Current News

VermontBiz Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) joined the Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, & Federal Rights yesterday to call for the passage of the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act of 2023, legislation that would establish a code of conduct for Supreme Court Justice. The bill’s introductionfollows numerous reported instances of ethical misconduct by Justice Clarence Thomas and public confidence in the Supreme Court at an all-time low. At present, the Supreme Court does not abide by a formal code of conduct. 

VermontBiz The Agency of Education is announcing the availability of summer meal sites providing meals to children, 18 and under, through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This vital initiative ensures that children across the state have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer. Families are encouraged to access these meals to help support children's growth, health, and academic success. This program bridges the gap between school years, giving children the fuel they need to play and grow throughout the summer months and return to school ready to learn.

VermontBiz On Tuesday, Brenda Siegel along with Recovery Vermont, Vermont Center For Independent Living (VCIL) and Rebecca Duprey held a press conference today outlining the data collected about the evictions of motel participants scheduled this week and to ask leaders to focus on the needs of the nearly 900 individuals who are experiencing homelessness and about to or already have experienced Vermont’s state sponsored unsheltering. 

“Throw away politics. This is the time for strong leaders to own up that we are failing people right now and we need to fund the sheltering needs. What are the lessons learned? We need to be honest about the people we’re throwing out on the street and step in and care,” sSaid Sarah Launderville, Executive Director of VCIL. 

Vermont Business Magazine In the past year, several battery fires have occurred at transfer stations throughout the Northeast. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that lithium-ion batteries caused over 240 fires at 64 facilities between 2013 and 2020. Common sources included consumer devices like cell phones, tablets, laptops, hoverboards, and e-cigarettes. To help solid waste and recycling workers safely collect batteries and reduce the risk of fires, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Solid Waste Program has spent $160,000 to purchase and distribute battery collection safety kits to over 160 public and private transfer stations and Household Hazardous Waste facilities.

Vermont Business Magazine The deadline to apply for a 2023 Vermont moose hunting permit is June 21. Moose permit applications are available on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website for the hunt limited to Vermont’s Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) E in the northeastern corner of the state. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board voted on April 5 to have 80 either-sex moose hunting permits and 100 antlerless moose hunting permits available this year. The science-based hunt will result in an estimated harvest of about 100 moose, or 10 percent of the more than 1,000 moose currently estimated to live in WMU E. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on Thursday, June 15 will hold an Executive Session to mark up legislation at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Vermont Business Magazine Few birding experiences rival hearing the haunting call of the loon or seeing them glide by in protected coves on a lake.  However, for the birds’ protection, Vermont Fish and Wildlife is asking boaters and anglers to enjoy loons from a safe distance this summer. “Loons were removed from Vermont’s endangered species list in 2005, but they face continued threats from human disturbance during the breeding season and ingestion of fishing gear,” said Rosalind Renfrew, wildlife biologist with Vermont Fish and Wildlife.

Vermont Business Magazine The Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge Junior Waterfowl Hunter Training Program is being offered to young hunters who want to learn more about the sport of waterfowl hunting and experience a high-quality waterfowl hunt. The program is offered to youngsters 12 to 17 years of age who have an adult waterfowl hunter to serve as a mentor. 

by Mike Donoghue, VermontBiz Correspondent A Northfield man, who officials say embezzled about $560,000 from an Upper Connecticut Valley non-profit, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Burlington on Wednesday to three counts of wire fraud. John Van Vught, 72, defrauded ValleyNet Inc., a non-profit that had a contract to operate fiber-to-home internet networks serving customers in east-central Vermont and Lyme, N.H., the indictment said. He worked under a contract and served as the bookkeeper for ValleyNet. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott signed five bills into law, including the capital bill and sports betting as expected, and despite reservations allowed two others -- universal school meals legislation and the cannabis bill -- to become law without his signature. For the several bills that the governor previously vetoed, like the budget (which eventually must be passed) and the child care bill, lawmakers will hold a "veto" session beginning Wednesday, June 21. 

Vermont Business Magazine As millions of Americans face uncertainty around their federal student loan debt, the College for All Act of 2023, as introduced today by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), allows students to attend public colleges and universities tuition free. It also ensures that the vast majority of students who enroll at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) can attend tuition- and debt-free.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) joined Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Tom Carper (D-DE) to support the Stop Fentanyl Overdoses Act last month, legislation to advance a public health-oriented approach to the substance use crisis by expanding testing for fentanyl and related substances, promoting information sharing and data collection across public health departments and public safety officials, and advancing other public health initiatives to address the substance use crisis. The bill follows recent reports from the State of Vermont that fatal overdoses involving opioids have reached their highest point since the state began tracking them more than a decade ago.