News

by Mike Smith Former Wall Street executive and Vermont native Bruce Lisman announced last week he would be seeking the Republican nomination for governor of Vermont. He surprised some observers by opting to run as a Republican instead of an independent.

by Timothy McQuiston Secretary of State Jim Condos and others are right to call for transparency and open government. But they’re wrong about calling for an Ethics Commission. Presumably, such a panel would rule independently and keep an eye on government officials. It would act like the Public Service Board, which is a quasi-judicial, appointed board that regulates utilities.

by Governor Peter Shumlin When Julia Dunn arrived at middle school, she learned something troubling about education in her community. Students from certain towns were well prepared in math, and students from some other towns were not. Some students had strong arts education in elementary school, and others did not. Some had studied foreign languages, and some had not.

Vermont Business Magazine Representatives from Rutland Young Professionals (RYP), Castleton Downtown and the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) have finalized the schedule for the first-ever Young Professionals Summit of Vermont and announced the list of expected guests.

by Mike Faher vtdigger.org Eighteen years ago, Mary Ellen Copeland began drawing up a new method for dealing with mental illness.

Vermont Business Magazine The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) is pleased to announce the availability of over $500,000 in grant funds for the 2016 program year. The application period will open on October 1, 2016, with grants targeting essential, catalytic investments in Vermont’s farm and forest economy.

Lake Champlain Committee (LCC) Mixed conditions were reported again this week on Lake Champlain, Lake Carmi and Lake Iroquois, however there were no toxin detections. Temperatures are predicted to rise during the weekend and stay high through much of next week.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Friday announced a $375,000 federal grant to the Patrick and Marcelle Leahy Center for Rural Students at Lyndon State College to improve access to education for Vermont students.

Vermont Business Magazine All three of Vermont's major tax funds were off in August, with the vital Personal Income tax off more than $3 million, or 7.1%. Overall, General Fund (GF) revenues totaled $88.84 million for August versus the monthly target of $92.40, -$3.56 million or –3.85% short.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims in Vermont fell slightly last week, and remain at their typically low summer totals. There were 347 new, regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont, a decrease of 17 from the previous week's total and 29 fewer than they were a year ago. Generally, claims have been running below last year's totals.

Vermont Business Magazine The Agency of Education has announced the 16 supervisory unions and districts that have volunteered to be a part of shaping the course of the Education Quality Review process by piloting the Integrated Field Review during the 2015-2016 School Year.