Lots of Vermont college students graduate from the four-year public college where they started. That’s according to a new report from a national research group. But the study also shows that students who do transfer out of Vermont colleges tend to leave the state altogether.

Five weeks ago, House Speaker Shap Smith issued a public plea for economic development proposals. He’s now assembled a panel of private sector officials to sift through the submissions, and help craft new legislation.

Smith’s public solicitation yielded more than 200 economic development strategies from about 75 individuals and organizations.

Audio for this story will be posted at approximately 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 27

Champlain College is one step closer to a new mixed-use development near the heart of downtown Burlington.

The new building is set to replace what is currently a parking lot with a 104-unit student housing development with underground parking and commercial space on the ground floor.

“This will add 104 units, 290 beds in the downtown corridor, walking distance to our campus on our existing shuttle bus route,” said David Provost, Champlain’s senior vice president for finance and administration.

Governor Shumlin's plan to impose a small payroll tax on all businesses to boost Medicaid reimbursement rates is getting a very lukewarm reception at the Statehouse. There's also been talk of other potential revenue sources like changes in the income tax, the gas tax and the rooms and meals tax.

We talk with House Ways and Means Chairwoman Janet Ancel and Senate Finance Chairman Tim Ashe about the outlook for these taxes.

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