Current News

by Maggie Lenz and Gwynn Zakov On Friday, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy did something that a lot of people weren't sure was possible. The committee unanimously voted out S.325, a comprehensive bill that amends Act 181 and Act 250, and they did it right before the crossover deadline. Given just how politically charged this issue has become, that unanimous vote says a lot about the work the committee put in to get this over the finish line. Let's be clear about what's been going on. For the past several weeks, and really the past couple of months, Act 181 has gone from a nerdy land-use policy discussion, to a full blown public reckoning. Vermonters, particularly those in rural communities, have been waking up to what the 2024 law actually means for their land, their livelihoods, and their ability to build.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s financial sector enters 2026 navigating one of the most complex operating environments in recent memory. While the state’s financial institutions remain fundamentally strong — well capitalized, competitive, and deeply rooted in their communities — they are also confronting a convergence of pressures that shape nearly every lending decision, strategic plan and customer conversation. Housing scarcity continues to dominate the economic landscape, influencing both residential and commercial activity. Interest rate uncertainty, inflationary aftershocks, and workforce shortages add further strain, creating a market where stability and constraint coexist. Yet despite these challenges, Vermont’s banks and credit unions are not retreating. They are expanding, reinvesting, modernizing systems, and sharpening their competitive edge.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University’s Lyndon Campus will welcome high school students from across Vermont and the region for the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont’s 2026 Weather & Climate Science Institute, taking place from Sunday, July 5 through Saturday, July 11. This immersive summer program invites Vermont students in grades 9 through 11 to explore how weather is predicted, how climate systems function, and how a changing climate is affecting communities. Participants are guided by the expertise of VTSU Lyndon’s nationally recognized Atmospheric Sciences program.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.61 per gallon, up 24.8 cents per gallon from last week's $3.36/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.25/g while the highest was $5.19/g, a difference of $1.94/g. The national average price of gasoline has risen 23.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.68/g today. The national average is up 80.0 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 66.1 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

by Mona Abou, Community News Service As artificial intelligence proliferates, Stephanie Winters is concerned for Vermonters’ protections and privacy in health care. “The rapid development of artificial intelligence and neurotechnology raises legitimate questions about privacy, autonomy, transparency and protection from misuse,” Winters, the deputy executive director of the Vermont Medical Society and Vermont Psychiatric Association, told the House Committee on Health Care on Feb 27. Lawmakers are weighing two bills – H.814 and H.816 – that would create a new set of protections from neurotechnology in Vermont and regulate usage of artificial intelligence in mental health services, respectively.

Vermont Business Magazine CSWD is constructing a new state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to sort and prepare blue-bin recyclables for market. This modern facility will replace the existing MRF, built in 1993, which has exceeded its capacity and operational lifespan. The new MRF will be significantly more efficient and effective, offering extensive environmental benefits and ensuring affordable, in-state processing of recyclables for Vermonters for years to come. The project is estimated to cost $38 million, funded through CSWD reserves, grants, and a $22 million bond approved by Chittenden County voters. Initially, the facility was to be sited on a parcel owned by CSWD on Redmond Road in Williston. CSWD has since acquired a more suitable 38-acre parcel farther down Redmond Road, close to the existing transfer station, which will serve as the new location for the MRF.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont initial weekly unemployment claims fell steeply last week after they had more than doubled the previous week. For the week ending March 7, 2026, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that there were 322 new claims, down 468 from the previous week and down 73 from last year at this time. New claims had leveled off at under 400 after the holiday season and are now at their lowest level this year. Meanwhile, total claims were 4,667, down 21 from the week before and are up 325 from last year at this time.

Vermont Business Magazine Hula, a state-of-the-art coworking campus and innovation hub anchoring Burlington’s South End Innovation District, is hosting an open house on Thursday, March 19th.  Anyone interested in visiting, touring, working from, and experiencing Hula is welcome. There will be facilitated networking opportunities throughout the day to connect with the professionals who make up the Hula community. The day will culminate with Hula’s signature Story Session program featuring Mamava cofounders and Hula members Christine Dodson and Sascha Mayer.

by Toren Ballard, Vermont Agency of Education In 2019, Mississippi 4th graders shocked the nation. In the fall of that year, the Nation’s Report Card (also known as NAEP) revealed a statistically significant decline in reading proficiency among 4th graders nationwide. Proficiency rates in 49 states either fell or remained steady from 2017 — the first major sign of a nationwide literacy recession that predates the pandemic and persists today. The one exception was the poorest state in America, where 4th graders performed at the national average for the first time since the NAEP reading assessment was introduced in 1992.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Federal Credit Union (VFCU) and WCAX today announced the successful completion of their third annual Great Vermont Coat Drive, surpassing last year's donation record with more than 1,200 coats collected. The drive concluded on February 20, 2026, with donations distributed to nonprofit organizations across the state. This year's drive introduced a new community partner, Gadue's Dry Cleaning, which professionally cleaned all donated coats before distribution, ensuring recipients received garments that were not only warm, but fresh and ready to wear. The addition of Gadue's reflects the growing momentum of the event and the credit union's commitment to treating every donation with the care it deserves.

Vermont State Police At about 5:45 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026, the Barre Town Fire Department was dispatched to a fire at 4 Barclay Quarry Rd. in Barre Town. The fire department found heavy smoke and fire on the first floor of the home upon their arrival. When making entry to the home, the fire department located a deceased individual. Barre Town Fire requested the assistance of the Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit in determining the origin and cause of the fire. Members of the FEIU worked with officers from the Barre Town Police Department to investigate the fire and untimely death. Preliminary investigation was unable to determine the cause of the fire, however it is not considered to be suspicious.

Vermont Business Magazine Ice conditions on lakes and ponds across the state are changing fast due to recent warm temperatures and rain.  With additional warm weather expected, game wardens with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department are urging ice anglers and others to use good judgment when deciding whether to recreate on the ice this weekend and beyond. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department recommends anyone planning to recreate on the ice carry safety gear including self-rescue picks and a spud bar or auger to test the ice as you go.  It is important to know how to distinguish strong ice from weak ice, and to let someone know where you will be and when you plan to return.