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Vermont Business Magazine As the United States Senate prepares an emergency supplemental appropriations bill to respond to the ongoing humanitarian and military crises in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and elsewhere, Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) joined Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging that as Congress considers an emergency supplemental appropriations bill, funding be included to address the urgent and growing emergencies facing the American people at home in addition to dealing with crises abroad.

Vermont Business Magazine Snowmaking has officially begun at Killington Resort, as of this morning. The snowmaking team got to work last night, producing snow in the north ridge area. The early snowmaking also sets the stage for the highly anticipated 2023 Stifel Killington Cup, which is taking place at Killington November 24-26. The Audi FIS Ski World Cup will once again bring women’s giant slalom and slalom races back to the diehard ski fans in Vermont. 

by Mike Smith, Vermont Business Magazine In his last day at Vermont State University (VTSU), Interim President Mike Smith released the refined set of program offerings, called Optimization 2.0. The initial set of recommendations were made earlier this month, along with a buyout plan for faculty whose courses were being consolidated, moved, or eliminated and taught out over the next several years. The faculty consultation process is anticipated to conclude soon. To date, 17 faculty have opted for the buyout, 6 are retiring at the end of the academic year, and three will not have contracts renewed at the end of their one-year contract. Taken together, this means only one layoff will be necessary to meet the financial targets identified in the plan. 

by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First An Orlando, FL, woman, who officials say is part of a large-scale international fake computer service renewal scam that targeted various victims including at least one Vermont resident, pleaded not guilty in US District Court in Burlington on Tuesday on a charge of conspiring to commit wire fraud. The FBI in Burlington said Neha Junaid, 28, targeted elderly people by claiming in personal emails to be part of the “Geek Squad” - the business name for a computer service group associated with Best Buy, a national chain retailer. The FBI has identified more than 500 victims who collectively suffered over $3 million in actual losses and over $3.5 million in attempted losses from scams similar to the scheme that the victims she has found in Vermont, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina faced.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced Monday that it is entering into capacity contract negotiations through the Transmission Facilitation Program with a commitment of up to $1.3 billion in three transmission projects across six states aimed at adding 3.5 GW of additional grid capacity and creating more than 13,000 direct and indirect jobs. Vermont and New Hampshire are two of those states selected through a project called the Twin States Clean Energy Link. The 1.2 gigawatt Link will cross into Vermont from Quebec in the Northeast Kingdom (Canaan) and run underground on the Vermont side of the Connecticut River along state roads before crossing into New Hampshire in Lunenburg. It will then be picked up by existing overhead lines before reaching a new substation in Londonderry, NH.

Vermont Business Magazine To help reduce the risk of children accessing cannabis products and other substances, the Department of Health and Cannabis Control Board have launched a pilot project to offer free, lockable storage bags at select cannabis stores in Vermont. The Healthy at Home bags can be used by anyone to store cannabis products safely, but they are especially important for people with young children in the home to prevent them from accidentally eating edibles and other products. A new Health Department report shows a rise in accidental ingestion of substances among children since 2018, based on emergency department data. Cannabis was among the three most common substances involved in unintentional, nonfatal overdoses in 2022 for children under age 9.

Vermont Business Magazine Today is the final day for Vermont residents affected by July’s severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides to apply for FEMA assistance. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. tonight, October 31. If you had storm-related expenses and live or own a business in Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham or Windsor County, FEMA assistance can provide grants and U.S. Small Business Administration loans to help cover housing, home repairs and other disaster-related needs.

Vermont State Police The Vermont State Police has arrested a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting Monday night of a juvenile in Bristol. The victim is identified as Madden Gouveia, 14, of Shelburne. Police arrested Hussein Mohamed, 14, of Bristol on a charge of second-degree murder. The Addison County State’s Attorney’s Office is charging Mohamed as an adult. He is expected to appear for arraignment at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Middlebury. According to the findings of the investigation, Mohamed was in possession of a handgun at about 7:20 p.m. Monday while sitting in the rear passenger-side seat of a vehicle parked outside a home on North Street in Bristol when the handgun discharged, striking Gouveia as he sat in the front passenger seat.

Vermont State Police The Vermont State Police has made two arrests arising from the fatal shooting of Jeffrey Caron, 42, of Barre, whose body was found last week in Plainfield. Kyle Bressette, 35, of Barre was taken into custody on a charge of second-degree murder. Chris Relation, 51, of Berlin faces a charge of being an accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. Both men are expected to be arraigned at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Barre. VSP’s investigation led to identifying Bressette as the suspect in the shooting, which arose from a dispute involving drugs. Investigators believe the homicide occurred on or about Oct. 24 or 25.

by Michael Del Trecco, VAHHS President and CEO Regular VAHHS Update followers know that our hospitals are in the midst of an exercise and assessment enabled by legislation last year, now called Act 167. Our regulator, the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) is conducting dozens of community meetings, a few of which have taken place already to “identify community-informed opportunities to improve the sustainability of Vermont’s health care system.” What those “opportunities” look like can vary widely depending on your perspective and experience. Further, prioritizing among those “opportunities” complicates things further.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board will hold a meeting to review recommendations from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department on trapping and on hunting coyotes with the aid of dogs. The virtual meeting will take place at 5 pm on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.  Most board members and department staff will be attending remotely.  There is an in-person option for members of the public who cannot attend virtually at the Davis Building, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 05620.

Vermont Business Magazine VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) is thrilled to announce its return to full activity of its Hospice Choirs. Trillium Choir in Rutland County and Serenity Singers in Bennington County are now seeking new participants - regardless of age, gender, or talent level - to join their ranks. The purpose of Hospice Choirs is to provide comfort, solace, and joy to patients and their families. Members of the choir offer songs of healing and compassion at the bedside of Hospice patients as a loving gift to those who need support at their most vulnerable time.