Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters are again facing steep upward premium growth for 2025 due to the cumulative impact of hospital costs, drug prices and state health care policy choices. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont projects that these trends will continue and will require rate increases of 16.3% for individual health plans and 19.1% for the small group health plans to pay for the cost of the care for Vermonters covered by Vermont Health Connect. MVP in the small group is proposing a 9.3% increase and in the individual plans, MVP has proposed an average increase of 11.7%. The Green Mountain Care Board, which regulates rates, typically reduces rate increases, often substantially. The GMCB will release their decisions in the late summer. The premium rates are effective between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. 

Vermont State Police On February 2, 2024, the Vermont State Police were contacted by the Assistant Superintendent, Michael Dounetos, of the Marble Valley Correctional Facility, and informed that Correctional Officer David Orvis, had been relieved of duty pending an investigation. Through investigation, it was learned that Orvis had coordinated with at least two separate incarcerated individuals to transport contraband, specifically tobacco, into the Marble Valley Correctional Facility.  Orvis received electronic payment for the tobacco and his efforts, which was facilitated by the same two incarcerated individuals. During the investigation, the Vermont State police were informed that Orvis had resigned from his position as a Correctional Officer with the Vermont Department of Corrections.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas announced that Seán Sheehan joins her office this week as the new Director of Elections and Campaign Finance. Having worked for the State of Vermont for twelve years, most recently as the Director of Performance Improvement in the Agency of Human Services, Sheehan will now play an important role in overseeing the critical mission of administering elections in Vermont. The Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s Office protects the integrity of campaigning and elections in Vermont. It administers Vermont’s elections, oversees campaign finance reporting and lobbyist disclosure laws, and encourages civic participation.

Vermont Business Magazine In a Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security hearing last week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) highlighted the need to establish a new and independent federal agency through the Digital Platform Commission Act to regulate the tech sector to better protect consumer data and address emerging cybersecurity concerns. Senator Welch also questioned experts about ways to help individuals and small businesses implement affordable cybersecurity protections to safeguard their data.   

Vermont Business Magazine Technology for Tomorrow (T4T) wrapped its inaugural year of the Microsoft TechSpark partnership with the completion of its digital literacy series. T4T, a nonprofit based in Williston, was the Vermont organization selected for the inaugural Microsoft TechSpark Fellow Program to foster inclusive economic opportunity, job creation, and innovation in the state. Vermont, like many parts of the nation and world, experiences a deep digital divide. According to the National Institutes of Health, the pandemic only reinforced the digital divide. T4T developed “TechSpark Wednesdays,” a series of free digital literacy courses. The two 10-week cohorts centered on basic skill building and advanced AI understanding. The 90-minute hybrid classes met weekly in the Digital Lab at the South Burlington Public Library. Participants also were able to join virtually, ensuring access via digital learning.

Vermont Business Magazine An antique copper weathervane that was stolen from the White River Junction railway station 40 years ago is now back in Vermont thanks to an effort to identify and return it. The 1910 weathervane, which depicts a steam locomotive and coal tender, perched on the White River Junction Station in Hartford until its theft on November 3, 1983. Theft of weathervanes was very common, as they are outside and easy to remove since they sit on a spindle to enable them to move in the wind. Nearly forty years after the theft, the weathervane was consigned to a New York auction house. An organization called the Art Loss Register (ALR) serves auction houses around the world by checking each item in a database to determine whether it was stolen. When the ALR confirmed that the Vermont weathervane was a match for the stolen item, the auction house withdrew it from sale.

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS Friday night into Saturday morning culminated in two minor miracles: an aurora borealis and the adjournment of the legislative session. I do mean miracle in multiple senses of the word. It’s both unbelievable what gets done in the final few days and absolutely astounding that Vermonters come together each year to navigate new topics and tackle the state’s biggest issues. I shouldn’t wax too poetic, though—this isn’t the last of it. In anticipation of gubernatorial vetoes, the legislature has set aside June 17th to come back for a veto session. During this session, the legislature can consider other bills besides those that are vetoed.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.61 per gallon, down 2.3 cents per gallon from last week's $3.63/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.45/g while the highest was $3.79/g, a difference of 34.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 3.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.58/g today. The national average is down 3.7 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 6.1 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Community Broadband Board has announced that a summary of Vermont’s Digital Equity Plan is now available to review in 14 languages and American Sign Language on the Digital Equity page of the VCBB website. The Digital Equity Plan was recently approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. It serves as the state’s vision and strategy for digital equity, which means that everyone has access to the internet, as well as the devices and skills to use it meaningfully and safely. VCBB’s goal is digital equity for all Vermonters. To that end, VCBB has worked to ensure the state’s Digital Equity Plan is accessible to everyone. 

Vermont Business Magazine MENTOR Vermont’s DEI Committee has released a Statement of Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for the mentoring field in Vermont. This commitment is joined by 19 mentoring program signatories from across the State that have pledged to lead by example in their dedication and promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion through collective action. Working with mentoring programs, the Vermont Mentoring DEI Committee developed an action plan based on feedback identifying areas in need of support. 

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is updating the guidelines for the Medium Farm Operations (MFO) General Permit. The public can provide feedback on these updates until June 23rd. Two meetings will be held for discussions, both offered in person and via Microsoft Teams. The first public hearing will be held at the St. Albans City Hall in St. Albans on May 21st from 3:00 PM-6:00 PM and the second hearing will be held at the Isle Public Library in Middlebury on May 23rd from 3:00 PM-6:00 PM. The MFO guidelines must be revised every five years by law, and since the last update was in 2018, it's time for another. These updated rules will be in effect from 2024 to 2029.

Vermont Business Magazine Members of the Saint Michael’s College Class of 2024 were urged by multiple speakers during the College’s 117th Commencement to shine their light on the world around them as they leave campus and navigate what’s next. Approximately 380 students at Saint Michael’s College received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees during the Commencement celebration on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Degree recipients in the undergraduate Class of 2024 represented 23 states and 10 countries, while Master’s graduates represented 10 states and five countries.