, and The Essex Agency team will join Hub International New England.

Vermont Business Magazine On May 28, Governor Scott allowed S.102, An act relating to expanding employment protections and collective bargaining rights, to become law without his signature and allowed S.209, An act relating to prohibiting unserialized firearms and unserialized firearms frames and receivers, to become law without his signature. 

Vermont Business Magazine Steve Donahue of Donahue & Associates, assisted the landlord and tenant, at 1330 Shelburne Rd in South Burlington, for NBT Bank’s newest branch location. Donahue & Associates is a commercial real estate firm based in Burlington. Meg McGovern of Donahue & Associates, leased 110 Main St in Downtown Burlington to Pearl, woman owned and expertly curated women’s apparel store. Meg McGovern of Donahue & Associates, leased 25 Winooski Fall Way, in Winooski to Mattarello Baked Goods, the best custom cakes and fine deserts East of the Winooski River.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Saturday issued the following statement Saturday after Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the largest manufacturers of inhaler products in the United States, began its program to cap out-of-pocket costs at $35 per month for its asthma and COPD inhalers. "Today is the first day of a new program instituted by the major pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, which will allow people with asthma and COPD to purchase brand name inhalers at their local drugstore or pharmacy for only $35 dollars. This is a major reduction in cost, and I thank Boehringer Ingelheim for making their important products affordable for the millions of Americans who need them to breathe."

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced the sentencing of two defendants today in separate cases investigated by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC). Jason King, 46, of St. Albans, Vermont, was sentenced today in Vermont Superior Court, Franklin Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Luring a Child and one felony count of Promoting a Recording of Sexual Conduct by a Child. Chase Skinner, 29, of Essex Junction, Vermont, was sentenced today in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials and one misdemeanor count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials.

Vermont State Police Following further investigation and the completion of autopsies, the Vermont State Police is able to confirm the identities of the two individuals killed in the Friday night rollover vehicle crash on East Lakeshore Drive in Colchester. They are: Damanuel McLeod, 19, of Brooklyn, New York and Tywon Parker, 28, of the Bronx, New York. In addition, the surviving individuals who were in the vehicle are identified as: Tayami Barnes, 31, of the Bronx, New York; Ron A. Thomas, 21, of Brooklyn, New York; and juvenile male, 18, of Richmond, Virginia.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain Valley Exposition has announced the 2024 Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductees. With over 20 years of history and over 100 inductees, the Ag Hall of Fame is an honored tradition among Vermont farmers and growers, service providers, and dedicated employees. Over the last few years the categories have been expanded to include an Emerging Leader under the age of 40, an Ag Innovator and up to three inductees in the Lifetime Achievement category. The thoughtfulness of each nomination makes for competitive judging each year. The 2024 inductees will be celebrated during the Champlain Valley Fair later this summer. 

Vermont Business Magazine On Saturday, June 1, 2024, 122 members of Bennington College’s Class of 2024 gathered, along with their family members and friends, faculty, staff, and leadership on a green expanse of lawn at the southern end of campus to receive their degrees. Graduates hailed from twenty-eight states and eighteen countries, including Egypt, India, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam, and ranged in age from 19 to 53. The institution conferred three master’s degrees, two in dance and one in public action, and 119 bachelor’s degrees. Undergraduate students studied Cultural Studies and Languages; Dance; Drama; Environmental Studies; Literature; Music; Science & Mathematics; Society, Culture & Thought; and Visual Arts. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott signs today signed nine bills into law. These include: H.546, An act relating to administrative and policy changes to tax laws; H.657, An act relating to the modernization of Vermont’s communications taxes and fees and H.707, An act relating to revising the delivery and governance of the Vermont workforce system.

Vermont Business Magazine A new voice is keeping an Eye on the Sky: meteorologist Megan Duncan will create and produce forecasts beginning this month for the venerable weather service from the Fairbanks Museum and Vermont Public. Duncan is the museum’s first female meteorologist. She’ll join Mark Breen and Lawrence Hayes, taking over for Steve Maleski, who is retiring this summer. Vermont Public will broadcast a tribute to Steve and an introduction to Megan during Vermont Edition on Tuesday, June 4 at noon and 7 p.m.

Vermont Business Magazine NEK Broadband and CVFiber announce a preliminary plan to join the two Communications Union Districts (CUDs) under 30 V.S.A 3052a, a recent addition to the law under S.199. The proposed merger would unite resources, experience, expertise, and a shared commitment to deliver exceptional high-speed internet services to their collective 71 communities. Working together, they say they will be better able to support digital equity, economic growth, and community development across the Northeast Kingdom and Central Vermont. Specifically, NEK Broadband and CVFiber propose to work together under the new business name, Northeast Central Broadband. The service plans, customer service, and pricing for both CVFiber and NEK Broadband areas will not change for the foreseeable future.