Four years ago, a Korean War veteran from South Burlington began working to convince all cities and towns in Vermont to boost their property tax benefits for disabled veterans. Now, he's almost completed that mission.

State of the Re:Union explores the challenges veterans face as they return home from war.

Vermont has one of the oldest veterans' populations of any state in the country. Because of these demographics, the state office on Veterans Affairs says it's trying to balance the needs of veterans who served in World War II and the Korean War with the concerns of younger veterans.

A look at Vermont's military veterans' major challenges, including health care, employment and housing issues, analysis of the special Legislative Irene briefing session and a listen back to the voices in the news this week.

About 200 of Vermont's 251 towns already allow disabled veterans to deduct $40,000 from the assessed value of their homes in order to reduce their property taxes. That number could soon increase. Earlier: Boosting Benefits For Disabled Veterans 

A program that helps Vermont National Guard veterans returning from deployments in Afghanistan and elsewhere will get a one-year extension of funds from the Pentagon.

Students at the country’s oldest private military college have won a prestigious national prize for their documentary exploring issues veterans back from Iraq and Afghanistan face upon returning home. Norwich Students Produce New Documentary

A South Burlington man's crusade on behalf of disabled military veterans became a statewide movement at town meetings this week. Residents in about 40 towns were inspired by the work of Lou Lertola to increase property tax breaks for the vets.

The state has unveiled a new set of commemorative license plates to honor veterans who have served in wars.

The state of Vermont will offer six new license plates for military veterans from World War II through the present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The state of Vermont is starting a special court for veterans who can trace their legal problems to their war service.

Veterans Day is being observed across Vermont today; a dramatic increase in the number of Vermont voters who used an early ballot for last week's election; Jean Charles of Lyndonville wants to raise money to help families whose children were killed last week when a school in Haiti collapsed.

A group that is seeking the unclaimed remains of veterans across the country has buried four sets of ashes at the Vermont Memorial Veterans' Cemetery in Randolph.

The state of Vermont is getting a $2.1 million grant to help serve veterans and other people with post-traumatic stress disorder and similar problems.

New Hampshire is getting $1 million from the federal government to help soldiers and their families.

Heavy rain is expected to continue sweeping across the region this afternoon; an Iraq war veteran formally announced his campaign for the U.S. House;  the Vermont National Guard is being recognized in Washington for its program to help veterans who return from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; Andrew Wheating prepares to head off to the Olympics.

Here are the top stories at 7:30 a.m.: Vermont leads the nation in helping service members when they come home;  Officials predict the power won't be as cheap as it is now in the near future;  The first Vermont municipality to pass an ordinance restricting where sex offenders may live within its borders is expected to draw a legal challenge...

Vermont has suffered the highest proportion of casualties from the Iraq War of any state. But it leads the nation in helping service members when they come home. Tanya Snyder reports from Washington.

Dr. Andrew Pomerantz is chief of Mental Health at the White River Junction VA hospital. He's an associate professor of psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical School. He spoke with VPR's Jane Lindholm about the treatment and community support programs that are in place for returning veterans.

Senator Bernie Sanders is hailing passage of an updated GI Bill, bringing more aid to veterans to attend college.