Two killed in explosion at Connecticut veterans hospital

Two people were killed in an explosion at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Connecticut on Friday morning, The Associated Press…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/525846-two-killed-in-explosion-at-connecticut-veterans-hospital
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Celine Castronuovo

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The pandemic’s toll on veterans

Here’s something to think about on Veterans Day: As tough as the pandemic has been on most Americans, it has hit many U.S. veterans especially hard and made their struggles with mental health even tougher.

The big picture: Isolation during the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in increased instances of depression and suicide among veterans as coronavirus cases spike all over the country.

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• “Sleep problems, post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression are the top reported problems for the injured veteran population, and these are some of the challenges that are being exacerbated by COVID-19,” said Melanie Mousseau, vice president of program operations and partnerships at the Wounded Warrior Project.
• “Not only is this a population that struggles with, day after day, working through those challenges — now this is being amplified.”

Driving the news: A number of recent studies highlight the problems facing veterans as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.

• According to one recent survey of 30,000 veterans wounded after 9/11, 52% said their mental health has gotten worse and 49% said their physical health has become worse since they started social distancing during the pandemic.
• Sixty-one percent said they felt more disconnected from friends, family and community, according to the survey by the Wounded Warrior Project.
• Veterans are delaying doctors’ appointments too, with 70% reporting having in-person appointments canceled or postponed. And 40% noted employment difficulties.
• The Associated Press reported in September that military suicides have gone up as much as 20% this year compared to the same period in 2019.
• A study by the Bob Woodruff Foundation this spring said emergent trauma, loneliness due to social isolation, and unplanned job losses creates a “perfect storm” threatening the mental health of veterans.

By the numbers: Beyond the stress caused by the pandemic, coronavirus cases are up among veterans, too. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there have been 83,383 cases among VA hospitals with 4,223 known deaths.

The bottom line: As the pandemic spreads — and gets even worse during the winter months — don’t forget the unique damage it’s inflicting on those who have served our country.

Source: https://www.axios.com/veterans-covid-toll-isolation-2545c385-0dbb-4e35-bf0d-4f9f39842478.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Ashley Gold

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More veterans running for office as numbers dwindle in Congress

More veterans are running for House and Senate seats this year compared to recent election cycles, but a wave of retirements and entrenched politics mean the next Congress is likely to see a decline in lawmakers wit…

Source: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/523785-more-veterans-running-for-office-as-numbers-dwindle-in-congress
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Ellen Mitchell

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'Benedict Donald': New ad from veterans' group compares Trump to America's greatest traitor over Russia bounties

‘He consorts with a foreign enemy, puts bounties on the heads of American troops’

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/benedict-arnold-donald-trump-advert-votevets-russia-bounties-putin-a9601036.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: James Crump

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US navy to name aircraft carrier in honour of black Pearl Harbor veteran

He enlisted in the Navy in 1939, when black sailors were banned from serving in combat positions

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/doris-miller-aircraft-carrier-us-navy-pearl-harbor-a9290531.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Johnny Diaz

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The VA at a crossroads

The Veterans Administration is facing an existential question. The effort to bring electronic health records to the VA and a push to make it easier for veterans to see doctors outside the VA system are aimed at improving access to care. But some worry those changes will put the VA on the road to privatization. How will the VA preserve its essence and live up to its founding promise even as it seeks to modernize and provide veterans with better care?

Join Dan Diamond and Arthur Allen as they examine that question in a series of conversations on the Pulse Check podcast.

Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine

Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/11/pulse-check-veterans-administration-067809
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The Article Was Written/Published By: POLITICO Staff

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