AGP Executive Report

Vermont Primary Prep: Vermont’s Aug. 11 primary is coming fast, with the Secretary of State saying only about 3.1% of registered voters have cast ballots early; the rest will vote in person, and Vermont Public is airing a live primary guide Monday at noon. Local Elections & Politics: Tuesday’s primaries in six states include Vermont, where races and campaign finance rules are drawing attention as voters head to the polls. Health Care in Vermont: Vermont Care Partners says four more agencies have been certified as Certified Community-Based Integrated Health Centers, bringing Vermont’s total to six and expanding coordinated mental health services. Mental Health Facility Changes: Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital in Berlin cut three staff roles and four beds, now operating with 21 beds, citing a declining patient census—prompting pushback. Food Safety Alert: Taylor Farms recalled jalapeño products sold in 26 states, including Vermont, after concerns about a possible salmonella outbreak tied to fresh peppers. Tech & Policy: Sen. Bernie Sanders urged major AI companies to pause development, warning of runaway risks and calling for regulation if they don’t slow down. Community & Business: 802 Credit Union awarded 12 $1,000 scholarships to Vermont and New Hampshire students.

Vermont Public Safety: Vermont State Police are investigating a death at Charlotte Town Beach after an adult man was found unresponsive inside a dark grey Subaru Forester; officials say it doesn’t appear suspicious and no name has been released pending next-of-kin notification. Vermont Courts & Police: In separate cases, VSP cited a Morrisville man for violating an abuse prevention order, and another Westminster-area arrest led to cocaine possession charges and a scheduled court appearance. Local Environment & Health: Vermont Care Partners says four more agencies have been certified as Certified Community-Based Integrated Health Centers, bringing Vermont’s total to six. Vermont Business & Community: Pacto Medical, based in Burlington, won a Red Dot Design Concept award for its compact prefilled syringe platform, and VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region launched an online auction to support home health and hospice care. Vermont Politics on National Stage: Sen. Bernie Sanders discussed the midterms on “Face the Nation,” arguing voters are fed up with an economy that favors the richest. Arts & Nature: Three Vermont artists are using foraged materials like leaves, clay, and grapevines to create eco-prints and other nature-based work.

Vermont Politics & Governance: Sen. Bernie Sanders, speaking from Burlington, framed the Minnesota and Michigan midterm fights as a battle against an “economy that is rigged,” with working families squeezed while billionaires get richer. Education Policy: The Trump administration is pushing more control of federal education dollars to states; Vermont is among those receiving waivers to consolidate funding and loosen certain local requirements. Vermont Public Safety: Vermont State Police reported a DUI crash in Lincoln on Aug. 8, with a 20-year-old operator arrested after a foggy, wet-road single-vehicle crash; court is set for Oct. 5. Local Community & Culture: Vermont State Archives’ free summer speaker series continues with talks on Vermont State Hospital burials and on combining archives with archaeology at Fort Vengeance. Food & Farming: A new survey says Vermont farmers markets are struggling to attract enough farm vendors as sales drop sharply, raising the question: what’s a farmers market without the farmers? Business & Health: Vermont Care Partners says four more agencies are now certified as CCBHCs, bringing the total to six.

Public Safety: Vermont State Police say a trooper hydroplaned on I-89 and crashed into another vehicle; the trooper was hospitalized and both drivers had minor injuries. Wildlife Health: The USDA is starting rabies vaccine bait drops along Vermont’s northern border after cases rose, with Chittenden and Franklin counties seeing the most confirmed cases. Hazmat Response: Colchester crews called in a hazmat team after a gas odor report; officials say hydrogen from charging forklift batteries triggered misleading meter readings and the area was cleared. Animal Cruelty: Police say a Poultney man shot a dog that came onto his property and faces an animal cruelty charge. Community & Culture: A new boutique hotel opens in Newfane, and a Windham County history fair marks the 250th anniversary with free hands-on demonstrations. Local Business/Health: Vermont Care Partners says four more agencies are now certified as CCBHCs, bringing Vermont to six. Science & Environment: UVM-linked research finds tree species may shift uphill or downhill as climate change alters how they handle water.

Vermont Climate & Forests: New research led with UVM finds mountain trees don’t all march uphill as the climate warms—some shift downslope, and the deciding factor is how well different species move and manage water during drought. Community Health: Vermont Care Partners says four more agencies have earned Certified Community-Based Integrated Health Center status, bringing Vermont’s total to six and expanding coordinated mental health and integrated services close to home. Burlington-Area Business & Tech: Burlington-based Pacto Medical won a Red Dot Design Concept award for its Slimshot compact prefilled syringe platform, with a prototype headed to a design museum in Singapore. Local Arts: Three Vermont artists are using foraged materials—like ginkgo leaves, charred grapevines, and wild clay—to make eco-prints and naturally dyed works. Public Safety & Travel: Vermont State Police report I-89 south in Williamstown (mm 44.2) reopened after crashes, and crews continue multiple road closures and one-lane reductions around the region this week. Sports: Camels Hump’s Mickey Brown threw a two-hit shutout as Vermont’s 10–12 Little League champs opened with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth, NH, in Bristol, advancing in the winner’s bracket. Crime Update: Police took a Newport City man into custody after an alleged machete confrontation in Barton, with charges including aggravated assault and assault on a law enforcement officer.

Vermont Politics & Voting: Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas says early turnout is extremely low, with only about 3% of registered voters having cast ballots ahead of Tuesday’s Aug. 11 primary, urging people not to wait. Public Safety & Law Enforcement: Gov. Phil Scott announced the DMV enforcement unit is being renamed the Vermont Highway Patrol, a move meant to clarify authority to drivers and timed with the release of “Super Troopers 3.” Immigration Enforcement: ICE detained five people during a traffic stop in Londonderry on Aug. 7, with no children detained, according to federal officials. Courts & Accountability: A judge allowed abuse survivors to pursue adding Vermont Catholic parishes and schools to the Diocese of Burlington bankruptcy settlement, a fight over how far liability should reach. Health & Community Care: Vermont Care Partners certified four more agencies as Certified Community-Based Integrated Health Centers, bringing the total to six and expanding coordinated services. Local Culture & Events: The Stowe Jazz Festival (Aug. 14-16) and Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots (Aug. 14-17) are set to draw crowds, while the Champlain Valley Dinner Train keeps its kitchen running on rail. Business & Innovation: Burlington’s Pacto Medical won a Red Dot Design Concept for its compact prefilled syringe platform, and VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region launched an online auction to support home health and hospice care.

Healthcare & Policy: Vermont’s new law limiting private equity in healthcare is part of a wider national push to keep corporate control out of care delivery, while Vermont Care Partners says four more agencies have been certified as Certified Community-Based Integrated Health Centers, bringing the state total to six. Public Safety & Justice: Vermont State Police arrested two in separate drug trafficking cases in Windham and Orleans counties, and a Fairlee man faces felony charges after allegedly threatening five people with a knife. Immigration Enforcement: Migrant Justice reports five men were detained by ICE during a traffic stop in Londonderry, with a community meeting planned. Local Development: A Montpelier nonprofit won an auction for the flood-damaged former federal building at 87 State Street, giving the group control of the site’s future. Vermont Politics: Vermont News & Media published Q&As with Democratic gubernatorial candidates Amanda Janoo and Aly Richards ahead of the Aug. 11 primary. Environment & Science: New research suggests mountain trees may shift uphill or downhill depending on how they manage water, and Vermont Adaptive is expanding adaptive mountain biking trail access. Business & Community: Pacto Medical’s Burlington-based Slimshot concept earned a Red Dot Design Concept award, and VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region launched an online auction to support home health and hospice care.

Vermont Health Care Access: Vermont Care Partners says four more agencies have been certified as Certified Community-Based Integrated Health Centers, bringing the state total to six and expanding coordinated services close to home. Public Safety: Vermont State Police report arrest of Nicholas A. Leblanc after a stop on I-91 Northbound in Rockingham, charging him with trafficking cocaine and other offenses; he was jailed on $15,000 bail. Local Arts & Environment: Three Vermont artists are turning foraged materials—like ginkgo leaves, charred grapevines, and wild clay—into eco-prints and other nature-based work. Community Support: VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region is launching an online auction tied to its Golf Day fundraiser, aiming to help support home health and hospice care for thousands in Bennington, Franklin, and Rutland counties. Vermont Business & Design: Burlington-based Pacto Medical’s Slimshot compact prefilled syringe concept earned a Red Dot Design Concept award and will be displayed in Singapore. Lottery: Vermont Lottery results for Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 include Powerball, MegaBucks, Gimme 5, Pick 3, and more.

Health Care Access: Vermont Care Partners says four more agencies—Northeast Kingdom Human Services, Howard Center, NCSS, and HCRS—are now Certified Community-Based Integrated Health Centers, bringing Vermont’s total to six and expanding coordinated services close to home. Local Business & Innovation: Burlington’s Pacto Medical earned a Red Dot Design Concept for its compact prefilled syringe platform, Slimshot, with a prototype headed to a Singapore museum display. Community Fundraising: VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region is launching an online auction tied to its Golf Day to support home health and hospice care for more than 4,000 patients and families. Montpelier Redevelopment: A local development corporation won the auction for the former Montpelier post office at 87 State Street for $540,000, aiming for a flood-resilient site after contamination concerns and 2023 flood damage. Libraries & Youth: McCullough Library and Bennington Free Library combined summer reading, and the Whalemobile brought a humpback whale “visit” to North Bennington. Food Safety: Vermont health officials confirmed five cyclosporiasis cases not yet linked to lettuce, with overall risk still described as low.

Health Care Access: Vermont Care Partners says four more agencies have been certified as Certified Community-Based Integrated Health Centers, bringing Vermont’s total to six and expanding coordinated services close to home. AI in Medicine: Assort Health names a new Chief Medical Officer to help health systems use AI agents to reduce care delays and better use clinical capacity. Design & Manufacturing: Burlington’s Pacto Medical wins a Red Dot Design Concept award for its compact prefilled syringe platform, with a prototype headed to a Singapore museum display. Public Safety & Streets: South End residents and advocates met after a teen’s death in an e-bike crash, pushing for safer biking infrastructure and enforcement. Infrastructure: A Vermont bridge story highlights how aging town bridges and expiring federal funding are squeezing maintenance budgets. Youth Services: Vermont lawmakers get an update on the Green Mountain Youth Center, a new 14-bed facility in South Burlington expected to finish construction next June. Local Government: Plymouth hires Corey Davenport as town manager, starting Oct. 6. Sports: UVM men’s soccer opens preseason ranked 13th nationally and heads into camp at Jay Peak.

Vermont Politics & Public Safety: Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak says the city is seeing progress on public safety, pointing to programs like Support Court and the Situation Table, while asking for more state help after Gov. Phil Scott directed Vermont State Police to patrol downtown. Vermont Courts & Health Care: Brattleboro Memorial Hospital is projecting a seventh straight year of deficit spending in its fiscal 2027 budget, even as it plans to close its birthing center, with regulators set to review the filing Aug. 14. Vermont Law Enforcement: Vermont State Police are asking the public to identify a bright yellow truck with a ladder rack in connection with a Newbury shooting that left a Barre City man seriously injured. Vermont Business & Environment: The Vermont Captive Insurance Association says it’s doubling down on member engagement and regulatory innovation, including a new benchmarking survey with state regulators. Vermont Economy & Forests: A new report warns that a shrinking market for low-grade wood could threaten Vermont’s forests and the logging economy. National Politics With Vermont Ties: Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary turned into a referendum on the party’s direction, with progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly beating Haley Stevens—an outcome that could shape the national fight Democrats face in November.

Vermont Data Privacy: Vermont has joined a bipartisan U.S. data privacy regulator consortium, adding another layer of oversight as states push back on online surveillance and data sharing. Regional Economy & Forests: The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund picked eight startups for its 2026 Forest Business Accelerator, aiming to grow forest-and-wood innovation from sustainable building materials to carbon-smart forestry. Household Hazardous Waste: Reverse Logistics Group won a Vermont contract to help implement the state’s Household Hazardous Product Stewardship Program, including outreach to manufacturers and billing support under the EPR law. Education & Governance: Vermont’s education leadership and the Agency of Education’s approach drew fresh criticism, with concerns about staffing, oversight, and state support for school construction. Politics & Affordability: Multiple opinion pieces argue Vermont’s affordability crisis is worsening and call for new leadership ahead of the Aug. 11 Democratic primary. National Legal Fight: Vermont is among 25 states suing over Trump administration tariffs, arguing the move is a pretext and unlawfully raises costs. Public Safety: Vermont State Police reported a Cabot case charging a 43-year-old with lewd and lascivious conduct involving a child.

Tariff Fight in Court: Vermont is among 25 states suing the Trump administration over new 10% to 12.5% tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners, arguing the levies are unlawful and a “pretext” to recreate taxes the Supreme Court struck down. Opioid Treatment Access: U.S. Sen. Peter Welch and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito introduced the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Authorization Act to keep prevention, treatment, and recovery services funded in rural areas like Vermont. Local Politics: Brattleboro Reformer Q&As spotlight Windham 3 candidates Stephen Major, Chris Lundberg, Michelle Bos-Lun, and Ryan Coyne ahead of the Aug. 11 Vermont primaries. Public Safety: Vermont State Police report a Sunday shooting with injuries in Newbury and ask for help identifying a bright yellow pickup truck with a ladder rack. Community Help: Neighbor to Neighbor says it’s facing an urgent volunteer shortage to drive older residents to appointments and help them stay connected in the Northshire. Environment & Housing: ANR and partners announced a wetlands permitting roadmap aimed at speeding housing while protecting key wetlands, including a temporary buffer change starting Aug. 8.

Vermont Health Care Fight: Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark joined a coalition lawsuit challenging a new federal rule that would weaken the Affordable Care Act and raise costs, with the state warning Vermonters already face barriers to affordable coverage. Tariff Lawsuit Ripple: Vermont is also among 25 states suing the Trump administration over sweeping “forced labor” tariffs, arguing the duties exceed legal authority and should be halted with refunds sought. Public Safety & Substance Use: Howard Center says a new Public Inebriate Program is launching in Burlington, offering a voluntary, supervised alternative to ERs or jail to improve community safety. Veterans Care Expansion: Sen. Bernie Sanders announced new VA outpatient clinics in South Burlington and West Chesterfield, with larger facilities and expanded services planned to start seeing patients in spring 2029. Workforce & Long-Term Care: Crescent Manor in Bennington is recruiting bachelor-prepared registered nurses from Mexico as part of a broader strategy to stabilize Vermont’s long-term care workforce. Local Nonprofits: Beacon Bank reported more than $600,000 in charitable funding across Vermont and neighboring states.

Public Safety & Health: Howard Center says Burlington’s new Public Inebriate Program (PIP) is now operating, offering a voluntary, supervised alternative to ER or jail for people who are intoxicated, with staff support and referrals to services. State Government & Families: Vermont’s child support office marked Child Support Awareness Month, noting it collected more than $41.5 million last fiscal year to help families with essentials like housing and healthcare. Workforce & Care: Crescent Manor in Bennington welcomed its first group of four bachelor-prepared registered nurses from Mexico as part of a long-term care workforce strategy aimed at stabilizing staffing and licensure pathways. Mental Health: Brattleboro Retreat announced its inaugural Move Forward Together 5K for Suicide Awareness on Sept. 12, with registration at $35 and a lead sponsor in Brattleboro Subaru. Vermont Research: UVM researchers won an NIEHS R01 grant to study rare DNA damage linked to melanoma and how to prevent it. Sports: Vermont Green FC repeated as USL League Two champs with a second straight undefeated season.

Public Safety: Vermont State Police are investigating a shooting that seriously injured a man on Jefferson Hill Road in Newbury; the victim was airlifted to Dartmouth Hitchcock and police say it appears isolated. Community & Culture: Akwesasne’s Generations Park hosted the 2026 Art Market, bringing together about 50 artists for Mohawk culture, live demos, music, and food. Health & Human Services: Howard Center says a Public Inebriate Program is now available in Burlington, offering a voluntary, supervised alternative to ER or jail for people who are intoxicated. Sports: Vermont Green FC won its second straight USL League Two national championship, with midfielder Ryan Zellefrow scoring the decisive late penalty. Environment & Policy: Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed a bill creating a committee to evaluate future landfill sites, keeping Forest Lake State Park off the table. Local Notes: The Blueberry Festival kicked off with a parade in Southern Vermont, starting a week of events.