VTDigger Minute is a weekly news digest from Vermont PBS. Tune in every Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 6:30 a.m. to hear about the week’s top stories.
This week on the Minute, VTDigger’s top investigations of the year:
A toxic and male-dominated culture at Vermont Air National Guard, where pilots are given preferential treatment and women are passed up for promotions, was revealed in a seven-part series investigative report by Jasper Craven. Other cases of misconduct involved alcohol abuse and sexual coercion.
People with ties to lottery ticket agents were claiming prizes at remarkable — and statistically unlikely — frequencies, sparking a review of the system by the Gov Phil Scott’s administration and new rules. The investigation by reporter Katy Savage revealed that at least 117 retailers, or those close to them, had won a major lottery prize in recent years, collecting nearly $1.8 million.
Widespread failures in mental health treatment
After reviewing hundreds of investigations conducted in hospitals across Vermont, reporter Mike Faher found multiple cases of mental health patients being mistreated in at least 6 hospitals in the state. The cases were mostly in emergency rooms and included long periods of physical restraint, law enforcement helping administer medicine and even shocking a patient with a stun gun.
