Current News

Vermont Business Magazine House Democrats introduced H.721, a bill that will make health insurance more affordable by expanding Dr. Dynasaur and would support Vermonters of all ages who are struggling to pay for and access health care. The bill would expand Medicaid eligibility, especially in regard to income, while extending the traditional age limit to 26, like the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). The bill is sponsored by more than 80 members of the House of Representatives, including Democrats, Progressives, Republicans, and Independents. The House Committee on Health Care is scheduled to start testimony on the bill on January 12. Senators Ruth Hardy and Virginia Lyons introduced a companion bill in the Senate (S.240). 

Vermont Business Magazine Susan G. Komen, the world's leading breast cancer organization, commends Representative Melanie Carpenter (D-Hyde Park) and Representative Laura Sibilia (I-Dover) for working with Komen to eliminate financial barriers to earlier breast cancer detection by ensuring that everyone has equitable access to diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging. In 2024, more than 630 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 80 will die of the disease in Vermont alone. The exorbitant out-of-pocket costs associated with essential breast imaging procedures ranging from hundreds-to-thousands of dollars, often force individuals into the difficult decision of skipping these tests or making significant financial sacrifices.

Vermont Business Magazine Responding to growing patient demand for care, a national workforce shortage, and persistent cost and budgetary pressures facing rural health care providers, The University of Vermont Health Network is focused on four strategic pillars to guide its work in the 2024 fiscal year, which began in October. Prioritize patient access to surgical services at UVM Medical Center, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and Central Vermont Medical Center – to both address long-standing patient wait times and generate a positive margin. And reduce $20 million in expenses for administrative services that support operations for all health care partners in the Network, including the elimination of 130 open positions.

Vermont Business Magazine Scam reports to the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) totaled 3,212 in 2023. The “computer tech support” scam took the number one spot on the list, totaling almost 25 percent of the top scams reported. Phishing scams involving financial institutions, where a scammer tries to lure victims into clicking malicious links or tricking them into providing sensitive information which can be used to steal money, took the number two spot, accounting for a little more than 11 percent of the top scam reports in 2023.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.21/g, down 6 cents per gallon from last week. Prices are down 20 cents/g from a month ago and down 20 cents/g from a year ago. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.89/g in Brattleboro, while the highest was $3.99/g in Wolcott. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.06/g today. "Sluggish gasoline demand has led to the national average easing again, and brings back the potential for the national average to drift under $3 per gallon for the first time since 2021."

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) is alerting customers that forecasters are calling for accumulating wet snow, with higher amounts along the eastern slopes of the Green Mountains, and damaging winds to arrive back in Vermont starting Friday evening. Forecasters say gusts to 60 MPH are possible, especially along the western slopes of the Green Mountains which saw a damaging storm Tuesday night. In advance of that storm, GMP had more than doubled its field force with external crews to supplement its internal crews, and GMP is keeping those extra crews here to help.

Vermont Business Magazine VEC crews continue to tackle outages resulting from storm Finn. As of Thursday morning, just under 13,500 members have been restored since the beginning of this major storm event.  Restorations due to storm Finn have been particularly time and labor intensive due to the nature of the damage. 34 broken poles have been identified on the system so far. The VEC team has been joined by external line crews, almost tripling the number of crews in the field. As of 9:00 am on Thursday, less than 5,000 VEC members remain without power. Progress will continue Thursday with some members in locations with significant damage remaining without power into Friday.

Vermont Business Magazine The Radio Vermont Group has announced the sale of its radio assets WDEV AM 550 and FM 96.1; WLVB FM 93.9; WCVT FM 101.7; W243AT-FM 96.5; W252CU-FM 98.3; and W273AM-FM 102.5 to Mermel & McLain Management LLC of Manchester, Vermont. The radio stations broadcast to Central Vermont, Burlington, and most of the NEK. The sale was announced to employees this morning. Ashley Jane Squier joined GM Steve Cormier, Myers Mermel, and Scott Milne publicly announced the transition live on WDEV Thursday afternoon. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Norwich University Board of Trustees has announced the candidacy of retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Broadmeadow '83 to serve as the school's 25th president. Broadmeadow is the most senior ranking Marine Corps officer to have graduated from Norwich and has been a member of the board of trustees since January 2022. He was also a semifinalist in the last presidential search, launched in 2019. If successful, Broadmeadow would succeed Mark Anarumo, who resigned Jan. 4.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, Burlington Electric Department (BED), and Vermont environmental and renewable energy organizations voiced support for updates to Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) to largely achieve 100% renewable energy statewide by 2030, while maintaining existing renewable resources and aligning BED’s procurement of significant new renewable energy with anticipated growing demand as more Burlingtonians switch to electric vehicles and heat pumps and other electric technologies. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Economic Development (DED) announced today the fourth and final round of Community Recovery and Revitalization Program (CRRP) grant winners. The 40 approved projects are expected to support 1,810 existing jobs, enable the creation of 117 new jobs, build or rehabilitate 75 housing units, and add 60 new childcare slots. The 40 projects are receiving a combined proposed award amount of $10,595,644, which is expected to support $104,542,158 in total project costs. The awards are going to projects in 13 counties and the following 31 towns: Arlington, Brandon, Bellows Falls, Bennington, Berlin, Brattleboro, Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, East Burke, Fairlee, Greensboro, Hinesburg, Johnson, Lyndon, Manchester, Middlebury, Milton, Newport City, Putney, Rockingham, Rutland, Shelburne, Sheldon, South Hero, Springfield, Starksboro, Strafford, Swanton, Vergennes, and Wolcott.

Vermont Business Magazine The Flavors Hook Kids Vermont Campaign and the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Vermont announced today that 50 Vermont organizations signed a letter to the Vermont House Health and Human Services Committee, urging lawmakers to end the sale of flavored tobacco. The letter advocates for the passage of S.18, which has already passed the Senate. The bill is in front of the House Committee this week. In a poll released in December, 68% of Vermonters support legislation to end the sale of flavored tobacco products. Governor Scott at his January 10 press conference said he would likely sign the bill if it were to reach his desk.