Current News

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of Administration Sarah Clark today released Vermont’s revenue results for January 2026, which showed the General Fund again lagged behind targets. The Corporate tax was well below expectations, but the Personal income tax bounced back and is now just ahead of expectations for the year. The Transportation Fund also missed its monthly targets, while the Education Fund exceeded its monthly target. Consumption taxes had an overall good month, which reflects on travel and tourism.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont initial weekly unemployment claims fell slightly and are holding at under 400. For the week ending January 31, 2026, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that there were 357 new claims, down 28 from the previous week and up 30 from last year at this time. New claims are at typical seasonal levels, but ongoing claims remain high. Total claims were 4,293, down 35 from the week before and are up 208 from last year at this time. Claims, which tend to be lowest in the summer, were 186 in September 2025.

Vermont Business Magazine Casella Waste Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, has reported its financial results for the three and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2025. Revenues were $469.1 million for the quarter, up $41.6 million, or up 9.7%, from the same period in 2024. Revenues were $1.837 billion for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (“fiscal year 2025”), up $279.6 million, or up 18.0% from the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Net (loss) income was $(2.5) million for the quarter, down $(7.4) million, as compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2024. Net income was $7.9 million for fiscal year 2025, down $(5.7) million, or down (41.9)%, as compared to $13.5 million in fiscal year 2024. Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP measure, was $80.6 million for fiscal year 2025, up $1.8 million, or up 2.3%, from fiscal year 2024.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont General Assembly, meeting in joint session today, elected Brigadier General Henry "Hank" Harder as the next Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard. The Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard is elected by a majority vote of the Vermont General Assembly meeting in joint session of the House and Senate. Voting is conducted by secret ballot, and the office carries a two-year term. Brig. Gen. Harder will assume duties effective March 1, 2026.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College will host “Winter Jam,” presented by Burton and Anon, on its Burlington, Vermont campus. Champlain’s Finney Quad will be filled with snow and terrain park features for a classic rail jam event. Participation is free and open to the public (ages 14 and up) and all are welcome to spectate and enjoy the festivities. Along with the terrain park competition, attendees will enjoy food trucks, giveaways, and sponsor activations from locally and globally recognized brands. Following the success of Winter Jam 2025, the event is expected to attract hundreds of attendees from the Champlain College and Burlington communities.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Historic Preservation Office recently announced two awards for Preservation Excellence. The Townshend Historical Society and Townshend Select Board were honored for their preservation stewardship and ambitious rehabilitation efforts of the West Townshend Stone Arch Bridge. Curtains Without Borders was honored for its dedicated preservation of Vermont’s historic painted theater scenery.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced his appointment of Republican John (Jack) Brigham of St. Albans Town to fill the vacant Franklin-8 seat in the House of Representatives. Brigham replaces Casey Toof, who resigned last month. Brigham is a lifelong dairy farmer on the multi-generational Holyoke Farm, where they also produce organic maple syrup, raise beef, and sell hay. Brigham is also a member of the St. Albans Town selectboard, serves on the Act 250 district 6 commission, and has served on other local boards including the town planning commission, development review board, and local school board. Brigham resides in St. Albans Town with his wife of 44 years, Heather. Together they have four adult children.

Vermont Business Magazine Today the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) moved to settle two federal lawsuits concerning foster care licensing requirements and care for LGBTQ+ youth: Wuoti v. Winters and Antonucci v. Winters. In both cases, the Wuoti and Antonucci families lost their foster care licenses over their religious beliefs involving how they would and would not support the children's LGBTQ identity. Wuoti family had previously served as a foster family and received positive feedback from DCF in that role. Both families subsequently sued the state and both lost their cases in US District Court in Vermont and appealed those decisions. The settlement restores their foster care licenses.

Vermont Business Magazine The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce formally announced a significant leadership milestone at its Annual Membership Meeting on January 30th of this year, naming Matt Harrington as Chief Executive Officer of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber enterprise. The appointment reflects both Harrington’s decade of leadership and the expanded scope, scale, and complexity of the organization’s work across the region. Harrington has served as Executive Director of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce since 2016, guiding its transformation from a traditional town-based chamber into a multi-entity regional enterprise advancing business growth, workforce development, tourism, and long-term economic vitality across Southwestern Vermont.

Vermont Public Service Department On February 9th, 2026, Consolidated Communications of Vermont Company (CCVT), LLC, which does business as Fidium, filed another petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The petition requests permission to discontinue traditional landline phone service (also known as legacy voice service) in more areas of Vermont.

Healthcare for AFT Vermont and VFNHP Resident physicians and fellows employed by the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) are fighting through their union, the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR-SEIU), for a fair contract that will allow them to improve their quality life so that their patients can receive the high-quality care they deserve. These doctors are the backbone of frontline care for Vermont, serving the most acute, complicated cases and those needing specialized care. Contract negotiations with UVMMC hospital leadership began in Dec. 2025 as their current contract expired on Feb. 6, 2026. This is the second contract for the roughly 400 residents, interns, and fellows (collectively known as housestaff) since they successfully unionized in 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced that Anthony Jackson-Miller, 39, of Stanstead, Quebec, Canada, was arraigned on one felony count of sexual exploitation of a victim of an open investigation by a law enforcement officer and one misdemeanor count of obstruction of justice. The charges against Jackson-Miller, who worked as a victim’s advocate for the Caledonia County State’s Attorney’s Office, are the result of an investigation conducted by the Vermont State Police. Jackson-Miller pleaded not guilty at the arraignment today in Vermont Superior Court, Caledonia Criminal Division.