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VALLEY CITY, N.D. — Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said benefits due to veterans should be provided by the government with as little red tape and politics as possible.

Heitkamp spoke at the North Dakota AMVETS convention in Valley City Saturday.

“You can’t cut corners on the backs of our veterans,” she said. “Do we do enough to not make our veterans beg for the services they were promised?”

Heitkamp also spoke about the important role of veterans’ organizations such as AMVETS in promoting the cause of veterans before Congress.

FARGO--Vietnam War veterans gathered Saturday in the Fargo Air Museum to be honored for their service by several North Dakota and Minnesota leaders at the opening ceremony of a Vietnam exhibit.

The veterans heard remarks from U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney and Moorhead Mayor Del Rae Williams.

Veterans said the exhibit is important to help remind the public about their service during the war.

Veterans can now track the status of most of their prescriptions online, thanks to an innovative idea by a Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) employee. The new 24/7 service allows online tracking for most prescriptions mailed from the VA Mail Order Pharmacy.

The Prescription Tracker was recommended by VA employee Kenneth Siehr, a winner of the President’s 2013 Securing Americans Value and Efficiency (SAVE) Award. Siehr’s idea focused on the use of technology as a way to save money and improve the services VA provides to its patients.

Military veterans who served since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks are more likely to be unemployed than their peers involved in earlier conflicts. The jobless rate for the most recent group of veterans was 7.2% in 2014, the Labor Department said this week. The figure is down from 9% in 2013—matching with steady improvement in the overall labor market—but remains elevated compared with other jobless measures. The jobless rate for all veterans was 5.3% last year.

BISMARCK, N.D. — The State Board of Higher Education selected Mark Hagerott as the next chancellor of the North Dakota University System on Thursday.

The board unanimously tapped Hagerott to replace Interim Chancellor Larry Skogen, whose term ends in July.

The announcement concluded a monthslong process that saw more than 20 candidates vying for the position, including one of the system's former chancellors. Hagerott beat out finalists Paul Turman and Robert Donley for the top spot.

Sam's Club has a new offer for new and renewing military members. The promotion offers new Sam's Club members and current members eligible for renewal one FREE Rotisserie Chicken, one package of Reser's Main St. Bistro Gourmet Macaroni, one package of Daily Chef cookies, and a $15 gift card.

This offer is valid for active military, veterans, military personnel and military spouses. Must show proof of military service, and be 18 or older.

The offer is available May 1 - 31, 2015.

The other would let Veterans stay in nursing homes in the area.

BISMARCK - North Dakota’s Congressional delegation on Monday announced nearly $120,000 in federal funding to help homeless veterans and their families access affordable housing in the Dickinson and Williston areas.The funds will be used to distribute 25 vouchers, which can be used to purchase existing affordable housing. 

The Stark County Housing Authority received $41,591, or 10 vouchers. The Williston Housing Authority received $77,150, or 15 vouchers.

The funds are authorized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement on the amount of funding to help identify and provide services to Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange.

Foreman Democratic Rep. Bill Amerman says the conference committee voted 6-0 on Monday to fund the program at $50,000 over the next two years. Both chambers still must approve the recommendation.

Democratic Sen. Richard Marcellais says there are about 15,000 Vietnam veterans living in North Dakota, and many of them may have been exposed to the jungle defoliant.

There are 8 Veteran Affairs clinics across North Dakota, but only one hospital, and it's all the way on the east side of the state.

Often times, it's too difficult for many of our vets to travel to Fargo, but now they're offering a more high-tech option.

Brittney Jacob is the Bismarck VA Clinic's TeleHealth technician, and helps around 3,800 patients meet with Fargo doctors through computers and cameras.

So rather than driving 3 hours every few months, they can make an appointment and connect with physicians in seconds.