AGP Executive Report

Severe Weather Watch: The National Weather Service says Sunday could bring damaging winds and tornado risk across parts of Vermont and the Northeast, with watches and warnings possible as storms develop. Fatal Crash in Woodbury: Vermont State Police report two children died and three adults were hurt after a head-on collision on Route 14 near Hattie Bell Road; investigators say a car crossed the center line after failing to negotiate a curve. Traffic Alerts: I-89 south in St. Albans had one lane obstructed after a crash, and Route 14 in Woodbury has since reopened after the Woodbury crash response. Climate and Risk Prep: A new look at Vermont summer weather points to warmer temperatures and heavier rainfall trends, urging residents to plan for more intense flooding and storms. Pollinators and Local Business: Barr Hill Distillery’s Bee’s Knees Week is back, using honey-based gin cocktails to fund pollinator habitat planting. Sports Highlights: MVU won its fifth state title with an 8-0 Division II softball win, and Oxbow made history in Division III by taking six straight crowns. Arts Recognition: Hinesburg journalist Geoffrey Gevalt received the Herb Lockwood Prize for lifetime achievement in the arts.

Climate & Preparedness: Vermont experts are weighing what a hotter, wetter future could mean after back-to-back billion-dollar floods a year apart, with the state seeing rising temperatures and more heavy-rain days. Public Safety & Weather: The Northeast faces another severe-storm risk Sunday, with damaging winds possible after days of heat-fueled weather. Health & Environment: A new review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher risks of childhood leukemia and brain tumors. Local Infrastructure: Vermont Business Magazine lists major highway work for the week of June 15, including paving and bridge rehabilitation that will slow travel on I-89 and I-91. Community & Culture: The Old White Meeting House in South Hero has begun its long-planned relocation to support foundation repairs and restoration. Sports: BFA-St. Albans’ Comets captured the D-I softball state championship, beating Colchester 2-1. Business/Arts: HGTV named a 133-year-old Charlotte garden center as Vermont’s best, spotlighting Horsford Gardens and Nursery.

Public Health: A new review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher rates of childhood leukemia and brain tumors, with risk rising up to threefold depending on timing and exposure. Weather & Preparedness: Climate experts are pointing to Vermont’s hotter, wetter trends after major flood years, warning residents to plan for more intense summer storms. Infrastructure & Local Impact: Shelburne broke ground on a $46 million wastewater treatment consolidation meant to improve efficiency and protect Lake Champlain. Transportation: Vermont State Police reported US Route 2 in St. Johnsbury reduced to one eastbound lane after power lines fell in the roadway, with updates expected as crews work to reopen it. Public Lands & Costs: Vermont Fish and Wildlife is reminding anglers that open fires and swimming are banned at state fishing access areas, as agencies weigh rising demand and maintenance costs. Courts & Civil Rights: A federal judge cleared the way for a jury trial in a Burlington nursing home racial harassment case brought by the EEOC. Community & Culture: Plainfield’s Shakespeare festival opens its 2026 season with “Hamlet,” starting June 18.

Vermont ski economy: Ski Vermont says the 2025-26 season was a win for the state’s resorts, with 4.36 million skier visits—up 4.7% from last year and 11% above the 10-year average—despite snowfall totaling 194 inches (down 11%). Public health: A new review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher risks of childhood leukemia and brain tumors, with the strongest signals tied to prenatal exposure. Food assistance fight: Vermont’s attorney general allies are pushing Congress to restore SNAP benefits in the Farm Bill, warning that recent cuts are driving hunger and shifting costs to states. Bennington community: The Congregation of Holy Cross will leave Bennington after nearly 75 years of ministry, with a June 18 thank-you Mass planned. Local policing: Bennington police report a midweek narcotics search that led to four arrests and charges tied to crack cocaine, cocaine, and marijuana. Road work: Vermont Business Magazine lists major I-89 and I-91 paving and bridge work affecting traffic next week.

AI & Elections: An AI-generated deepfake video featuring U.S. Rep. Becca Balint and GOP challenger Mark Coester is circulating in Vermont, prompting calls for stronger guardrails and raising questions about how the state’s new AI disclosure rules will be tested. Public Health: A new review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher risk of childhood leukemia and brain tumors, with the strongest signals tied to prenatal and early-life exposure. Border & Community: The Haskell Free Library in Derby Line reopened its Canadian entrance after nearly $700,000 in work, restoring direct access for Canadian visitors following 2025 border-entry changes. Local Government & Quality of Life: St. Albans City Council spent hours on downtown noise and a renewed dispute over alleged odors from the DFA milk treatment plant. Weather & Safety: A head-on crash on Route 30 in Townshend sent one person to a trauma center by helicopter; Vermont State Police are investigating. Housing & Food Security: Vermont anti-hunger groups released a plan to end childhood hunger by 2035, and a coalition is pushing an “Abundance” agenda aimed at housing and workforce pressures.

Health & Safety: UVM researchers report menopause can significantly change brain function, with brain activity differing across pre-, peri- and post-menopause stages. Public Health: A new review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher risk of childhood leukemia and brain tumors. Local Government & Justice: Burlington will pay $150,000 to settle an ACLU lawsuit over a 2021 incident involving a Black teen with disabilities who was roughly detained and sedated with ketamine. Workplace & Health Care: UVM Health says it cut 142 jobs to close a $300 million financial gap. Business & Consumer: Colchester’s Vermont Nut Free Chocolates is phasing out artificial dyes, moving to plant-based colors by end of 2026. Arts & Culture: Helmholz Fine Art in Manchester unveiled monumental new sculptures, adding major works by Micajah Bienvenu. Sports: Vermont high school baseball state championships are set at Centennial Field, with multiple division finals scheduled through Sunday. Weather: Heat advisories stretch across the Northeast, including Burlington, with severe storms possible.

Vermont Economy & Jobs: Franklin Foods is closing its Enosburg Falls plant this summer, a move that will eliminate nearly 100 jobs and ripple through the local dairy economy. Healthcare & Workforce: UVM Health says it’s eliminating 142 positions, including 76 permanent cuts, as unions warn more layoffs could follow. Education Watch: Vermont’s Kids Count score remains strong overall, but education is still a weak spot, with the state ranking slipping to 14th. Public Safety: A flash flood warning led to a major washout on Bunker Hill Road in Hardwick, with the road closed after a roughly 3-foot-deep hole was found. Higher Ed Planning: Vermont State University leaders say online expansion is meant to complement, not replace, traditional campuses. State Politics & Services: Vermont’s Aug. 11 primary is taking shape in Milton, with contested races for governor, lieutenant governor, Congress, and multiple legislative seats. Environment & Land Use: The state is updating wetland maps in more than 100 towns, with public meetings set for mid-June. Weather: A First Alert Weather Day is in effect Friday for heat and humidity plus a chance of strong storms.

UVM Health Job Cuts: UVM Health says it’s eliminating 142 positions, including 76 at Alice Hyde Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, as it works to close a projected $300 million budget gap and “enhance access to affordable care.” Child Care Funding: Vermont awarded $264,500 to 20 infant and toddler programs through Make Way for Kids grants, including local support for The Learning Tree in Bennington and other providers statewide. Local Tax Debate: Bennington’s Economic Development Committee is weighing a local option tax that could raise about $1.8 million a year, aiming to reduce reliance on property taxes. Public Safety—Heat: Vermont health officials warn that June heat and humidity can trigger heat illness even at “only” moderate temperatures, urging hydration and caution for symptoms. Transportation Recall: Honda is recalling 880,514 vehicles in multiple states, including Vermont, over rear suspension/subframe corrosion that could lead to loss of control. Community Events: Vermont Mad Pride returns to Burlington July 11 for its 10th annual march and celebration focused on psychiatric survivor rights and disability justice. Rural Economy & AI: UVM’s Leahy Institute hosts the RISE Summit June 16, with a keynote on “AI and the Future Rural Economy.”

Maine Politics: Graham Platner won the Democratic U.S. Senate primary and will face Sen. Susan Collins in November, setting up a high-stakes race as Democrats weigh how much voters will tolerate a controversy-heavy campaign. Local Governance: Killington’s select board and town manager remain locked in a fight over budget cuts, with labor complaints filed and little agreement reached after another long meeting. Public Safety: Vermont State Police reported a Richford unlawful mischief case after a smashed apartment door, and issued a traffic alert for a crash affecting I-89 north near exit 16. Environment & Planning: Vermont DEC is updating wetland maps in more than 100 towns, with public meetings scheduled in June. Business & Jobs: UVM Health is cutting 142 positions amid restructuring pressures, while Vermont’s Community College of Vermont keeps tuition flat for next year. Community & Culture: Bennington’s Rooted Hands Project hosts Beneficial Insect Days and a ladybug release, and Vermont History Museum highlights never-before-seen copper images.

Maine Politics: Graham Platner heads into Tuesday’s Democratic Senate primary with national attention on a string of controversies, including allegations about sexually explicit texts and troubling behavior claims, as he tries to take on Sen. Susan Collins. Vermont Health & Public Safety: Vermont’s Recovery Friendly Workplaces program is expanding through a new partnership between the Department of Labor and a mental health and addiction recovery group, aiming to reduce stigma and help employers support workers in recovery. UVM & Science: UVM researchers report that menopause-related hormone changes can reshape brain activity patterns, framing midlife as a key neurological transition. Sports: Drew Kelleher returns to lead Vermont men’s lacrosse after Chris Feifs stepped away for a Virginia role, with the program looking to keep its championship culture. Community & Events: The Make-A-Wish Twin State All-Star Hockey Classic returns June 27 at UVM, with proceeds supporting wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Local Notes: Gondolas Snack Bar is starting its third season in Morristown, building a following with smash burgers and creemees at two nearby locations. Education & Workforce: Vermont State University says 188 apprentices graduated from its Level IV registered programs, including 133 electricians and 55 plumbers.

Health & Education: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with a ceremony for eight graduates, including a Burlington High School alum with Down syndrome and Type 1 diabetes, highlighting real workplace rotations and growing independence. Leadership Change: The Village at White River Junction named Bethel’s Danielle Nickerson its executive director, bringing nearly a decade of Vermont senior-care leadership. Public Health: Vermont health officials urged residents to ease into hot weather after the first heat wave risk, warning about dehydration and heat illness and pointing people to cooling resources. State Politics: Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of H.727 on future large-scale AI data centers held after lawmakers fell short of a veto override. Local Schools: Rutland City Public Schools is preparing for education reform changes, including regional cooperative service areas and a required merger study with nearby districts. Science: UVM researchers found H1N1 and H3N2 use different routes to infect lung cells, a finding that could influence future flu treatments. Community & Culture: A roadside marker honoring Ann Story, the “Mother of the Green Mountain Boys,” was unveiled in Salisbury. Crime: A Bennington woman, Jessica Stratton, pleaded not guilty in federal court to trafficking cocaine and fentanyl.

Senior Care Leadership: Danielle Nickerson, a Bethel native with nearly a decade of Vermont healthcare leadership experience, was named executive director of The Village at White River Junction in White River Junction. Workforce Pathways for Disability: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with a June 3 ceremony for eight graduates, including a Burlington High School alum who gained real workplace experience and more independence. Local Sports: The Vermont Mountaineers earned their first win of the season, 3-1 over the North Shore Navigators, in a strikeout-heavy matchup. Make-A-Wish Hockey: Rosters and dates are set for the 34th annual (men) and 29th annual (women) Make-A-Wish Twin State All-Star Hockey Classic at UVM’s Gutterson Field House on June 27, with a skills competition June 26. Energy Debate: Vergennes residents are pushing back on a proposed battery energy storage site, arguing about safety and aesthetics as the company says the technology has a strong safety record. Courts & Condemnation: Colchester was ordered to pay $122,144.50 in legal fees after a ruling found the town acted in “bad faith” in eminent domain over stormwater infrastructure. Public Safety: Vermont State Police are asking for help locating missing 18-year-old Alek Deng in Newbury. Community & Culture: Montpelier’s Community Gospel Choir is kicking off Juneteenth concerts with free and ticketed events across June 5-14.

Workforce & Disability Services: UVM Medical Center wrapped up its Project SEARCH program with a June 3 ceremony for eight graduates, including a Burlington High School alum whose year-long rotations built workplace confidence and independence while managing Type 1 diabetes with less support. Public Safety: Vermont State Police are asking for help after a burglary at Dwyer’s State Line Beer and Wine in Pownal early Sunday morning; a man in dark clothing forced entry around 12:59 a.m. and left on foot about 1:38 a.m. Missing Person: Troopers also reported a welfare concern for 79-year-old Dale Ovitt, last seen June 6 on a blue UTV in Enosburg and Bakersfield, and still not located. Local Crime Charges: Vermont Attorney General’s Office says Robert Martineit of East Montpelier was arraigned on felony lewd and lascivious conduct plus alcohol/cannabis minor-enabling counts, with conditions of release while the case proceeds. Education: Community College of Vermont held graduation for nearly 500 associate-degree recipients, with students from across Vermont and beyond. Arts & Culture: Burlington’s Discover Jazz Festival closed with performances featuring Chris Potter and Julian Lage. Sports: Vermont high school playoff and spring-season results rolled in, including Gatorade naming BFA-St. Albans pitcher Megan Gonyeau softball player of the year. Lottery: Vermont Lottery posted June 6 Powerball and Pick 3 results, plus June 7 Pick 3 results.

Local Politics: Jessica Van Oort announced she’s running for state representative in the Rutland-Bennington district, citing rising costs and her work on Pawlet’s planning, zoning streamlining, and geothermal heating grant. Education & Workforce: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with eight graduates building workplace skills through rotations, including support for participants managing conditions like Type 1 diabetes. Higher Ed Milestone: Community College of Vermont held graduation for about 500 students, including veterans and first-generation college graduates. Public Safety: A new Vermont law boosts penalties for oversized vehicles illegally traveling through Smugglers Notch, with fines rising sharply starting July 1. Health & Community: Vermont’s culvert “Culvert Crawlers” program is mobilizing volunteers to help towns prioritize maintenance as heavier rains increase washout risks. Vermont Economy Watch: GasBuddy reports Addison County’s lowest premium price at $5.19 for the week ending May 30, while diesel prices also eased in Washington County. Science & Health: UVM researchers report a flu finding that could improve prevention by showing H1N1 and H3N2 infect human lungs differently.

Data Centers & Energy Costs: Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a Vermont bill meant to curb the worst impacts of large AI data centers, drawing sharp criticism from Democrats and environmental groups who warned of higher utility bills and pollution. PFAS Crackdown: A fast-moving wave of state “forever chemical” rules is reshaping what ends up in products nationwide, with Vermont among states pushing disclosure or restrictions. Public Health & Environment: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, an herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease, as officials say farmers are already shifting to alternatives. Courts & Food Aid: A federal judge temporarily blocked USDA from forcing states to follow Trump administration positions on gender and immigration to keep billions in funding, including food assistance. Local Safety: Vermont State Police reported a one-car crash in Woodford where a driver briefly fell asleep, hitting a fire hydrant; injuries were minor. Sports & Community: WCAX reports Neve Renwick’s late goal lifted Vermont Green women over New England Mutiny 2-1, and the Central Vermont Humane Society’s 34th Walk for Animals drew big crowds at the State House. Weather: Severe thunderstorm threats eased, with showers likely overnight and a warm, summer-like week ahead.

Herbicide Ban: Vermont has become the first state to ban paraquat, an herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease, with supporters calling it a major health win and noting many countries already outlaw it. State Politics: In Maine’s high-stakes Democratic Senate primary, Graham Platner says voters will back him despite fresh allegations reported by the New York Times, as progressives rally around “accountability” and “redemption.” Local Planning: South Burlington’s planning commission is moving toward initial zoning rules for data centers, aiming to get ahead of fast-moving proposals and their energy and water impacts. Workplace Inclusion: UVM Health hosted a Project SEARCH graduation ceremony celebrating eight participants, including a Burlington High School graduate who built real workplace skills and independence. Weather Watch: Strong storms are expected Saturday afternoon and evening in the region, with a risk of damaging winds and hail. Road Updates: Multiple construction projects are scheduled, including a long closure of the Depot St. bridge in Bennington, plus lane reductions and detours elsewhere. Public Safety: Vermont Fish and Wildlife is warning people not to disturb sea lamprey spawning in the Connecticut River.