Vermont reporters provide a roundup of top news takeaways about the coronavirus, the U.S. Olympic trials and more for Monday, June 21.
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1. Quebec reports lowest COVID case numbers since August 2020
Quebec reported 103 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday — that's the fewest number of cases reported since August of 2020.
The province also saw two more deaths from the virus.
On Saturday, Quebec reported nine COVID-19 deaths, and Montreal posted the highest number of cases in more than two weeks, with the first new infection in days reported in a Montreal nursing home.
More than 11,000 people in Quebec have lost their lives to the virus since the pandemic began. The province has administered more than 7 million doses of the vaccine.
- Karen Anderson
CCV will not require students to be vaccinated
The Community College of Vermont will not require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 this fall.
According to WCAX,school officials sent a letter to students last week and said they encourage students and staff to be vaccinated, but will not require it.
Other colleges, including Middlebury, Norwich University, St. Michael's and Dartmouth College will require COVID vaccinations for the upcoming fall semester.
And the University of Vermont says it will require students to get a COVID-19 vaccine once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration grants full regulatory approval to at least one of the available vaccines.
Community College of Vermont has 12 centers across the state.
- Karen Anderson
2. Hundreds turn out for Burlington's first-annual Juneteenth celebration
Hundreds of people filled City Hall Park in Burlington Saturday for the city’s first-ever Juneteenth celebration.
Burlington’s Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging hosted the day-long event, which celebrated African American culture with musical performances, art installations, food vendors, and more.
Juneteenth is the commemoration and celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States. And while this was the first official Juneteenth in Burlington, it is a widely celebrated event in other parts of the country.
Skyler Nash worked on the planning committee. He said the celebration exceeded his expectations.
“Everybody... is walking around maskless and smiling and healthy, and you know, together, and giving hugs and shaking hands,” Nash said. “It's like the best thing in the world.”
Organizers say there are plans to make Juneteenth an annual celebration in the Queen City.
- Marlon Hyde
3. Leahy highlights importance of Vt. food-assistance programs
Sen. Patrick Leahy highlighted the important role food-assistance programs played during the pandemic at a roundtable discussion about hunger in Vermont.
Hosted at the University of Vermont, the event was facilitated by the Food Systems Research Center, of which Leahy has been a strong supporter. The Center researches regional food systems.
Leahy said the pandemic showed why these kinds of programs must continue and improve after the pandemic.
“1,000 cars lined up for emergency food assistance at the Berlin airport — I live in Middlesex, born in Montpelier. As a neighborhood, you never see a dozen cars anytime,” Leahy said. “1,000 cars lined up. That tells you the need, and that was replicated in all other parts of the state.”
Leahy also announced that the Center is slated to receive $11 million in federal funding.
- Marlon Hyde
4. Vermont's Elle Purrier to run in 1500-meter final at U.S. Olympic trials
Montgomery native Elle Purrier is headed to Olympic Trial finals today after finishing first in her heat in the 1500-meter semifinal with a time of 4:09.18.
Purrier will compete against other top runners in the United States to seek a top-three spot and a potential trip to Tokyo for the Olympic Games.
The finals can be viewed Monday night at 8:05 on NBCSN, NBC Sports Online, and Peacock.
- Karen Anderson
5. Brownfields funds to receive $860,000 from EPA
Three revolving loan funds in Vermont used to help clean up and revitalize brownfields are getting an infusion of $860,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA says the money will go to the Mount Ascutney Regional Commission, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and the Northwest Regional Planning Commission.
The funds will be used to help turn vacant and abandoned properties into community assets like housing, recreation and open space, health facilities, social services, and commerce opportunities.
- Associated Press
This post was compiled and edited by Elodie Reed.
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