Veterans Issues

A program in Minnesota is offering a unique opportunity for veterans. Tim Norris with the Veterans Farming Initiative, a veteran himself, joined FOX 9 All Day to talk about his program.

Minnesota is recognizing its veterans during a Veterans Day ceremony in Mankato.

Every day, thousands of veterans across the country struggle without a place to call home. U.S.VETS is leading the fight to change that — providing housing, counseling, and career support to more than 12,000 veterans each year. Through the Make Camo Your Cause campaign, U.S.VETS and FOX are calling on all Americans to stand with those who served. By wearing camo, sharing your stories with #HonorUSVETS, and donating at go.fox/usvets, you can help end veteran homelessness and give our nation’s heroes the second chance they deserve.

Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) hosted an event at CHS Field in St. Paul to help veterans with access to housing, public benefits, along with free hair cuts, health checks and vaccinations.

Jason White is a Army veteran, and to raise awareness for the increasing veteran suicide rate, he and his wife, Angela, are riding their motorcycles through 22 states over 22 days and joined "The Afternoon Shift" during their stop in Minnesota.

The Fort Snelling National Cemetery hosted a Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony with speakers including Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar. The entire ceremony can be watched in the video above.

Minnesota is celebrating Memorial Day with a variety of events and ceremonies. FOX 9's Chenue Her has more on the story.

Meals on Wheels is asking the state of Minnesota for money to help keep serving food to veterans. The program has delivered more than 28,000 meals to around 300 veterans over the past two years, and organizers say the program has also helped bring down suicide rates among veterans because it allows them to socialize at least a little bit every day. The program was created with one-time funding from the DFL trifecta at the Minnesota Legislature, and now the money has almost run out. Meals on Wheels is seeking nearly $1 million over the next few years.

Scammers targeting veterans have become such a problem that the Federal Trade Commission is warning veterans and loved ones to be careful with their money and benefits. A bipartisan Minnesota bill proposed this week aims to protect veterans from fraud. Co-author of the bill, Rep. Emma Greenman, along with Dr. Kristy Janigo, discussed how the bill would protect against “claim sharks.”

A DFL and GOP lawmaker introduced a bill aimed at protecting veterans from fraud.

Veterans Affairs is being impacted by government spending cuts implemented by President Donald Trump. In Minneapolis, at least 12 employees at the Veteran?s Affairs Healthcare System in Minneapolis got laid off.