AGP Executive Report

Public Health & Harm Reduction: Central Vermont’s first “Save a Life Day” is set for Sept. 24 in Barre, offering free naloxone (Narcan), overdose prevention info, and a traveling Into Light portrait exhibit from VAMHAR. Housing & Homelessness: The Upper Valley Haven dedicated its new year-round shelter and resource center in White River Junction, a 20-bed facility expected to begin taking guests soon. AI & Politics: Lawmakers are again pressing for federal oversight after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s call for an AI slowdown, with support from major tech figures and renewed debate over safety and regulation. Work & Wages: Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Mark Takano introduced a bill to gradually move the federal overtime threshold toward a 32-hour workweek. Food Safety: Vermont health and agriculture officials ordered a recall of eggs tied to Salmonella Enteritidis from a Windsor County farm, after linked illnesses were reported. Local Business: Kinney Drugs is rolling out a kid-focused “Find Flemy” flu scavenger hunt in stores ahead of vaccination season. Transportation: Vermont’s weekly construction update flags paving and bridge work on I-89 and I-91 with lane closures and speed limits.

Public Health: Vermont officials say Salmonella Enteritidis was found in eggs and environmental samples at Leaping Bear Farm in Windsor County; the farm is voluntarily recalling eggs dated June 1 through Sept. 5 and pausing sales until the strain is no longer a threat. Housing & Homelessness: The Upper Valley Haven in White River Junction marked the ribbon-cutting for its new year-round 20-bed shelter and resource center, designed to provide nightly sign-ups plus meals and staff support. Courts & Speech: A federal judge blocked Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark from investigating “Planet Hank” over an AI-generated satirical video of a congressional race, citing the video’s satirical nature and free-speech concerns. Addiction Response: Central Vermont’s first “Save a Life Day” in Barre will hand out naloxone and overdose-prevention info, with community portraits from the Into Light Project. Work & Wages: Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill to lower the federal overtime threshold from 40 to 32 hours without cutting pay or benefits. AI Policy: Vermont’s rules-of-evidence advisory committee will discuss AI-related evidentiary issues at its Sept. 11 meeting.

Opioid response: Central Vermont’s first “Save a Life Day” is set for Sept. 24 in Barre, offering free naloxone (Narcan), overdose prevention info, and harm-reduction resources, plus a traveling Into Light Project portrait display from the Vermont Association for Mental Health & Addiction Recovery. Housing policy: Vermont has nearly 50,000 “seasonally vacant” homes, about 14% of the housing stock, and a new education-tax approach is raising questions about what counts as a seasonal home versus a year-round one. Public safety: Essex Junction will add a stop sign at Pine Court and West Street after resident concerns about speeding, with the city citing engineering review and crash-record context. Health care access: More providers are moving toward membership-style care; in South Burlington, a new Horizon Primary Care practice is opening with a concierge model aimed at more time with patients. Education labor: Blue Mountain Union School District teachers have declared an impasse after contract talks stalled, setting up mediation. Energy costs: Heating oil prices are already near or above $5 a gallon in Vermont, with a 700-gallon winter supply potentially costing $1,000 to $1,600 more than last year. AI and courts: Vermont’s Supreme Court advisory committee will meet Sept. 11 to discuss AI-related evidentiary issues, among other rule updates. Data breaches: Vermont is among states tied to investigations into U.S. Bank and Ascent Global Logistics data breaches, with class-action firms urging affected people to review and protect accounts. Arts & community: The Vermont Symphony Orchestra opens its season Sept. 18 with “Charity, Sylvia & Cleopatra,” including a world premiere inspired by Vermont history and LGBTQ+ stories.

Work & Economy: A new federal bill, the “Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act,” would gradually lower the overtime threshold from 40 hours to 32, with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders backing it. Rural Health Funding: Vermont has begun distributing its first $11.7 million from a $195 million federal rural health award, including scholarships for rural healthcare workers and nursing home capacity upgrades. Hospital Access: Brattleboro Memorial Hospital reversed its plan to close its birthing center, keeping local labor-and-delivery services available for Windham and Windsor counties. Opioid Response: Central Vermont’s first “Save a Life Day” is set for Sept. 24 in Barre, offering free naloxone and overdose-prevention resources. AI & Policy: The Justice Department escalated its push against in-state tuition for undocumented students, while Vermont’s own AI-related court fights and national AI safety debates continue to draw attention. Local Business & Community: Kinney Drugs is rolling out a kid-focused “Find Flemy” flu scavenger hunt, and Haven Southwick is expanding its cannabis dispensary with a local-art showroom.

Opioid response: Central Vermont’s first “Save a Life Day” is set for Sept. 24 in Barre, offering free naloxone (Narcan) and overdose prevention resources, plus a traveling Into Light Project portrait exhibit. Rural health funding: Vermont has received the first $11.7 million of $195 million in federal rural health transformation money, including tuition support for nursing and other healthcare students and training for long-term care nursing assistants. Local business & jobs: Rutland Town’s plan for a Walmart Supercenter at the old Diamond Run Mall is moving through the Act 250 permitting process, with officials focused on environmental and financial impacts. Healthcare access: Brattleboro Memorial Hospital says it will keep obstetric and birthing services after financial losses prompted earlier concerns. AI policy pressure: Lawmakers are pressing OpenAI after incidents involving AI systems “going rogue,” while a former Anthropic researcher’s warning about existential risk is fueling calls for tighter oversight. Vermont economy: A Southwestern Vermont chamber survey finds strong confidence locally, but rising costs and workforce shortages remain major hurdles. Community & culture: Runamok is naming new leadership as founders step back from CEO roles, and UVM researchers discuss how extreme weather could affect fall foliage.

Opioid Response: Central Vermont will hold its first “Save a Life Day” in Barre on Sept. 24, offering free naloxone (Narcan), overdose prevention info, and harm-reduction resources, plus a traveling Into Light portrait exhibit from Vermonters lost to overdose. Rural Health Workforce: Vermont Department of Health awarded $9 million to VSAC for a Rural Health Transformation tuition benefit, aiming to train more nurses, mental health providers, dentists and EMS workers who commit to serving rural communities for at least five years. AI Safety & Governance: Lawmakers and officials are escalating pressure after Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon’s resignation and warnings that frontier AI could become uncontrollable; Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker urged immediate action to rein in AI. Endangered Species Act Fight: Vermont AG Charity Clark joined lawsuits challenging federal rollbacks to Endangered Species Act protections, arguing the changes weaken habitat safeguards. Business & Jobs: A Southwestern Vermont Chamber survey finds most local firms still optimistic, but worried about rising costs, workforce shortages, and the broader economy. Community & Outdoors: UVM experts weigh in on how extreme weather and climate change could affect Vermont’s fall foliage.

AI & Elections: A federal judge blocked Vermont’s first major enforcement of its AI-media election law, ruling a “Planet Hank” synthetic video is protected satire, while the state’s AG said she’s reviewing next steps. Vermont Politics & Labor: Vermont voters are set to decide on a constitutional amendment (Proposal 3) embedding workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively. National Guard & Families: Vermont broke ground on a new Family Readiness and Support Center at Camp Johnson to consolidate legal, financial, retirement and suicide-prevention services for Guard members and families. Endangered Species Lawsuits: Vermont’s AG Charity Clark is among attorneys general suing the Trump administration over rollbacks to Endangered Species Act protections, arguing habitat safeguards are being weakened. Education Funding & Consolidation: Barre faces another budget revote after prior failures, while districts statewide continue merger planning under Act 170. Local Business & Community: Kinney Drugs is rolling out a kid-focused “Find Flemy” flu scavenger hunt, and Ray’s Seafood Market in Essex is closing after 75 years.

Vermont Economy & Business: A Southwestern Vermont Chamber survey finds most local businesses still thriving and optimistic, but rising costs, workforce shortages, and weaker broader economic confidence are starting to bite. Housing & Health Access: Vermont’s birth-center squeeze continues, with a Copley Hospital birthing center closure story showing how hard it’s getting to deliver babies close to home. Mental Health Care: UVM Health opened a new outpatient suicide-focused clinic in Burlington, expanding specialized care for people at elevated suicide risk. Adaptive Sports: Vermont Adaptive opened a new Taff Adaptive Yurt at Bolton Valley, adding year-round space for athletes with disabilities and other community programs. Cannabis Regulation: Lt. Gov. John Rodgers faces a $5,000 fine over cannabis seedlings found at an unlicensed Glover grow site. Local Government & Homelessness: South Burlington officials rejected a plan for a 100-bed low-barrier shelter, underscoring the challenge of finding communities willing to host it. Energy & Utilities: Vermont regulators approved a 5.5% rate increase for Green Mountain Power customers. AI & Policy: Calls for AI regulation intensified after researchers warned advanced systems could pose existential risks.

SNAP and school meals: Federal SNAP cuts could ripple into Vermont classrooms nationwide, putting free breakfast and lunch at risk for millions of kids who qualify through SNAP or Medicaid and for schools whose funding depends on SNAP participation. Energy costs: Vermont regulators approved a 5.5% rate increase for Green Mountain Power customers, effective Oct. 1, after scrutiny of spending and rising supply and transmission costs. Mental health access: UVM Health opened the Asha Clinic, a specialized suicide-care program for adults, with capacity for up to 100 patients and therapies focused on crisis planning and trigger management. Local resilience and planning: Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak visited Hardwick to review flood damage, repairs, and resilience steps tied to the state’s Climate Superfund efforts. Education reform: Act 170 is pushing five districts into merger talks, with Montpelier Roxbury and Washington Central among those starting committee discussions for potential voter action in 2028. Business outlook: A regional chamber survey finds Southwestern Vermont firms are still optimistic, but worried about costs, workforce shortages, and the broader economy.

School Meals in Vermont: A new 2026 State of School Lunch Report ranks Vermont No. 1 for school meals, citing strong reach for lunch and breakfast and fewer barriers for families. Vermont Health Update: The state says COVID-19 hospitalizations remain scarce and viral activity is low, with flu activity “essentially disappeared” and norovirus still showing mostly low levels. Power Costs: The Public Utility Commission approved a 5.5% rate increase for Green Mountain Power, with bills starting in October, tied to grid hardening and storm resilience. Trade War Hits Home: Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion in U.S. goods took effect Tuesday, with Vermont-area businesses and shoppers bracing for higher prices and fewer Canadian visitors. Local Business & Culture: Smugglers’ Notch joins the Indy Pass for 2026–27, and Burlington’s new SEABA Center is expanding South End arts programming. Education & Youth: VSAC’s GEAR UP named Bradford senior Nettie Morse Student Leader of the Year. Sports: Burr & Burton opened strong in its season opener, turning heads with a dominant win.

Suicide Care in Burlington: UVM Health Network opened the Asha Clinic, a specialized outpatient program focused only on suicide care, led by researcher Dr. Craig Bryan and supported by the Four Pines Fund, aiming to expand access to proven therapies. Rural Maternal Care: A new KFF analysis warns that rural hospital obstetrics closures could mean much longer drives for pregnant Medicaid patients, with closures accelerating as payment and enrollment changes take hold. Vermont Economy & Workforce: Vermont’s low unemployment rate masks a shrinking labor force, with leaders pointing to housing and child care as the real bottlenecks for keeping and growing jobs. Education Reform Push: Gov. Phil Scott urged school leaders to “do not slow down” on district merger efforts, arguing delays mean higher costs and fewer opportunities. Labor Solidarity: Vermont hospital workers are building solidarity with farmworkers, pressing UVM Medical Center to join the Milk with Dignity program. Local Grants for Farms: VHCB’s Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program awarded nearly $1 million to working farms and forest businesses for water-quality and viability projects. Public Safety: Vermont State Police reported a fatal motorcycle crash in Dorset on Sept. 6.

Suicide care expansion: UVM Health Network and Four Pines Fund opened the Asha Clinic in Burlington, a specialized outpatient program focused on suicide care with internationally recognized experts led by Dr. Craig Bryan. Workforce and affordability: A Vermont Business Magazine commentary argues low unemployment (2.6% in July) masks a shrinking labor force, with housing and child care costs making it harder for people to live and work in the state. Education reform push: Gov. Phil Scott told school leaders “do not slow down” on district mergers, warning delays mean lost opportunities and higher costs, even as districts face staffing and budget pressure. Labor rights on the ballot: Vermont voters will decide in November on a constitutional amendment protecting workers’ right to organize and collectively bargain (Proposal 3), alongside Proposal 4 on equal protections. Local business news: Wilmington Trust’s Rutland office hired Caralee Kennedy as a wealth advisor, and Peckham Industries named John R. Peckham interim CEO. Grants for working lands: VHCB’s Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program awarded more than $1 million in 2026 grants to improve water quality and business viability for farm and forest enterprises.

Suicide care expansion: UVM Health Network and the Four Pines Fund opened the Asha Clinic in Burlington, a specialized outpatient program focused only on suicide care, led by Dr. Craig Bryan, aiming to connect patients with therapies proven to reduce attempts and improve quality of life. PFAS research funding: Landmark College is part of a $7.9 million NSF PFAS Environmental Research Network, bringing together Vermont colleges and state partners to track “forever chemicals” in groundwater and soil with student-led sampling. Homelessness response change: Vermont 211 will stop handling intake for the new Vermont Homelessness Response Continuum after 4:30 p.m. weekdays and on weekends/holidays, with applications routed through the state’s Economic Services Division during business hours. Transportation planning grants: The state announced a Better Connections Grant Program with $200,000 for 2027 cycle planning support for two municipalities outside Chittenden County, covering multimodal needs and water-quality improvements. Local business leadership: Peckham Industries named John R. Peckham interim CEO, promising no day-to-day changes while transitioning leadership. Community events: Vermont Business Magazine plans a free Constitution Day event in Burlington focused on First Amendment freedoms, featuring speakers including a FCC commissioner and VT Digger founder Anne Galloway.

PFAS Research Funding: A $7.9 million NSF grant will create a PFAS Environmental Research Network led by Bennington College, with Landmark College, Middlebury, and UVM among partners, using student-led sampling to track “forever chemicals” in Vermont groundwater and soil. Suicide Care Expansion: UVM Health Network opened the Asha Clinic in Burlington, a specialized outpatient model focused on suicide care and led by researcher Dr. Craig Bryan, with support from Four Pines Fund. Local Business & Jobs: Kelley Bros Access Control Group in Barre added Tyra Lanpher as its first female technician, expanding commercial electrical and access systems work across Vermont. Transportation Planning: The state is accepting applications for the Better Connections Grant Program, with $200,000 available for two towns outside Chittenden County to plan multi-modal transportation and water-quality improvements. Road Work Ahead: AOT’s weekly construction report flags paving and bridge work on I-89 and I-91, including lane closures, speed reductions, and delays around Randolph-Bethel, Exit 2 in Brattleboro, and Waterbury. Community Calendar: Okemo Valley’s new Fall Foliage Train and Pop-Up Fall Festival runs Oct. 3–4, adding a rail-based autumn option alongside its winter Holiday Express.

Universal Vote-by-Mail: Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas is urging voters to make a voting plan for the November General Election, stressing that Act 60 means ballots are automatically mailed and should arrive in the first half of October, with options to mail back, return to a clerk, use an official drop box, or vote in person with the mailed ballot. Suicide Care Expansion: UVM Health Network opened the Asha Clinic in Burlington, a specialized outpatient program focused exclusively on suicide care, led by Dr. Craig Bryan and supported by the Four Pines Fund to expand access to proven treatments. PFAS Research Push: Landmark College is part of a $7.9 million NSF-funded PFAS Environmental Research Network, teaming with Bennington, Middlebury, UVM, and state partners to track “forever chemicals” in Vermont groundwater and soil. Local Community Process: Wardsboro is launching “Wardsboro Turns Up,” a three-month community-led planning effort with free dinners and forums starting Sept. 17 to set priorities and build action plans. Cyber & Privacy: A HumanEdge data breach may have exposed names and Social Security numbers; Edelson Lechtzin LLP says it’s investigating the privacy claims and is offering free case evaluations. Business & Infrastructure: Vermont’s Better Connections Grant Program will award $200,000 for 2027 planning grants for two municipalities outside Chittenden County, and the state also posted a week of highway construction updates affecting traffic.

Suicide Care Expansion: UVM Health Network opened the Asha Clinic in Burlington, a specialized outpatient program focused exclusively on suicide care, led by researcher Dr. Craig Bryan with support from the Four Pines Fund. Community Planning: Wardsboro kicks off “Wardsboro Turns Up,” a three-month, community-led process starting Sept. 17 with free dinner and forums, then moving to priority-setting and action plans. PFAS Research Funding: Landmark College is part of a $7.9 million NSF PFAS Environmental Research Network, pairing students and Vermont partners to track contamination in groundwater and soil. Vermont Elections: Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas is urging voters to make a voting plan ahead of universal vote-by-mail, outlining options to return, drop off, or vote in person. Local Business & Jobs: Kelley Bros Access Control Group added Tyra Lanpher as its first female technician in Barre, expanding commercial electrical and security installation capacity. Transportation Grants: The state announced a 2027 Better Connections grant cycle with $200,000 available for two municipalities outside Chittenden County to plan multimodal transportation and water-quality improvements. Road Work Alerts: AOT listed upcoming highway paving and bridge work across I-89 and I-91 corridors, with lane closures and speed reductions.