NEWS

A Tucson race is waiving entry fees for veterans and discounting active-duty troops as part of a growing nationwide series.

A Pentagon-based race team is raising money so more veterans can fly to Washington, D.C. and see their memorials in person.

A new Alabama law lets veterans without a bachelor's degree earn a 5-year temporary teaching certificate, effective October 1, 2026.

Four new Spartan obstacle course race weekends just joined the OWF lineup, spanning Indiana, Washington, California, and Tennessee.

Tough Mudder is giving first responders and immediate family free entry to a new Hometown Heroes 5K near Dallas-Fort Worth on October 26.

A new pilot study finds exercise meaningfully improves sleep quality in older veterans with PTSD, with the gains holding up over time.

New York and Illinois are moving against a company accused of charging veterans up to $20,000 for VA disability claims help that federal law requires be free.

New Mexico now gives every disabled veteran a property tax exemption proportional to their VA rating starting in 2026, up from a 100%-rating-only exemption, plus a bigger standard exemption.

A new Pennsylvania law requires funeral homes to notify county veterans offices within 96 hours, automatically connecting grieving families to burial benefits.

Camp Resilience's Jeff Ladieu is running 222 miles across New Hampshire, 22 a day, to raise $100,000 for veteran and first responder mental health programs.

After a paralyzing fall, veteran Orlando Perez found purpose in wheelchair sports and now mentors the newcomers who arrive afraid.

Newsom signed bills expanding property tax relief, CalVet coordination, Guard/Reserve paid leave, and college priority enrollment for CA veterans.

Over 100 women veterans met with 120+ congressional offices at WWP's 2026 Summit to push for better research and support for women who served.

A new New York law makes the full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans mandatory statewide starting October 1, 2026, ending years of patchwork local opt-in rules.

A new Connecticut law effective Oct. 1 fixes how veteran property tax exemptions are calculated and expands eligibility to some WWII Allied veterans.

A Maryland law effective Oct. 1 requires non-accredited VA claims consultants to disclose fees in writing or face steep penalties.

A Master Sergeant's officer-wellness fitness competition enters its second year, expanding from a regional event to the full Illinois State Police force.

A 30-mile relay for police, fire, and EMS teams moves to Ventura, California on Oct. 12, with this year's field roughly doubling in size.

The Pentagon has codified a new combat field test for 80+ military jobs across every branch, setting uniform fitness standards for combat arms roles.

The U.S. Virgin Islands has created a Women Veterans Coordinator role to connect women who served with health, housing, and benefits resources.

Ford and NASCAR are staging a first-of-its-kind Veterans Day race and concert at Daytona, with proceeds and free tickets going to military and veteran nonprofits.

Indiana replaced its veteran property tax deduction with new stackable credits, but veterans must re-register with their county auditor by Dec. 30, 2026, or risk losing the benefit.

New sex-neutral fitness standards for Marine combat jobs are tougher, but Pentagon data show over 91% of female Marines are already meeting them.

Three new races just joined the OWF lineup this week, spanning Massachusetts and Michigan — from a sold-out Boston-area Turkey Trot to a Lake Superior half marathon and a Grand Rapids 5K.

A Marin County firefighter is training for the NYC Marathon to raise money for families of first responders killed in the line of duty.

The Black Hills Veterans March and Marathon, born from a National Guard tribute to the Bataan march, marked 22 years of honoring veterans on South Dakota's Mickelson Trail this month.

TAPS' 4th Annual Gold Star Families Advocacy Week brings military survivors to Washington this week to push Congress for expanded survivor benefits.

A new Jacksonville ordinance ties city economic incentives to a 10% hiring goal for veterans and military spouses.

Two nonprofits carried one flag 250 miles from NYC to D.C. over five days, honoring 9/11's 25th anniversary and 250 years of military service.

Pennsylvania officials and veterans groups met this week to confront rising veteran suicide rates, highlighting new safety programs and the role of community support.

Gov. Newsom signed AB 113 on Sept. 18, sending $4.7 million to research psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine therapy for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD.

Today's FDA hearing on psychedelic therapy follows a VA-HHS partnership and a new veteran depression trial, part of a growing federal push on veteran mental health.

New York extended 9/11-related benefit deadlines for National Guard members and first responders ahead of the 25th anniversary, giving more people time to file WTC-related claims.

A new executive order directs the VA and Department of War to share military records in real time and build a single digital hub for veterans' benefits applications.

California just raised the income ceiling for its need-based college fee waiver for veterans' dependents, opening the door to more military families for the 2026-27 school year.

A retired firefighter and EMT built a first-of-its-kind obstacle race in Central New York, testing the skills of the job through 30 first-responder-inspired challenges.

A national nonprofit now offers free, 24/7 mental health counseling to children of Washington state's firefighters, police, and EMTs.

A national VA telehealth program is now reaching veterans at every VA health system, filling the gap between a mental health crisis and long-term care.

Arizona's new law gives 100% disabled veterans a full property tax exemption on their primary home starting in 2026, with scaled relief for partial ratings.

New York now requires every municipality to grant a full property tax exemption to veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled by the VA.

The Red Bull Tennessee Knockout has partnered with Project Enduro for Vets to award trophies and cash grants to top-finishing veteran off-road racers.

New York City's first city-sponsored ruck honors veterans and Gold Star families with a Sept. 13 march across the Brooklyn Bridge, organized with NYRR.

A new bipartisan bill would create the first federal grant program for firefighter, paramedic, and dispatcher mental health care.

Kansas now exempts 100% disabled veterans from state sales tax on up to $24,000 in purchases a year, effective July 1, 2026.

Virginia's DVS opened its sixth round of SOS grants, $4M for community groups fighting veteran suicide and opioid addiction, applications due Sept. 30.

Veteran nonprofit Vet Tix has now distributed 40 million free event tickets since 2008, generating an estimated $6.5 billion in economic impact for military families.

Four new races just joined the Operation WarriorFit lineup: a Tennessee gravel grinder and three Vermont road races, all open to veterans, service members, and first responders through free entry.

A first-time obstacle race at Green Lakes State Park puts entrants through challenges modeled on real first-responder work.

Ahead of 9/11's 25th anniversary, a nationwide stair-climbing movement called #ForThe343 has logged more than 100,000 flights in tribute to the firefighters lost that day and since.

A bill on Gov. Newsom's desk would exempt 100%-disabled California veterans from property taxes on their primary home, with full relief for lower-income veterans.

Nine new races just joined the Operation WarriorFit lineup, from a Vermont running weekend to a paratriathlon in NYC. Free entries await eligible veterans, service members, and first responders.

The Travis Manion Foundation's 9/11 Heroes Run returns for its 19th year, drawing 60,000+ participants to 100+ communities nationwide this month.

A constitutional amendment letting surviving spouses of disabled veterans move their property tax exemption to a new home is now certified for Louisiana's November 2026 ballot.

Richland Community College's 6th annual Operation Obstacle race returns Sept. 19 to raise awareness for veteran suicide prevention and fund student veteran support.

The American Legion is hosting nearly 2,000 veterans and active-duty troops at hospitality suites for Washington, D.C.'s inaugural INDYCAR Freedom 250 Grand Prix this August.

Three new races just joined the Operation WarriorFit lineup this week: a mountain bike enduro in Arizona, a marathon weekend in Indiana, and a gravel grinder in Tennessee, now open for free entry requests from eligible veterans, service members, and first responders.

An Iowa National Guard veteran is racing seven full-distance triathlons in seven days to raise money for ValorFit, a veteran fitness nonprofit.

St. Petersburg College is launching a free, peer-built mental health resiliency course for police, fire, EMS, corrections, and dispatch personnel.

Army veteran Jake Droge is running a half marathon in every state carrying an American flag, honoring a wounded comrade and inspiring fellow veterans to move again.

A veteran-founded nonprofit has opened 2027 applications for its free, yearlong program blending wilderness expeditions, adaptive sports, and leadership training.

A new study of 838 firefighters finds crews led by physically fit captains and lieutenants score higher on readiness tests than crews without that example.

Minnesota is the first state to formally recognize Hmong and Lao Secret War veterans, unlocking burial honors, ID designations, and more as of Aug. 1.

The VA has launched a randomized clinical trial testing psilocybin for veterans with treatment-resistant depression and PTSD, running at five VA medical centers nationwide.

A Monroe, Georgia American Legion post has partnered with local nonprofits to offer monthly mental wellness support for spouses and families of veterans and first responders.

The San Antonio Marathon's 2026 partners GOVX and Face the Fight are pairing military discounts with a $25,000 mental health fundraising match for veterans and first responders.

A new study of 3,200+ Afghanistan veterans finds regular, vigorous exercise weakens the long-term link between combat exposure and PTSD symptoms.

25 new races joined the OWF lineup this week: 24 Spartan Event and Trifecta Weekends nationwide plus a Tucson mountain bike enduro, all with free entries for eligible veterans, service members, and first responders.

Starting Aug. 1, VA education benefits for dependents will no longer cover new high school programs, though college and vocational training remain covered.

Indiana's police academies are replacing outdated fitness tests with a scenario-based Physical Agility Test built around real on-the-job tasks.

The VA has opened a nationwide clinical trial testing whether the diabetes drug semaglutide can help veterans reduce alcohol use disorder.

A new JAMA study finds veteran suicidal ideation up nearly 50% in five years, while fewer than 37% of affected veterans get mental health care.

Louisiana is the latest state urging Congress to pass the Major Richard Star Act, which would end the disability pay offset facing more than 50,000 combat-injured veterans.

Team RWB and wear blue: run to remember will carry a single flag from New York City to Washington, D.C. this September, honoring the 1.3 million Americans who died in service.

Veterans who file a PACT Act claim or intent-to-file by Monday, Aug. 14, 2026 may qualify for benefits backdated to August 2022.

A new mobile care platform called GOHOSPITAL will bring hospital-grade diagnostics and treatment to rural veterans, with deployment starting late 2026.

A new federal law ends surprise out-of-state tuition bills for Guard and Reserve members using the Montgomery GI Bill, effective for terms starting August 1, 2026.

A sweeping veterans benefits package is stalled in Congress after veterans groups warned its funding mechanism could cut future tinnitus and sleep apnea disability compensation for up to 1.5 million veterans.

The VA launched a national enrollment campaign for women veterans, kicking off with a San Antonio summit that could reach over 342,000 veterans in the Southwest.

Three bipartisan Minnesota veteran laws take effect Aug. 1: honorary diplomas for Korean and Vietnam vets, a National Guard pay raise, and wider burial eligibility.

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Act 38, requiring Pennsylvania's County Veteran Assistance Directors to complete new training in trauma-informed care, PTSD, TBI, and military sexual trauma support.

HYROX is on pace to draw nearly 2 million athletes this season, and veterans like Marine Corps veteran and firefighter Wyatt Navarro are among those toeing the line.

A new Pennsylvania law requires funeral homes to notify counties and give veterans' families contact info for burial benefits within 96 hours, closing a gap that leaves earned VA benefits unclaimed.

A new Louisiana law bars fees for medical records veterans need to file VA disability claims, effective August 1, 2026.

The VA is proposing to cut its disability and survivor benefit claim forms roughly in half, aiming to make applying faster and less overwhelming for veterans and families.

Yuma Marine veteran Donald Burns competed as an amputee for the first time at the 2026 Warrior Games and earned six medals plus a leadership award.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed three bills strengthening Illinois veterans' access to education, National Guard recruitment, and suicide-prevention therapies.

The Army has replaced height-weight tables and tape tests with a waist-to-height ratio standard, the last service to adopt the Pentagon-wide fitness overhaul.

Three new races just joined the OWF lineup: Freihofer's Run for Women (Albany, NY), Last Call Triathlon (Loveland, CO), and the Pittsburgh Marathon Weekend.

Shareapy Military launched this month as a free, VA-highlighted virtual peer support community for veterans, service members, first responders, and their families.

New Louisiana laws create a state stolen-valor crime and waive medical-record fees for veterans filing disability claims, both effective August 1.

The Army's I Corps launched "Fit to Fight," pairing physical training with nutrition, sleep, and mental performance coaching to build lasting soldier readiness.

Wounded Warrior Project''s 22nd annual Soldier Ride rolled through Times Square this month, using cycling to help veterans heal together.

A new Rutgers study finds nearly 4 in 5 veterans who died by firearm suicide never disclosed their intent, pointing to the need for community-based prevention.

A new Rutgers study finds nearly 4 in 5 veterans who died by firearm suicide never disclosed their intent, pointing to the need for community-based prevention.

Wounded Warrior Project's 22nd annual Soldier Ride rolled through Times Square this month, using cycling to help veterans heal together.

Nearly 500 veteran athletes competed in Detroit for the 45th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the world's largest wheelchair sports event for U.S. veterans.

Disabled veterans built cycling skills and camaraderie at a three-day adaptive gravel cycling camp in Oregon's Deschutes National Forest.

A new Indiana law creates fresh property tax credits for disabled veterans, but they must register with their county auditor before year-end deadlines.

wear blue: run to remember and Team RWB are carrying an American flag 250 miles from NYC to D.C. this September to honor the nation's fallen.

The Navy just put $1 million into a new operational fitness zone at Yokosuka Naval Base, part of a push to bring science-backed training to every installation.

Iowa now waives tuition and fees at its three public universities for 100% disabled veterans, following a unanimous bipartisan vote.

New Mexico's $10,000 standard exemption and a new disability-rating-based property tax break both take effect for the 2026 tax year.

VA and HHS signed a five-year agreement to speed research into rapid-acting psychedelic therapies for veterans with PTSD and other serious mental health conditions.

Team RWB's free Veterans Outdoor Challenge runs July 15-August 8, inviting veterans nationwide to log outdoor activity with no cost or experience required.

SoldierStrong donated a BraveMind virtual reality PTSD therapy system to Lovell Federal Health Care Center, the first such program in Illinois.

The 40th National Veterans Golden Age Games drew a record 1,200+ veteran athletes to Tampa this year, celebrating fitness and competition at every age.

Starting July 1, 2026, Kansas exempts 100% disabled veterans from state sales tax on up to $24,000 in purchases a year. Here's how the new exemption works.

New York''s Chapter 77 makes full property tax exemptions mandatory for 100% disabled veterans starting October 2026.

Arizona''s SB1749 removes income and value caps, widening full property tax exemptions for 100% disabled veterans starting in 2026.

The 2026 DoD Warrior Games wrapped in San Antonio with Team Army bringing home nearly 200 medals across adaptive sports built on recovery and resilience.

Bank of America, FIFA, and Vet Tix are giving away $2.25 million in free World Cup 2026 tickets to veterans, active military, and first responders near host cities.