http://va.web2announcer.com/ Web 2.0 announcer top stories for Va en Fri, 15 Jun 2007 05:44:33 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2047135 unknown@Netscape.com Edwards has used his post as an appropriations subcommittee chairman to deliver a $65 billion bill funding veterans and military construction programs to the US House. The measure is scheduled for a vote this week. Edwards has been working for 16 years to write a VA funding bill like this one, and that a Bush veto would be devastating for veterans. Fri, 15 Jun 2007 05:44:33 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2047135VacongressveteransappropriationsbillbushvetoNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2038898 unknown@Netscape.com Deep in a newly released 300-page report on the benefits system for the nation's veterans lies a first look at the dimensions of the disabilities the Iraq- and Afghanistan-war injured are suffering. Through March, more than 176,000 U.S. veterans of those ongoing conflicts had filed claims for disability compensation. Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:12:15 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2038898VairaqAfghanistandisabilityclaimsmilitarymedicalCareNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2035639 unknown@Netscape.com James W. Holsinger has repeatedly espoused medically-inaccurate homophobic positions that undermine his credibility to be the next Surgeon General. Fri, 08 Jun 2007 23:50:48 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2035639VamedicalCareveteransNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2013612 unknown@Netscape.com An attorney testifies about problems in the VA benefits appeals process. "Hamster Wheel" refers to the following phenomenon: veterans claims are transferred back and forth between the CAVC and the Board, and the Board and the RO. The net result: frustrated veterans have to wait many years before receiving a final decision on their claims. Mon, 28 May 2007 21:48:22 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2013612VahamsterwheelveteransbenefitsdisabilityclaimsNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2005698 unknown@Netscape.com Three young men served honorably in Iraq, but came home unable to cope with their memories of combat. Each one sought help from the military or from the VA. But in each case, the hospital was overbooked, the counselors didn't listen, or the bureaucracy moved too slowly. Only months after their return from war, these young heroes committed suicide. Wed, 23 May 2007 07:18:35 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2005698iraqPTSDVamilitarymedicalCaresuicideNews http://web2announcer.com/go/2005860 unknown@Netscape.com Three young men served honorably in Iraq, but came home unable to cope with their memories of combat. Each one sought help from the military or from the VA. But in each case, the hospital was overbooked, the counselors didn't listen, or the bureaucracy moved too slowly. Only months after their return from war, these young heroes committed suicide. Wed, 23 May 2007 07:18:35 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/2005860iraqPTSDVamilitarymedicalCaresuicideNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1861165 unknown@Netscape.com Tricare is upping the price for some sleeping, pain, glaucoma and depression medication beginning Aug. 1, according to the Defense Department. The drugs will move to the third tier of the prescription drug formulary, which means their price will bump up to $22 from $9. Sat, 12 May 2007 07:36:21 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1861165VaTricareprescriptiondrugsmilitarymedicalCaredisabilityNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1839255 unknown@Netscape.com Virginia this weekend will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of America's first permanent English settlement, Jamestown, with fireworks, concerts and an appearance by President Bush . Fri, 11 May 2007 13:19:05 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1839255VaCommemoratesJamestownenglishsettlementNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1770876 unknown@Netscape.com America's injured soldiers are coming home to face another battle: red tape, delays, and a VA ill-prepared to handle a long war's crushing caseload. Disabled Iraq veterans already have braved insurgent attacks and the threat of improvised explosive devices. But few are prepared for the nerve-wracking experience of dealing with the VA system. Sun, 06 May 2007 06:15:47 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1770876iraqwoundedveteransVaredtapebacklogNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1738614 unknown@Netscape.com Rep. Phil Hare, D-IL, an Army Reserve veteran, is calling on Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Nicholson to resign for having paid bonuses to senior federal workers who were responsible for a $1 billion shortfall in the VA budget. "Our veterans have suffered tremendous setbacks on Secretary Nicholson's watch," Hare said. Fri, 04 May 2007 05:58:36 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1738614VajamesnicholsonSecuritybreachesdisabilitybacklogsStaffshortagesNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1545871 unknown@Netscape.com The number of returning Iraq & Afghanistan combat veterans visiting Dept of Veterans Affairs walk-in clinics has more than doubled since 2004, while the clinics' staff has increased by less than 10%. A VA survey of clinic team leaders shows that 114 of the 209 Vet Centers need at least one extra psychologist or therapist to help with the influx Sat, 21 Apr 2007 06:04:06 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1545871VamilitaryhealthCareStaffiraqAfghanistanNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1537797 unknown@Netscape.com Police and EMT workers at Virginia Tech tell us that campus police were given a federal order to stand down and not pursue killer Cho Seung-Hui as Monday's bloodshed unfolded. Though wishing to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, we have received calls from police and EMT's who tell us that a stand down order was in place, and this is also co Sat, 21 Apr 2007 02:42:26 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1537797FedsVashootingFBINews http://web2announcer.com/go/1488852 unknown@Netscape.com THE KILLER'S NOTE WAS SIGNED ISMAIL AX (FOX news). It would certainly explain the delay in releasing is name. In the note he was railing against "debauchery" and "rich kids." Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:21:24 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1488852choSEUNGHUIVirginiaVatechIsmailaxUnitedstatesNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1486034 unknown@Netscape.com Virginia General Assembly failed to act on House Bill 1572. This bill would have allowed college students and employees to carry handguns on campus with appropriate permits. It died in subcommittee. Larry Hincker, Virginia Tech spokeperson, "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this wil Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:54:27 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/1486034Vatechguncontrolhousebill1572VirginiaUnitedstatesNews http://web2announcer.com/go/1278467 unknown@Netscape.com A strain of avian flu different from the one that has infected humans in Africa and Asia was detected at a turkey farm, requiring the slaughter of 25,000 birds, state agriculture officials said Monday. Tue, 03 Apr 2007 06:49:37 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/127846725000TurkeysSlaughteredwVafarmavianFluNews http://web2announcer.com/go/915547 unknown@Netscape.com A former Veterans Affairs official said Thursday he warned the department as early as August 2005 of backlogs in the VA health care system but officials instead shelved a program aimed at alleviating delays. Fri, 09 Mar 2007 03:38:40 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/915547VaveteransNews http://web2announcer.com/go/730097 unknown@Netscape.com Hundreds of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are ending up homeless. How could this happen? Newsweek reports. Sat, 24 Feb 2007 23:43:14 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/730097iraqwarhomelessveteransvetsVasheltersNews http://web2announcer.com/go/549980 unknown@Netscape.com JAMESTOWN, VA. - Four hundred years ago this May, Capt. John Smith and company landed at what is now Jamestown, and the English colonies got their start. These colonies continued until 1781, when British Gen. Charles Cornwallis surrendered to combined American and French forces at nearby Yorktown and effectively ended the Revolutionary War. Sun, 11 Feb 2007 22:25:42 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/549980JamestownVaturns400settlementCapt.johnSmithrevolutionarywarNews http://web2announcer.com/go/526133 unknown@Netscape.com The FBI and the VA inspector general are investigating the Jan. 22 disappearance of an external hard drive from an agency facility in Birmingham, Ala. The hard drive potentially could contain personal information on 48,000 veterans. VA spokesman Matt Burns said initial reports show encryption policies "were not strictly followed." Sat, 10 Feb 2007 01:54:10 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/526133VadatabreachAgainNews http://web2announcer.com/go/403539 unknown@Netscape.com The former mayor of the tiny coal town of Appalachia was sentenced Wednesday to two years in jail for masterminding a vote-rigging scheme that helped him steal the 2004 election. Thu, 01 Feb 2007 07:50:17 GMT http://web2announcer.com/go/403539VaexmayorSentencedvotefraudNews