News

People's United Financial, Inc (NASDAQ: PBCT) today reported net income of $52.5 million, or $0.16 per share, for the first quarter of 2013, compared to$57.3 million, or $0.17 per share, for the first quarter of 2012, and $61.2 million, or 

Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR), owner of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon, today indicated that it expects first quarter 2013 as-reported earnings of approximately $0.89 per share and operational earnings of approximately $0.93 p

Sue Minter, Vermont deputy secretary of transportation and Irene recovery officer, will be the featured speaker at Johnson State College’s 146th annual Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 18.

This April through September, RAFFL, the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link, a Rutland based nonprofit working to support area farms and strengthen its community, will offer monthly farm tours and culinary workshops to the public. The series, titled, Real Farms, Real Food, Real Rutland, is funded by a specialty crop grant from the USDA and Vermont Agency of Agriculture. It will allow those interested to get onto the farms of Rutland County and then learn how to cook the foods.

Union Bankshares, Inc (NASDAQ - UNB) today announced Net Income for the first quarter 2013 of $1.7 million, or $0.39 per share, compared to $1.2 million, or $0.28 per share, for 2012.  The $510,000, or 41.6% increase in net income year over year is attributable to an increase in noninterest income of $253,000, or 13.3%, a decrease in provision for loan loss of $120,000, or 66.7%, and a decrease in noninterest expenses of  $362,000, or 6.5%.  

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following comments on Vermont’s priorities in immigration reform and the proposals from the 'Gang Of Eight.'

PC Construction has started work on two new residence halls at Champlain College in Burlington that will house 180 students when completed in July 2014. The Res Tri Project consists of three residence halls, green space, landscaping and a promenade in the area bounded by Main Street, South Willard Street, Maple Street and Edmunds School on the 4.66 acre site.

by Chris Braithwaite, Barton Chronicle Solar energy may come to Barton soon at the Barton Solar Farm at 1603 Glover Road.  A fairly large project at 1.8 megawatts (MW), it would produce the amount of power consumed, on average, by more than 300 Vermont homes.

In March, Vermont saw a 5 percent increase in transactions year-over-year, with a median home price boost of 4.2 percent. RE/MAX of New England’s March Monthly Housing Report illustrates that with a continued decrease in inventory, the overall New England housing market experienced double-digit growth in the number of units sold, month-over-month and year-over-year, home prices have increased an average of 3.7 percent across the

Governor  Peter Shumlin, attending a Drive Electric Vermont celebration of electric vehicles in Vermont, today announced that the State Fleet program will launch a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle to further Vermont’s goals to reduce reliance on gasoline and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The electric sedan -- a Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid -- was plugged in today at a new charging station located near the State House on Governor Aiken Avenue.  

by Nat Rudarakanchana April 17, 2013 vtdigger.org The Vermont Long-Term Disaster Recovery Group, a nonprofit which administers disaster relief funds, is gradually decelerating its disaster relief efforts as more Irene victims find themselves in happier circumstances.

by Nat Rudarakanchana April 16, 2013 vtdigger.org Winooski House Democrat George Cross plans to continue his longstanding fight over stationing F-35 fighter jets in Burlington right onto the House floor on Wednesday, as the House General, Housing and Military Affairs Committee considers a military “omnibus” bill.

Governor Shumlin appointed Mark Perrin, a resident of Middlebury, to the State Board of Education on April 12, 2013 to serve a six year term (2013-2019).  

Thanks to a deep snow pack on the trails of Mount Snow’s Carinthia, the east’s only all freestyle terrain mountain face, the southern Vermont resort has decided to reopen for one more weekend of skiing and riding this Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21, rain or shine.  Mount Snow opened for the season in mid-November and this will stand as one of its latest closing dates in the last decade.

Green Mountain College continues to earn accolades as one of the greenest colleges in the country. GMC received a perfect "99" green rating in the 2013 edition of The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges released today. 

by Anne Galloway April 16, 2013 vtdigger.org Senator Jane Kitchel’s triple-layer maple cake with boiled icing and Danville butternuts wasn’t enough to sweeten the mood in Senate Appropriations on Monday.

On April 11, 2013, Make-A-Wish Vermont presented a new award, the Corporate Partner of the Year Award. The recipient of this award has shown passion for our mission, generosity of goods and/or services, countless hours of time and significant monetary contributions to Make-A-Wish Vermont throughout the year. 

The US Department of Labor today announced a $770,000 National Emergency Grant increment to continue clean-up and recovery efforts in Vermont following Tropical Storm Irene. 

by Nat Rudarakanchana April 16, 2013 vtdigger.org The state’s business community is opposing a raise in state benefits for unemployed workers. The companies and trade associations argue the increase is fiscally unwise and a repudiation of a tough political compromise worked out in 2010, in the wake of the recession.

As a mark of respect for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, President Obama has directed that flags be flown at half-staff effective immediately and ending at sunset April 20, 2013. The Vermont State House, all Federal and State Facilities around the state and public buildings and grounds around the state. Per Federal Code P.L. 94-344 and Presidential Order. Which flags will be lowered: The US flag, Vermont State flag, POW flags, and any other flags ** Date the flags are to be lowered: Immediately, Tuesday, April 16, 2013

by Alicia Freese April 15, 2013 vtdigger.org The Senate Health and Welfare Committee is calling for a “timeout” on the proposal to put a time limit on the state’s family welfare program. Breaking ranks with the Shumlin administration and the House, the committee is drafting a memo to the Senate Appropriations Committee, asking it to hold off on capping Reach Up benefits.

by Alicia Freese April 15, 2013 vtdigger.org Done with the task of devising next year’s revenue package, the House tax committee took up a second colossal task — reining in education spending.

The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) approved $9.2 million in business and agricultural financing to support a variety of economic development projects throughout the state.  “The Authority is pleased to provide financing assistance to help further the economic growth goals and jobs expansion efforts of these bus

by Andrew Stein April 16, 2013 vtdigger.org More than 6,800 Vermonters and 175 businesses have signed a petition calling on the state Legislature to pass legislation that would require the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods sold in Vermont.

The Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) has announced an open, competitive grant application for Vermont Health Connect’s Navigator program.  Through the application, the State seeks to identify organizations best qualified to help small businesses and eligible Vermonters access health coverage. A total of $2 million in grants will be announced in late May.  

by Andrew Stein April 15, 2013 vtdigger.org The Senate Health and Welfare Committee plans to vote this week on whether to recommend millions of dollars more in health insurance assistance for low- and middle-income Vermonters. And their proposal may very well call for leaving a contentious employer assessment on the table.

by Alicia Freese April 16, 2013 vtdigger.org The House passed the marijuana decriminalization bill today, with one modification.

by Andrew Stein April 15, 2013 vtdigger.org If the Portland Pipe Line Corp. wants to pump oil from Alberta’s tar sands region through Vermont, the company will need an Act 250 permit.

The Small Business Administration announced the 2013 Vermont small business award winners April 15.The premier accolade, 2013 Vermont Small Business Person of the Year, is awarded to Pete Johnson, Pete’s Greens owner. Johnson was selected as the SBPY for his outstanding leadership related to his company’s staying power, employee growth, sales increase, innovative ingenuity and contributions to the community.

The Green Mountain Club today announced the start to “mud season” and urged hikers to stay off muddy and high-elevation trails unless they still have extensive snow or ice cover.   Rain and melting snow at higher elevations cause wet and muddy conditions on many of Vermont's hiking trails. When hikers tramp on saturated soils, they cause irreversible erosion and damage to the trail and surrounding vegetation.