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The organization which represents the spouses of police officers and security guards has petitioned Justice Minister Gideon S'ar to order the Department of Internal Police Investigations to end its investigation of the officers who shot dead a terrorist who had stabbed a civilian in Jerusalem on Saturday. In a letter sent by Abigail Sharara, the organization's director general, to Minister Sa'ar, she protests the investigation and states that it is an "inappropriate, disproportionate response that conveys a message of abandonment and lack of support towards those who acted with determination and courage, risking their lives and saving lives." "Our feelings...

One of the more interesting facts in Esther Perel’s new book, State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity, comes near the beginning. Since 1990, notes the psychoanalyst and writer, the rate of married women who report they’ve been unfaithful has increased by 40 percent, while the rate among men has remained the same. More women than ever are cheating, she tells us, or are willing to admit that they are cheating — and while Perel spends much of her book examining the psychological meaning, motivation, and impact of these affairs, she offers little insight into the significance of the rise itself. So...

UVa eliminates health insurance for working spouses of employees Coverage will end Jan. 1 in a move that officials hope will save “millions of dollars.” by DEREK QUIZON | The (Charlottesville) Daily Progress Thursday, August 22, 2013 CHARLOTTESVILLE — The University of Virginia will no longer provide insurance coverage to the working spouses of its employees, a move university officials hope will save “millions of dollars.” Starting Jan. 1, employee spouses who have health insurance coverage under their employers cannot get coverage under UVa’s plan. If the spouse is covered under a plan defined by the Affordable Care Act as...

Like the car salesman in National Lampoon’s Vacation (played by Eugene Levy) said: “You think you hate it now, but wait ’til you drive it!” The same applies to the Affordable Healthcare Act (aka, Obamacare). levycar Now UPS has announced that it is cutting 15,000 spouses from healthcare coverage. This is effectively another way that Obamacare raises the cost of healthcare. This, of course, is outrageous, the government telling companies what they can and cannot do for healthcare coverage. Why will you hate Obamacare once you drive it? 1. Forced forced home inspections by gov’t agents: Under Obamacare, government agents...

United Parcel Service Inc. plans to remove thousands of spouses from its medical plan because they are eligible for coverage elsewhere. The Atlanta-based logistics company points to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, as a big reason for the decision, reports Kaiser Health News. The decision comes as many analysts are downplaying the Affordable Care Act’s effect on companies such as UPS, noting that the move reflects a long-term trend of shrinking corporate medical benefits, Kaiser Health News reports. But UPS repeatedly cites Obamacare to explain the decision, adding fuel to the debate over whether it erodes traditional employer coverage,...

United Parcel Service Inc. plans to remove thousands of spouses from its medical plan because they are eligible for coverage elsewhere. The Atlanta-based logistics company points to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, as a big reason for the decision, reports Kaiser Health News.

If you think your boss is the biggest cause of stress at work, you may be wrong, for a new study has claimed that spouses cause more anxiety at home than superiors in office. According to the study, based on a survey of 3,000 people in Britain, there may be no place like home, but if one wants to relax then one might be better off at work.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24, 2009 – In this season of giving, America has not forgotten her troops or their mission overseas. Thousands have contributed their time, energy -- and Beanie Babies -- to help Marines gain the respect and confidence of the Afghan population. Members of the Marine Aviation Officer's Spouses Club and the Marine Officer's Spouses Clubof Washington, D.C. collected more than 70,000 Beanie Babies for Marines to distribute to children throughout Afghanistan. The Beanie Babies, stored at Marine Barracks Washington, will be heading to their final destination when the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps makes a special visit...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2009 – Under a personnel rule that takes effect next month, some military spouses could be quickly hired for federal jobs without going through the usual competitive process. The new hiring authority takes effect Sept. 11. The Office of Personal Management issued the authority’s final regulatory guidelines Aug. 12. The guidelines are posted in the Federal Register under the title: “Noncompetitive Appointment of Certain Military Spouses.” The intended effect of the rule, according to documents listed in the Federal Register, “is to facilitate the entry of military spouses into the federal civil service as part of an...

7/17/2009 - MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) -- The special effects and streaming lights on the stage were not as bright as the smiles that illuminated the faces of audience members during the Tops In Blue's debut of the 2009 "To Dream" tour July 10 at the Transit Center at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. The group's performance was a dream come true for deployed Tech. Sgt. Patrika Boone; not because she hadn't seen the group perform before, but rather she was seeing her husband perform on stage for the first time. Staff Sgt. Wendell Boone Jr is a lead vocalist...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., July 13, 2009 – When Army Pfc. Joseph James deploys this month he won’t have to say goodbye to his wife, Army Pfc. Samantha James -- she will be with him throughout his yearlong deployment to Iraq. Army Pfc. Joseph James and his wife, Army Pfc. Samantha James, volunteered to deploy together to Iraq. The couple is assigned to the Florida Army National Guard’s 1218th Transportation Company, based in West Palm Beach, Fla. Photo courtesy of Florida National Guard.   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Joseph and Samantha are one of three married couples deploying...

FORT STEWART, Ga. - More than 20 spouses and one mother of a Soldier assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team took part in the squadron's first Spouse Spur Ride at Fort Stewart, April 30. The Spouse Spur Ride is a variation of the Cavalry Spur Ride, which is designed to test Soldiers' physical and mental endurance in a series of tasks. Additionally, the event allows spouses to bond with one another and gives them an opportunity to experience a day in the life of their Soldier. "It is important for spouses to see...

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2009 – More than 300 military spouses attended one of two "Field Exercises" recently at Fort Sill, Okla., designed to assist them in dealing with life while their deployed spouses are away. Tara Crooks, foreground, and Starlett "Star" Henderson, founders of Army Wife Network, listen to spouses share their personal deployment experiences during a "Field Exercise" event held April 23-24, 2009, at Fort Sill, Okla. More than 300 spouses gathered for the two-day event, created to empower and rejuvenate military spouses whose husbands are deployed. Courtesy photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Starlett "Star"...

FORT HOOD, Texas - When Christine Tharp saw her husband talk about getting his cavalry spurs, she knew she wanted the opportunity to earn them as well. So, when 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division got together to put on a Spouses' Spur Ride competition March 6, on Fort Hood, she was "thrilled" to say the least and more than 60 other spouses and family members came out to the competition. "I was like, 'thank God,'" said Tharp, of St. Johnsville, N.Y. "It's come to 2-12....

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2009 – Through its investor education foundation, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, is helping military spouses become accredited as financial counselors. The foundation’s “Military Spouse Fellowship Program” has been providing military spouses the means to earn the accredited financial counselor designation since 2006, John Gannon, the foundation’s president, said. Military spouses who are accredited financial counselors can be a wealth of financial information for servicemembers and military families as the country faces a challenging economy, Gannon noted. “What we’re trying to achieve with our spouse fellowship program is … [to] provide an additional resource...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2008 – Military spouses with an eye on professional certification or a post-secondary education may not have to foot the entire bill, thanks to a National Military Family Association scholarship program. The group is accepting applications for its annual Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to spouses or surviving spouses of servicemembers on active duty or in the National Guard or reserves and of military retirees. The scholarships, ranging from $500 to $1,000, can be used for tuition, fees, and school room and board while the spouse obtains professional certification or attends...

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 2, 2008 – Military spouses often have a hard time finding employment, and even when they do, there’s little opportunity to continue their career because it’s only a matter of time before their servicemember spouse is transferred to another duty station. Inova Health System of Northern Virginia is trying to help. “It’s a challenge to build and keep a family together, especially while the nation is at war,” Michael L. Dominguez, principal undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said yesterday during a ceremony in which Inova made its commitment to the military community. Inova’s pledge gives...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2008 – Starting a business requires cold, hard cash and moral support, both of which are now available to military spouses through a Virginia-based organization. “Military Spouse Business Association will help military spouses with the tangibles of financial and business resources and the intangibles of motivation, encouragement, support and recognition,” said Lanette Lepper, a co-founder of the organization, and a military spouse who owns her own business. The other co-founders, Joanna Williamson and Rebecca Poynter, share the same backgrounds as military spouses and small-business owners. Their idea to create the Military Spouse Business Association stemmed from...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2008 – More military spouses than ever before are heading back to school this year, and they’ve earned some financial help to study for their chosen degree, National Military Family Association officials said. The association, which prepares military spouses, children, and parents to better deal with the unique challenges of military life, recently announced the nearly 400 recipients of its 2008 Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Program. This number represents a dramatic increase over previous years, officials said, thanks to new partnerships with the Fisher House Foundation and Health Net Federal Services, who helped meet...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2008 – Two troop-support groups hosted a “Military Showers of Appreciation” for 15 expectant military mothers July 27 at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Many of the expectant mothers helped by the two groups -- North Star Group and Operation Showers of Appreciation -- have spouses who are deployed and will not be home for the birth of their new babies. “Military Showers of Appreciation assists active-duty military families from all branches that are expecting new babies with various items they will need to care for their new baby,” said Mandy Sims, vice president of the North Star...