Latest news with #Veteran'sAffairs
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What's the protest in Appleton's Houdini Plaza about? Here's what to know
APPLETON — A month after hundreds of people protested President Donald Trump's address to Congress in downtown Appleton's Houdini Plaza, a second protest of the Trump administration is happening today. The march is part of a wave of demonstrations across more than 30 Wisconsin communities and hundreds of other communities across the country, and also a march on Washington, D.C. Here's what to know. The local demonstrators organized under the national 'Hands Off!' branding created by a partnership of 182 organizations, many that have historically been associated with progressive politics. According to one of the organizations, Indivisible, nearly 500,000 people were signed up to protest across all 50 states Saturday, an organizational tactic similar to the international Women's Marches during President Donald Trump's first term. The target of the protests was what national organizers characterized as 'the most brazen power grab in modern history.' Specifically singled out was the influence of South African billionaire Elon Musk in Trump's second-term administration. Protesters took aim at policies and decisions by the Trump administration, including the firing Veteran's Affairs workers and the deporting an El Salvadorian man due to an 'administrative error.' TOMORROW: Over 500,000 Americans are taking to the streets at more than 1,200 nationwide events.'One main reason we're showing up is because we recognize that the creeping authoritarianism is creeping closer and closer towards all of us.' Posted by Indivisible Guide on Friday, April 4, 2025 National 'Hands Off!' organizers made the argument on their website's 'About' page that the government's actions amounted to 'a hostile takeover' by Trump and Musk, that ordinary Americans were the victims of such policies, and that the reaction to protest on Saturday was appropriate. 'This is the moment where we say NO,' it read. 'No more looting, no more stealing, no more billionaires raiding our government while working people struggle to survive.' It continued that, 'We'll show up at state capitols, federal buildings, congressional offices, and city centers — anywhere we can make sure they hear us.' The event is set to run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, at 100 W. Lawrence St. in Appleton. This story will be updated. Jesse Lin contributed to this report. Rebecca Loroff is a K-12 education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. Contact her at rloroff@ This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: 'Hands Off!' protesters gather at Houdini Plaza April 5
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What's the protest in Green Bay's Leicht Park about? Here's what to know
GREEN BAY ― About 500 demonstrators have registered to protest in Leicht Park midday Saturday, according to local organizers, though turnout is expected to ultimately be higher with participation from those not signed up, organizers told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. The Green Bay event, which kicked off at 11 a.m., is one of the over 1,200 protests across all 50 states Saturday, mobilized under the "Hands Off!" banner against policies enacted under President Donald Trump's administration. While not the first mass-organized protest against Trump in his second term, Saturday's national event has become widely anticipated and circulated following the speed of changes and actions under Trump's second term and the scope of influence by South African billionaire Elon Musk within the administration. Here's what you need to know. The local demonstrators will organize under the national 'Hands Off!' branding created by a partnership of 182 organizations, many that have historically been associated with progressive politics. According to one of the national partner organizations, Indivisible, over 500,000 people were signed up to protest Saturday across all 50 states, an organizational tactic similar to the international Women's Marches during President Donald Trump's first term. In Wisconsin, events are scheduled in more than 30 cities, according to a map maintained by the march's organizers, including in major population centers like Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton and Eau Claire, as well as in smaller communities as far north as Superior, as far west as River Falls and as far south as Beloit. The target of the protests was what national organizers characterized as 'the most brazen power grab in modern history.' Specifically singled out was the influence of South African billionaire Elon Musk in Trump's second-term administration. Protesters took aim at policies and decisions by the Trump administration, from firing Veteran's Affairs workers as part of the hunt for government waste to deporting an El Salvadorian man due to an 'administrative error.' TOMORROW: Over 500,000 Americans are taking to the streets at more than 1,200 nationwide events.'One main reason we're showing up is because we recognize that the creeping authoritarianism is creeping closer and closer towards all of us.' Posted by Indivisible Guide on Friday, April 4, 2025 National 'Hands Off!' organizers made the argument on their website's 'About' page that the government's actions amounted to 'a hostile takeover' by Trump and Musk, that ordinary Americans were the victims of such policies, and that the reaction to protest on Saturday was appropriate. 'This is the moment where we say NO,' they wrote. 'No more looting, no more stealing, no more billionaires raiding our government while working people struggle to survive.' They continued that, 'We'll show up at state capitols, federal buildings, congressional offices, and city centers – anywhere we can make sure they hear us.' Organizers told the Press-Gazette that the Green Bay event will feature 11 speakers, singing, children's activities, two food trucks, banners, and a drumline. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and will conclude at 2 p.m. with a march on Main Street, organizers said. This story will be updated. Jesse Lin is a reporter covering the community of Green Bay and its surroundings, as well as politics in northeastern Wisconsin. Contact him at 920-834-4250 or jlin@ This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: 'Hands Off!' protesters gather at Leicht Park in Green Bay on April 5
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Yahoo
Widow loses $1,200 in VA cemetery scam, GA Sec. of State says
Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger is reminding Georgians to be vigilant when it comes to memorial services and care of deceased loved ones. The reminder comes after a Georgia resident reported a scam to the Sec. of State's Office, telling them that their 'mother was deceived by an imposter posing as a representative of the Veteran's Affairs cemetery where her late husband was to be buried.' State officials said the 'scam artist contacted the grieving widow, falsely claiming a requirement of purchasing an insurance policy to cover her while the burial took place.' Raffensperger's office said that when the widow hesitated to agree on the phone, 'the scammer applied high-pressure sales tactics,' and she tried to pay them over Zelle. When the payment was flagged and rejected due to a fraud detection, she was then convinced to send $1,200 over PayPal, the Sec. of State's Office said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] After the grieving widow's family found out this had happened, they contacted state officials, who began investigating the incident, and the cemetery and funeral home were notified. Unfortunately, Raffensperger's office said the funeral home 'confirmed that such scams are alarmingly common.' TRENDING STORIES: Fani Willis, Fulton DA's office given 30 days to pay $54K for open records act violations Metro Atlanta teen accepted to 58 colleges, earning $1 million in scholarships Emory University under federal investigation over 'race-exclusionary practices' Now, the issue is under investigation by multiple law enforcement authorities. 'This incident occurred before the complainant's father had even been laid to rest, highlighting the vulnerability of grieving families to financial predators,' Raffensperger's office said. They provided the following recommendations for recognizing common signs of fraud: Bogus fees and upselling of services that should be free, such as burial in a VA national cemetery, which includes a gravesite, perpetual care, a government-provided headstone, and more at no cost to eligible families. Pressure tactics like demanding immediate payment for unfamiliar services. False claims of unpaid debts on behalf of the deceased without verifiable proof. Unsolicited offers of help from unverified sources claiming to advocate for your loved one's memorial benefits. To avoid becoming a victim of these types of scams, officials say to: Research funeral homes and check for disciplinary actions before committing to services. Engage with funeral home/cemetery representatives directly to confirm plans and benefits and avoid unnecessary charges. Ensure family members are informed of end-of-life decisions and document them properly. Never sign blank documents or agreements without reviewing charges and fees in full. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Veteran's symposium helps connect vets to resources
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Life after service can be confusing at times. Some veterans have benefits that they didn't even know existed. The Veterans Aging and Survivors Benefits Symposium is looking to change that. 'This stuff's important because there's a lot of stuff that veterans have as far as benefits, and we don't know about them,' said Claire Stender, who attended the symposium. A packed room full of retired service members and community partners listened to keynote speakers, who talked about a variety of topics: Anything from medical benefits to post-life care. 'It's one of those things that you don't want to do, and you procrastinate,' said Stender. 'But I feel I have to do it because I don't want my loved ones to be stressed and not being able to get things in order that I didn't leave behind.' For some who attended, it was a chance to get more information about the programs, after a long journey to join the Veteran's Affairs organization. 'In '03, you had to sign up for the VA,' said George Kornfeld, another attendee. 'My paperwork I turned in had three questions I didn't answer… They shredded my paperwork, so I was never going to get into the VA.' Now, he's is in the VA, and an event like the one held Thursday afternoon helped him understand the nuances of post-service benefits just a little bit more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Huge Study Finds Constellation of Health Benefits for Ozempic Beyond Weight Loss
In a ginormous new study, researchers have begun mapping the manifold health benefits of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy beyond weight loss. Published in the journal Nature Medicine, this new study led by Ziyad Al-Aly of the Veteran's Affairs health system in St. Louis tracked millions of diabetes patient outcomes over a period of 3.5 years. Of those, over 215,000 had been prescribed a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist receptor — the class of drugs that includes Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, and others — and 1.7 million were on another form of blood sugar-lowering medicine. Looking at other disorders in the data ranging from Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's to kidney disease and opiate addiction, Al-Aly and his team found that those who were on GLP-1 medications saw significant improvement across a staggering range of health concerns — and far beyond anything clearly linked to weight or blood sugar. Though many studies have found that these blockbuster drugs seem to be beneficial for specific disorders, "no one had comprehensively investigated the effectiveness and risks of GLP-1 receptor agonists across all possible health outcomes," the physician-scientist told Nature. In particular, Al-Aly said that the drugs' impact on addiction disorders "stood out" to him, with 13 percent of the GLP-1 cohort who had issues with addiction seeing improvement — a finding that dovetails with other studies about these drugs and their effect on addiction. Other apparent benefits were even harder to make sense of. Al-Aly and his team also discovered that psychotic disorder risk was lowered by 18 percent for the GLP-1 cohort, and the Alzheimer's risk was cut by 12 percent. "Interestingly, GLP-1RA drugs act on receptors that are expressed in brain areas involved in impulse control, reward and addiction — potentially explaining their effectiveness in curbing appetite and addiction disorders," Al-Aly said in a statement published by the University of Washington, which was also involved in the study. "These drugs also reduce inflammation in the brain and result in weight loss; both these factors may improve brain health and explain the reduced risk of conditions like Alzheimer's disease and dementia." While those findings are indeed incredible, the researchers also found that other issues seemed to be exacerbated by taking GLP-1s. Along with an 11 percent increase in arthritis risk, the team found a whopping 146 percent increase in cases of pancreatitis — another discovery that complements prior research into the drugs' dark side. Though that figure is pretty jarring, Al-Aly seemed to take it in stride. "Given the drugs' newness and skyrocketing popularity, it is important to systematically examine their effects on all body systems — leaving no stone unturned — to understand what they do and what they don't do," he said in the UWash press release. By looking so deeply into the drugs, these scientists are, as Al-Aly puts it, drawing a "comprehensive atlas mapping the associations" of GLP-1 drugs that looks into all of their effects on the body — an important quest as they continue to rise in popularity and usage. More on GLP-1s: Woman Annoyed When She Gets on Wegovy and It Does Nothing
