Just 6% of small businesses have fully recovered pandemic losses, poll shows
Just 6% of small businesses that were negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic have fully recovered their losses, a Job Creators Network survey showed.
Health Commissioner defends vaccine and mask policies amid reports of vaccine deaths in Vermont
Speaking at the governor’s press conference Friday, Health Commissioner Mark Levine said eight Vermont deaths reported to the nation’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System were not likely attributable to COVID-19 vaccines, though the health department will be keeping an eye on it.
Reviewing state proof-of-vaccination requirements
Thirteen states have prohibited proof-of-vaccination requirements at all or some levels of government. Three states with Democratic governors — Hawaii, New York, and Oregon — exempt fully vaccinated individuals from some COVID-19 restrictions if they can provide proof of vaccination.
John Klar: Death by vaccine in Vermont — who would know?
If a single child is sickened or dies after injection, perhaps we should scientifically conclude — as with COVID — that it was caused by the injection, and hold McCormack and the rest legally and morally accountable for that preventable harm.
COVID cases in Vermont down 85% since April
There have been 219 new COVID cases in Vermont in the past week, down 130 from the prior week and down 85% since April. Cases are also falling significantly all through the northeast region.
With Trump out of White House, media suddenly finds ‘lab leak theory’ plausible
For nearly a year, almost every major news outlet declared that it was a debunked, fringe conspiracy theory to discuss the idea that the coronavirus pandemic began as a leak from a laboratory in Wuhan, China. Now the very same news organizations are allowing that the lab leak hypothesis is indeed plausible. What changed?
Opinion: Legislature invests in economic future but provides little immediate support to recovering businesses
The Legislature failed to help in a meaningful way. Only $30 million in relief grant money was allocated for Vermont businesses. ACCD estimated the known unmet need of employers to be $500 million. The Legislature also advanced a $100 million tax on employers.
Red states unite in rejecting federal unemployment benefits
At least 23 Republican-led states — including New Hampshire, Georgia, Ohio, Missouri, Arizona, Montana, and South Carolina — have announced they will stop accepting the benefits, citing growing unemployment despite job availabilities.
John Klar: Fear and loathing in COVID land
Let us teach others how much more enjoyable is a brave life aware of risk than a cowering enslavement in self-induced torment. The only thing to loath is fear itself — not those enjoying liberty rationally, without fear.
Deb Billado: Following the science?
Burlington City Council voted against rescinding the city’s mask mandate, delaying consideration of the issue for another three weeks. Some prominent progressives — like former Act 46 architect Rebecca Holcombe — have taken to Twitter to express their frustration with mask mandates being rescinded.
John Klar: Vermont’s Richard McCormack vs. the Constitution
Infringements of privileges are generally subject only to “rational basis” review and are rarely struck down; violations of fundamental liberties are subject to “strict scrutiny” and rarely survive the challenge. Does this “qualified” teacher of law not know this, or is he being deliberately deceptive?
Flemming: Vermont Legislature paints bleak picture with cherry-picked COVID race data
Blacks make up 1.4% of Vermonters and 0.8% of all Vermont Covid deaths (2 total). 94.2% of Vermont is white, but white Vermonters make up 96.1% of Covid deaths. Yes, black Vermonters are more likely to contract Covid, but nearly half as likely as whites to die from Covid if they do.