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by Jen Olson I’m a career early childhood educator. Every day, I help young children learn and grow while supporting families with reliable care. The quality of my teaching is built on my education, and strengthened by my work with young children and colleagues. When early childhood educators are qualified, supported, and fairly compensated, children thrive, parents can work and build stability, and communities grow stronger. Vermont is closer than ever to making this vision a reality. Recent investments that make child care easier to access and afford are helping families. Now it’s time to make sure that early childhood educators receive the professional recognition they deserve. I’m a parent too, and despite working in this field, I couldn’t find infant care for my own son. 

Northeastern Vermont Development Association Nearly 100 community members from Caledonia, Essex and Orleans Counties traveled to the Statehouse on January 22nd to connect with lawmakers and advocate for the region. The annual event is coordinated by the NEK Collaborative. Speakers this year included U.S. Senator Peter Welch, State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Lt. Governor John Rodgers, NEK Representatives Mike Marcotte & Leanne Harple, and Collaborative Interim Director, Abby Long. Throughout the day, community members met with legislators, attended committee meetings, and testified to draw attention to our regional challenges in housing, healthcare, affordability, flood resilience, and education reform. Senator Welch expressed, "There's no place better than the NEK to bring to the attention of Vermont and this nation the strength of rural communities and rural life."

Vermont Business Magazine Breeze Airways, the premium leisure carrier providing affordable, direct flights from underserved markets, tomorrow celebrates its two-year anniversary at Burlington International Airport (BTV). To mark its two years of service, Breeze is offering promotional fares starting from $79 one way. In 2025, Breeze welcomed more than 145,000 passengers on over 1400 flights from BTV. The airline currently serves five nonstop destinations, including Tampa Bay, Fla., Orlando, Fla., Fort Myers, Fla., Charleston, S.C., and Raleigh, N.C.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Sanders (I-Vermont) issued the following statement after voting against the federal funding bill Friday evening. This will result in a partial government shutdown until at least next week. U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today voted to begin debate on critical reforms to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Continuing Resolution avoids a multi-agency shutdown and separates DHS funding for a future vote in two weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine A new analysis has identified the states with the highest and lowest rates of drivers involved in fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023, as well as the driving maneuvers that frequently precede accidents in the U.S. According to the data, Mississippi ranked highest among all states, with 32.39 drivers involved in fatal crashes annually per 100,000 residents between 2019 and 2023. This rate is more than four times higher than the lowest-ranked state. Mississippi drivers were most commonly involved in crashes while "going straight," with 2,591 such incidents recorded during the study period. Massachusetts recorded the lowest rate with just 7.38 drivers involved in fatal crashes per 100,000 residents annually. Despite having a population of over 7 million, the state saw only 2,583 drivers involved in fatal crashes during the five years. Vermont was 14th best with 446 fatal crashes at a rate of 13.78/100K.

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Judiciary Committee, led his colleagues in demanding that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem immediately resign as head of DHS, citing her deplorable leadership of DHS. In their letter to Secretary Noem, Senators Welch, Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) emphasize how the horrifying conduct of immigration agents in Minnesota has led to a complete loss of confidence in Secretary Noem’s ability to serve as DHS Secretary.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Public will launch The Sports Rapport, a new weekly sports show hosted by Mitch Wertlieb, on Monday, February 2. The program offers Vermonters a welcoming, conversational space to connect around the sports moments that matter locally — from major matchups to niche pursuits. The show will broadcast live on YouTube every Monday from 2–3 p.m., with real-time audience interaction through chat, voice memos, and viewer submissions. Episodes will also be available as a podcast and will air on the radio Monday nights at 8 p.m. on Vermont Public. Premiering as the Winter Olympics get underway, The Sports Rapport invites viewers and listeners to gather, celebrate (and occasionally commiserate) around the role sports play in Vermont life. Developed for both casual and diehard fans, the show prioritizes connection, shared experience, and state pride over expert analysis.

Vermont State Police At about 12:40 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, Vermont State Police troopers were notified that New Hampshire law enforcement was in a pursuit of a stolen 2026 GMC truck on Interstate 93 headed toward Vermont. During the pursuit in New Hampshire, the fleeing suspect intentionally struck police, causing a collision involving two New Hampshire State Police cruisers and a Littleton Police Department cruiser. The involved police vehicles were disabled. The troopers and police officer suffered minor injuries. An additional Littleton police officer continued to pursue the GMC toward Vermont. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak announced that the City will open an extreme cold weather shelter in partnership with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) at the Miller Center at 130 Gosse Court in response to the dangerously cold weather forecasted this week. After reviewing weather modeling in consultation with the City’s Emergency Management Director, officials have determined the forecasted temperatures the evenings of Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1, meets the City’s criteria for operation of an extreme cold weather shelter.   Hours of operation will be from 5pm on Saturday, January 31 until 8am on Sunday, February 1, and from 5pm on Sunday, February 1 until 8am on Monday, February 2.

Vermont Business Magazine Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today secured a Senate vote on his amendment to the government funding package to repeal the $75 billion funding increase for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — originally included in Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB). The amendment would use those savings to reverse Medicaid cuts in the OBBB, preventing 700,000 Americans from losing their health care.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak today issued a statement addressing community concerns related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity reported in Vermont and across the country, affirming the City of Burlington’s commitment to public safety, transparency, and support for immigrant and refugee residents. City officials have confirmed that ICE has been active in Burlington and other parts of Vermont in recent months. As is common practice nationally, local and state officials are not formally notified when ICE activity increases. Despite this lack of transparency from ICE, the city is planning ahead to ensure coordinated communication and resident support should activity escalate.  

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Vermont initial weekly unemployment claims fell last week following as the usual volatile labor activity at the end of holiday season played out. For the week ending January 24, 2026, the Vermont Department of Labor reported that there were 416 new claims, down 34 from the previous week and up 25 from last year at this time. New claims are at typical seasonal levels, but ongoing claims remain high. The Vermont Department of Labor has reported that the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for December was 2.6%. This reflects no change from the prior month’s revised estimate. Vermont has the third-lowest rate in the nation. Total General Fund revenues for December were $204.1 million, -$5.3 million or 2.5% below the $209.4 million monthly cash flow target, driven by a second month of significantly lagging Corporate Income Tax receipts.