As Senator Sanders traveled throughout Vermont during the week, the No. 1 issue on people's minds continued to be the economy and the worsening recession. People's real life experiences reflect the stubborn fact that things are still getting worse. Foreclosures are increasing. U.S. industrial production just hit a 10-year low. Unemployment in the biggest state, California, hit a new high of 11.2 percent, the Labor Department reported Friday. Vermont's unemployment rose again in March to 7.2 percent. Meanwhile, the big banks that took huge taxpayer bailouts are making a comeback. (Of course, bankers never really say thank you.) Citigroup announced a big first-quarter profit on Friday on a net income of $1.6 billion. The day before, JPMorgan Chase announced a $2.1 billion profit. Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo also were back in the black.

The Economy As major banks that were bailed out by taxpayers posted big profits, Vermonters packed a town meeting on the economic crisis "We need to know who the people are who caused this crisis," Sanders told the crowd in the Montpelier High School auditorium. Taxpayers need to learn, he said, "whether our criminal justice system is capable of putting on trial and prosecuting people who may be billionaires." Sanders was joined by Professor William Black from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Black is the author of "The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One."

Economic Stimulus U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood came to Vermont at the invitation of Senator Sanders. LaHood announced $6.2 million for an airport upgrade in central Vermont. A town meeting on transportation was touched on rail, highways and what the Obama cabinet member called "Sanders' interest in rural transportation." Altogether, Vermont is expected to receive more than $180 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for highways, transit, water systems and housing.

Health Centers Sen. Sanders during a visit to the Bennington Free Clinic made his case for Federally Qualified Health Centers: $650,000 in federal funding, higher Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, and low-cost prescription drugs. "It is an extraordinarily good program," Sanders said. "The thing that's really striking about the clinic is the number of people we see who are freshly out of work, freshly uninsured…the vestiges of the middle class, if you will," said Sue Andrews, executive director.

Solar School Senator Bernie Sanders launched the largest solar energy project at a Vermont public school. The Camels Hump Middle School in Richmond will develop a massive array of solar photovoltaic cells to serve as a statewide model. "This project will not only help Camels Hump Middle School reduce its electric bill and carbon footprint, but will be a major step forward in moving our state toward a greener economy which relies more and more on sustainable energy," Sanders said.

Global Warming The Environmental Protection Agency formally declared carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases to be pollutants that threaten public health and welfare, setting in motion a process that for the first time will regulate the gases blamed for global warming. E.P.A. officials said that the agency had found the science supporting the so-called endangerment finding "compelling and overwhelming."