1.      Paying New Agent Orange Claims A "Lengthy And Complex" Process For VA. In continuing coverage, syndicated "Military Update" columnist Tom Philpott writes in Stars And Stripes (11/5), "Many Vietnam veterans with ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease or B-cell leukemia expected" Veterans Affairs "compensation for their illnesses to begin soon after a 60-day congressional review period ended Oct. 30. Though the first batch of payments went out this week, the relatively small number - about 1300 claims worth $8 million - reinforced the fact that the process for calculating retroactive payments is lengthy and complex." After noting that VA's "goal is to have all these claims processed and paid by October next year," Philpott adds, "More than 1,000 claim specialists in nine VA resource centers are working on 93,000 claims filed" for the three aforementioned "diseases between Sept. 25, 1985 and Oct. 13, 2009," when VA Secretary Eric Shinseki "announced his decision to add these diseases to the list of presumptive diseases for Agent Orange exposure."
     VA Projecting 200,000 More Vets May Qualify For Assistance With Expanded Benefits. The WJXX-TV Jacksonville, FL (11/4) website also took note of VA's expanded Agent Orange benefits, saying VA "projects that by adding three more diseases, 200,000 more veterans may qualify for assistance."

2.      Alabama VA To Break Ground On News Vets Home. The Talladega (AL) Daily Home (11/4, Atchison, 10K) reports, "The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs has scheduled a special ground-breaking ceremony for its new $50 million Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home. Bob Horton, the public information officer" for the Alabama VA, "said Wednesday there is a special groundbreaking ceremony slated for the new veterans home at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 30. Horton said VA will hold the ceremony...on the Jefferson State Community College campus in Pell City."

3.      Utah VA Co-Sponsoring Vets Job Fair. The Salt Lake (UT) Tribune (11/5) reports, "A free job fair for Utah military veterans will be held from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the South Towne Expo Center, 9575 S. State St." in Sandy, Utah. The event is "co-sponsored by the Utah Department of Workforce Services, Utah Department of Veterans Affairs," and the US Department of Labor.

4.      Fiscal 2011 MilCon-VA Spending Bill One Of Two That Have Advanced To House Floor. After noting that Tuesday's overall "GOP election victory leaves House Republicans with a critical personnel question - who to put in charge of delivering on their promises to cut government spending as chairman of the Appropriations Committee," CQ (11/4, Young) reports, "Only two of the 12 regular spending bills for fiscal 2011 have advanced to the floor: the measure that funds the Veterans Affairs Department and military construction (HR 5822) and the bill that funds the Transportation and Housing and Urban  

Development departments (HR 5850)." CQ went on to say that one of "two senior Republican appropriators" who "will retire at the end of this session" is "Zach Wamp of Tennessee, the ranking member on the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs subcommittee." On the Democratic side, meanwhile, "Chet Edwards of Texas, who leads the Military Construction-VA panel," was "defeated Tuesday night."

5.      Army Launches Another Arlington National Cemetery Investigation. The Washington Post (11/5, B4, Davenport, 605K) reports, "The Army's Criminal Investigation Command has launched another investigation into Arlington National Cemetery, a spokesman confirmed Thursday." While Christopher Grey "would not discuss the focus of the probe," he "said it was prompted after Kathryn Condon, executive director of the Army Cemeteries Program, 'recently became aware of questionable practices that took place' at Arlington. This would be at least the third criminal investigation into the cemetery in recent years; none has yet resulted in criminal charges."

6.      VA Awards Healthcare IT Contract To QuadraMed. In continuing coverage, Modern Healthcare (11/4, Robeznieks, 72K) said the Veterans Affairs Department "has awarded a five-year, $211 million contract to Reston, Va.-based healthcare information technology vendor QuadraMed for the purpose of implementing the company's coding and compliance program, Quantim. The VA has been using Quantim programs since 2005 at 150 medical centers, according to a QuadraMed news release announcing the contract." Modern Healthcare added, "Last December, the VA renewed a $24 million contract with QuadraMed to license the company's Encoder Product Suite, referred to as EPS, for revenue-cycle management and other functions." Healthcare IT News (11/5, Miliard, 54K) also takes note of VA's contract award.

7.      VA Leases More Space In DC's NoMa Neighborhood. According to its "BizBeat" blog for the District of Columbia-based Washington Business Journal (11/5, Plumb), the US Department of Veterans Affairs has "executed a pair" of 10-year "leases totaling 122,756 square feet at 1100 First St. NE," in the NoMa neighborhood, which is named for its north of Massachusetts Avenue location. After noting that VA's new leases at the "347,600-square-foot NoMa building kick in next July," the Journal adds, "VA has already established its presence in NoMa, committing to 35,000 square feet in spring 2009 at One NoMa Station at 131 M St. NE."

8.      Massachusetts Company To Build Renewable Energy Project For VA. The Boston Globe (11/5, 253K) reports, "Ameresco Inc., a Framingham company specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, said that the US Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded it a contract to design and build a solar photovoltaic system" for a VA hospital "in Salt Lake City. The renewable energy asset project with costs is valued at more than $6.6 million, Ameresco said in a press release," which noted that the project is expected to take 10 months to complete.

9.      Canandaigua VAMC To Host Veterans Day Event. The Greece (NY) Messenger Post (11/5, Sherwood) reports, "On Nov. 11, Veterans Day," the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center will "hold a Veterans Day Observance/Missing Man Ceremony." The event, which "will be held in Building 5 auditorium at the VA, 400 Fort Hill Ave.," is "sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. The public is invited to attend."
     WWII Vet To Serve As Grand Marshall At Ralph H. Johnson VAMC Parade. The WCSC-TV Charleston, SC (11/4) website said the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center will "hold a parade to honor Veterans in the Market area of downtown Charleston on Sunday, November 7." The "Grand Marshall for the event is Lee Hunt, a World War II vet who survived a Japanese kamikaze attack on the USS Laffey."
     Chillicothe VAMC Will Also Host Parade. The Chillicothe (OH) Gazette (11/5, 12K) says an "annual Veterans Day parade and affiliated activities...will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center." The day will be "sponsored by the Ross County Veterans Council."
     St. Cloud VAMC Co-Sponsoring Another Parade In Honor Of Veterans. The St. Cloud (MN) Times (11/5, Calloway) reports, "Veterans will be honored Sunday when more than 40 units line up for St. Cloud's fourth annual Veterans Day parade," which "starts at 1 p.m. at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center." According to the Times, the St. Cloud VAMC is one of the parade's sponsors.
     VA Hospital To Participate In Town's Veterans Day Observance. Leesburg (VA) Today (11/5, 60K) notes that US Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) will "headline the Town of Leesburg's annual Veterans Day observance Thursday, Nov. 11, at the George C. Marshall International Center at Dodona Manor. This year's" observance will "pay special tribute to veterans of the Vietnam War. Participating organizations include" the VA hospital "of Martinsburg WV."

10.    WWII Vet Blames VA For Delay In Receiving Medication. The WPRI-TV Providence, RI (11/4) website notes that 83-year-old World War II veteran Ed Ladoucuer "says he's been without the medication his doctor prescribed since August. While Ladoucuer blames a Veterans Affairs hospital for the delay in receiving the breathing assistance medication," the VA

"said that whenever they work with patients who are being seen by more than one outside provider, issues like this do come up. That's why...VA," which has now given Ladoucuer his medicine, "says it's working on improving communications with all parties involved to provide the best care to...veterans."

11.    Veterans Ride To End At Hampton VAMC. The Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot (11/4, King) noted, "Honor and Remember will host the Veterans Ride" to the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Saturday. Riders will "travel to Gosnold's Hope Park in Hampton and then to the Veterans Affairs hospital. Flag presentations will be made at 1 p.m. to two families who lost loved ones during the Vietnam War."

12.    Illinois Commemorating 60th Anniversary Of Korean War. The Elmwood Park, Illinois-based Elm Leaves (11/5) reports, "The State of Illinois is commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Korean War by supplying information each month about" Illinois' "involvement in the conflict. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, Illinois Korean Memorial Association and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum are sponsoring 'Illinois Remembers the Forgotten War' along with media partners the Illinois Press Association and the Illinois Broadcasters Association."

13.    Veterans Art To Be Showcased In Guam. Guam's Pacific Daily News (11/5, Cho) reports, "Twenty military veterans will be showcasing their artwork this weekend in the center court of the Agana Shopping Center for the 8th Annual Guam Veterans Art Showcase." Cathy Illarmo, "team leader of the Guam Vet Center," says the "show honors veterans and gives them a chance to show off their talents."

14.    Local Female Vets To Be Honored At Buffalo VAMC. According to the Buffalo News (11/4, 174K), a "special ceremony to honor a group of local female veterans with the presentation of a book detailing each of their stories is set for 1 p. m. Friday at Buffalo Veterans Administration Medical Center." More "than 40 women who submitted their stories on how they served in the military, from World War II to the present, will receive copies of the soft-cover publication, 'Military Women-Their Story.' Sponsoring the event with the VA in Freedom Hall, Room 301, is Jesse Clipper Post 430, American Legion."

15.    VA To Have Representatives At Veterans Job Fair. According to the Delaware County (PA) Daily Times (11/4, Carey, 40K), the "Delaware County Office of Employment and Training, its Workforce Investment Board and Pennsylvania CareerLink are hosting a Veterans Job Fair and Support Services Event from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, at the STEM center at Delaware County Community College, 901 Media Line Road in Marple." One "of the 25 service agencies...scheduled" to have representatives at the fair is the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

16.    VA Operating Medical Foster Home Program In Virginia. The Newport News (VA) Daily Press (11/4, Lessig, 69K) said a Veterans Affairs medical foster home program "aimed at disabled veterans in Hampton Roads and elsewhere" is "less costly for taxpayers because patients help defray costs in exchange for an environment that is more personal and relaxed than any institution can hope to offer." Under the program, which is "less expensive than institutionalized care" for VA, veterans' "financial benefits cover the cost of placement."

17.    VA Clinic Moving To Larger Location In Michigan. On its website, WZZM-TV Grand Rapids, MI (11/4, Graban) said the "Grand Rapids Veterans Clinic is moving" to a larger location in Wyoming, Michigan. Veterans Affairs officials "say the new facility will be located across the street from Metro Health Hospital." According to WZZM, which pointed out that the Wyoming clinic will "open in 2013," the new location will be "nearly three times" the size of the old one, "allowing for better care."

18.    Public Meeting Focuses On Vacant VA Hospital. The WHO-TV Des Moines, IA (11/4) website noted that a public meeting was scheduled to be held "Thursday night concerning the vacant Knoxville Veterans Affairs Hospital. The VA wants to lease the hospital to be used as a transitional or permanent housing facility for homeless veterans or veterans at risk of being homeless," although it "may also be used for VA business space and other operations." The website pointed out that a VA clinic still in operation on the hospital's campus "will be relocated to another site in 2011." The KCCI-TV Des Moines, IA (11/4) website published a similar story.

19.    VA Clinic Making Return To Mainland. In its lead item, the "Biz Buzz" column for the Galveston County (TX) Daily News (10/4, Elder) said that after a "long absence, a veterans clinic will return to Texas City next year. The Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center plans to reopen the mainland outpatient clinic before March 30, officials report," adding that the clinic will be staffed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

20.    Veterans Health Care: Why It's The Wrong Time To Privatize. Dr. Maggie Kozel, "author of 'The Color of Atmosphere: One Doctor's Journey In and Out of Medicine,'" wrote an opinion piece for the Huffington Post (11/5), which noted that Kozel's book is "forthcoming from Chelsea Green Publishing."

21.    'Helmet Heroes' Affair Joins Veterans, Artists. In his "Art Axis" blog for the Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune (11/5, 18K) Lynn Israel writes about a vets-related art project, stating, "The goal of the University of Missouri's School of Social Work's 'Helmet Heroes'- which includes an auction and fundraiser - is to help fund and establish the school's first graduate scholarship to a veteran or other interested student in the area of Military Social Work. Dianne Orton, a clinical assistant professor" at the school, "described the effort in an e-mail," saying the school has "worked closely with social workers at...the Harry S Truman Veterans Hospital in developing this program."

22.    Agent Orange Info; Honor Veterans Nov. 6. In a letter to the editor of the Oak Park (IL) Leaves (11/4), Chicago resident Francine O'Connor wrote, "I am a member of Veterans for Unification (VU), a not-for-profit, grassroots veterans' group established in 1998 in the Chicago area. From 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the main Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St., our organization is celebrating Veterans Day in a very special way. We have invited a speaker" from Hines Veterans Affairs Hospital to "discuss Agent Orange and the Registry."

23.    Palatine Fundraiser For Veterans. In her column for the Palatine (IL) Patch (11/5), Julianne Shipton says a "local sports bar" called the Splinters Sports Pub will "hold a fundraising event this weekend to aid military veterans. The 6th annual Vet Fest fundraiser to benefit the North Chicago Veteran's Administration Hospital will take place on Saturday, Nov. 6 from noon to 6 p.m." at the pub, which is located in Caputo's Market Center.

24.    Veterans: You May Be Entitled To More Benefits Than You Think. An op-ed in the Wallowa County (OR) Chieftain (11/5, 3K) by Linda McIntyre, the "Wallowa County veteran service officer."

25.    For-Profit Colleges Seek Share Revival, Rule Relief.  Bloomberg News (11/5, Lauerman) reports, "For-profit colleges, whose stocks have lost 35 percent this year, are likely to get help from Republicans to ease limits on federal grants and loans that provide the bulk of education companies' revenue." Bloomberg adds, "Federal spending on veterans' education will more than double this year to $9.6 billion from $4.2 billion in 2009, according" to the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

26.    House A True Haven For Female Relatives Of Veterans Hospitalized At VA. The Muskogee (OK) Phoenix (11/5, Spaulding) reports, "Haven House, on West Broadway, is a home away from home for wives and other female relatives of patients" at the Jack C. Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The "facility provides free lodging for those who cannot afford a hotel." Haven House is "owned and operated by a non-profit foundation, Haven House Inc."

27.    SEARHC To Help Enroll Veterans For VA Health Care. The Juneau (AK) Empire (11/5).

28.    Veteran With Brain Injury: 'Freedom Isn't Free ... It Has A Heavy Price.' The KVAL-TV Eugene, OR (11/4, Koopmans) website.

29.    Dixon's VA Cemetery Director To Leave Post. The Vacaville (CA) Reporter (11/5).

30.    Job Fairs For Veterans Set Across Illinois. The AP (11/5).

31.    Military Morning Breakfast Set For Tuesday. According to the Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune (11/4, 18K), the "monthly Military Morning breakfast for veterans and service members will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Columbia Country Club on Old 63." Military Morning is "held in conjunction with Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital."

32.    Drug Take-Back Set For Saturday. The Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune (11/4, 18K) said, "Boone County residents will have an opportunity Saturday to get rid of old and unneeded prescription drugs as part of an effort by the Youth Community Coalition to combat prescription drug abuse." The "drug take-back will be from 9 a.m. to noon" at several locations, including the "Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, 800 Hospital Drive...in Columbia."

33.    Man Walks For Veterans. On its website, WOWK-TV Charleston, WV (11/4, Mosby) said, "Georgia-native Allen Mullins," who "began walking to raise awareness about homeless veterans last year," was in Charleston Thursday, dressed up as Captain America, following his tradition of using "different super hero guises to break the ice with people and to point out that veterans are the real super heroes." Mullins is "not seeking donations, but wants people to reach out and help homeless veterans, and veterans who need medical help" from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

34.    Gov. Deval Patrick To Award Purple Heart To Soldier. The AP (11/4).