News
AT&T today announced an update on the availability of its third generation (3G) mobile broadband network in Vermont, starting with the southern part of the state. As part of AT&T's initial network upgrade plan, 3G will go live on a rolling basis starting in Bennington, Brattleboro, Brownsville, Killington, Vernon, Warren, West Dover and White River Junction sometime this week.
Senate and House leaders have included a two-month extension of the distant signal satellite license in the Department of Defense appropriations bill. The extension will allow Windham and Bennington counties in Vermont to continue to receive Burlington stations through DirecTV.
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has recognized seven of its nearly 80 local chapters with its Annual Chapter Awards of Excellence. The awards, presented last month in Phoenix at USGBC’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, are given to chapters that excel in providing local green building outreach and education and in fostering best practices among the green building community.
The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) approved $7.4 million in commercial and agricultural financing for business projects throughout Vermont, leveraging another $7.4 million in private funding to support projects totaling $14.8 million.
Governor Douglas announced today that former Secretary of Natural Resources, Elizabeth “Wibs” McLain will join the Governor’s staff as Special Assistant to the Governor. McLain will assist with Legislative affairs and agency liaison. McLain was Secretary of ANR from 2003-2005.
The Transformation Policy Commission Report on the future of Vermont public education released its Final Report of Policy Recommendations to the Vermont State Board of Education today.
In a first for the renewables and aviation industries, Heritage Aviation, the new General Aviation Facility at the Burlington (Vermont) International Airport, will install a wind turbine on-site at their new facility.
Median family income in Vermont rose to a record high of $68,555 in 2008, according to The Vermont Economy Newsletter’s annual analysis of just-released Vermont Tax Department data. After adjusting for inflation, the income earned by the median family (half of all families earn more and half earn less than the median) rose by $300, or 0.4 percent in 2008.
The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) has joined the growing list of educational facilities that are able to take advantage of a direct fiber-optic connection. The historic West Monitor Barn was recently connected in the latest phase of a Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom system upgrade that includes parts of East Main Street and Snipe Ireland Road.
Governor Douglas today announced that he has appointed the State Representative from Pittsford, Peg Flory, to the State Senate. Flory, a Republican, replaces Republican Senator Hull Maynard who retired last month.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) announced Monday the nominations of 29 Vermont high school students for appointments to the U.S. Service Academies. Vermonters nominated by the delegation include applicants to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, or the U.S.
At a series of public information meetings held on Saturday, officials from the states of New York and Vermont presented six concept plans for a replacement to the Champlain Bridge. The bridge was permanently closed on October 16 for structural defects. The closing caused much disruption in transportation on the western side of Vermont, especially for commuters.