News about veterans, both bad and good
9:17 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2008
A Topeka VA hospital patient is back in the hospital tonight after being arrested and taken to a court appearance Tuesday morning. 27-year-old Shane Ransom was taken from the hospital today by Pottawatomie County officers, as other patients looked on. Ransom faces charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer after an incident last November. He's been in treatment at the VA since then, but the feds say anyone with outstanding warrants is considered a fugitive and can't receive veterans benefits. After today's court appearance, where Ransom posted bond, officers transported him back to the Topeka VA, where he now has his benefits and is getting treatment.
Meanwhile, help is coming for homeless veterans in Kansas. Three grants totaling more than $790,000 will help homeless veterans in Leavenworth, Topeka and Wichita. The grants will provide rental assistance for the veterans. The Topeka Housing Authority will get more than $135,000. Wichita will get more than $170,000. Leavenworth will get the most, more than $480,000.
Members of the House Veterans Committee blasted the Veterans Administration today on Capitol Hill, accusing the agency of covering up veterans' suicide rates.
"What we see is a pattern, Mr. Secretary. The pattern is deny, deny, deny."
Leaders at the VA defended themselves, saying they didn't release the number of veterans attempting suicide because of concerns over its accuracy. Some figures show a rate as high as 1,000 suicide attempts per month.
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