Newscast for Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Obama Administration focuses on mental health to combat veteran homelessness
As ceremonies and events around the country pay tribute to veterans, many are looking at how the US government could improve services for veterans. One decades-old problem is homelessness.

At least 130,000 veterans are homeless each night. They represent more of the homeless population than any group, and they are also more prone to substance abuse, mental illness, and unemployment. The Obama administration has promised to tackle these issues, pledging billions of dollars to help end veteran homelessness. FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Veterans face deportations despite promises of citizenship
An estimated 3,000 military veterans from wars in Vietnam, Grenada, Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan are currently deported or imprisoned awaiting deportation. Most of their cases involve misdemeanors and felonies. Some combat Veterans are being deported after serving time in jail, and some without any jail time at all. FSRN'S Leo Paz reports.

After executions, a closer look at the death penalty
On Tuesday night, Texas and Virginia each executed a prisoner on death row.  The two states lead the nation in the use of the death penalty.  FSRN’s Matt Pearson reports on why some states execute criminals and some don’t.

Women tell their own stories under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy
The military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy has been controversial since the beginning. Its central premise is that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military could influence the ability of a military unit to perform its duty. But new findings are challenging that idea. A study published this week in the journal "Armed Forces and Society" has found that veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan do not identify the sexuality of a service member as a significant factor in their unit's readiness to fight, and instead point to other factors -- such as the quality of officers, training and equipment  -- as far more important. Three-quarters of those surveyed said they felt comfortable in the presence of gays or lesbians. It also found that support for the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy has decreased sharply, from 75 percent in 1993 down to forty percent today.

President Obama has pledged to end the policy during his term in office and there is growing momentum to repeal it. But often lost in the discussion are those most affected by the policy itself - women and, especially, women of color.

Here to join us is KPFA reporter Kellia Ramares. She's the producer of a new documentary, Do Tell: Queer Women Sound Off on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. She's also a contributor to FSRN.

To listen to the complete documentary, visit broadcasteratlarge.blogspot.com and go to “Civil Rights and Liberties.”