Author – The Durango Herald

Paul joins Democrats in bid to boost medical marijuana

WASHINGTON – Two Democratic senators and a possible Republican presidential candidate joined forces Tuesday to push a bill to remove federal prohibitions on medical marijuana in 23 states wh...

DATE: Mar 10, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

VA secretary apologizes anew for misstating military service

WASHINGTON – Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald said Tuesday that integrity and character “is part of who I am” and apologized anew for erroneously claiming he served in the military...

DATE: Feb 23, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

GAO: Veterans’ health care costs a ‘high risk’ for taxpayers

WASHINGTON – Veterans’ health care is a “high risk” budget issue that threatens to cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars unless longstanding problems are addressed, government auditors ...

DATE: Feb 11, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Benghazi panel to query top officials

WASHINGTON – A special House committee looking into the deadly Benghazi, Libya, attacks in 2012 will interview a host of current and former high-ranking Obama administration officials as it ...

DATE: Feb 6, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

More women, minorities in new Congress

WASHINGTON – The new 114th Congress counts more minorities and women than ever, although lawmakers remain overwhelmingly white and male in the Republican-controlled House and Senate. ...

DATE: Jan 5, 2015 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Gowdy: Benghazi probe needed to boost US security

WASHINGTON – The chairman of a special House committee investigating the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya said Wednesday he is “keenly aware” that many people from both parties believe...

DATE: Dec 10, 2014 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

VA chief vows improved service to vets

Urges employees to refer to veterans as customers

DATE: Nov 10, 2014 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Are we overarming police?

Critics say program ‘militarizing’ local forces

DATE: Aug 15, 2014 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Senate confirms McDonald as VA secretary

WASHINGTON – The Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald as the new Veterans Affairs secretary, with a mission to overhaul an agency beleaguered b...

DATE: Jul 29, 2014 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Conference committee approves $17 billion VA health bill

WASHINGTON – House and Senate negotiators on Tuesday approved a $17 billion compromise bill to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs and reform a program scandalized by veterans’ long ...

DATE: Jul 29, 2014 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Could new $17B veterans bill pass?

House, Senate committees work out deal; now faces both chambers

DATE: Jul 28, 2014 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Tentative deal reached on VA reform

Bill expected to authorize billions of dollars in emergency spending

DATE: Jul 26, 2014 | CATEGORY: Nation & World