PORTLAND — U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, is urging President Barack Obama to use his executive privilege to implement Michaud’s proposed Veterans Affairs reforms in response to an ongoing scandal over severe delays in veterans’ medical treatment. Michaud is the top Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and seeks to respond swiftly to the […]
VA
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Maine’s VA problems less severe than other states, experts say
LEWISTON — Experts say Maine’s VA care appears to be far better than its counterparts in other areas of the country, where reports of patient deaths have plunged the VA and its boss, Secretary Eric Shinseki, into controversy. “The people that I have dealt with here have been genuinely concerned about the veterans that they […]
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Posted inMaine
South Portland veteran fights VA to file damage claim
SOUTH PORTLAND — Kenneth “Jake” Myrick’s U.S. Army service took him to Kosovo and Iraq. His fight to recover damages from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is taking him to Capitol Hill. Myrick has asked U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to look into the VA’s rejection of a $1 million tort claim, which alleges […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Veterans gather for adaptive sports at Pineland Farms
NEW GLOUCESTER — Brandon Hammonds flew in from Charlotte, N.C., just so he could strap on cross-country skis and try his hand at biathlon. He liked the experience so much that he’s talking about coming back next year. Hammonds, a Marine who was wounded during combat duty in Iraq, was one of 13 veterans and […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine VA hospital worker convicted of taking drugs
BANGOR (AP) — A former pharmacy technician at an Augusta veterans’ hospital has been sentenced to two years of probation for stealing medication while on the job. Rebecca Hamlin of Winslow was also sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor to pay a $4,000 fine. Authorities said the 61-year-old was working at VA Maine […]
Posted inConnections
Togus Regional Office to host workshop on ‘fully developed claims’
AUGUSTA — The Department of Veterans Affairs invites all those who assist, serve, treat or otherwise interact with veterans and their families on a regular basis to participate in a special workshop on the Fully Developed Claims Program, hosted by the Togus VA Regional Office. The program will take place from 9 a.m. to noon […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Iraq vets join ranks of Virginia’s rising craft beer biz
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Two Iraq War veterans eager to slake a growing American thirst for craft beer are setting up a brewery less than a mile from the main runway for the Navy’s East Coast master jet base. Their beers have names like “Jet Noise Double IPA and “Pineapple Grenade Hefeweizen.” And their […]