Current News

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. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) Child Nutrition Programs is seeking sponsors for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This program, also known as Summer Meals, is federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by AOE Child Nutrition Programs. Funds are available and sponsors are needed to provide meals to children at summer food program sites. The After School and Summer Meals Eligibility Mapper helps identify potential meal site locations. The state is specifically seeking sponsors to serve meals in previously underserved areas, including the Northeast Kingdom, Rutland County, and the Upper Valley.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce the top 65 Best Places to Work in Vermont 2026. The awards program was created in 2006 and is presented in partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management, Vermont State Council, (VTSHRM), the Vermont Department of Commerce and Community Development and Workforce Research Group. The Best Places to Work in Vermont list is broken down into three categories, Small Businesses (15-99 employees), Medium Businesses (100-249 employees) and Large Businesses (250+ employees).

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) today announced the death of Titus Peters, a sentenced person incarcerated at Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility (TCCF) in Mississippi. Titus Peters, 42, of Bennington, Vermont, began his incarcerative sentence in 2017. In 2019, Peters was transferred to TCCF, a correctional facility operated by CoreCivic. There are 150 men in Vermont DOC custody held at TCCF. On January 29, Peters was found unresponsive by correctional staff at approximately 12:03pm.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Language Justice Project (VLJP) is now operating as an independent nonprofit organization, with fiscal sponsorship from United Ways of Vermont (UWVT), while its federal 501(c)(3) application is under review. VLJP was incubated at CCTV Center for Media & Democracy beginning in November 2021, where the project strengthened its programs, partnerships, and operational foundation. The transition to independent status reflects VLJP’s growth and capacity as a statewide language access organization serving communities across Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Bancorp, the parent company of Community National Bank, today announced that it has received approval to list its common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The company expects trading in its shares to transition from the OTCQX Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market effective with the opening of trading on Monday, February 2, 2026, subject to continued satisfaction of applicable listing criteria. The company’s common stock will continue to trade on the OTCQX through the end of trading on Friday, January 30, 2026. The common stock will trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under its current ticker symbol “CMTV.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office today announced the conclusion of its independent review of a fatal officers-involved shooting that occurred on August 21, 2025, in Springfield, Vermont. Attorney General Charity Clark has declined to prosecute Windsor County Sheriff Deputy Bryan Jalava and Springfield Police Officer Vincent Franchi for charges related to the use of deadly force in the fatal shooting of James Crary. The incident began at approximately 8:56 PM on August 21, 2025, when Deputy Sheriff Jalava and Springfield Police Officer Franchi, along with other officers from the Springfield Police Department and the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department, arrived at 78 Valley Street in Springfield, Vermont, to arrest Matthew Hewitt in response to an alleged assault and robbery and a kidnapping that had occurred earlier that afternoon involving Hewitt and another suspect, Roger Colby.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Medical Society, American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Vermont, American College of Physicians Vermont, Vermont Psychiatric Association and the Vermont Academy of Family Physicians are deeply concerned by reports coming from our colleagues around the country regarding the impact of immigration enforcement activity on patient health and wellbeing.  Not only is enforcement occurring in and around health care settings, including hospitals, emergency departments, and community practices, but fear among immigrant communities is preventing individuals from leaving their homes to attend medical appointments, work, school and obtain needed food and medicine.

by Mike Donoghue The Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee approved the recommendation of attorney Christina Nolan, 5-0, on Thursday to become a Vermont Supreme Court Justice, but rejected attorney Michael Drescher, 3-2, to also serve on the high court. The three Democrats on the committee said they had trouble supporting Drescher, a former First Assistant U.S. Attorney, because of two high-profile immigration cases that he was thrust into defending last year on behalf of the administration of President Donald J. Trump. In a little-used procedural move in the Legislature, Senate President Phil Baruth asked the committee on Thursday to say it had no recommendation on the Drescher nomination.