Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) today reintroduced essential legislation that would take on the affordable housing crisis and the existential threat of climate change. The Green New Deal for Public Housing Act invests up to $234 billion over ten years to transition the entire public housing stock in the United States into zero-carbon, highly energy-efficient homes – dramatically improving living conditions for nearly 2 million people in public housing across the country. The legislation also creates up to 280,000 good-paying, union jobs per year, while reducing annual carbon emissions by roughly 5.7 million metric tons – the equivalent of taking over 1.26 million cars off the road. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are joined on the legislation by 55 members in the House of Representatives and 7 senators including Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, US Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support Services (ACCESS) Act, legislation cosponsored by US Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), which would establish a federal grant program for health care organizations to expand their capacity to provide abortion services and other reproductive care in states where it remains legal. Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, nearly half of all U.S. states have adopted or attempted to adopt severe restrictions or bans on abortion services. As a result, the number of patients traveling out of state to access reproductive health care has nearly doubled, overwhelming clinics in states where abortion services are legal and causing longer wait times and other barriers for patients.  

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark, along with the US Justice Department and 15 other state and district Attorneys General, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple for monopolization or attempted monopolization of smartphone markets in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The complaint, filed today in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleges that Apple illegally maintains a monopoly over smartphones by selectively imposing contractual restrictions on, and withholding critical access points from, developers. Apple undermines apps, products, and services that would otherwise make users less reliant on the iPhone, promote interoperability, and lower costs for consumers and developers. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.35 per gallon, up 10 cents per gallon from last week, up 12 cents from last month and down 4 cents from a year ago. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.09/g in Colchester, while the highest was $3.89/gin Island Pond. The national average price of gasoline has risen 9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.53/g today. The national average is up 25 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 13 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) released the following statement ahead of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’ hearing to consider the nominations of David Roser, Lindsay See, and Judy Chang to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for terms ending in 2027, 2028 and 2029, respectively: “Updating America’s aging transmission infrastructure is key to unlocking the climate benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act and, in-turn, reducing emissions and strengthening our energy grid. The current anemic state of the FERC Commission is holding back progress, and this hearing to consider new nominees has frankly taken too long – we’re dangerously close to losing quorum, and risk stalling progress or a total standstill of FERC business during this pivotal moment in our climate revolution."

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Dr. Jill Bowen as commissioner of the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) within the Agency of Human Services (AHS). Dr. Bowen comes to Vermont from Philadelphia where she has served as commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS) for more than three years. During her tenure with DBHIDS, she led a multi-division department focused on health and wellness for those with intellectual disabilities, mental health, and substance use disorders. She also focused on supports for those impacted by healthcare disparities, trauma and those requiring integrated, cross-sector supports. 

Vermont State Police Daniel Banyai, 50, of Pawlet is scheduled to be arraigned at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21, 2024, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Rutland on charges of aggravated assault on a protected person and resisting arrest. The criminal charges follow Banyai’s arrest Wednesday afternoon on a mittimus issued last year by the Environmental Division of Vermont Superior Court. Banyai was taken into custody after Pawlet Second Constable Tom Covino pulled over a vehicle for speeding in town and discovered Banyai in the passenger seat. An investigation by the Vermont State Police determined that Banyai engaged in a physical altercation with Constable Covino before the constable deployed OC spray on Banyai to gain his compliance.

Vermont Business Magazine Yesterday, Mayor Miro Weinberger and Aviation Director Nic Longo unveiled the City’s plans for a new terminal building “Project NexT” to replace the north concourse, the latest and largest sustainable infrastructure project at Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport. The new design will enhance operational efficiency while improving the traveler experience and will set the stage for future growth at the airport. Present at the announcement was Senator Patrick Leahy, who directed $34 million in FAA funds to execute the project. The terminal building will be transformed to become linear and interconnected to enhance operational efficiency and safety. For travelers, improved amenities will be offered, inclusive of new vendor space, gate areas, and jet bridges. For airport partners, airline storage and baggage claim space will be re-designed to meet current equipment needs.  

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting education and honoring the sacrifices of military families by partnering with the National Guard Association of Vermont (NGA-VT) to award $1,000 scholarships to four deserving area students. This year, the scholarships were awarded to Avery Feeley, Abigail Gagnon, Colby Galipeau, and Bennett Bridges, who were selected from a pool of applicants that included students or family members of those serving in the Vermont National Guard.

Lake Champlain Committee Stormwater runoff poses a major challenge for water quality in Lake Champlain. When rain falls on impervious surfaces, it does not have the chance to infiltrate into the ground and instead flows over roofs, parking lots, and roads—collecting pollutants and nutrients along the way—until it eventually reaches the lake, untreated. Runoff from developed land contributes more phosphorus to Lake Champlain than any other land use type per area. As the intensity and frequency of heavy precipitation events increases with climate change, efforts to mitigate stormwater runoff are increasingly critical. LCC has done extensive work on stormwater reduction at schools over the years including producing a stormwater education manual, conducting storm drain stenciling projects with educational facilities and municipalities, undertaking “Ahead of the Storm” stormwater assessments, and collaborating with Lake Champlain Sea Grant (LCSG) to develop the Soaking Up Stormwater Curriculum Guide.

Vermont Business Magazine Repeated storms in recent months have challenged the Vermont Electric Co-op, causing several back-to-back power outages across our territory. These strong and damaging wind and snow events – a phenomenon we expect to continue – have put a spotlight on power reliability and resiliency. How is VEC planning for the future? Join us Thursday, March 28 from 12-1 pm for a conversation with experts about the changing weather and VEC’s strategic investments in reliability and resilience. What impacts are changing weather patterns having on the reliability of VEC’s electricity system? What investments is VEC making on behalf of our members to protect our system from the effects of these more frequent, intense storms? How will we pay for these investments?

Vermont Business Magazine The ACLU and the Twin Valley School District have settled a complaint filed with the Vermont Human Rights Commission (HRC) on behalf of C.B., a Black student who was subjected to racially motivated bullying and harassment by classmates during the 2020-2021 school year. The ACLU filed the complaint with the HRC against Twin Valley Middle High School in December 2021, alleging that school administrators took no meaningful action to protect C.B.—the only Black student in the school at the time—from derogatory racial slurs, references to white supremacy, and threats of physical violence. Fearing for her safety, C.B. did not participate in school sports, her grades declined, and she developed anxiety and depression. Ultimately, C.B. was forced to transfer schools, just weeks before the school year ended.