VETERANS

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Military.com profiled Operation WarriorFit's founder and mission to remove the cost barrier keeping veterans and first responders from race day.

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.

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.

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.

Jonathan Milkovich, founder of Operation WarriorFit, will run 700 miles across North Carolina this fall to raise awareness for veteran fitness and mental health.

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.