House Moves to Fill VA’s Budget Gap Despite Vets’ Objections

The Republican-led House is moving to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to shift $2 billion from other programs to cover a sudden budget shortfall in its Choice program of private-sector care. But the plan was meeting resistance from many Democrats following stiff protests from veterans' groups.

US student is freed after week held in China in taxi dispute

This undated file photo provided by Jennifer McLean shows her son, University of Montana student Guthrie McLean, on the Great Wall of China. Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines says police in central China freed 25-year-old Guthrie McLean early Monday local time, after he was arrested in China a week earlier after reportedly injuring a taxi driver who was roughing up his mother in a fare dispute.

US student freed after week held in China over taxi dispute

Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines says police in central China freed 25-year-old Guthri... . FILE - This undated file photo provided by Jennifer McLean shows her son, University of Montana student Guthrie McLean, on the Great Wall of China.

U.S. student freed after week held in China over taxi dispute

An American university student is free following a weeklong detention in China for allegedly injuring a taxi driver who was roughing up his mother during a fare dispute, in a case that drew objections over the student's treatment from U.S. lawmakers. Guthrie McLean, a student at the University of Montana, was released from a detention center in Zhengzhou early Monday, according to his mother, Jennifer McLean, a teacher who lives in the central Chinese city.

US student freed after week in Chinese detention

An American college student is free following a weeklong detention for allegedly injuring a taxi driver who was roughing up his mother during a fare dispute, in a case that drew objections over the student's treatment from U.S. lawmakers. Guthrie McLean, a student at the University of Montana, was released from a detention center in Zhengzhou early Monday, according to his mother Jennifer McLean, a teacher who lives in the central Chinese city.

Senator: American student arrested in China has been freed

Chinese authorities have dropped charges against an American college student who was arrested and detained in the Asian nation a week ago after reportedly injuring a taxi driver who was roughing up his mother in a fare dispute, a U.S. lawmaker said Sunday. Guthrie McLean, a University of Montana senior, was released from a detention center in the central China city of Zhengzhou early Monday local time, according to Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana.

Embassy officials visit US student held in China over taxi row

Mother of Guthrie McLean, 25, who has yet to be allowed to visit her son, says he is 'enduring' in captivity US embassy officials on Thursday visited the American university student detained in China over an altercation with a taxi driver, as family and friends continue to lobby for his release. Guthrie McLean, a 25-year-old student at the University of Montana, is being held at a detention centre in Zhengzhou, Henan province.

Senators begin negotiations on new VA Choice Program

Members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee gained feedback this week about three draft proposals to reform how and when veterans seek private-sector health care, setting the stage for negotiations between Democrats and Republicans on what might be the biggest task for the committee this year. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., the chairman of the committee, said an "amazing amount" has been accomplished so far this session and he contributed it to an amendable relationship between Republicans and Democrats on the committee.

Hotline Extra: District Judge Launches Exploratory Committee to Challenge Tester

Yellow stone County Dis trict Judge Rus sell Fagg formed an exploratory committee to challenge Sen. Jon Tester in Montana. Fagg recently announced he'd be retiring from the court.

Massachusetts jogger slaying suspect indicted for murder

A suspect has been indicted for murder in the death of a 27-year-old woman who was killed last summer while jogging in broad daylight in Massachusetts.An... -- When Barack Obama was president, his tight relationship with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was dubbed a political "bromance." Now, there appears to be a new... WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts has joined Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Jon Tester to introduce the bipartisan Agriculture Equipment and M... OMAHA, Neb.

2017Election

More news out of Virginia: Valerie Jarrett, who served as a senior adviser to former President Barack Obama for the duration of his presidency, endorsed former Rep. Tom Perriello in Virginia's hotly contested Democratic gubernatorial primary... Received this e-mail today from former Rep. Tom Perriello's gubernatorial campaign: Friend, I want to talk to you about something serious.

Court ruling detours, but doesn’t stop efforts to curtail feds’ due process

President Trump, accompanied by Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, center, holds up an executive order on "Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection" after signing it at the Department of Veterans Affairs, April 27, in Washington. On the same day President Trump plunged the nation into crisis by sacking the FBI director, a court ruling demonstrated the importance of due process for federal employees being fired.

Lawmakers reach agreement on stalled VA accountability bill

Congressional Republicans and Democrats have reached agreement on a long-stalled bill to make it easier for the Department of Veterans Affairs to fire its employees, part of an accountability effort touted by President Donald Trump. The deal announced Thursday could smooth the way for final passage on an issue that had been in limbo since the 2014 wait-time scandal at the Phoenix VA medical center.

Senators introduce VA accountability bill after 2-month stall

Nearly two months after the House passed legislation that would allow Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin to fire bad workers more quickly, the Senate on Thursday introduced its own version of the bill - one with bipartisan support. The bill, a deal between Senate Republicans and Democrats, signals the most likely opportunity that Congress has to pass VA accountability legislation following the 2014 scandal when veterans were found to be waiting long periods for health care.

What Others Say

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester recently made good on his promise to introduce legislation aimed at halting future mining on the doorstep of Yellowstone National Park. Many Park County residents applauded Tester for introducing the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, which would permanently remove federal mineral rights on some 30,000 acres of public land in the Custer Gallatin National Forest near Yellowstone National Park and the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness.

Senator Tester New bill aims to help veterans

Senator Jon Tester introduced a bipartisan bill that would increase veterans access to substance abuse and mental health treatment through veterans treatment court. Tester says the veteran treatment court does crucial work to make sure veterans in the criminal justice system are getting specific assistance they need.

VA secretary wants Congress to extend Choice program

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin says Congress needs to act quickly to extend a program aimed at widening veterans' access to private-sector health care, pointing to a growing demand for medical treatment outside the Department of Veterans Affairs. Shulkin also pledged additional efforts by his agency to combat suicide, saying he wanted to expand mental health care to former service members who receive "other than honorable discharges" from the military, typically for behavior problems such as violence or use of illegal drugs.

Lives in the balance: Montana asbestos-disease sufferers watch fight over Affordable Care Act repeal

In 2005, Les Skramstad and Gayla Benefield carried wooden crosses for each Libby resident who died from exposure to asbestos. Skramstad died of asbestos-related disease in 2007, and Benefield and four of her five children have been diagnosed with the disease.