Current News

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.  

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.