Current News

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported January 25, 2023, that hospitalizations have risen as have overall COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 activity had risen to a "Medium" level during the holidays after being in the "Low" range in the late fall, according to the VDH. Hospitalizations increased to 41 last week (they were as low as 30 last fall). Total cases increased to 455. Total COVID-related fatalities stand at 889, as of January 24. Of those, 703 have been of Vermonters 70 or older. There have been 3 deaths of Vermonters under 30. With 5 deaths in the last week and 13 so far this month, January is on pace to have the fewest COVID-related fatalities since the summer of 2021.

Vermont Business Magazine Grants are now available to support dynamic and innovative youth programs in Bennington, North Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury, and Woodford through the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth at the Vermont Community Foundation. The Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth will award grants for creative and effective initiatives that empower and support Bennington-area teenagers, particularly those facing challenges and limited access to opportunities due to economic distress, disengagement from school, mental health issues, racism, gender identity, disability, legal status, or other reasons.

Vermont Business Magazine Representative Becca Balint (D-VT) has been named to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability in the 118th Congress. “I am honored to join the Committee on Oversight and am excited to get to work on urgent democracy reform under the leadership of Ranking Member Jamie Raskin,” said Rep. Becca Balint. “Democracy has been under attack, and I am committed to using all the grit and courage I have to protect it. I’m thrilled to join Oversight Democrats, who are dedicated to advancing the critical work required to maintain a healthy democratic system. ”

Vermont Business Magazine Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas and State Archivist Tanya Marshall announced today that the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA), a division of the Secretary of State’s Office, has been awarded a $34,000 state board programming grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), a statutory body affiliated with the National Archives and Records Administration. The grant supports the work of VSARA’s Vermont Historical Records Program (VHRP), which is a collaboration between VSARA and the Vermont Historical Records Advisory Board to build statewide capacity to preserve, and provide access to, Vermont’s rich documentary history.

Vermont Business Magazine To help voters in Chittenden County better understand the people and questions on their local ballots, Town Meeting TV will present a series of candidate forums and budget and ballot presentations during the months of January and February in advance of Town Meeting Day on March 7th. All Chittenden County candidates are invited to appear on candidate forums. Forums air live on Comcast channel 1087, Burlington Telecom channels 17 and 217, online at www.ch17.tv, and will be live-streamed on Town Meeting TV’s YouTube channel: YouTube.com/TownMeetingTV.

Vermont Business Magazine The team at Burlington Emergency & Veterinary Specialists (BEVS) in Williston has opened a new department dedicated to caring for exotic animals. Just like dogs and cats, exotic pets need veterinary care and should be seen for routine exams, as well as when they are sick or injured. The Exotics Department team provides wellness/preventative care, nutrition, advanced diagnostics, medical management, and orthopedic and soft tissue surgery for: Small mammals including rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hedgehogs, and all pocket pets; All non-venomous reptiles; Most avian species including parrots, raptors, poultry, and waterfowl; Some small primates, such as marmosets, lemurs, and squirrel monkeys; Wildlife (with valid wildlife rehabilitator permit)

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont-based Aurora North, advised by JEGI CLARITY, has sold its Intapp Solutions Division to Wilson Allen, a portfolio company of Renovus Capital Partners. Founded in 2006, Aurora North is a Vermont-based software and services company. It is a leading provider of integrated technology solutions to law firms and other organizations delivering technology implementation, integration and advisory services as well as intellectual property software solutions through its flagship product PracticeLink.

Vermont Business Magazine ValleyNet announced today that they have transferred all of their staff and operating responsibilities to GWI Vermont in an undertaking that was years in the making. The recently formed GWI Vermont is a subsidiary of Biddeford Internet Corporation, d.b.a GWI. GWI, based out of Biddeford, Maine, founded in 1994, is a benefit corporation and was the nation’s first B Corporation Certified broadband carrier. ValleyNet is an Internet Service Provider (ISP) founded in Vermont as a non-profit in 1994 and has operated ECFiber since 2008.

by Mike Donoghue, News Correspondent, Vermont Business Magazine A Bristol woman is facing 19 federal felony fraud and tax charges in connection with a more than $700,000 embezzlement from an Addison County wood-logging and wood-chipping company, court records show. Jodi R Lathrop, 53, of Rounds Road is charged with seven counts of wire fraud and four counts each of mail fraud, tax evasion and aiding in the preparation of false corporate income tax returns for Claire Lathrop Band Mill Inc, doing business as Lathrop Forest Products, the federal indictment said. Bristol Police began the initial investigation, which showed Lathrop unlawfully took $712,244 between April 1, 2015 and May 31, 2020 from the family-owned business, according to a court affidavit by Police Chief Bruce Nason.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are up 8 cents in the last week to $3.54 per gallon today, according to GasBuddy. They're up 16 cents over the last month and are 15 cents higher than they were one year ago. The cheapest price is $3.19/g in Brattleboro and the highest is $3.89/g in Island Pond. The national average price of gasoline has risen 9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.47/g today.

Vermont State Police The Vermont State Police is seeking a fifth suspect in connection with the December killing of a man in St. Johnsbury. An arrest warrant has been issued for Danny Daniels, 30, of Philadelphia on charges of aiding in the commission of first-degree murder, aiding in the commission of assault and robbery with a weapon, and aiding in the commission of burglary. The charges arise from the fatal shooting of Israel Jimenez Lugo, 49, at the St. Johnsbury apartment house where he was living. The court ordered that Daniels be held without bail upon his arrest. According to court papers prepared by state police detectives investigating the homicide, Daniels was involved in drug trafficking and organized a plan for four people who owed him money to rob Jimenez Lugo. During the robbery, one of the individuals fatally shot Jimenez Lugo.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott, the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP) and the Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation announced today the awarding of grants totaling $321,363 to 20 municipalities and non-profit organizations in six counties to facilitate the restoration and rehabilitation of Vermont landmarks and important historic buildings and structures. These grants will leverage more than $1 million in restoration and rehabilitation efforts, supporting about 40 preservation construction jobs.