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:
Sanders, Warren team up during debate to defend Medicare for All
Sen. Bernie Sanders took the stage for the second round of Democratic primary debates. Tuesday’s program on CNN put Sanders alongside his fellow progressive senator Elizabeth Warren. Sanders and Warren played off of each other to defend their Medicare for All proposals, pushing back on critiques that the plans would raise taxes and lower the quality of care.
Racial disparities, search rates decline in Burlington police traffic stops
New traffic stop data from the Burlington Police Department shows that racial disparities and search rates are decreasing. Department officials say those trends are moving in the “right direction,” but that work remains to be done: Black drivers in Burlington are still stopped by police at a higher rate than white drivers.
Early season blue-green algal bloom alerts at a new high
State environmental officials say weather conditions this summer are creating the perfect environment for cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae. That means water bodies including Lake Champlain are seeing algal blooms earlier than they normally would — and state data shows that the percentage of early season reports this year are the highest ever recorded.
