Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is reminding anglers and the public to avoid disturbing spawning sea lamprey that may currently be found in the Connecticut River and several of its tributaries. Each year sea lamprey spawn during the spring in the main stem of the Connecticut River as far upstream as Wilder Dam as well as in many of its tributaries, including the West, Williams, Black, and White Rivers. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Lakes and Ponds Program offers guidance to help property owners protect and restore lake side properties. The Shoreland Best Management Practices guidance contains multiple Best Management Practice documents. Each document highlights different activities that can improve water quality and the health of lakeshore habitat. Examples of activities include planting native trees and shrubs, installing rain gardens to absorb runoff, improving driveways and pathways, and creating no-mow zones.

by Bill Schubart With the second highest per capita homeless rate in the nation, the legislature ended, as of July, current state funding for providing hotel/motel shelter for 2800 homeless Vermont families, of which about 600 are children. To their credit 23 legislators demurred. Also in the final moments of this legislative session, the legislature passed H.217, in which a combination of revenue resources will inject $130M a year in new revenue into Vermont’s struggling childcare system. With some 5800 preschool children in Vermont, that’s $22,414 per child, an amount that will cover most, but not all, of the cost of their daycare.

Vermont Business Magazine 802 Credit Union has been chosen as the Greater Brattleboro’s best community bank or credit union by Market Survey of America’s Best of the Best voters. This prestigious accolade was bestowed upon 802 Credit Union through the annual community voting campaign, recognizing the exceptional commitment and dedication of the 802 Credit Union team to the local community.

VermontBiz The Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) invites nominations for Vermont’s 2023 Early Childhood Educator of the Year. Nominations are due by July 1 and may be made at vtaeyc.org/eceoy.

The prestigious annual award honors exceptional early childhood educators and spotlights the importance of high-quality early childhood education for Vermont’s children, families and communities. Presented by VTAEYC and sponsored by Let’s Grow Kids, the 2023 award comes with a $2,500 cash prize and all expenses paid to a national conference.

VermontBiz On Monday afternoon residents, funders, community members, local legislators and two affordable housing organizations came together to celebrate the completion of Gordon Lane Apartments - 25 affordable homes in two new buildings, including 4 apartments that are reserved for households facing homelessness, within walking distance of downtown Morrisville.

VermontBiz Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), and J.D. Vance (R-OH) today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Credit Card Competition Act of 2023, legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly.  Building on debit card competition reforms enacted by Congress in 2010, the bill would direct the Federal Reserve to ensure that large credit card-issuing banks offer a choice of at least two networks over which an electronic credit transaction may be processed.  Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Representatives Lance Gooden (R-TX-05) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18).  

VermontBiz The State of Vermont recently celebrated the 49th annual National Emergency Medical Services Week by recognizing the dedicated EMS and first responder professionals, volunteers, and units for the important and essential public health services they provide in their communities.

VermontBiz A concerning shortfall in blood donations last month could stress the American Red Cross blood supply. The Red Cross collected over 26,000 fewer blood donations than needed in May to meet the needs of patients. The need for blood is constant, with someone needing a blood transfusion in the U.S. every two seconds. Platelet donors are especially needed at this time. The public can help ensure continuity for patients by making an appointment to give blood or platelets now and in the weeks ahead.

VermontBiz chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Wednesday sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra urging the Biden Administration to protect patients and act to substantially reduce the price of an Alzheimer’s treatment that is under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Alzheimer’s is a horrible disease,” Sanders wrote. “We must do everything possible to find a cure for the millions of people who suffer from it. But we cannot allow pharmaceutical companies to bankrupt Medicare and our federal government in the process. If we are serious about reducing the national debt, we must substantially lower the price that Medicare pays for prescription drugs like Leqembi.”

VermontBiz The Emergency Department (ED) at Gifford Medical Center recently achieved silver-standard accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) in recognition of its excellent care for older adults. 

In its announcement, ACEP recognized Gifford as part of its Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program, citing Gifford’s “remarkable team of interdisciplinary leaders” and focus “on the highest standards of care for [Gifford] communities’ older adults.” 

VermontBiz Scott Administration officials will be visiting Addison County on Thursday to continue their county tour to hear from community leaders about their unique infrastructure needs and to discuss the many funding opportunities available to them via federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Officials will offer guidance on how communities can apply for assistance with tangible economic development, housing, water and sewer, climate change mitigation measures, and broadband projects.