Vermont Business Magazine The City of Montpelier has declared the first Friday in June 2022 to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day to honor and remember all victims and survivors of gun violence and to declare that we as a country must do more to reduce gun violence. Additionally, as part of Wear Orange Weekend and National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 3, volunteers with the Vermont chapter of Moms Demand Action, in partnership with Gun Safety Vermont and the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, will host a Wear Orange table at the Capital City Farmers Market to honor the lives of those affected by gun violence and elevate gun violence prevention efforts nationwide.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today signed the following 11 bills into law: H.96, An act relating to creating the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; H.265, An act relating to the Office of the Child, Youth, and Family Advocate; H.279, An act relating to miscellaneous changes affecting the duties of the Department of Vermont Health Access; H.353, An act relating to pharmacy benefit management; H.410, An act relating to the use and oversight of artificial intelligence in State government; H.444, An act relating to approval of amendments to the charter of the City of Barre; H.464, An act relating to miscellaneous changes to the Reach Up Program; H.465, An act relating to boards and commissions; H.466, An act relating to surface water withdrawals and interbasin transfers; H.477, An act relating to leave for crime victims; H.489, An act relating to miscellaneous provisions affecting health insurance regulation.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community College of Vermont (CCV) will hold its 2022 commencement ceremony at Norwich University’s Shapiro Field House in Northfield, Vermont on Saturday, June 4. The ceremony will begin at 2 pm. More than 450 students will be awarded associate degrees. The College has announced that Dr. Wanda Heading-Grant will be this year’s keynote speaker. Vice provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Carnegie Mellon University, Dr Heading-Grant formerly served as the University of Vermont’s vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has made significant contributions to the advancement of DEI in higher education and beyond. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that Commissioner Michael Schirling will be leaving his role leading the Vermont Department of Public Safety (DPS) next month. Schirling will take a senior role at the University of Vermont, following his departure as commissioner on June 18. Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Morrison will serve as interim commissioner. Schirling was first appointed by Governor Scott as secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) in January 2017. In August of 2019, the governor named Schirling to his current role leading the Department of Public Safety. 

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today announced a multistate settlement with Ford Motor Company regarding claims that Ford falsely advertised the real-world fuel economy of certain model years of C-Max hybrids and the payload capacity of certain Super Duty pick-up trucks. Attorney General Donovan, who co-led the investigation into Ford along with the attorneys general of Oregon, Texas, Illinois, Maryland, and Arizona, has alleged that Ford misrepresented the numbers to make its cars appear more fuel efficient in real-world driving conditions and tried to make its trucks seem capable of hauling more than was possible. The State of Vermont will receive over $760,202 as its share of the $19.2 million multistate settlement announced today.