The Department of Veterans Affairs approved $1.2 billion in facility infrastructure improvements during the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, the agency announced July 20, bringing total obligated spending from its record $4.8 billion, nonrecurring maintenance budget to $2.3 billion for the year so far. The fiscal 2026 non-recurring maintenance, or NRM, budget is the largest in the VA’s history. The funds go toward significant maintenance, replacements and upgrades at VA medical facilities nationwide, intended to maintain and improve both operational capability and health care delivery. Where the Money Is Going Of the $1.2 billion approved in the third quarter,…
Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More Backcountry: Up to 40% Off (Photo/prAna) You can find nearly everything you might need for outdoor adventures at Backcountry. And you’ll find major deals on that gear during Backcountry’s Summer Sale. Get up to 40% off a variety of apparel, shoes, tents, and more. I’m partial to suggesting prAna’s Stretch Zion Pants. With many sizes and colors on sale for 30% off, it’s a solid choice for pants that will last a very long time. I’ve had my pair for over 10 years, and…
Buying and leasing both have their advantages, but the cheaper option depends on how long you plan to keep the vehicle, how much you drive, and whether you’re expecting a PCS, deployment, or other life changes. Before you sign on the dotted line, here’s what military families should consider. How Does Leasing Work? Leasing a vehicle is similar to renting it as you pay a monthly fee for the ability to use the car for a certain amount of time, which is typically two to three years. During that time, your lease agreement will dictate how you can use the…
A climbing rope made entirely from recycled materials has no business handling this well. The Mammut Crag Recycled 9.8mm Dry Rope ($200) looks and feels surprisingly similar to some of the thinner ropes I already own. That caught my attention because it had been a long time since I’d been interested in using a 9.8mm rope. The more experienced I became as a climber, the lighter I wanted my ropes to be. Lighter and thinner ropes have several advantages. They’re easier to feed out of a belay device, faster to clip, and lighter to carry. But they lose points in…
Homicides hit historic lows in 2025, and all indications seem to suggest that we’re going to set a new low here in 2026. That’s fantastic news, especially as this drop has coincided with the fearmongering among anti-gunners following the Bruen decision. The problem is, though, that anti-gunners don’t actually care about reality. All they need is enough of a perception that there’s a problem to sort of justify them doing stupid things, like, say, calling for a special legislative session to pass gun control in one of the most anti-gun states in the nation.The Delaware-based…
Your vehicle’s brakes are its most important safety system, but they’re also one of the easiest components to overlook when something goes wrong. While brake pads and rotors wear over time, your vehicle usually gives you warning signs before braking performance becomes dangerous. Paying attention to unusual noises, changes in pedal feel, or differences in how your vehicle stops can help you catch problems early. Knowing what to look for can help you avoid more expensive repairs – and keep you and your passengers safe on the road. 1. Squealing or Screeching When You Brake A high-pitched squeal when you…
A hero’s return home to the United States on Thursday for a World War II prisoner of war who died in captivity more than eight decades ago. Private First Class Bernard Folteen Sweet’s remains were set to return to the U.S. on a flight at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. According to the Army, Sweet was a native of Bennington, Vermont, who served with the Army’s Headquarters Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group in the Philippines during WWII, 84 years ago. Newspaper clipping from 1942 details Army Ffc. Bernard Sweet’s death as a WWII POW in Japan. His remains were returned to…
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This article was originally published by Conner McEleney at The Mises Institute. Many progressives, such as Robert Reich and Kyle Kulinski, argue that the economy needs a universal basic income (UBI) to fix it. Their argument stems from the idea that UBI has no serious flaws, that many studies show success, and that it’s the moral thing to do. An example that these progressives would cite would be the Denver UBI experiment. The study had three groups of people. Group A had $1,000 per month, and Group B had $6,500 for the first month; the other months were $500. Group C had…
Many who are new to attempting the Murph memorial workout soon discover that they did way too much. Whether you want to try it this year or to start getting ready for 2027, here is the Murph, done in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy, along with the post-Murph I recommend if you find yourself incredibly sore because you simply did too much: The Murph 1. Run 1 mile 2. Accumulate the following total repetitions: 100 pullups 200 pushups 300 squats 3. Run 1 mile An extra challenge is to do this with a 20-…
This article was originally published by Lance D. Johnson at Natural News. The United States and Israel have spent years assuming they can strike Iranian targets with impunity, violating ceasefire agreements and assassinating officials without consequence. That assumption just exploded along with a U.S. airbase near Bandar Abbas. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck back at 4:50 a.m. Thursday, targeting the American base it identified as the “origin of the aggression.” The IRGC’s warning was stark: Aggression will not go unanswered, and any repeat attack will draw a “more decisive” response. Key points: Iran struck a U.S. airbase in retaliation…
Nearly all of the artists announced for President Donald Trump’s “Freedom 250” concert series have pulled out of the upcoming festivities, turning a National Mall celebration built around America’s 250th birthday into a fight over patriotism, politics and the use of veterans in promoting the event. Bret Michaels, Martina McBride, Young MC, The Commodores, Morris Day and The Time, and C+C Music Factory are among the performers who have withdrawn from or distanced themselves from Freedom 250 Presents: The Great American State Fair, a 16-day event scheduled for June 25 through July 10 in Washington, D.C. The event was announced…
For whatever reason, most of this week’s best new gear comes in twos. We’ve got two top-notch bikes built for speed, two jackets aimed at improving breathability without sacrificing performance, and two German brands with new gear aimed at trail running. But we have a few more interesting pieces that have no clear analog, including backpacking meals just for your dog (yes, really), some cool new shades from the reliable armless brand Ombraz, and a Costco cooler that won’t empty your wallet. Get the details on these cool new offerings in this week’s Emerging Gear. Specialized Gravel Bike (Photo/Specialized) There’s…
The state of Connecticut had to know this was coming. The moment they even considered banning Glocks and similar firearms because someone can take an already illegal device and illegally convert it into an illegal firearm, they had to know they were going to get sued. They had to. Yes, the bill is stupid, and not just because criminals will keep getting guns to convert, no matter what laws they pass. It’s stupid because it has nothing to do with the Glock or similar striker-fired guns. It’s all about devices that are banned at the…
OS ANGELES (AP) — A former Southern California mayor pleaded guilty Friday to acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government. Eileen Wang, who stepped down as the mayor of Arcadia earlier this month, was charged in April with one count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign government. She pleaded guilty to doing the bidding of Chinese officials by sharing articles favorable to Beijing, without prior notification to the U.S. government as required by law. The 56-year-old was elected in November 2022 to a five-person city council, from which the mayor is…
As I burst across the finish line of my first race, I was feeling very grateful for my shoes. I’d trained in the On Cloudsoma and worn them almost every day since I took them out of the box. I’d grown attached to these shoes as if they were an extension of me. I consider myself an athlete, but an average runner. So I’m the perfect person to test Cloudsoma. I am the type of runner who, despite running all the time, has never made the leap to marathons or even halfs. This shoe aims to bridge the gap between…
In general, Toyota models tend to hold their value better than many other mainstream makes. However, the 4Runner, in particular, manages to stave off depreciation better than even other Toyotas. Does that mean it should actually double in value after thirty years of sitting in a garage? Well, in the case of one 1996 4Runner SR5, a buyer decided it should, since the old SUV sold for $52,800. Mecum Auctions recently hosted the sale of this 1996 SR5 with just 6,954 miles on the odometer. It was in remarkably good condition, not far from what you’d find on a showroom…
Tillamook County, Ore., is a popular outdoor recreation destination, and now it is also the source of a pending criminal trial. A man was recently arrested for allegedly attempting to kidnap and sexually assault two women in a local campground. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gene Arnold McLenithan, 58, of Salem, Oregon, was arrested on May 28. He has been charged by criminal complaint with kidnapping and attempted abusive sexual contact. Suspect Had History of Violence McLenithan “allegedly kidnapped the two victims around midnight on July 4, 2024, camping along a public hiking trail in…
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has officially assumed the mission as the premier tactical force-in-readiness within the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility. The Marine Corps announced Friday that the command, operating under the designation of Littoral Combat Force-24, offers tactical options through an agile Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) composed of more than 1,300 Marines and sailors to the area. SOUTHCOM’s Area of Responsibility oversees 31 countries and 12 dependencies/areas of special sovereignty, as part of a region representing roughly about one-sixth of the landmass of the world assigned to regional unified commands. That oversight encompasses the land…
With an elevation of 20,310 feet, Mt. McKinley (formerly known as Denali) is the highest peak in North America, and it’s a formidable objective. Over 130 people have lost their lives on the mountain, and it’s currently the site of an ongoing rescue attempt. Search-and-rescue (SAR) personnel are trying to reach four stranded climbers who became injured after a fall on May 28. The rescue is the second SAR incident on McKinley in less than 24 hours. What Happened Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park is no stranger to accidents or rescue operations. According to a National Park Service (NPS)…
Anti-gun organizations love to blame licensed gun dealers for criminals getting firearms, but the truth of the matter is that most of the time, it’s not the dealer’s fault. They can do everything right, only for guns the sold to end up in the bad guys’ hands. The thing is, though, a lot of times, the bad guys may get a gun from a gun store, but they aren’t spending money, if you catch my drift.That’s right, they break into the store and take what they want. What’s more, it doesn’t require a master thief…
