Current News

by Chris Graff As the 1985 General Assembly convened, Rep. Robert Kinsey, R-Craftsbury, was confident that he would be elected speaker of the House. He needed 76 votes to win, the Republicans held a 78-72 majority, and his latest count of pledges gave him a nice cushion of 80 votes. But Kinsey had underestimated the scrappy Democratic candidate, Ralph Wright of Bennington, who loved a good fight, played hardball and relished being the underdog. Shock rippled through the House chamber as Secretary of State James Douglas announced the results: Wright had won by the narrowest of margins, 76-74, launching a 10-year speakership that would redefine the office and make him the most powerful speaker in the state’s history.

Vermont Business Magazine Discover how Rockwell’s years in Arlington (1939–1953) helped shape an enduring image of Vermont as a place of resilience, community, and quiet independence. Featuring newly acquired paintings celebrating Vermont’s granite industry, the exhibition also explores the artists, communities, and creative networks that transformed the state into a powerful symbol of American identity and nostalgia. Join us to explore the stories, landscapes, and people that inspired some of Rockwell’s most iconic works.

by State Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer We were disappointed to learn Tuesday that the Governor vetoed legislation that would have provided broad property tax relief to homeowners and renters and made health insurance more affordable for Vermonters who were hit worst by Congress’s failure to extend premium subsidies. Five years ago, our office introduced to legislators and the Scott Administration the concept of “reference-based pricing,” a tool that lowers the amount paid for some excessively priced medical services while pushing health care providers to operate more efficiently. We estimated that if reference-based pricing was applied to the State employee health plan, the State would save more than $16 million annually.

Vermont Agency of Transportation Vermont Route 114 in Norton at Bridge #38, located south of Lake Station Road, will remain closed until further notice. Due to the heavy rainfall on Thursday, June 18, 2026, bridge #38 was damaged, requiring a temporary bridge to be installed at the site. The anticipated reopening of Vermont Route 114 is expected within the next two weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) is now accepting grant applications for the Fiscal Year 2027 Mobility and Transportation Innovation (MTI) Grant Program. The program is designed to support innovative strategies and projects that improve mobility and access to services for transit-dependent Vermonters, reduce the use of single-occupancy vehicles, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The grant applications are open to municipalities, local or regional planning agencies, transit agencies, school districts or schools, non-profit organizations, and citizen groups focused on providing public transportation resources.

Williston-Richmond Rotary Get ready to kick off your holiday weekend with fun, fitness, and community spirit at the 2026 Deb Beckett Memorial 5K Run & Walk! Hosted by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, this exciting event takes place on Friday, July 3, 2026, at Williston Village Community Park. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are welcome, whether you're racing for a personal best or enjoying a casual walk with friends and family.

Vermont Business Magazine The City of Burlington’s Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB) invites community members from across Vermont and beyond to gather for Juneteenth Burlington 2026. This year’s celebration centers on the theme “Freedom: Yesterday’s Legacy, Today’s Promise, Tomorrow’s Hope.” Juneteenth Burlington 2026 will be celebrated on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Downtown Burlington at City Hall Park and the Church Street Marketplace. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom.

Let’s Build Homes Vermont’s legislative session adjourned at the end of May and once again one of the most consequential pieces of legislation to pass this year was the housing and land use bill that Let’s Build Homes (LBH) focused its efforts on: S.325. This outcome seemed unlikely when the session started. After the Home Act in 2023, Act 181 in 2024, and the creation of the Community Housing and Infrastructure Program last year, at the beginning of this session we were hearing from some legislators that we needed to take a break to focus on health care, education and other priorities. We understand the competing pressures legislators face, but our housing shortage is far from solved, and housing affordability is a major driver of healthcare costs, school enrollment, and economic stability.

Vermont Business Magazine Windham & Windsor Housing Trust has released its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting a year of significant progress in expanding housing opportunities, preserving existing homes and supporting residents throughout southeastern Vermont. Centered on the theme "Delivering on the Mission," the report demonstrates how WWHT is responding to the growing affordability challenges facing Vermont communities through housing development, housing preservation, resident services and community partnerships.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has released its 2025–2026 Legislative Biennium Report, documenting key policy outcomes, emerging economic priorities, and the growing role of data-informed decision-making in shaping Vermont's future. The report reflects a legislative biennium defined by both progress and persistent challenges. While meaningful advances were made in areas such as housing, workforce development, healthcare reform, and economic development, affordability and competitiveness remain defining issues for Vermont's future.

Vermont Business Magazine For the fifth year running, Community National Bank was named to the Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Banks 2026 as the top-ranked bank in Vermont. This prestigious recognition is presented in partnership with Statista, a leading global provider of market data and industry rankings. The award list was announced on June 17th, 2026. The America’s Best-In-State Banks 2026 ranking is based on an independent survey of thousands of U.S. consumers, as well as publicly available reviews. To be eligible, banks must have received a minimum number of evaluations, with awarded institutions averaging more than 635 evaluations. The ranking focuses on institutions that operate in 14 states or fewer and are not online-only banks, underscoring the importance of strong regional and community-based banking relationships.

Vermont Business Magazine By vetoing a measure that would save millions of dollars in healthcare costs – and relieve pressure on the education property tax – Governor Phil Scott Wednesday showed his "affordability agenda is nothing but hot air," according to the state’s largest union. The measure he vetoed would have given hospital regulators a chance to lock-in savings for healthcare covering school employees, small businesses, and those Vermonters who buy their insurance on Vermont Health Connect a year earlier than anticipated. Estimates of how much money the measure would have saved beginning next year ranged in the tens of millions of dollars.