Comedian Jon Stewart, firefighters, policemen and other 9/11 first responders confronted lawmakers Thursday as they pressured Congress to extend health care benefits before they run out. After a rally on the Capitol lawn, Stewart and several first responders — many sick or dying — personally sought support for legislation to extend medical monitoring, treatment and compensation dollars for those exposed to toxic dust while cleaning up after the 2001 attacks in New York.

And the danger to New Jersey is particularly high, as terrorists become increasingly savvy with technology and exploiting the weaknesses of governments and businesses, making them susceptible to a range of attacks - physical, cyber and biological, according to law enforcement leaders and experts at the 10th annual conference of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. More.

President Barack Obama is again facing dissent from within his administration – this time from Attorney General Loretta Lynch - over his plans to shutter the Guantanamo Bay military prison, according to senior administration officials. Lynch, a former federal prosecutor whom Obama appointed to head the Justice Department two years ago, is opposing a White House-backed proposal that would allow Guantanamo Bay prisoners to plead guilty to terrorism charges in federal court by videoconference, the officials said.

Can spending time in nature help heal veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury? As suicides from PTSD sufferers only increase, the Institute for Integrative Health (TIIH) seeks out answers to this important question through their new Green Road project, which just opened at the Naval Support Activity Bethesda, home of Walter Reed Military Medical Center, in Maryland. More.

Pretrial hearings resume in the 9/11 death-penalty case Monday with a bid by a lawyer for an accused terrorist to stop the proceedings. At issue: a civil lawsuit filed in federal court by a former member of the troubled legal team of Yemeni Walid bin Attash, who is charged as an alleged deputy in the terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001. More.

Each year, as the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks approaches, the country is reminded of the unprecedented losses suffered. At the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”), we acknowledge the important milestones reached in providing support to victims and families, but we are especially aware of the lives that continue to be impacted. More.