Veterans! Here’s your Top 10 News stories of the day compiled from the latest sources

We encourage you to browse our list so that you can take what you want and keep what you need

 
1.   Stolen Valor Tarnishes Service Members’ Sacrifices.  Soldiers in every war have risked their lives to defend America. In many cases, their valor has been above and beyond the call of duty. For their service, they receive Purple Heart Medals for wounds, and for valor they might earn Bronze Star Medals, Silver Star Medals or others.  It may seem hard to fathom, but there are many
2.   Veterans court program helps warriors battle addiction, mental health crises.  Hyperlink to Article The Washington Post:  But then he finally listened to his counsel: “My lawyer recommended I go to veterans court” — one of a growing number of such programs that oversee criminal cases involving military veterans who were arrested at least partly because of an addiction or mental illness, most commonly depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
3.   VA chief touting veteran courts at DC conference.  Hyperlink to Article The Washington Post (AP):  Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is the featured speaker at a national conference in Washington on courts that stress treatment over punishment for law-breaking vets.
4.   Veterans Conference in DC Seeks to Broaden Reach of Treatment Courts.  Hyperlink to Article ABC News Radio:  At the conference’s opening session Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki told the audience that when he visited Judge Russell’s courtroom in 2009 “the power of the Veterans court concept was clear, undeniable, and compelling.”  He said “since that visit, VA has been your full partner, agreeing to bring all of its capabilities to bear, wherever a judge is willing to establish a Veterans court.”
5.   Beefing up the GI Bill.  Hyperlink to Article Army Times:  At least seven legislative proposals are pending in Congress to improve the new GI Bill for large swaths of beneficiaries, including active-duty and reserve troops, wounded warriors and families.
6.   Government needs better management skills.  Hyperlink to Article Stars and Stripes:  The malfunctioning HealthCare.gov is simply the latest in a long series of problems for large, complex government technology projects… A four-year effort to integrate servicemember files between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department has been plagued by delays and dysfunction.
7.   Obama administration underestimated complexity of healthcare.gov website.  Hyperlink to Article WFED-AM (Federal News Radio):  President Obama says his administration underestimated the complexity of building the healthcare.gov website, which is delaying access to services provided by the Affordable Care Act… He pointed out it’s already taken more than a decade for the Veterans’ Administration to digitize its medical records, and the VA is still having problems with the transition.
8.   Tidewell Hospice works to give veterans a voice.  Hyperlink to Article Bradenton Herald:  Tidewell wants to raise awareness amongst doctors and the community about veterans’ end-of-life needs, said Henderson. It is part of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization that partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs to create the We Honor Veterans program that focuses on veterans’ care.
9.   Veteran gets $12M malpractice settlement after Hines VA Hospital surgery.  Hyperlink to Article WLS-TV:  A Chicago-area Vietnam veteran will get a $12 million medical malpractice settlement from the federal government.
10.  VA to host homelessness symposium.  Hyperlink to Article Lincoln Journal Star:  The Department of Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System will host its third annual Symposium on Veteran Homelessness in Lincoln, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wednesday at 600 S. 70th St.

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