03:09 PM ET
7 minutes ago
Vets bill fails in Senate, victim of election-year gridlock
Posted by
Senior Congressional Producer Ted Barrett
Washington (CNN) - A Democratic bill designed to make numerous improvements to services for veterans failed in the Senate Thursday, a victim of the partisan gridlock and election-year acrimony that dominates the chamber.
On a largely party-line vote, 56 to 41, the measure didn’t the 60 votes it needed to clear a procedural hurdle.
Republicans cited numerous policy reasons for opposing the bill and were further miffed when Democrats blocked them from offering amendments to try to change it.
“Unfortunately, it’s become standard practice around here for the majority to pursue partisan legislation in a take-it-or-leave-it manner, so it’s unsurprising that nobody other than the Majority Leader and Committee Chairman has been allowed the opportunity to amend this bill,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Democrats accused Republicans of trying to spike the bill by insisting one of their amendments deal with imposing new sanctions on Iran, something the White House has urged lawmakers not to do while sensitive diplomatic talks are underway with Iran over its nuclear program.
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Thursday, February 27, 2014
Fort Bragg Command Sergeant Major relieved of duties
Fort Bragg soldier relieved of duties amid misconduct investigation
Fayetteville Observer
By Drew Brooks Staff writer
Feb 27, 2014.
A senior noncommissioned officer has been relieved of his duties after allegations of misconduct were leveled against him.
The soldier, whose name was not released, is a command sergeant major within the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade at Fort Bragg, according to a spokesman from U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
The 95th Civil Affairs Brigade has its headquarters and five subordinate battalions stationed at Fort Bragg. Each would have a command sergeant major.
The unit's civil affairs soldiers are part of the special operations community and work with civilian agencies to coordinate efforts between the U.S. government and local populations.
Lt. Col. Dave Connolly, USASOC spokesman, said the senior leader has been "temporarily suspended of his duties pending the outcome of an investigation with respect to alleged misconduct" and declined to offer more details on the incident that led to the allegations or the investigation itself.
More information will be released if criminal charges are filed, he said.
The allegation of misconduct is the latest in a string of accusations against leaders in the Army.
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Fayetteville Observer
By Drew Brooks Staff writer
Feb 27, 2014.
A senior noncommissioned officer has been relieved of his duties after allegations of misconduct were leveled against him.
The soldier, whose name was not released, is a command sergeant major within the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade at Fort Bragg, according to a spokesman from U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
The 95th Civil Affairs Brigade has its headquarters and five subordinate battalions stationed at Fort Bragg. Each would have a command sergeant major.
The unit's civil affairs soldiers are part of the special operations community and work with civilian agencies to coordinate efforts between the U.S. government and local populations.
Lt. Col. Dave Connolly, USASOC spokesman, said the senior leader has been "temporarily suspended of his duties pending the outcome of an investigation with respect to alleged misconduct" and declined to offer more details on the incident that led to the allegations or the investigation itself.
More information will be released if criminal charges are filed, he said.
The allegation of misconduct is the latest in a string of accusations against leaders in the Army.
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Houston police officer judged veteran with PTSD service dog
Houston police to disabled vet blocked from restaurant: 'You don't need a dog'
Houston Chronicle
By Heather Alexander
February 26, 2014
Less than a year after Gov. Rick Perry's high-profile announcement of a new law protecting people with service dogs from being refused entry into public places, Houston police and businesses seem to be unaware that anything has changed.
For the third time in as many weeks, a disabled veteran has been told he cannot go into a restaurant because he has a dog, with staff in each incident questioning vets about needing a dog without being blind.
In the most recent case, a veteran, who says he served with special forces in Afghanistan, called the Houston Police Department to back him up when staff at Thai Spice Buffet on Voss said he couldn't come in, Tuesday.
Aryeh Ohayon said the officer didn't talk to restaurant staff, a complaint the manager confirmed.
"The officer said to me, you're not blind, you don't need a dog," said Ohayon, who needs his dog, Bandit, for post-traumatic stress disorder. "It's frustrating and a let down. We put our lives on the line, we want to be treated like normal people."
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Houston Chronicle
By Heather Alexander
February 26, 2014
Less than a year after Gov. Rick Perry's high-profile announcement of a new law protecting people with service dogs from being refused entry into public places, Houston police and businesses seem to be unaware that anything has changed.
For the third time in as many weeks, a disabled veteran has been told he cannot go into a restaurant because he has a dog, with staff in each incident questioning vets about needing a dog without being blind.
In the most recent case, a veteran, who says he served with special forces in Afghanistan, called the Houston Police Department to back him up when staff at Thai Spice Buffet on Voss said he couldn't come in, Tuesday.
Aryeh Ohayon said the officer didn't talk to restaurant staff, a complaint the manager confirmed.
"The officer said to me, you're not blind, you don't need a dog," said Ohayon, who needs his dog, Bandit, for post-traumatic stress disorder. "It's frustrating and a let down. We put our lives on the line, we want to be treated like normal people."
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DIsabled Vietnam veteran shot by police reaching for his cane
Sheriff: Man reaching for cane shot during traffic stop
WSOC News
By Greg Suskin and Trish Williford
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014
CLOVER, S.C. — The York County sheriff has reviewed the dash cam video of an officer-involved shooting, and placed the deputy responsible on paid leave during the investigation.
Deputy Terrance Knox, 24, stopped Bobby Canipe, 70, of Lincolnton, Tuesday night in Clover, for an expired tag. Deputies said Canipe got out of his truck and grabbed a walking cane out of the bed of his pickup. The deputy thought the cane was a weapon.
Knox fired his gun at Canipe several times, striking him once in the stomach area. Close friends said Canipe had surgery Wednesday at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, and is expected to survive.
Eyewitnesses told Channel 9 they saw the sheriff's car moments before the shooting, parked in parking lot on 321.
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WSOC News
By Greg Suskin and Trish Williford
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014
CLOVER, S.C. — The York County sheriff has reviewed the dash cam video of an officer-involved shooting, and placed the deputy responsible on paid leave during the investigation.
Deputy Terrance Knox, 24, stopped Bobby Canipe, 70, of Lincolnton, Tuesday night in Clover, for an expired tag. Deputies said Canipe got out of his truck and grabbed a walking cane out of the bed of his pickup. The deputy thought the cane was a weapon.
Knox fired his gun at Canipe several times, striking him once in the stomach area. Close friends said Canipe had surgery Wednesday at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, and is expected to survive.
Eyewitnesses told Channel 9 they saw the sheriff's car moments before the shooting, parked in parking lot on 321.
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Standoff with police leaves decorated Vietnam veteran dead
Gunman killed in standoff identified as Vietnam Veteran
CBS News 8
Video Report By Marcella Lee, Anchor/Reporter
Updated: Feb 27, 2014
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - An apparently suicidal 62-year-old man who was shot and killed after raising a rifle toward officers has been identified as a Vietnam veteran suffering from PTSD.
A fellow Vietnam veteran who spoke to CBS News 8, and wanted to be identified only as Bob, says John Chesney was the man involved in a standoff at a downtown San Diego retail/residential building on Wednesday.
Bob tells us Chesney was a paratrooper who served in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. He says Chesney was highly decorated, earning multiple awards including a Bronze Star, a Vietnam Service Medal, and a Vietnam Campaign Medal with two stars, indicating he served two campaigns.
Bob told CBS News 8 that Chesney was discharged from the military under honorable conditions, despite media reports to the contrary. He adds that Chesney suffered from PTSD and had trouble getting help because of a lack of resources for local veterans.
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CBS News 8
Video Report By Marcella Lee, Anchor/Reporter
Updated: Feb 27, 2014
A fellow Vietnam veteran who spoke to CBS News 8, and wanted to be identified only as Bob, says John Chesney was the man involved in a standoff at a downtown San Diego retail/residential building on Wednesday.
Bob tells us Chesney was a paratrooper who served in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. He says Chesney was highly decorated, earning multiple awards including a Bronze Star, a Vietnam Service Medal, and a Vietnam Campaign Medal with two stars, indicating he served two campaigns.
Bob told CBS News 8 that Chesney was discharged from the military under honorable conditions, despite media reports to the contrary. He adds that Chesney suffered from PTSD and had trouble getting help because of a lack of resources for local veterans.
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