VETERANS

Donald Stern, a former U.S. attorney in Massachusetts, is the court-appointed claims administrator in charge of dispersing the $56 million settlement among residents of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home who contracted and suffered from COVID-19.

Thomas Belton, a former marine who served in the Vietnam War, reflects on his service at annual wreath laying ceremony in Springfield.

Governor Charlie Baker said he wants to provide closure for families of those veterans. At least 76 veterans died amid the outbreak there in 2020.

At least 76 veterans at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, Massachusetts, died after a COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

Most of the state's congressional delegation signed a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs, in response to a recent federal report

The 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneerswere celebrated at City Hall in Springfield and Holyoke, Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts House and Senate have passed different versions of bills changing the management structure for the two state-run veterans' homes. On Wednesday, the effort began to come up with compromise legislation.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recommended the closing of the Northampton, Massachusetts medical center in a report earlier in March as part of a larger restructuring.

The VA says services provided in Northampton would be shifted to Springfield and Newington, Connecticut — and to outside providers.

The Massachusetts Senate approved a suite of management and oversight reforms to address two state-run veterans' homes where they say more than 100 residents died amid outbreaks of the highly infectious virus.