Current News

Vermont Business Magazine State revenue projections remain positive if less robust, economy ‘durable’; Legal online sports betting officially launches in Vermont; Senate fails to override Scott’s veto of ‘Bottle Bill’; Unemployment rate up tenth to 2.2%, Labor Force increases; Doug Hoffer releases audit of Burlington Downtown TIF District; Radio Vermont Group to sell to local owner; $12.4M in funding available to help property owners meet water quality regulations; Vermont Flood Response & Recovery Fund commits $12.3 million for flood recovery; High levels of cancer-causing radon gas detected in 21.7% of Vermont homes; Putney Paper Mill closes, 127 jobs lost; Vermont minimum wage to increase to $13.18 on January 1; State settles $16.5M EB-5 fraud claim for $850,000.

VermontBiz The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington on Friday, March 15, 2024, completed autopsies on the victims whose bodies were found Tuesday in Orleans.

The victims have been positively identified as Paula Broe, 61, and Steven Luisi, 65, both of whom resided at 22 Water St., Apartment B.

A final determination by the medical examiner on the cause and manner of the victims’ deaths is pending further examination.

This case remains an open and active investigation. Anyone with information that could assist detectives is asked to contact the Vermont State Police in Derby at 802-334-8881 or leave an anonymous tip online athttps://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

VermontBiz The Attorney General’s Office announced that Paul Frasca, 58, of Chester, Vermont was arraigned today on seven felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse material. The charges brought against Mr. Frasca are the result of a criminal investigation, including the execution of search warrants conducted by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), and included personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Hartford Police Department, and Chester Police Department.

VermontBiz The State has set up short-term transitional shelters to support people experiencing homelessness who do not qualify for General Assistance Emergency Housing so are no longer eligible for state funded rooms in hotels/motels unless established weather conditions are met. These shelters open tonight to give people more time to seek alternate housing or shelter, and for state and community partners to connect with those looking for additional services. National Guard members, medical professionals, and security personnel will staff each shelter to provide a safe space for people to sleep.

VermontBiz Today the Vermont House of Representatives passed S.18, a bill to end the sale of flavored tobacco products, with a vote of 83 to 53.

The Flavors Hook Kids Vermont Campaign released the following statement: "After five years of working to pass this bill, we are incredibly proud this legislation is moving forward in Vermont. Thank you to the House leaders for all their work and attention to this bill, and for prioritizing the health and welfare of Vermont kids. We firmly believe this bill will save lives and reduce health inequities. We look forward to it becoming law."

VermontBiz The Vermont State Police responded to a report of a dispute between Towle and the aforementioned victims. Subsequent investigation revealed that Towle had criminally threated North Countries Healthcare staff via electronic means, acted in a disorderly conduct manner via electronic means to staff members of Kinney Drugs, Berlin, and acted in a disorderly conduct as well as criminally threatened staff at Central Vermont Medical Center. Towle was taken into custody and issued a citation to appear in the Washington County Superior Court - Criminal Division to answer to the aforementioned charges.

VermontBiz Vermont has joined the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and its state partners in the lawsuit against Amazon.com. The lawsuit, which was initially filed in September 2023 and yesterday amended to include Vermont, alleges that the online retail and technology company is a monopolist that uses a set of interlocking anticompetitive and unfair strategies to illegally maintain its monopoly power. Amazon’s actions allow the company to stop rivals and sellers from lowering prices, degrade quality for shoppers, overcharge sellers, stifle innovation, and prevent rivals from fairly competing against Amazon.

VermontBiz U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) sent a letter to U.S. Consumer Protect Safety Commission (CPSC) Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric urging the CPSC to pursue a recall for Mattel’s Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker and the similarly-designed Kids2 Bright Starts Rocker, both of which have been linked to numerous infant deaths. The Senators also pressed CPSC to more aggressively protect infants from the risks associated with rockers as it develops the first federal safety standard for infant and infant-to-toddler rockers. 

VermontBiz On 03/14/24 at approximately 14:30 hours, The Grand Isle County Sheriffs Department was dispatched to 37 S Main St in Alburgh, the North Country Federal Union advising they had just been robbed.

Members from Vermont State Police, Vermont Fish Wildlife, US Border Patrol and Swanton PD responded to assist with the case.

Deputies from the Sheriff’s Department arrived on scene and spoke with employees who advised a male entered the Credit Union wearing a winter hat, hoodie, mask over their face. A note was handed to the teller and the male left the Credit Union on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

The male is described as being white about 5’10- 6 ft tall with a slender build.

Vermont Business Magazine For the first time ever, Vermont Works for Women is bringing Trailblazers - their free trades training program for women and gender-expansive individuals ages 18 and up - to Newport, Vermont. The seven week trades training program will run from May 20 - July 3, 2024 at the North Country Career Center. The pre-apprenticeship program, which has trained 145 individuals since 2019, provides a safe, non-judgmental environment for participants to build skills, gain confidence, and explore career fields that tend to be male dominated. During the seven-week program, participants get hands-on experience in construction, renewable energy, and other high-demand trades. Trailblazers is offered at no cost to participants.

VermontBiz Amid the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and other democratic Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden urging his administration to enforce the federal law that prohibits foreign countries that receive U.S. assistance from restricting or otherwise prohibiting access to humanitarian aid in Gaza or risk forfeiting certain assistance. 

VermontBiz Today, House Speaker Jill Krowinski and House Human Services Chair Theresa Wood provided statements to the media on housing legislation and the emergency housing crisis that is currently unraveling. The transcript of questions posed and subsequent answers is available upon request. The following remarks have been edited for clarity.