Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police is investigating a single-vehicle crash in which two men were killed and three others were injured Friday, May 31, 2024, in Colchester. The crash occurred at about 7:35 p.m. in the vicinity 1172 East Lakeshore Dr. while the vehicle was being pursued by members of the Colchester Police Department. Two occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead on scene, and three other occupants were detained by police and subsequently transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington for treatment of injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Calling all farmers! There is still time to register to participate in the 10th anniversary of Vermont Open Farm Week! This year’s event is scheduled to take place August 4-11, 2024. Open Farm Week provides an excellent opportunity to connect with your community, engage with customers, and highlight the unique aspects of your farm. You can choose any day during the week to host an event, or host on multiple days during the week if your schedule allows! To ensure a memorable experience for visitors, Open Farm Week events must include an activity that is not part of the regular farm schedule. This could include tours of fields or barns, tastings, cooking demonstrations, workshops, direct product sales, and more.

VermontBiz Beginning Monday, June 24, Burlington School District’s great Burlington School Food Project team will once again provide summer meals at no charge to kids 18 and under. All meals are provided free to all children, regardless of where they live. Meals will be available Monday through Friday from June 24 to August 8 (excluding Thursday, July 4th, and Friday, July 5th). There are no fees or registration; children simply show up and eat! 

VermontBiz Incidents involving dog attacks on Postal Service employees rose to more than 5,800 cases last year. As part of the USPS 2024 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign, the organization is offering crucial information on how dog owners can be good stewards for safe mail delivery and ensure the safety of our employees.

The campaign begins Sunday, June 2, and runs through Sunday, June 9. This year’s theme is “Don’t let your dog bite the hand that serves you.” Spread the news of the campaign with the hashtag #dogbiteawareness.

VermontBiz On Saturday, June 1, over 30 Soldiers and Airmen with the Vermont National Guard will depart for Tambacounda and Kedougou, Senegal, to participate in a medical readiness exercise through the State Partnership Program.

Vermont service members will join colleagues from the New Hampshire National Guard, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force – Africa and the Austrian Bundesheer in Senegal for the exercise, which will run for about two weeks.

VermontBiz Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following reaction to President Biden’s announcement of a three-phased ceasefire currently being negotiated between Israel and Hamas:

“President Biden is right: it’s time to end the war in Gaza.

“I support his call for a ceasefire – one I’ve made for months. A lasting ceasefire is the only way to get the hostages out and desperately needed humanitarian aid in. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza must end, and end now. A ceasefire that ends this war is the only way to begin rebuilding a shattered Gaza and working toward permanent peace.”

View a digital version of this release.

VermontBiz Today, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak called for a special election to fill the vacant Ward 3 School Commissioner seat following the May 20, 2024 resignation of Commissioner Saja Almogalli.  

Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak said the following in a statement:  

“I am deeply grateful for former Commissioner Almogalli and her service on the School Board. Throughout her time on the Commission, Saja was an impactful voice for marginalized communities, especially immigrant and refugee families in the Old North End and Downtown. I am grateful that her public service will continue as a Burlington Police Officer.” 

VermontBiz Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be forced to end the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) because Congress failed to vote on an extension of the internet affordability program. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), lead sponsor of bipartisan legislation to extend the program, released the following statement: 

“Broadband access is one of the few things we can still find bipartisan agreement on in Washington—yet the Affordable Connectivity Program could very well be the next victim of Congressional dysfunction. The program has bipartisan support. There is frankly no reason to accept the failure to act on it."

VermontBiz Outstanding achievements and innovations within Vermont’s tourism and hospitality sectors were honored at the 39th annual Vermont Tourism Summit. Several industry leaders received awards recognizing their outstanding contributions to culinary arts, sustainable practices, community engagement, and the future of tourism in Vermont.

VermontBiz American Airlines has unveiled strategic schedule changes at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (Leahy BTV) aimed at bolstering capacity and enhancing connectivity in key hubs across the United States. June 2024, Airlines will roll out notable increases in capacity to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), which will greatly benefit Leahy BTV travelers.

VermontBiz Governor Phil Scott announced action on the following bills, passed by the General Assembly.

When signing S.191 Governor Scott issued the following statement:

“New Americans have been through so much before getting to Vermont, and this bill will help to expand opportunities for them by furthering their education and training for new skills that lead to good paying jobs. At a time where we continue to see our population getting older, and our workforce declining, we need to do everything we can to reverse these trends and support good careers for all Vermonters.”

When signing S.204 Governor Scott issued the following statement:

“Making sure our kids have a strong foundation of reading skills is critical to their long-term success in the classroom and beyond. This bill continues to build on the work we have done to improve student literacy. The Agency of Education will support Vermont schools and educators as they tackle this important challenge and implement this new law.”

VermontBiz Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) issued the following statement in reaction to a jury finding former President Donald Trump guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of a hush money scheme:

“All of the evidence was presented by both sides and ultimately the jurors decided – that is a fair justice system at play, and the former president and his supporters must respect that. As I have said throughout the former president’s legal proceedings: no person is above the law, including a former President of the United States.

“Donald Trump spent this trial attacking the Judge, the prosecutors, the witnesses, the jurors, and others who were not remotely involved in this case. Unfortunately, this behavior is part of a dangerous pattern of inciting his supporters to target those with whom he disagrees, as we all remember from January 6th. Those who worked on this case, and heard the facts of this case, should be protected through the next steps of this process and beyond.”