Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Psychiatric Services at Rutland Regional Medical Center have begun to treat patients suffering from depression with a new medication-free process known as NeuroStar Advanced Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS provides new hope for individuals who have previously had to rely on antidepressants to deliver relief. TMS treatments go directly to the brain, at the source of depression. NeuroStar TMS is a noninvasive, outpatient treatment that revitalizes the dormant synapses in the brain that are underactive and affect mood. The treatment delivers magnetic impulses to this area triggering new synaptic connections and “waking up” the brain so that it functions the way it was meant to.

Vermont Business Magazine The Ronald McDonald House of Burlington has received support through the efforts of a Burlington resident and Vermont’s 2025 Mother of the Year, Kathleen Lynch. Lynch, who is a surgical RN at the University of Vermont Medical Center, selected the Ronald McDonald House as her charity of choice, securing a grant known as the “Golden Rule Grant” through her role as Vermont’s 2025 Mother of the Year. These funds will help the House to advance its mission of keeping families together during a child’s hospitalization. As a Surgical Registered Nurse, Lynch has witnessed firsthand the critical role a family’s presence plays in a child’s healing.

Vermont Business Magazine Lund has announced the return of our annual 'Lund by the Lake' fundraising celebration, set against the beautiful backdrop of Lake Champlain at Hula in Burlington on May 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM. This year, we are thrilled to welcome back Evergreen Roofing as our presenting sponsor, a testament to our shared commitment to building a Vermont where every family has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we can continue to make a significant impact on the lives of Vermonters, fostering hope and creating opportunities for families in need. Last year's event was a resounding success, raising over $178,000, thanks to the generosity of over 250 attendees, including donors, staff, and client families.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Rielly Wright-Quesnel, 23, of Colchester, Vermont, was arraigned last week on two misdemeanor counts of voyeurism, one felony count of possession of child sexual abuse material, and one felony count of promoting a recording of sexual conduct. The charges against Wright-Quesnel are the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC). Wright-Quesnel pleaded not guilty at the arraignment held on February 17, 2026, in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division.

Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is opening applications for the Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program (MHIR) on February 23 for manufactured home repairs in registered Vermont mobile home parks. Applications will also be opened for the infill of vacant lots in registered parks. Applications for foundation awards and emergency home repairs are already open and will likely remain open for the year. Since its launch in 2023, DHCD, in partnership with Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) and Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO), has awarded $9.7M for 878 home repair, foundation, and infill projects in mobile home parks across the state.

by Maggie Lenz and Gwynn Zakov Each year during the legislative session, House policy committees have the opportunity to weigh in on the state budget through what's known as the "budget letter" process. Committees submit written recommendations to the House Committee on Appropriations, outlining their funding priorities for agencies, departments, programs, and organizations. It's a process that sounds straightforward on paper, but plays out with considerable variation, and considerable heartbreak, in practice. The process begins with guidance from the Appropriations Committee itself, and this year Chair Robin Scheu's memo to policy committees laid out clear expectations. She expected committees to come prepared, understand the problems before jumping to solutions, test assumptions, and focus testimony time on the information her committee actually needs to make decisions. The memo emphasized that resources are finite and tradeoffs matter, and it's a message that lands differently from committee to committee.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont is $2.97 per gallon, down 1.5 cents per gallon from last week's $2.99/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.63/g while the highest was $3.29/g, a difference of 66.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 1.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.88/g today. 

Vermont Business Magazine Beacon Financial Corporation (NYSE: BBT) today announced the successful combination of four storied financial institutions under one new brand, Beacon Bank, one of the 100 largest banks in the United States. This includes Berkshire Bank, with branches in southern Vermont. Beacon Bank has more than 145 branches and commercial centers across New England and New York. Beacon Bank will introduce additional components of its corporate identity as part of a multi-phase branding update at all locations.

Public Assets Institute Vermont’s migration trend last year continued a multi-decade pattern: international gains and domestic losses. Each year from 2005 to 2025, more people from abroad moved into the state than Vermonters left for other countries. Within the U.S., more Vermonters moved to other states than people in other states relocated to Vermont, resulting in net losses from domestic migration for 18 of the past 21 years. An outlier was 2021, during the pandemic, with a surge of nearly 5,000 people coming to Vermont through domestic migration.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets A unique opportunity is available to join a special New England to England Product Showcase at the September 2026 London Food and Drink Shows! Food Export’s Product Showcases offer a way to display your products at international trade shows by having Food Export take product samples and marketing materials to these events on your behalf, allowing you to gain leads, feedback, and market exposure with lower cost and risk than exhibiting yourself. The London Food & Drink Shows 2026, which includes the lunch! Show, National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show, and Natural & Organic Food Show, are the premier destination for discovering innovative products you won’t find anywhere else, from organic foods and functional beverages to the latest in plant-based offerings.

by Kate Kampner, Community News Service As the sun began to set over Montpelier on Thursday evening, the verses of “We Shall Overcome” echoed across the State House lawn. The song was paired with hymns, moments of prayer and speeches from members of Vermont religious groups who believe their faith is a key force in climate change advocacy. This was the scene at the first-ever Earth Vigil, the coda to Faith Climate Action Day. The annual event drew about 20 people to Montpelier to learn about climate-based policy and engage directly with lawmakers. 

by Doug Hoffer, Vermont Auditor of Accounts Vermont schools should be healthy and safe environments in which to learn and work. To that end, the Vermont Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law a bill which required all public and approved independent schools to test for radon. In 2022 a second bill extended the testing deadline to June 30, 2025. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in rocks, soil, and water that has no color, smell, or taste. While radon is present in outdoor air, radon levels can build up inside buildings. Unless a radon test is performed, there is no way of knowing if radon is present in a building. Breathing air with radon increases the risk of developing lung cancer and is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States after cigarette smoke. Its presence in school buildings poses risks to the adult staff who work in the schools year after year, and to children whose developing lungs can lead to higher absorption levels.