Current News

Vermont State Police On Sunday, at approximately 3:12 pm, the Vermont State Police was notified of a fatal snowmobile crash on VAST Trail 513 in the town of Stannard, VT. Investigation revealed the operator, Kevin Smith (62) was travelling west when he drifted slightly off the north side trail and struck a stump. Smith momentarily lost control of the snowmobile before it tipped over and ejected him into several trees. Life saving measures were attempted. Speed nor alcohol appear to be a factor.

by Maggie Lenz and Gwynn Zakov Remember a couple weeks ago when we wrote that there seemed to be little political will in the legislature to take up Act 250 (Vermont’s statewide land use and development law) and Act 181 (the 2024 land use modernization and housing reform law) reforms this session? Well, we were wrong. Dead wrong. Only a few days after the column ran, the Rural Caucus met with Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Kesha Ram-Hinsdale (D-Chittenden Southeast), and the Chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Anne Watson (D-Washington), to discuss concerns the caucus has with Act 181 implementation, some of the larger goals the senators had with Act 181, and reforms to Act 250. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State University (VTSU) is the Educational Partner for the 2026 Vermont Cannabis Convention, the university announced today. The partnership connects the state’s largest cannabis industry gathering with the state’s most established academic pathway into cannabis careers, VTSU’s Cannabis Studies Certificate Program. The Cannabis Studies Certificate program is a 12-credit interdisciplinary program that introduces students to the cultural, economic, legal, and scientific dimensions of cannabis, and includes hands-on experience in cultivation, research, and commercial operations. Students also complete the Cannabis Employee ID Card Compliance Training required for anyone working in the Vermont cannabis sector.

by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First A jury has ordered Dartmouth Hitchcock Health to pay $1.4 million to an Orange County man after determining it committed medical malpractice while treating him for testicular cancer. The man, from Tunbridge, received an invasive medical procedure to remove his left testicle at the Lebanon, N.H. hospital in May 2020 and the follow up was seriously lacking, according to his Burlington attorney Robert Hemley of Gravel & Shea. Hemley said the verdict in Vermont Superior Court on Friday validates the claims the plaintiff had asserted for the last six years that Dartmouth Hitchcock was negligent in failing to identify a metastatic tumor on his pelvis and to take seriously his health complaints.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $2.99 per gallon, up 1.5 cents per gallon from last week's $2.97/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.74/g while the highest was $3.12/g, a difference of 38.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 2.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.87/g today. 

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Curious about USDA funding but not sure where to begin? UVM Extension is hosting a series of in‑person events across Vermont to help farmers navigate USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs. Mark your calendar for the session nearest you in March or early April. At each event, participants will hear directly from a farmer and their NRCS Conservation Planner, connect with FSA staff, and receive hands‑on support completing the paperwork needed to become eligible for funding. These workshops are free, but registration is required. Lunch is provided.

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday February 5, Jim Phelps, a long-serving member of UVM’s Police Services, was sworn in as the University’s sixth Chief of Police. Joining Phelps at his swearing-in were family members, friends, and colleagues from his long public service career. The ceremony took place at the University’s Old Mill. Attendees included the university’s President, Marlene Tromp, campus partners from across the university, and officers from other Chittenden County police agencies. The oath of office was administered by former UVM Chief Timothy Bilodeau, who retired from the university in January after 38 years of service. Phelps has served UVM in the department since 1989, holding nearly every major operational and supervisory role.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will conduct comprehensive reviews of completed cleanup work at eight National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund sites across New England this year. This includes the Burlington Barge Canal site. Each individual site will undergo a legally required Five-Year Review to ensure that previous remediation efforts continue to protect public health and the environment. Upon completion of the Five-Year Review, the report will be available online on each site's individual Site Profile Page. 

Vermont State Police On the above date and time, the Vermont State Police responded to Richardson Rd at the intersection of Emery Rd in Orange for a reported two vehicle crash. Investigation determined Kyle Hunt, (23) of Washington, VT, was driving west bound on Richardson Rd in a Subaru Crosstrek when he turned south in front of a Kawasaki KLX140 dirt bike driving east on Richardson Rd operated by Kaylee Bailey, (16) of Corinth, VT. There was a head on collision and both vehicles sustained extensive front-end damage. Hunt was not injured in the crash. Bailey was found unresponsive and despite lifesaving efforts she was pronounced deceased on the scene. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has been named the #1 winter sports destination in the nation by Travel + Leisure, which cited the state’s diverse outdoor activities, broad range of ski areas, and distinctive cultural attractions when awarding the Green Mountain State its top spot for winter destination travelers. In its recent ranking of the best U.S. states for winter sports, Travel + Leisure noted Vermont’s breadth of offerings—from alpine and cross-country skiing to snowboarding and other winter-weather recreation—along with its vibrant communities, food, and local character that contribute to a well-rounded winter getaway. The article specifically highlighted several Vermont ski areas, including Magic Mountain, Saskadena Six, Jay Peak, and Stowe.

Vermont business Magazine The Vermont State Police is investigating a suspicious death in the Orange County town of Corinth. The investigation began at about 11:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, when police received a 911 call reporting a man had been shot at a home on Richardson Road. State police responded and located a man unresponsive inside the residence. Emergency medical services personnel subsequently pronounced the man deceased on scene. The death is considered suspicious. VSP’s preliminary investigation indicates this incident arose from a domestic dispute involving people who knew each another. Everyone associated with this matter is accounted for, and there is no identified danger to the public.

by Kaj Samsom, DFR Commissioner Yes, another opinion piece about the cost of housing, education and healthcare. I’ll skip a lengthy lead-up, making the case that all 3 are demonstrably off the rails, because I think that’s almost universally acknowledged by now. So how did we get here and how do we get back to seeing and feeling affordability and value? The vitality of the state depends on it. We got here because the frameworks for delivering and financing education and healthcare have a structural lack of accountability and misaligned incentives that have enabled and even encouraged cost escalation. Complexity and lack of transparency in these frameworks contribute to our struggle to even get 20% of voters to weigh in on school budgets, and why most Vermonters do not know the true cost of their healthcare and its drivers.