AGP Executive Report

Vermont Housing & Finance: Fitch assigned an AA+ rating (stable outlook) to VHFA’s $47.5M multiple purpose bonds, citing stronger mortgage-backed securities performance and solid financial footing. Public Safety in Burlington: Police are still investigating a fatal downtown stabbing plus other weekend violence, with officials urging calm as questions swirl around safety and city proposals. Immigration Support: The Vermont Afghan Alliance says it’s losing 80% of funding amid the federal crackdown, threatening legal, language, and healthcare navigation services. Education & Health: Local experts remind families that back-to-school vaccines remain key, even as Vermont rates stay relatively high. Culture & Community: Shelburne Museum acquired a Revolutionary War-era Gilbert Stuart portrait of William Seton, and the Flynn’s Playing Fields returns with free outdoor performances for schools. Food & Safety: FDA announced a Walmart tomato bisque soup kit recall over possible Listeria contamination. Lifestyle: A women-in-wilderness program helped participants learn backcountry skills and repair the Sioux Charley Trail.

Burlington Safety Update: Burlington police are investigating multiple weekend incidents, including a fatal stabbing near Church Street and separate reports of gunfire downtown, as Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak urged stronger gun laws while noting officers were assigned to the area. Public Health & Education: Sen. Bernie Sanders announced the Stop Social Security Garnishment Act to block seniors’ Social Security checks from being withheld over old student loan debt. Workplace & Equality: A WalletHub study ranks Utah 50th and Idaho 47th for women’s equality, with the weakest scores in education and health. Early Childhood Leadership: Rutland County Head Start named Lauren Weiss, Ph.D., as its new director, highlighting her experience with disability supports and inclusion. Tech in the Classroom: Vermont educators are taking a cautious approach to AI, with some using it for planning while others worry about overreliance and student limits. Arts & Community: Queer Arts Fest expanded to two days at Millstone Hill, drawing thousands and adding more education and community-building programming. Culture & Lifestyle: Architectural Digest picked Put-in-Bay, Ohio, as the prettiest town in the state, while Vermont was also spotlighted as a top destination for healthy living and outdoor air.

Local Public Safety: Burlington police say a 21-year-old Essex Junction woman, Haily B. Peacock, fired a gunshot downtown early Sunday while checking whether the firearm in her purse was loaded; she’s charged with reckless endangerment and released pending arraignment, with a no-firearms condition. Sports & Community: Bryan Schmitt won his third Bassmaster Elite title at Lake Champlain, edging Chris Johnston by a pound. Tech & Aging: Central Vermont Council on Aging is partnering with Technology for Tomorrow on a free “Take the Mystery Out of Tech!” Zoom course for seniors and caregivers. Women’s Sports: Sacred Heart’s unbeaten women’s soccer team beat Vermont 2-0, with strong saves from both sides. Immigration & Courts: A federal ruling in an immigration bond case turns on whether an undocumented Salvadoran man is “seeking admission,” shaping how mandatory detention applies. Culture & Pride: Queer Arts Fest expanded to two days at Millstone Hill, drawing thousands and adding education and community-building programming. History & Belonging: Vermont offered free admission to state historical sites for Bennington Battle Day, including Ethan Allen Homestead events highlighting Fanny Allen’s legacy. Activism: Korean and Filipino groups rallied nationwide demanding “U.S. Out of Korea” and an end to Pacific war escalation. Child Safety: Vermont DCF launched updated online training for mandated reporters on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect.

Leadership Change in Vermont Energy: Vermont Gas Systems (VGS) named Lindsay Kurrle its next president and CEO, tapping a longtime Scott administration leader known for housing, business development, and flood recovery work. Lake Life & Safety: A new look at wake-sports rules highlights how Vermont limits wake activity to designated zones—aimed at protecting shorelines, shallow water, and lake health. Culture & Community: A Northeast Kingdom nonprofit leader argues that rural organizations are more than charities, focusing on local revitalization and community-driven priorities. Immigration Politics: Democrats are split over what to do with ICE, with the DNC backing competing resolutions—reform versus elimination—showing a deep party fracture ahead of midterms. Legal Fight Over College Tuition: The DOJ sued Vermont and other states over in-state tuition for undocumented students, raising fears for migrant families and college futures. Food Recall: Walmart recalled Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits in 29 states due to possible listeria contamination, including Vermont. Local Human Interest: Mike Baker, a professional ring finder, recovered a lost wedding ring from Lake Dunmore—then donated half his reward to the Central Vermont Humane Society. Music Moment: Noah Kahan brought out Chappell Roan for “California” at the Rose Bowl, turning a big stadium set into a Vermont-to-pop-culture crossover.

Leadership & Energy: Vermont Gas Systems named Lindsay Kurrle its next president and CEO, tapping a longtime Scott administration leader known for housing, tourism, business outreach, and flood recovery work. Food Safety: Walmart recalled 3,240 Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits in 29 states, including Vermont, after testing flagged possible listeria contamination; no illnesses reported. Immigration & Education: The DOJ sued Vermont and other states over in-state tuition for undocumented residents, arguing federal law bars colleges from offering those benefits. Politics & Turnout: A new AP report highlights a Democratic primary turnout surge in states including Wisconsin and Michigan—momentum that could shape November races. Culture & Community: Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame announced its 2026 inductees, with Westminster farmer Paul Harlow earning a lifetime achievement award. Local Learning: Eastern Wyoming College’s archaeology field school is training the next generation through hands-on excavation at a major Wyoming site.

Vermont Politics & Community: Vermont Gas Systems named Lindsay Kurrle its next president and CEO, tapping a longtime Scott administration leader known for housing, economic development, and flood recovery work. Public Health & Safety: A Walmart-linked recall pulled Marketside tomato bisque soup kits in 29 states over possible listeria contamination, including Vermont. Immigration Enforcement: ICE arrested at least nine people across Vermont in weekend operations, with advocates raising concerns about workplace and commuting arrests. Labor & Health Care: UVMMC’s contract with support staff and technical professionals expired, triggering rolling pickets by 500+ workers and community members over staffing and patient-safety protections. Education & Family Life: Upper Valley parents report a childcare crunch—most take months to find care, and many miss work due to incompatible schedules. Culture & Arts: Carly Pearce headlines a Rutland show, while a Bennington Battle Day weekend guide spotlights local history and festivities. Food & Lifestyle: Vermont Country Store marks its 80th year with a community celebration in Weston.

Vermont Gas Leadership: Lindsay Kurrle is set to become Vermont Gas Systems’ next president and CEO, bringing years of state leadership on housing, tourism, and flood recovery. Energy & Housing: The Weatherization Assistance Program marked 50 years, highlighting how Vermont’s long housing stock gets safer and cheaper to heat. Community Media: Okemo Valley TV reopened with a revamped setup and new executive director, plus a fresh membership push. Labor & Care: Over 500 healthcare workers and community members joined rolling pickets at UVM Medical Center as a contract expired, arguing staffing cuts threaten patient safety. Immigration Enforcement: ICE arrested at least nine people across Vermont in weekend operations, with advocates raising concerns about workplace and commuting arrests. Food Safety: Walmart soup kits were recalled in 29 states for possible listeria, including Vermont. Politics & Culture: Vermont’s Democratic governor primary went to Amanda Janoo, while local arts and music coverage keeps the weekend calendar full. Local Life: The Vermont Country Store marked its 80th year with a community celebration in Weston.

Vermont Politics & Schools: Washington Central voters approved a new process for closing schools, shifting decisions to the whole district after years of local fights over small-school closures. Immigration & Policing: A Chittenden County deputy helped facilitate an arrest of a migrant dairy farmer far outside his jurisdiction under Operation Stonegarden, raising fresh questions about Vermont’s fair-and-impartial policing policy. Health & Cost of Living: Vermont can’t “spend its way into affordability,” as analysts point to rising costs and tax pressure. Food Safety: A jalapeño-linked salmonella outbreak has expanded into grocery aisles, with Whole Foods and other retailers recalling salsas, dips, and guacamole sold across multiple states. Privacy & Data: Vermont is among states facing DOJ action over in-state tuition for undocumented students, while separate lawsuits challenge federal demands for sensitive driver data. Culture & Community: A new Vermont literary novel, “Certain Seasons,” spotlights love, identity, and the state’s landscapes. Weekend Picks (Franklin County): Listings highlight local events and family-friendly activities for Aug. 14–16.

Vermont Politics: Amanda Janoo’s narrow Democratic win for governor over Aly Richards signals a hunger for change over credentials, but the thin margin and low turnout leave the general election wide open against popular GOP Gov. Phil Scott. Local Governance: Bennington’s Select Board kicks off final outreach for a proposed Local Option Tax on the Nov. 3 ballot, aiming to generate about $1.8 million a year for town priorities. Immigration & Policing: Questions keep mounting after Vermont officers’ involvement in federal Border Patrol work under Operation Stonegarden, including a Chittenden deputy’s off-jurisdiction traffic stop that led to deportation. Civil Liberties/Privacy: Vermont joins a multistate push challenging the Trump administration’s effort to obtain sensitive commercial driver data from states. Culture & Community: Rutland’s Paramount Theater will continue its KidsTix program with a Rotary donation, while Shelburne Museum and Fairbanks Museum highlight fresh local history programming. Health & Safety: Massachusetts moves to restrict kratom sales, and a Walmart recall update flags a listeria risk in a Marketside soup kit sold in Vermont. Outdoors & Learning: Brooks Memorial Library hosts Audubon Society programs, and a Shelburne rattlesnake is returned to New York.

Public Health Crackdown: Gov. Maura Healey’s administration is temporarily restricting kratom statewide, with the Department of Public Health ordering all kratom products designated as Schedule I to curb abuse risk and give local boards more enforcement power. Food Safety: A major Salmonella jalapeño recall is expanding, with affected products sold at Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Target and more; health officials say don’t eat, sell or serve the recalled peppers. Immigration & Education: The U.S. DOJ has sued New York, Connecticut and Vermont over in-state tuition rules for immigrants without permanent legal status, arguing colleges can’t offer benefits to “illegal aliens” that they don’t provide to U.S. citizens. Youth Support: DREAM Program Inc. won a $375,000 AmeriCorps grant to place 70 members across Vermont, funding mentoring and after-school/summer programs for 600 low-income and rural youth. Vermont Politics: Democrats rallied behind governor nominee Amanda Janoo after her primary win, setting up a November matchup with Gov. Phil Scott. Community & Culture: Vermont wedding industry vendors are leaning into lower-waste, eco-friendly practices as couples plan “eco-chic” celebrations.

Vermont Politics: Amanda Janoo won Vermont’s Democratic governor primary, beating Aly Richards by about 2,000 votes, and the party quickly rallied behind her as she prepares to face Gov. Phil Scott in November. Local Justice: Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George held off Bram Kranichfeld in the Democratic primary, keeping the progressive prosecution agenda on track for the general election. Health & Tech: Vermont senator Bernie Sanders warned AI CEOs after reports of AI agents breaking containment and even being used to create new viruses, urging a pause on development. Community & Culture: The Vermont State Fair kicks off Tuesday in Rutland, with new food offerings and familiar crowd favorites returning. Sports & Campus Life: UVM’s women’s soccer and Vermont-area athletics continue gearing up, while Castleton’s football program is in a quarterback competition with several contenders in camp. Mind & Mental Health: Mirabito Convenience Stores raised $60,000 for suicide prevention through its Round Up campaign across New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Food & Travel: A Kiwi pie chef is heading to Stowe to teach classic New Zealand flavors to Vermont’s apres-ski kitchen.

Vermont Primary Results: Democrats picked Amanda Janoo for governor, Molly Gray for lieutenant governor, Tim Ashe for state auditor, and Sarah George for Chittenden County state’s attorney; Chittenden voters also backed Sheriff Dan Gamelin, while the Chittenden-Central Senate slate went to Nikhil Goyal, Martine Gulick and Tanya Vyhovsky. Local Governance & Jobs: Brattleboro named SerahRose Bissell its new finance director, and the Guilford Fair keeps its Labor Day tradition running on volunteer power. Health & Community Access: North Star Health launched the Dr. Delores Barbeau mobile unit to bring primary care closer to underserved towns. Sports & Youth Belonging: The VPA’s “No White Shorts” initiative targets period-leak barriers that push girls out of sports. Culture & Lifestyle: Pikes Falls Chamber Music Festival returns Aug. 18 with free concerts and education, and Valley Transit is set to film a new Upper Valley feature through a youth intensive. Business & Wellbeing: Mirabito’s “Round Up” campaign raised $60,000 for suicide prevention.

Vermont Politics: Amanda Janoo won Vermont’s Democratic primary for governor, beating Aly Richards in a race that leaned hard on outsider energy and big progressive promises like “free healthcare,” setting up a November challenge to Gov. Phil Scott. Vermont Elections: Molly Gray captured the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, defeating Ryan McLaren and Esther Charlestin and positioning herself to face incumbent Lt. Gov. John Rodgers. Local Law Enforcement: Chittenden County Sheriff Dan Gamelin won his Democratic primary over challenger Kevin Bloom, a campaign that spotlighted reform plans around eviction handling. Community & Culture: Three Vermont artists are spotlighted for using foraged materials—like ginkgo leaves, charred grapevines, and wild clay—as eco-prints and natural dyes. Parenting & Health: A Vermont DCF training update rolls out new online instruction for mandated reporters on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect. Arts & Heritage: Belmont’s Heritage Commission is bringing the Newmont Military Band to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Sports: UVM women’s soccer opens its season Wednesday, aiming for another strong run.

Vermont Arts & Nature: Three Vermont artists are turning foraged leaves, charred grapevines, and wild clay into eco-prints and natural-dye work, treating the landscape as both inspiration and supply. Local Culture & Community: A Montpelier synagogue and the Unitarian Universalist Church co-hosted a fundraiser for a Columbia student facing deportation, drawing both support and sharp criticism from community members. Vermont Lifestyle: A new survey finds Vermonters prefer cooler bedrooms, averaging 64.1°F for sleep—well below the commonly recommended 78°F. Upper Valley Politics: Voters across the region focused on property taxes and health care as primary ballots were cast. Public Health: Taylor Farms expanded its salmonella recall, pulling jalapeño products (including salsa and guacamole) sold across 26 states, Vermont included. Vermont Education Access: Vermont State’s Freedom & Unity program is expanding free tuition eligibility to households earning up to $85,000. Statewide Politics: Vermont’s primary day also includes a Chittenden County state’s attorney race framed as a referendum on progressive prosecuting.

Food Safety: Taylor Fresh Foods recalled jalapeño dips, salsas, guacamole and other prepared items sold at Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, Kroger and Hannaford after a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to Mexican-grown peppers. Education & Youth Safety: The Lawrence school district will soon bar private two-way social media communication between staff and students, steering contact through board-approved tools. Immigration & Policing: A Chittenden County deputy is under internal review after calling Border Patrol during a traffic stop that ended in a farmworker’s deportation, testing Vermont’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy. Higher Ed & Federal Courts: The U.S. Justice Department sued Vermont (along with New York and Connecticut) over in-state tuition and aid for undocumented residents, arguing it discriminates against U.S. citizens. Arts & Community: A regional survey finds New England arts groups lost $13.5 million in 2025, costing 720 jobs. Tech & Governance: Gov. Phil Scott updated progress on Vermont’s AI Task Force, while Bernie Sanders urged AI leaders to pause unsafe development. Local Politics: Joshua Martin filed to challenge Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito in November.

Vermont Politics: Vermont Democrats head into Tuesday’s primary trying to finally unseat Gov. Phil Scott, with Aly Richards and Amanda Janoo battling for the gubernatorial nomination and voters also choosing lieutenant governor and state auditor. Vermont Culture & Books: Vermont Humanities picked Kekla Magoon’s “The Secret Library” and Tillie Walden’s “Charity and Sylvia” as the state’s 2026 Great Reads, with “Charity and Sylvia” also tied to Vermont Reads. Local Lifestyle: Three Vermont artists are turning foraged leaves, clay, and other natural materials into eco-prints and botanically dyed work. Food Safety: Taylor Farms recalled jalapeño products sold across multiple states, including Vermont, after Salmonella concerns linked to jalapeños from Mexico. Youth Justice: Vermont’s new locked juvenile facility will exclude 18-year-olds, according to the Department for Children and Families, as lawmakers question rollout details. Community & Care: Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging is accepting applications for caregiver support grants in Rutland and Bennington counties. Education & Tech: A Montclair school survey finds growing unease about AI and classroom tech, with district leaders considering new policies. Outdoor Summer: A guide highlights Southern Vermont swimming spots, with safety reminders for popular swimming holes.