Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the House overrode Governor Scott’s veto of the FY24 state budget (H.494) on a vote of 105 to 42 and the universal child care bill (H.217) on a vote of 116 to 31. The bills were then sent to the Senate for their consideration. For the budget, some Democrats and Progressives had suggested that they could sustain the veto because the budget did not contain enough funds for the homeless. The Senate voted to override the budget 25-5 and override the child care bill 23-7.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Employer Healthcare Commissioners announced today the addition of two alternate commission members to their bargaining unit. With West Rutland’s Mike Moser and Akua Smith of Enosburg Falls joining the team, the Employer Commission’s roster is now complete as they prepare for the next round of contract discussions on healthcare benefits for public school employees.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Senate voted today to recommit S.6 back to Senate Judiciary, meaning the state legislature was unsuccessful in overriding Governor Scott’s veto of the only significant police reform bill advanced in Vermont this year. The bill would prevent the use of deceptive and coercive police interrogation techniques on people under the age of 22. The ACLU said the Vermont Senate apparently lacked the votes to support an override.

The Vermont State Police is continuing to investigate the fatal shooting of a man by a Fair Haven police officer that occurred Monday evening on Washington Street. Detectives have spoken with witnesses and reviewed bystander video of the incident; the Fair Haven Police Department is not equipped with body-worn cameras or cruiser cameras. The man who was shot and killed is identified as Kenneth Barber Jr., 38, of Castleton.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO), is inviting neighbors in Georgia, St Albans, Swanton and Highgate, and anyone interested, to one or more community meetings about a proposed electric transmission project to improve grid reliability and unlock additional local renewable energy generation. Four community meetings to discuss the project will be held on June June 21, 22, 27, 28.

Vermont Business Magazine Training programs crucial to workforce development efforts and needs at UVM Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center will soon be expanding following approval of a $735,000 federal grant. Vermont Senator Peter Welch helped secure the funding last year as a then-member of the U.S. House of Representatives through Congressionally Directed Spending. The funding will address a significant barrier to growth of existing workforce development programs at CVMC – the ability to provide dedicated space and resources.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), sent a letter today to Amazon Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy initiating a HELP Committee investigation into the abysmal safety record in Amazon’s warehouses and the company’s treatment of workers who are injured in those warehouses. Sanders also published a website where Amazon workers can submit stories about their experiences at the company to help inform the Committee’s investigation.

Public Assets Institute There was good news on the jobs front in 2022, according to data just released by the Vermont Department of Labor. Last year, the state counted over 9,000 net additional jobs covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI). Every county except Franklin saw growth. This was the second record-setting year in a row; Vermont added more than 8,000 jobs in 2021. In the previous two decades, Vermont had never gained more than 4,000 jobs in a single year.

by John McClaughry The word “historic” is seriously overused these days, too often to describe events more curious than momentous. A case can be made, however, for the events taking place this week in the “veto session”, in which the supermajority Democratic legislature confronts a popular Republican governor. Consider this combination of facts.

Vermont Business Magazine The Addison County Economic Development Corporation has been awarded a $50,000 grant from USDA/Rural Development to undertake a study regarding the feasibility of expanding the ACORN Food Hub and adding a Commercial Community Kitchen to support the sale and distribution of local foods and increase local food access in the Champlain Valley region. The goal of an expanded Champlain Valley Food Hub is to maximize the volume of local food Champlain Valley wholesale buyers are sourcing and to increase access to markets for Champlain Valley growers and food producers. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger released the following statement regarding potential legislative action during the Legislature’s June Veto Session. The veto session begins today and is scheduled through Friday.  The new hotel/motel program being considered would extend benefits only to those who are in the program ending July 1, about 2,000 people, and who meet eligibility requirements. 

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) and Vermont Magazine today announced the winners of the 2023 Vermont Writers’ Prize, a top literary award in Vermont that honors local authors for their salutes to the state through poetry and prose.  Robert Bernstein of Bristol won for the poem “Job Site Repair of Worn Out Glove,” which brings the bitter cold of Vermont winters to life, and Mary Alexandra Peet of Richmond won for “Searching for ‘The Donut Man,’” a reflection on the power of childhood memories of family, community, and Vermont summers.