U.S. Attorney office, Oregon District,

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that a joint stipulation of dismissal has been reached with Springfield, Oregon veteran Michael Williamson.

Mr. Williamson is a U.S. Air Force Veteran with a 100% disability rating due to his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“ALS”). The VA has contracted for Mr. Williamson’s in-home care for 19 years. Unfortunately, late last year his contracted provider abruptly submitted a 90-day notice to discontinue his care, citing safety concerns. After Mr. Williamson filed suit, the VA in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked collaboratively with Mr. Williamson and his attorneys from Disability Rights Oregon, to find additional options for in-home providers that could meet the high level of care needed in this case. Continue reading →

By Oregon Veterans Department,

Shannon Langley, an Army veteran who helped lead an incredible turnaround in the ability of veterans to secure employment and training opportunities in Oregon, has been named the state’s Woman Veteran of the Year.

Shannon enlisted in the Army in 1997 as a nuclear, biological and chemical specialist. After completing basic training, she was assigned to the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. She was soon elevated to the rank of sergeant, and also served as a battalion level training supervisor. Continue reading →

By Dennis Linthicum
Oregon State Senate

Here’s some good news from this short Legislative session. In many of Oregon’s rural settings, you will find innovative equestrian training facilities that specialize in providing therapeutic programs for adults and children.

These programs allow children and adults of all abilities and backgrounds to develop horsemanship skills, fitness, empathy, and self-confidence. Additionally, these facilities may also provide therapeutic and clinical programs, including counseling services. Counseling services in the rural environs widens access to the real world by providing the opportunity to get dirty, connect with animals and gain very specialized therapeutic training using the natural beauty, grace and gentleness of horses. The power of this environment for counseling gets leveraged because it bypasses the sterile, and sometimes threatening, clinical type setting. Continue reading →