Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In 2013, Mali Melaugh received a diagnosis of Down syndrome, which led her family, from Essex, Vermont, to seek support from their community. Now, at the age of 10, Mali is flourishing, and her family has been utilizing their experiences to aid others in similar situations. Seven years ago, they established "Team Mali" and participated in the Best Buddies Bike Challenge. Their goal was to gather funds and raise awareness for the cause. Since then, they have collectively cycled more than 700 miles and have successfully raised more than $100,000 for Best Buddies.

Vermont Business Magazine Thirteen schools from around the state have been recognized by the Vermont Department of Health’s “Asthma-friendly school” initiative for their commitment to asthma-control strategies to support the lung health of their students. Asthma is a potentially serious condition that includes clogging and swelling of the airways that can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing. Nearly 9,000 (1 in 12) children in Vermont have asthma, and of those, 61% of have uncontrolled asthma. Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, said the number of new schools participating shows a growing understanding about the impact of asthma on children’s health and ability to learn. 

Vermont Business Magazine Age Well will be participating in the 22nd annual March for Meals. This is a nationwide campaign led by Meals on Wheels America designed to rally around our aging neighbors and protect the essential services that enable so many to remain healthy and independent at home. As the largest provider of Meals on Wheels in Vermont, Age Well provides over 270,000 home-delivered meals annually, addressing food insecurity and malnutrition, combatting social isolation, and enabling independence and improved health outcomes for thousands.

Vermont Business Magazine Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company announced on Monday that, together with insurance agency Hickok & Boardman, they have raised over $185,000 for Special Olympics Vermont, exceeding their fundraising goal of $150,000. The fundraising efforts are part of the Company’s participation in the 2024 Penguin Plunge, which took place February 10th. As part of the event, employees of the Company, as well as agency partners and friends, jumped into the frigid waters of Lake Champlain.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Eva P. Vekos, 54, was today arraigned in Vermont Superior Court, Addison Criminal Division, with the crime of Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor (DUI). The charge Ms. Vekos faces is the result of an incident that occurred on January 25, 2024, shortly after 8:00 p.m. in Bridport, Vermont. According to affidavits of probable cause authored by multiple Vermont State Police (VSP) troopers, Ms. Vekos, who currently serves as the Addison County State’s Attorney, drove to a potential crime scene where she met with VSP detectives. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on February 9, 2024, George Casey, 33, of Colchester, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, to serve 262 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of production of child pornography (also known as child sexual abuse material, or CSAM), and one count of possession of CSAM. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford also ordered Casey to serve a 15-year term of supervised release.

Vermont Business Magazine As the traditional May 1st “college decision day” approaches, education leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, along with 106 of their colleagues, today wrote to Secretary Miguel Cardona of the U.S. Department of Education to call on the department to urgently address the operational issues with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form that impacts millions of students across the country. The letter was led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member House Committee on Education & the Workforce.

The Vermont State Police investigation into the death of 44-year-old Stephen Nuciolo Sr. remains active and ongoing. Investigators have been informed by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. The manner of death is listed as pending further investigation. This includes toxicology testing, which can take a matter of weeks to months to complete. Nuciolo Sr was found deceased the morning of January 24 inside his home in Bridport.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Women’s Fund has announce that Emily Bush has been hired as executive director of the statewide philanthropic resource for women and girls. Bush brings 16 years of experience working in development with a focus on creating opportunities for women and girls. She has expertise in leadership and fundraising and has worked for nonprofit organizations including The Clinton Foundation, Girls Who Code, and Moms First. She takes the helm from Meg Smith, outgoing director, who led the fund for a decade. 

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets Are you an early childhood educator or after school program looking for creative ways to support local farms and promote food access or nutrition education for the children and families you serve? The VAAFM Farm to School and Early Childhood Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Grant will partially reimburse childcare providers or after school programs for CSA shares purchased from Vermont farms or farm/producer collaboratives. The maximum grant award for this funding opportunity is $1,500. CSA Grants will reimburse programs for 65-80% of the cost of a summer and/or fall CSA share.

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS Last week, the policy committees heard from organizations making their cases for funding. VAHHS put a twist on this process by advocating not for themselves, but for strengthening our post-acute care system, including skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies. In our letter to the House Human Services, House Health Care, and House Appropriations Committees, VAHHS noted that as of February 6th there were 142 individuals waiting to be discharged from hospitals and 28 patients waiting for beds in emergency departments. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.19 per gallon, down 0.7 cents per gallon from last week's $3.20/g, as prices in Vermont, and even across the US, have stubbornly resisted volatility. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.94/g while the highest was $3.39/g, a difference of 45.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 5.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.17/g today.