Gyrocopter pilot to plead guilty in case
WASHINGTON – Douglas Hughes has said repeatedly in recent months that he objected to doing “significant hard jail time” for landing a gyrocopter outside the U.S. Capitol to call attention to what he considers the influence of big money on politics.
On Thursday, his lawyer said in an email to The Associated Press that Hughes had agreed to plead guilty to a felony in connection with the case, a charge that carries a potential of three years in prison.
Attorney Mark Goldstone said in an email that Hughes is expected to plead guilty to operating a gyrocopter without a license, a felony, on Nov. 20 in federal court in Washington.
VA can’t keep up with patient demand
WASHINGTON – Veterans’ hospitals and clinics are beefing up staff and seeing more patients, but the number of appointments not completed within 30 days continues to grow, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald said Friday.
Speaking at the National Press Club in advance of Veterans Day, McDonald described a VA that is doing much to address problems that investigators say caused chronic delays for veterans seeking care. Still, McDonald said the number of appointments not completed in 30 days has grown from 300,000 to nearly 500,000.
McDonald said more veterans are coming to the VA despite often having access to Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.
Associated Press
