🌱 Laundromats Closing Due To Crime + BPD Mental Health Reforms

Good morning, people of Burlington! It's me again, Danielle Fallon, your host of the Burlington Daily.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy and not as cold. High: 34 Low: 25.

Here are the top three stories today in Burlington:

1. The Burlington School District shares its commitment to teaching and celebrating black history year-round through a press release. February is Black History Month and the School District wants to emphasize that through a strategic plan, teachers and school leaders will examine teaching practices and curriculum to ensure that they are more culturally responsive. The Burlington School District seeks to view its students and staff as whole members of the community. (Press Release Desk)
2. Due to systemic issues, laundromats in the Burlington area are closing. Owners are citing drug use, unemployment, and vagrancy throughout the region as reasons for their closures. Law enforcement is responding to thefts and vandalism but it is not always effective, according to owners. (WCAX)
3. A local mother raises concerns about the Burlington Police Department's handling of mental health issues. A key reform of the Burlington Police Department calls for social workers to be dispatched for certain calls, but only if the call does not involve potential crimes. Those involved in a mental health crisis are sixteen times more likely to have a fatal interaction with law enforcement. (NBC News)

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Today in Burlington:

• Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas At The Echo Lahey Center for Lake Champlain (10:00 AM)
• Animal Demo At The Echo Lahey Center for Lake Champlain (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Have your next brunch at Burlington Beer Company and enjoy the brewery's tasty breakfast sandwiches. (Instagram)
• How much snow did we get? The US National Weather Service of Burlington shared a map of the area's storm total snowfall. (Facebook)
• Get your tickets now for this month's shows at The Flynn! Check out the full calendar events here. (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Danielle Fallon

About me: Danielle Fallon is a writer who loves using her creativity to fuel her passion for communication. She is an employee of content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.