Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that, in separate incidents, two Vermont men—Matthew Luzzatto, 48, of Colchester, Vermont, and Joshua Burbank, 37, of Newport, Vermont—were arraigned in Vermont Superior Court today for possession of child sexual abuse material. Matthew Luzzatto, 48, was arraigned on one felony count of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The charge brought against Mr. Luzzatto is the result of a criminal investigation conducted by VT-ICAC, including personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Colchester Police Department, and Burlington Police Department. In a separate incident, Joshua Burbank, 37, was arraigned on five felony counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The charges brought against Mr. Burbank are the result of a criminal investigation conducted by the Newport Police Department with the assistance of the VT-ICAC.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Tyler Hayes, 41, of Bennington, Vermont, has been indicted for possession of a bomb that was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. A federal grand jury in Burlington issued the indictment, and Hayes had his initial appearance Monday in Burlington. Tuesday afternoon, United States Magistrate Judge Doyle ordered Hayes detained pending trial. According to court records, Hayes made the bomb himself and told acquaintances about the destruction it would cause if detonated. Hayes left the bomb in his former residence when he moved out in connection with eviction proceedings. Hayes took no apparent precautions to make sure the bomb did not fall into the wrong hands or detonate inadvertently. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today delivered his eighth budget address to the General Assembly, proposing strategic investments and funding current services, while growing at a sustainable rate. The budget proposal does not impose any new taxes or fees. The all-in $8.6 billion budget projects a relatively modest 3.57% increase in the General Fund over last year. The components of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget include a $2.3 billion General Fund, a $2.4 billion Education Fund and a $353 million Transportation Fund. Most of the transportation budget is financed by a federal match. It is unusual but not unprecedented for the Ed Fund to exceed the General Fund budget. Scott's budget includes a 10% increase in the Ed Fund and a 6% increase in the T-Fund. The GF benefits from an extra $30 million more in revenue based on projections presented by state economists last week. They also predicted that there would not be a recession in the coming year.

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center is welcoming the public for a free film screening of the inspiring documentary “Kili Big” on Thursday, February 1, 5:30pm in the CVPS/Leahy Community Health Education Center at the hospital. The film screening is a collaboration between the Rutland Regional’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) steering committee and Come Alive Outside. Following the film, a panel discussion will be facilitated by Come Alive Outside, Executive Director and plus-size adventurer, Arwen Turner, the panel will include the following body inclusion advocates and experts: Kara Hardman, Co-Founder of Thicket Adventure and Curvy Kili Crew member, and Paige Emerson, Social Media Influencer, Chubby Hiker Reviews.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont state Senate fell short today in its attempt to override the governor’s veto of legislation that would have modernized the state’s 52-year-old Bottle Bill program. Seventeen of the 30 senators voted to override, with 20 required in order to achieve the two-thirds necessary for the override to succeed. The House overrode the veto on January 4 by a vote of 112 to 32, with 100 votes needed. The bill, H.158, would have updated the legal definitions of “beverage” and “container” to expand the types of products in the existing 5-cent deposit system by 2027. Wine bottles would be added to the list and have a 15-cent deposit.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations fell last week after a long period of edging higher since last summer. Cases and hospitalizations were both down about 20 percent from the week. Hospitalizations are about what they were last winter. Fatalities have not seen a related spike nor decline. There were 6 deaths reported by the Vermont Department of Health last week and 6 the week before, for a pandemic total now of 1,100 as of January 13, 2024 (the most recent data available). Deaths have been running at about that level for several months. The VDH reported January 17, 2024, that COVID-19 hospitalizations were down 9 last week to a statewide total of 50. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH. Reported cases last week were 365, down 90 for the week. 

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that the December 2023 unemployment rate was 2.2 percent. This reflects an increase of one-tenth of one percentage point from November. The civilian labor force participation rate was 64.6 percent in December, an increase of two-tenths of one percentage point from the prior month’s revised estimate. Along with a significant rise in the Labor Force of 1,005, the total Employed increased by 810, while the total Unemployed rose slightly by 195. The unemployment rate increase was largely due to an increase in the Labor Force, which is the denominator in the calculation. The comparable United States rate in December was 3.7 percent, no change from the revised November estimate. 

Vermont Business Magazine VC3, a leading managed service provider serving municipalities and commercial businesses based in South Carolina, announced Monday the acquisition of Williston's DominionTech, an IT services provider supporting Vermont and New Hampshire businesses. By acquiring this highly reputed regional company, VC3 significantly expands its presence in New England. The acquisition will not affect local staff or location and Brian Curtis will remain with the firm.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (Blue Cross VT) announced the removal of prior authorization to Open MRI in Vermont and New Hampshire effective February 1, 2024. This strategic decision is part of Blue Cross VT’s commitment to enhancing health care accessibility, directing care towards high-quality, cost-effective services, and reducing the administrative burden on health care providers. The singular focus of the state’s only local, nonprofit health plan is to make health care work better for Vermonters. This change improves member access to a high-quality service that has a four times lower cost than other Vermont facilities that perform MRIs and will improve access and convenience to a quality service for members, while lowering premium costs.

Vermont Business Magazine The Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) Community Health Fund Advisory Committee awarded a total of over $15,000 in grants to H.O.P.E., The St. Johnsbury Community HUB, Lyndon Institute, NEK Community Growth Center, Inc. and Northeast Kingdom Youth Services. These grant recipients will provide a range of programs, education and opportunities that ensure food access for youth, provide early prevention and wellness information, and support inclusion of vulnerable community members.

by Devon Green, VAHHS VP of Government Relations Although it was only the third week of the session, last week was a whirlwind. VAHHS testified in Senate Health and Welfare on S.211, the health care reform omnibus bill. VAHHS discussed the current health care landscape, including the fact that emergency departments are overwhelmed because 142 individuals statewide are in hospital beds because they have not place else to go. VAHHS advocated for greater clarity, predictability, and greater availability of technical stakeholder input. VAHHS also discussed the need for clarifying regulatory versus policy roles as Vermont moves forward with the AHEAD model and global budgets. Multiple witnesses testified for the need to ensure clarity around policy versus regulation, but struggled with how to define policy. 

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