Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Wednesday spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate about the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the responsibility of the US government to use its leverage to deliver urgently needed aid to Palestinians and demand an end to Israel’s indiscriminate bombing campaign. The speech comes on the heels of Sanders’ first-of-its-kind Senate floor vote on a resolution under Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act – an overlooked tool of Congressional oversight. Sanders’ resolution would have required a report examining any human rights violations that may have occurred in the course of the military campaign being carried out by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Vermont Business Magazine On January 17, 2024, the Board of Directors of Community National Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of Community Bancorp, appointed Christopher L. Caldwell, age 58, to the position of President of the Bank, effective immediately. Kathryn M. Austin, who previously held the combined titles of Bank President and Chief Executive Officer, will continue to serve as the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer. No changes were made to the Company’s officers. Caldwell’s appointment follows the Bank’s leadership succession planning process in preparation for the planned retirement of Austin. Austin will retain her positions as Chief Executive Officer of the Bank and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company until her retirement at year-end 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) today announced the new 3-Acre Permit Obtainment Assistance Program. The program offers $12.4 million in ARPA funds to help property owners comply with a regulation, known as the 3-Acre Permit, that aims to clean up Vermont’s waters by capturing and treating stormwater runoff. The 3-Acre Permit contains requirements to capture and treat polluted stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces like roads, parking lots, and roofs before it reaches rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. There are over 700 sites that need to obtain this permit and implement its requirements to treat runoff, most of which are located in the Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog watersheds.

Vermont State Police — Following an investigation that began more than four years ago, Vermont State Police detectives have identified a suspect in a 2019 homicide in Barton. The victim, 37-year-old Richard Poginy of Glover, was found with serious injuries following a low-speed, minor car crash in Barton on Nov. 2, 2019. He died a week later at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Investigators determined that his significant injuries were inconsistent with a vehicle crash. New Hampshire’s chief medical examiner performed an autopsy and ruled the cause of Poginy’s death was “complications of blunt impact head injuries,” and the manner of death was a homicide.

Vermont Business Magazine We are thrilled to announce that former local meteorologist Tom Messner has joined the Lake Monsters organization as a Minority Partner with the official announcement made by Lake Monsters President & CEO Chris English at a press conference on Wednesday, January 24th.  Messner, best known as NBC5’s smiling chief meteorologist for 31 years, is a local legend in Vermont. He’s appeared on the Today Show, MSNBC, the Weather Channel, and Live with Regis and Kelly and was inducted into the Vermont Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Charity Clark has resolved an investigation into security deposit withholdings at five motels housing Vermonters through the State’s Transitional Housing Program (also referred to as the “motel program”). The settlement provides $300,000 in restitution for qualified former occupants of the program who stayed in motels owned by Anil Sachdev or by companies he controls, along with injunctive relief requiring proper notice in the future should deposit monies be held at some future time, and confirmation of billing and expenses for repairs deducted from deposit monies. The five motels that are subjects of the settlement are all owned by Anil Sachdev or by companies he controls. These include: The Comfort Inn (Rutland), EconoLodge (Montpelier), Hilltop Inn (Berlin), Pine Tree Lodge (Rutland), and Quality Inn (Brattleboro).

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Weinberger announced that beginning as early as February 5, 2024, the transformative Great Streets project is expected to begin construction on Main Street in downtown Burlington. This project will create a more vibrant and welcoming downtown for Burlington’s residents, businesses, and visitors and will strengthen public infrastructure for a more resilient future. Construction will be phased over the next three construction seasons, with initial work on the ravine sewer bypass beginning next month. The concept for Great Streets Main Street is about balancing all uses of the public right of way and will include a wider sidewalk space that can be used by businesses, an 8-foot tree belt, a protected bike lane, parallel parking, flexible space for seating and public art, and better stormwater management with pervious paver belts, rain gardens, and tree wells to infiltrate runoff.  

Vermont Business Magazine Last night, Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) delivered remarks on the Senate Floor emphasizing the importance of passing the bipartisan, bicameral Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Extension Act. The bill would provide $7 billion for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to ensure the program lasts through Calendar Year 2024, which helps connect qualifying households to high-speed internet and is currently utilized by more than 22.5 million American households. Sen. Welch’s remarks come days before an estimated one-in-six U.S. households receive a notice from their internet company that the ACP program is ending.  

Vermont Business Magazine According to the 2020 census, Vermont is the most rural state in the US, with 65% of the population living in rural areas and 76% of grade 9 to 12 students attending rural high schools. Rural students are currently less likely than their urban counterparts to enroll in and graduate from four-year education programs. In Vermont, only 59% of rural students enroll in higher education, compared to 67% of urban and suburban students This jeopardizes both the prospects for the students to enter high-wage jobs and also for the Vermont workforce, which has a strong need for highly skilled workers in a variety of fields. The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded VTSU $1.9 million dollars over four years through the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development program—the latest is a series of welcome grants obtained by VTSU. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas announced the Vermont Board of Pharmacy has approved a substantial fine as part of a settlement between the Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) and Walgreens, the national pharmacy chain and Vermont’s largest chain pharmacy. The $275,000 fine is the result of a myriad of complaints, an 18-month investigation, and subsequent prosecution regarding the corporation’s practices across the chain’s Vermont locations. Charges were initially filed in June 2022 in response to 70 complaints regarding unsafe conditions across Walgreens’ 32 Vermont locations. 

Vermont Business Magazine Burton, the world’s leading snowboard company, has announced its recertification as a Certified B Corporation. Broadly recognized as the gold standard for doing business as a force for good, B Corps are committed to meeting high standards of social and environmental impact. “I feel strongly that the way our business impacts the planet and our global snowboard community is equally as important as the design and quality of Burton products,” said Donna Carpenter, owner of Burton. “All of us at Burton are very proud to be a part of the growing B Corp movement because it means our family-owned company is contributing to making business practices more equitable, socially responsible and transparent.”

Statewide Road Conditions: Drivers will encounter partially snow-covered roadways this morning as light snow showers continue until late morning. Fortunately, road an air temps in the mid to upper 20’s and rising help the efficacy of roadway treatments. All in all, a mostly "fair” but potentially slippery commute this morning. These light snow showers will change to mostly light rain showers before lunchtime. Drivers should be prepared for a potentially icy afternoon.