veteran
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Retired Army battlefield medic serves community though direct primary care practice
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Jennifer Hawkins has spent her entire adult life caring for people. From her initial enlistment in the Army as a practical nursing specialist, to the tour she spent in Afghanistan, Hawkins has prioritized the well-being of others. Even her stint as a drill sergeant, shepherding civilians through their transition into soldiers, was a form of…
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Veteran suicide declines after years of focused prevention in El Paso County
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Editor’s note: Those who are in crisis or facing suicidal thoughts are encouraged to call the 988 crisis hotline. Former Marine Corps Sgt. Heath Miller was facing prison for theft when he decided to get clean. Like many others, his introduction to opioids started with a prescription. He received oxycodone while in the Marines to…
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Denver aims to end homelessness among veterans by year’s end
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Atop his numerous promises this year, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston added another one — end homelessness among veterans. Denver officials said 52 veterans are homeless in the city and they plan to house all of them by the end of the year. It would make Denver the first large city in the nation to do…
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A Colorado veteran needed help. He ended up dead after the VA referred him to a nursing home
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The terrible chain of events began three years ago in Grand Junction when the Veterans Health Administration made a questionable referral for an elderly veteran named Ernest Griffiths Jr. to enter a private-sector nursing home for his dementia care. It ended Feb. 25 with suspected felony neglect after a foot wound went untreated and sepsis…
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Q&A with Rep. David Ortiz | Finding his way
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Rep. David Ortiz never imagined himself as a member of Colorado’s General Assembly, despite years of advocating for others. Nearing the end of his first term in office, Ortiz spoke about how he got to the state Capitol and his unique story of success. On June 21, 2012, while flying over the Khost province south…
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Yes, the FBI is now investigating the Aurora VA hospital
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation is reviewing allegations that Veterans Affairs Department officials lied to Congress to cover up huge cost overruns at a hospital being built in Aurora. The Justice Department revealed the FBI investigation in a Dec. 9 letter to Congress that was made public a week later. The projected cost of the…
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Tipton: Thank you for your service and sacrifice
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Throughout my time in Congress, I have had the privilege of meeting many veterans from across the 3rd Congressional District and hearing fascinating stories detailing their military service and their contributions to communities across Colorado. Pueblo is among my favorite places to visit in our district. The city is a melting pot of different cultures,…
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Veterans group backs wilderness bill after Bennet adds Camp Hale
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When Garett Reppenhagen, an honorably discharged cavalry scout and a sniper with the U.S. Army First Infantry Division, returned to his home state of Colorado in 2005 after serving in Kosovo and Iraq, the wilderness advocate recovered by spending time on public lands. “When I came home I looked to the outdoors kind of instinctively…
