Karen Jowers
Senior Reporter
Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.
All Stories By Karen
Tricare announces temporary enrollment freeze and online limitations
Tricare beneficiaries are encouraged to make online changes to their health plan now, as DOD announced an enrollment freeze from Oct. 25-27.
Congress: Commissary leaders may lack talent, skills to lead reform
As lawmakers are poised to agree to massive commissary reform, they've also sent a message to defense officials that they don't believe senior commissary agency management is capable of carrying out those reforms.
Tricare patients' deadline to switch pharmacy is Dec. 1
It happens at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 1 -- CVS leaves the Tricare retail pharmacy network and Walgreens returns.
Forward-operating feast: Turkey, and the fixings, deployed for the troops
Nearly 15,000 pounds of turkey to be served in Afghanistan, with even more set for Iraq and Kuwait
CFC funds help boost pets-for-veterans program
Donations to the Combined Federal Campaign make a big difference to charities large and small – and the military and veteran families they serve.
Decision on opening online exchange shopping to more veterans expected next month
The move to open online shopping to all vets with an honorable discharge has been under consideration since 2014.
GAO denies protests, clears way for new Tricare contracts
Defense health officials are set to start the transition to the new Tricare contracts -- which include a consolidation from three regions into two.
23 veterans groups share $1.5 million in donations from Newman's Own
A bakery-centered work-study program for disabled veterans, an organization that helps veterans start their farming businesses, and a foundation that provides guide dogs to blinded veterans are among the nonprofits that will receive a chunk of $1.5 million from the Newman’s Own Foundation.
Report: Commissary cost-cutting plan lacks details, fails to ensure customer benefit
The Government Accountability Office restates common concerns that the proposed moves come without data to support them.
Dear President-elect: Advocacy group's open letter to Trump outlines key concerns of military families
Less than a day after the election of a new commander-in-chief, military families are making their frustrations known to Donald Trump in an open letter from the National Military Family Association.
