logo
OKC VA preps for emergency operation exercise June 9

OKC VA preps for emergency operation exercise June 9

Yahoo21 hours ago

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Officials with the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center announced on Friday an Emergency Operations Exercise is set to be conducted on June 9th.
According to VA officials, the exercise operation will begin at 9:00 a.m. providing real life incidents ensuring mocking procedures are followed while providing help in the event of a mass casualty incident.
'This exercise will test the response capabilities of the OKC VA Medical Center Staff to a mass casualty event,' said Christopher Ence, Emergency Management Specialist.
Service Oklahoma warns residents of text scam
The VA says there will be no interruption to services during the exercise and if Veterans should not step in if they see staff participating.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

D-Day rally in Idaho protests proposed cuts to Veterans Affairs
D-Day rally in Idaho protests proposed cuts to Veterans Affairs

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

D-Day rally in Idaho protests proposed cuts to Veterans Affairs

James Peterson has Stage 4 cancer, likely caused by exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. He's in hospice now and uses on oxygen tank. But he wasn't going to miss a rally Friday afternoon in front of the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He was taking part in the Unite for Veterans rally in conjunction with a national rally held at the same time in Washington, D.C., to protest proposed cuts to the VA. 'I don't know what veterans are going to do if they keep screwing with things,' Peterson told me. 'We made a promise, they made a promise, and now they're breaking their promise,' he said as he broke down in tears. He said he's received excellent care at the Boise VA, which he said has saved his life twice, from pneumonia and sepsis, and is now providing care for his cancer. Earlier this year, it was revealed that as part of cuts by Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency, the Department of Veterans Affairs was planning to cut 83,000 jobs, slashing employment by over 17% at the federal agency that provides health care for millions of veterans, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press. The date for Friday's rally, June 6, is significant: It's the anniversary of D-Day, the day that Allied forces stormed the beaches at Normandy, France, marking the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe. About 70 people lined Fort Street in front of the Boise VA center, drawing honks and waves from most of the passersby. A couple of knuckleheads shouted 'Go Trump,' apparently in celebration of cutting funding for programs that help veterans. (A passing Tesla cybertruck drew a round of boos from the protesters.) Protesters held signs that read, 'Hands off VA,' 'Cut DOGE, Not VA,' 'Veterans fought for us, now we fight for them,' 'No King! Veteran, not loser' and 'Our vets are not suckers or losers.' Nancy Daniels, holding a sign that read 'Our vets deserve a fully staffed VA,' is an Air Force veteran who served seven years during the Vietnam War and spent 20 years working as a medical service worker at the Boise VA before retiring in 2023. 'This is a phenomenal center,' she told me. 'I am proud to be a veteran. It just breaks my heart to see what's happening.' She said Idaho's congressional delegation showed up several years ago to support the opening a women's wellness center and clinic at the Boise VA. 'They supported us, and now they're doing this,' she said. 'Shame on them.' Earlier this year, I interviewed one VA employee from Boise who was fired from his job in Washington, D.C., shortly after he had been hired. His job was to help connect veterans with services. These cuts are not going to fly with the American public, Jim Jones, former Idaho attorney general and state Supreme Court chief justice who helped to organize Friday's local rally, told me. Jones spent 401 days in a heavy artillery division in the Army in Vietnam. 'They've made plans for draconian cuts to the VA,' said Jones, who was wearing an Army uniform that he hadn't worn since August 1969. 'They want to get rid of 83,000 staffers, and it's just not going to work. It's a major betrayal of our veteran population, and I don't think the American people are willing to put up with it.' There is good news — sort of. Despite DOGE cuts, the House Appropriations Committee, of which U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, is a member, included an $83 billion increase in its fiscal 2026 VA spending bill to about $453 billion, according to That would be good news — if Congress approves it and if Trump doesn't arbitrarily cut it. That said, medical care would get only a 4% bump in the committee's approved budget, and the plan includes allowing veterans to see private doctors. Raymond O'Dell, of Boise, who is trying to form a Veterans for Peace chapter in Idaho, said he's worried about plans to privatize VA medical services. 'I just don't think the public truly understands what would be lost if we privatize the VA,' he said. 'Veterans are not where the cuts need to be made. We should find cuts elsewhere. We made a promise to our veterans.' For Peterson, that promise is sacrosanct. 'We signed a check,' he said, breaking down again, 'to put our lives on the line for the Constitution, and these nippleheads in Washington, D.C., who have never served or pretend that they served have no idea what it is they have to do. They promised us their support, and they need to take care of those who have served this country.'

'Unite for Vets' rally in Washington, D.C., protest overhaul of VA
'Unite for Vets' rally in Washington, D.C., protest overhaul of VA

UPI

time6 hours ago

  • UPI

'Unite for Vets' rally in Washington, D.C., protest overhaul of VA

1 of 8 | Veterans, military families and demonstrators gather on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.,, to participate in a Unite for Veterans Rally to protest the Trump Administration's cuts to staffing and programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo June 6 (UPI) -- Several thousand veterans converged on the National Mall on Friday at a rally among 200 events nationwide against a proposed overhaul that includes staffing reduction and some services shifted. The Veterans Administration counters the new proposed budget is higher than last year, processing of claims have sped up and it's easier to get benefits. Veterans, military families and others participated in the Unite for Veterans, Unite for America Rally on the 81st anniversary of D-Day, which was the Allies' amphibious invasion of German-occupied France. The protests, which were organized by a union, took place at 16 state capitol buildings and more than 100 other places across 43 states. "We are coming together to defend the benefits, jobs and dignity that every generation of veterans has earned through sacrifice," Unite for Veterans said on its website. "Veteran jobs, healthcare, and essential VA services are under attack. We will not stand by." Speakers in Washington included Democrats with military backgrounds: Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, former Rep. Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania and California Rep. Derek Tran. There were signs against President Donald Trump, VA Secretary Doug Collins and Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire who ran the Department of Government Efficiency. They said those leaders are betraying the country's promises to troops. "Are you tired of being thanked for our service in the public and stabbed in our back in private?" Army veteran Everett Kelly, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, asked the crowd. "For years, politicians on both sides of the aisle have campaigned on their support of veterans, but once they get into office, they cut our benefits, our services. They take every opportunity to privatize our health care." The Trump administration plans to cut 83,000 VA staffers and shift more money from the federal health care system to private-sector clinics. The administration's proposed budget for the VA, released on Friday, slashes spending for "medical services" by $12bn - or nearly 20% - an amount offset by a corresponding 50% boost in funding for veterans seeking healthcare in the private sector. The Department of Veterans Affairs employs approximately 482,000 people, including 500,000 workers at 170 hospitals and 1,200 local clinics in the nation's largest health care system. In all, there are 15.8 million veterans, which represents 6.1% of the civilian population 18 years and older. VA officials said the event was misguided. "Imagine how much better off veterans would be if VA's critics cared as much about fixing the department as they do about protecting its broken bureaucracy," VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz said in a statement to UPI. "The Biden Administration's VA failed to address nearly all of the department's most serious problems, such as rising health care wait times, growing backlogs of veterans waiting for disability compensation and major issues with survivor benefits." Kasperowicz told UPI disability claims backlog is already down 25% since Trump took office on Jan. 20 after it increased 24% during the Biden administration. He said VA has opened 10 new healthcare clinics around the country, and Trump has proposed a 10% budget increase to $441.3 billion in fiscal year 2026. The administration's proposed budget for the VA reduces spending for "medical services" by $12 billion - or nearly 20% - which is offset by a 50% boost in funding for veterans seeking healthcare in the private sector. Kasperowicz said the "VA is accelerating the deployment of its integrated electronic health record system, after the program was nearly dormant for almost two years under the Biden Administration." The event was modeled after the Bonus Army protests of the 1930s, when veterans who served in World War I gathered in the nation's capital to demand extra pay denied after leaving the service. Irma Westmoreland, a registered nurse working at a VA hospital and the secretary-treasurer of National Nurses United, told the crowd in Washington: "It's important for every person to keep their job, from the engineering staff to the housekeeper to the dietary staff. When cuts are made, the nursing and medical staff will have to pick up all their work that needs to be done."

Palantir and TeleTracking Team Up to Enhance Healthcare Operations Using AI-Driven Insights
Palantir and TeleTracking Team Up to Enhance Healthcare Operations Using AI-Driven Insights

Yahoo

time15 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Palantir and TeleTracking Team Up to Enhance Healthcare Operations Using AI-Driven Insights

TeleTracking Technologies, a leading provider of healthcare operations platforms, has teamed up with Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR), known for its expertise in artificial intelligence systems. The two companies have formed a strategic partnership with the goal of transforming how hospitals and health systems make operational decisions, ultimately creating long-term value for healthcare providers around the world. The collaboration will integrate TeleTracking's Operations IQ platform with Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR)'s AI-driven tools, including Foundry and AIP. This combined solution is expected to equip hospitals with near real-time, actionable insights to improve staffing efficiency, speed up decision-making, and ensure that patient needs remain the top priority. As healthcare systems continue to face increasing demands to enhance capacity and coordination without expanding their physical footprint, this partnership represents a significant step forward. By bringing together TeleTracking's operational strengths and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR)'s cutting-edge technology, the two aim to usher in a new era of intelligent, scalable, and efficient healthcare delivery. Alex Karp, CEO at Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) made the following comment: 'This partnership with TeleTracking represents the AI revolution in healthcare we are in the midst of—where we continue to move closer to a world where all hospitals and health systems are embracing, implementing and operating with an AI-powered approach, helping to streamline operations allowing for increased focus on providing the best level of care.' Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) is an American publicly traded company that focuses on developing software platforms designed for analyzing large volumes of data. While we acknowledge the potential of PLTR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure. None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store