thetennesseestar--2020-08-03--Academics’ Campaign to Remove Harvard Professor for Tweets Backfires

Hundreds of academics signed a letter written by members of the Linguistic Society of America ( LSA ) , calling for a Harvard professor ’ s removal from the LSA list of “ distinguished fellows , ” as well as their list of media experts .
The LSA did not accept their demands ; and the the target of the demands says he has received hundreds of letters of support .
The letter accused Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard Steven Pinker of behavior that does not live up to the society ’ s standards and does not merit the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” its fellows receive .
Specifically , the academics accused Pinker of acting in a way contrary to the society ’ s stance on racial justice , saying he has “ a history of speaking over genuine grievances and downplaying injustices.
” “ We aim to show here Dr. Pinker as a public figure has a pattern of drowning out the voices of people suffering from racist and sexist violence , in particular in the immediate aftermath of violent acts and/or protests against the systems that created them , ” the letter states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of six messages the professor posted on Twitter , which they say indicate that “ Dr .
Pinker is untenable as an LSA fellow and should not be allowed to retain that status.
” In one such tweet , posted in 2015 , Pinker shared a New York Times article titled “ Police Killings of Blacks : Here Is What the Data Say.
” Summarizing the article in the caption , he said that the problem expressed by the data was not the disproportionate shooting of Black people , but rather excessive police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his analysis of the article , stating that the reporting contained a quote that read “ The data is unequivocal .
Police killings are a race problem : African-Americans are being killed disproportionately and by a wide margin.
” This demonstrates , according to the letter , “ that Dr. Pinker is willing to make dishonest claims in order to obfuscate the role of systemic racism in police violence.
” However , as a response from the New York Times points out , the original article does not make such a conclusive claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited by the LSA letter by saying that the “ unequivocal data ” actually “ does not prove that biased police officers are more likely to shoot blacks in any given encounter , ” and suggests that because every police encounter comes with risks , other factors could be at play than a specific race .
The linguists stated that they had no desire to “ cancel ” Pinker : “ We do , however , believe that the examples introduced above establish that Dr. Pinker ’ s public actions constitute a pattern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systemic racism and sexism.
” More than 600 academics signed the LSA letter ; the writers invited anyone who identifies as a linguist to submit their name .
However , the attempt to publicly condemn Pinker backfired .
The LSA did not acquiesce to the linguists ’ demands , Pinker told Campus Reform in an email , and he has been “ the beneficiary of 15 defenses in various publications and blogs.
” He wrote on Twitter that he has also received “ 200 private letters of support , from all ages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right ; academic allies & adversaries ; friends & strangers.
” “ Not a random sample , of course , but it makes me wonder whether identitarian cancel culture depends on a Spiral of Silence : a majority intimidated into wondering ‘ Am I the only sane one left ?
’ ” he commented .
Pinker told Campus Reform that he has not seen anyone defending the letter .
Linguist John McWhorter wrote in an article that Pinker shared on Twitter that the letter to the LSA was not just a criticism of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a “ demand for punishment that would also serve as an instructive example to others.
” “ Today , views deemed insufficiently anti-racist ( or also anti-misogynist ) are increasingly described as thinly coded expressions of racism and misogyny that we are encouraged to treat as such , ” McWhorter said .
Maria Copeland is a Virginia correspondent for CampusReform .
Photo “ Steven Pinker ” by Steven Pinker .

by Maria Copeland
Hundreds of academics signed a letter written by members of the Linguistic Society of America (LSA), calling for a Harvard professor’s removal from the LSA list of “distinguished fellows,” as well as their list of media experts. The LSA did not accept their demands; and the the target of the demands says he has received hundreds of letters of support.
The letter accused Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard Steven Pinker of behavior that does not live up to the society’s standards and does not merit the “honor, credibility, and visibility” its fellows receive. Specifically, the academics accused Pinker of acting in a way contrary to the society’s stance on racial justice, saying he has “a history of speaking over genuine grievances and downplaying injustices.”
“We aim to show here Dr. Pinker as a public figure has a pattern of drowning out the voices of people suffering from racist and sexist violence, in particular in the immediate aftermath of violent acts and/or protests against the systems that created them,” the letter states.
Their evidence was in the form of six messages the professor posted on Twitter, which they say indicate that “Dr. Pinker is untenable as an LSA fellow and should not be allowed to retain that status.”
In one such tweet, posted in 2015, Pinker shared a New York Times article titled “Police Killings of Blacks: Here Is What the Data Say.”
Summarizing the article in the caption, he said that the problem expressed by the data was not the disproportionate shooting of Black people, but rather excessive police shootings.
Data: Police don't shoot blacks disproportionately. Problem: Not race, but too many police shootings. http://t.co/HDoLJ3hT3p via @UpshotNYT — Steven Pinker (@sapinker) October 17, 2015
The LSA letter objected to his analysis of the article, stating that the reporting contained a quote that read “The data is unequivocal. Police killings are a race problem: African-Americans are being killed disproportionately and by a wide margin.” This demonstrates, according to the letter, “that Dr. Pinker is willing to make dishonest claims in order to obfuscate the role of systemic racism in police violence.”
However, as a response from the New York Times points out, the original article does not make such a conclusive claim.
The author follows up the quote cited by the LSA letter by saying that the “unequivocal data” actually “does not prove that biased police officers are more likely to shoot blacks in any given encounter,” and suggests that because every police encounter comes with risks, other factors could be at play than a specific race.
The linguists stated that they had no desire to “cancel” Pinker: “We do, however, believe that the examples introduced above establish that Dr. Pinker’s public actions constitute a pattern of downplaying the very real violence of systemic racism and sexism.”
More than 600 academics signed the LSA letter; the writers invited anyone who identifies as a linguist to submit their name.
However, the attempt to publicly condemn Pinker backfired. The LSA did not acquiesce to the linguists’ demands, Pinker told Campus Reform in an email, and he has been “the beneficiary of 15 defenses in various publications and blogs.” He wrote on Twitter that he has also received “200 private letters of support, from all ages, races, & genders; left & right; academic allies & adversaries; friends & strangers.”
“Not a random sample, of course, but it makes me wonder whether identitarian cancel culture depends on a Spiral of Silence: a majority intimidated into wondering ‘Am I the only sane one left?’” he commented.
Not a random sample, of course, but it makes me wonder whether identitarian cancel culture depends on a Spiral of Silence: a majority intimidated into wondering "Am I the only sane one left?" — Steven Pinker (@sapinker) July 20, 2020
Pinker told Campus Reform that he has not seen anyone defending the letter.
Linguist John McWhorter wrote in an article that Pinker shared on Twitter that the letter to the LSA was not just a criticism of Pinker or his views; it was also a “demand for punishment that would also serve as an instructive example to others.”
“Today, views deemed insufficiently anti-racist (or also anti-misogynist) are increasingly described as thinly coded expressions of racism and misogyny that we are encouraged to treat as such,” McWhorter said.
– – –
Maria Copeland is a Virginia correspondent for CampusReform.
Photo “Steven Pinker” by Steven Pinker.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-03--The Status of the Coronavirus Vaccine Continues to Advance Rapidly

Researchers , governments and pharmaceutical companies worldwide have been working rapidly to develop an effective vaccine against coronavirus , which has infected over 4.5 million and killed over 150,000 people in the United States alone .
Testing has advanced quickly and there ’ s optimism that a vaccine will be developed before 2021 .
But there are also concerns that a vaccine won ’ t be sufficiently stockpiled or efficiently distributed .
There ’ s additional worry that the growing distrust in vaccines will result in large numbers refusing the injection , making it less beneficial .
Vaccine development has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was first discovered and shared around the world on Jan. 10 .
Just two months later , the National Institutes of Health administered its first human test .
In April , the Trump administration launched “ Operation Warp Speed , ” a government effort with the goal of delivering “ 300 million doses of a safe , effective vaccine for COVID-19 by January 2021 as part of a broader strategy to accelerate the development , manufacturing , and distribution of vaccines , therapeutics and diagnostics , ” according to the Department of Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on July 27 , a trial led by the NIH and Moderna , a Massachusetts pharmaceutical company , began with 30,000 American volunteers , which , if successful , could be its final test .
In the United Kingdom , a study at Oxford University produced promising results as well , leaving open the possibly that a safe vaccine will be available sooner than previously thought .
President Donald Trump has touted successful results in the U.S. and U.K. , tweeting that a vaccine will be available by the end of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s statements , Dr. Anthony Fauci , who ’ s headed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984 , said during a congressional hearing Friday that even though he is “ cautiously optimistic ” that a successful vaccine will be developed before the year ’ s end , it is unlikely that it will be widely available to the public .
Fauci also told the Washington Post on July 24 that he does not believe a vaccine will be available throughout the country until “ several months ” into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that arise over the absence of a plan to distribute a vaccine across the country en masse .
To successfully distribute the vaccine to Americans across the country , the U.S. would need over 700 million syringes and needles , assuming that it will be given over two separate doses , The Hill reported .
There are concerns that a shortage of these supplies could prevent a vaccine from being distributed sufficiently .
The Trump administration has ordered only 320 million of each so far , costing approximately $ 110 million , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional order with Becton Dickinson ( BD ) , a medical distribution company , for 190 million needles and syringes , but experts have said that it may have acted too late .
“ We are very concerned that the government engaged with BD pretty late in the game and it ’ s unclear even now that enough capacity has been lined up , ” said Topher Spiro , who co-authored a report on how to manufacture and distribute the necessary supplies for an effective vaccine .
The report was published by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( CAP ) .
Additionally , a shortage of glass vials that would be used to deliver a coronavirus vaccine could serve as another bottleneck , The Washington Post reported .
While plastic alternatives have been discussed , the government has done little to advance their production and remain “ unproven ” regarding their effectiveness , according to the CAP report .
Regardless , the millions of potential vaccine doses are being manufactured in case any of the formulas end up being effective , NIH Director Francis Collins said in July .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint effort between the Pentagon and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to distribute the drug .
But even if those hurdles are cleared and the drug can be distributed widely and effectively , there are still concerns that an insufficient number of Americans will be willing to take the vaccine , making it far less beneficial as a result .
Americans were already growing skeptical of vaccines even before the pandemic .
A recent Associated Press/NORC poll found that 31 % were uncertain whether they would receive a vaccination , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t .
“ Even if certain people in areas of the country are highly vaccinated , if an infected individual goes to a population where there are more vaccine waivers , then they could easily start an outbreak , ” said Abram Wagner , an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan .
Additionally , the FDA is expecting that any vaccine will be at least 50 % effective , and is “ shooting ” for a vaccine that is at least 70 % effective , Axios reported , meaning that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help millions of Americans who receive it .
Awi Federgruen , a professor of management at Columbia Business School , said the little room for error means that the government must be willing to ensure the necessary supplies , distribution channels and awareness campaigns are in place , despite what it may cost in the short-term .
“ You need to over-invest in this situation , ” Federgruen told The Hill .
“ The extra investment costs in this area pale against the cost of having to delay the distribution of vaccines for @ @ @ @ @ @ @

by Andrew Trunsky
Researchers, governments and pharmaceutical companies worldwide have been working rapidly to develop an effective vaccine against coronavirus, which has infected over 4.5 million and killed over 150,000 people in the United States alone.
Testing has advanced quickly and there’s optimism that a vaccine will be developed before 2021. But there are also concerns that a vaccine won’t be sufficiently stockpiled or efficiently distributed. There’s additional worry that the growing distrust in vaccines will result in large numbers refusing the injection, making it less beneficial.
Vaccine development has progressed fast since coronavirus’ genetic code was first discovered and shared around the world on Jan. 10. Just two months later, the National Institutes of Health administered its first human test.
In April, the Trump administration launched “Operation Warp Speed,” a government effort with the goal of delivering “300 million doses of a safe, effective vaccine for COVID-19 by January 2021 as part of a broader strategy to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics,” according to the Department of Health and Human Services’ website.
And on July 27, a trial led by the NIH and Moderna, a Massachusetts pharmaceutical company, began with 30,000 American volunteers, which, if successful, could be its final test.
In the United Kingdom, a study at Oxford University produced promising results as well, leaving open the possibly that a safe vaccine will be available sooner than previously thought.
President Donald Trump has touted successful results in the U.S. and U.K., tweeting that a vaccine will be available by the end of the year.
Despite optimistic results and the president’s statements, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who’s headed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, said during a congressional hearing Friday that even though he is “cautiously optimistic” that a successful vaccine will be developed before the year’s end, it is unlikely that it will be widely available to the public.
Fauci also told the Washington Post on July 24 that he does not believe a vaccine will be available throughout the country until “several months” into to 2021. He emphasized the risks that arise over the absence of a plan to distribute a vaccine across the country en masse.
To successfully distribute the vaccine to Americans across the country, the U.S. would need over 700 million syringes and needles, assuming that it will be given over two separate doses, The Hill reported. There are concerns that a shortage of these supplies could prevent a vaccine from being distributed sufficiently.
The Trump administration has ordered only 320 million of each so far, costing approximately $110 million, according to The Hill. It placed an additional order with Becton Dickinson (BD), a medical distribution company, for 190 million needles and syringes, but experts have said that it may have acted too late.
“We are very concerned that the government engaged with BD pretty late in the game and it’s unclear even now that enough capacity has been lined up,” said Topher Spiro, who co-authored a report on how to manufacture and distribute the necessary supplies for an effective vaccine. The report was published by the liberal think tank Center for American Progress (CAP).
Additionally, a shortage of glass vials that would be used to deliver a coronavirus vaccine could serve as another bottleneck, The Washington Post reported. While plastic alternatives have been discussed, the government has done little to advance their production and remain “unproven” regarding their effectiveness, according to the CAP report.
Regardless, the millions of potential vaccine doses are being manufactured in case any of the formulas end up being effective, NIH Director Francis Collins said in July. The Trump administration is also reportedly organizing a joint effort between the Pentagon and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to distribute the drug.
But even if those hurdles are cleared and the drug can be distributed widely and effectively, there are still concerns that an insufficient number of Americans will be willing to take the vaccine, making it far less beneficial as a result.
Americans were already growing skeptical of vaccines even before the pandemic. A recent Associated Press/NORC poll found that 31% were uncertain whether they would receive a vaccination, while approximately 20% said they wouldn’t.
“Even if certain people in areas of the country are highly vaccinated, if an infected individual goes to a population where there are more vaccine waivers, then they could easily start an outbreak,” said Abram Wagner, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan.
Additionally, the FDA is expecting that any vaccine will be at least 50% effective, and is “shooting” for a vaccine that is at least 70% effective, Axios reported, meaning that even a successful vaccine may not directly help millions of Americans who receive it.
Awi Federgruen, a professor of management at Columbia Business School, said the little room for error means that the government must be willing to ensure the necessary supplies, distribution channels and awareness campaigns are in place, despite what it may cost in the short-term.
“You need to over-invest in this situation,” Federgruen told The Hill. “The extra investment costs in this area pale against the cost of having to delay the distribution of vaccines for another three, four months.”
– – –
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-03--Analysis: Rhetoric About a New Civil War Is on the Rise

In June , we counted 23 articles written about the prospect of a new or cold civil war in the United States .
In July , that number doubled to 46 .
That ’ s no mere “ uptick.
” Right or wrong , these prognostications from both Left and Right are significant for what they reveal about the nature of the political division in the United States .
Interest in this topic will only increase as we approach the election in November and whatever lies beyond it .
For this reason , we are launching a website dedicated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinions on the prospect of a new civil war .
We do not aim to be alarmists but to bring attention to the fact that both Left and Right are talking about this topic , and to make it easy to follow that conversation .
By gathering all of the rhetoric on what is perhaps the most important political subject in the last century and a half in one place , we hope that Americans may better understand the nature of our divisions and work to discover unifying solutions .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States are at a very high pitch in this election year .
The whole world knows it .
A Scottish newspaper this week called America a “ tinderbox , ” “ teetering on the brink of civil strife and disorder.
” Of course , we ’ ve had plenty of political divisions and civil strife in this country since the Civil War .
What ’ s significant about the divisions and strife today , however , is the strong belief on each side of the political aisle that the other side is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Political commentator Tim Pool interpreted the recent Antifa attack on a federal courthouse in Portland , Oregon as “ a second Fort Sumter scenario.
” Meanwhile , commentators on the Left are calling Donald Trump “ the boogaloo president , ” who is engaged in an “ irresponsible campaign to foment a new civil war.
” From the articles , videos , and podcasts we ’ ve collected , several questions arise that are worth considering .
Clearly political divisions in the United States have surged during President Trump ’ s administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a cause or an effect of these divisions .
It seems few people , if any , are objective enough at this point to be able to answer that question in a way that the American public would find persuasive .
If Trump is merely a symptom of the division , then what exactly is the sticking point between the two sides ?
Is it mostly a cultural and lifestyle difference between red states and blue states , rural and urban ?
In what way is there a religious character to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peoples living among one another ?
If so , how and to what degree is this division repairable ?
A further question that people seem concerned with is “ are we already in a civil war ?
” Since May 2017 , radio talk show host John Batchelor and historian Michael Vlahos have held a weekly conversation on “ The John Batchelor Show ” addressing this very question .
If we are to judge from history , they note , the condition of civil war often prevails before any actual fighting does .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations on our website .
These questions are critical because their answers may unlock the mystery to what the exigencies of statesmanship and the duties of citizenship will be in the coming months and years .
We hope our website will help those concerned with this topic find answers to questions like these , and to raise new ones .
To paraphrase the man who bore so much of the weight of the last civil war on his shoulders— “ with malice toward none , with charity for all , with firmness in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the right , let us strive on to bind up our nation ’ s wounds and divisions .
Fondly do we hope , fervently do we pray , that we may evade the mighty scourge of war .
But to do that , we must first become informed .
As Lincoln noted in his “ House Divided ” speech : “ If we could first know where we are , and whither we are tending , we could then better judge what to do , and how to do it.
” Clifford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship at Hillsdale College .
Juan E. Dávalos is a PhD candidate in politics also at Hillsdale .
Follow their website on Twitter and Parler @ anewcivilwar .

by Clifford Humphrey and Juan Davalos
In June, we counted 23 articles written about the prospect of a new or cold civil war in the United States. In July, that number doubled to 46. That’s no mere “uptick.”
Right or wrong, these prognostications from both Left and Right are significant for what they reveal about the nature of the political division in the United States. Interest in this topic will only increase as we approach the election in November and whatever lies beyond it.
For this reason, we are launching a website dedicated to collecting and cataloging all the news and opinions on the prospect of a new civil war. We do not aim to be alarmists but to bring attention to the fact that both Left and Right are talking about this topic, and to make it easy to follow that conversation.
By gathering all of the rhetoric on what is perhaps the most important political subject in the last century and a half in one place, we hope that Americans may better understand the nature of our divisions and work to discover unifying solutions.
It’s no secret that political divisions in the United States are at a very high pitch in this election year. The whole world knows it. A Scottish newspaper this week called America a “tinderbox,” “teetering on the brink of civil strife and disorder.”
Of course, we’ve had plenty of political divisions and civil strife in this country since the Civil War.
What’s significant about the divisions and strife today, however, is the strong belief on each side of the political aisle that the other side is hell-bent on causing a new civil war. Political commentator Tim Pool interpreted the recent Antifa attack on a federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon as “a second Fort Sumter scenario.” Meanwhile, commentators on the Left are calling Donald Trump “the boogaloo president,” who is engaged in an “irresponsible campaign to foment a new civil war.”
From the articles, videos, and podcasts we’ve collected, several questions arise that are worth considering.
Clearly political divisions in the United States have surged during President Trump’s administration, but the question remains whether Trump is a cause or an effect of these divisions. It seems few people, if any, are objective enough at this point to be able to answer that question in a way that the American public would find persuasive.
If Trump is merely a symptom of the division, then what exactly is the sticking point between the two sides? Is it mostly a cultural and lifestyle difference between red states and blue states, rural and urban? In what way is there a religious character to our disagreements? Are we already two different peoples living among one another? If so, how and to what degree is this division repairable?
A further question that people seem concerned with is “are we already in a civil war?” Since May 2017, radio talk show host John Batchelor and historian Michael Vlahos have held a weekly conversation on “The John Batchelor Show” addressing this very question. If we are to judge from history, they note, the condition of civil war often prevails before any actual fighting does. We have collected all of their illuminating conversations on our website.
These questions are critical because their answers may unlock the mystery to what the exigencies of statesmanship and the duties of citizenship will be in the coming months and years. We hope our website will help those concerned with this topic find answers to questions like these, and to raise new ones.
To paraphrase the man who bore so much of the weight of the last civil war on his shoulders—“with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to bind up our nation’s wounds and divisions. Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that we may evade the mighty scourge of war.
But to do that, we must first become informed. As Lincoln noted in his “House Divided” speech: “If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it.”
– – –
Clifford Humphrey holds a PhD in politics from the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship at Hillsdale College. Juan E. Dávalos is a PhD candidate in politics also at Hillsdale. Follow their website on Twitter and Parler @anewcivilwar.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-03--SpaceX Capsule and NASA Crew Make First Splashdown in 45 Years

CAPE CANAVERAL , Florida ( AP ) — Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic , retro-style splashdown , their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk ’ s SpaceX company .
It was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years , with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit .
The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year .
Test pilots Doug Hurley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their SpaceX Dragon capsule named Endeavour , less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida .
The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters about 40 miles off the coast of Pensacola , hundreds of miles from Tropical Storm Isaias pounding Florida ’ s Atlantic coast .
“ Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX , ” said Mission Control from SpaceX headquarters .
“ Anybody who ’ s touched Endeavour , you should take a moment to just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the things that have happened this year , ” Hurley said right before exiting the capsule more than an hour after splashdown .
Both astronauts gave a thumbs-up as they emerged .
Their ride home in the capsule was fast , bumpy and hot , at least on the outside .
The spacecraft went from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph ( 28,000 kph ) to 350 mph ( 560 kph ) during atmospheric reentry , and finally to 15 mph ( 24 kph ) at splashdown .
Peak heating during descent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Celsius ) .
The anticipated top G forces felt by the crew : four to five times the force of Earth ’ s gravity .
Within a half-hour of splashdown , the scorched and blistered 15-foot capsule was hoisted aboard a SpaceX recovery ship with a staff of more than 40 , including doctors and nurses .
To keep the returning astronauts safe in the pandemic , the recovery crew quarantined for two weeks and were tested for the coronavirus .
The opening of the hatch was held up briefly by extra checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After meeting with doctors , the astronauts were flown by helicopter to Pensacola , for the flight home to Houston and a reunion with their wives and sons .
Musk was also headed to Texas from SpaceX ’ s Mission Control in California to meet with them .
There was one unexpected problem that could have endangered the operation : Once the capsule was in the water , private boats “ just made a beeline for it , ” and got too close , said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine , promising to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on pleasure boats safely away .
NASA video showed one vessel flying a large campaign flag for President Donald Trump .
The Coast Guard in Pensacola said it had deployed two vessels to keep the public at least 10 miles away from the capsule .
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence , who both attended the launch , congratulated the SpaceX and NASA teams .
“ Great to have NASA Astronauts return to Earth after very successful two month mission .
Thank you to all !
” Trump tweeted .
The last time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was on July 24 , 1975 , in the Pacific , the scene of most splashdowns , to end a joint U.S.-Soviet mission known as Apollo-Soyuz .
The Mercury and Gemini crews in the early to mid-1960s parachuted into the Atlantic , while most of the later Apollo capsules hit the Pacific .
The lone Russian “ splashdown ” was in 1976 on a partially frozen lake amid a blizzard following an aborted mission ; the harrowing recovery took hours .
Gemini and Apollo astronaut Thomas Stafford — the commander of the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reentry on TV from his Florida home .
While pleased with the crew ’ s safe return , he wasn ’ t overly impressed .
“ It ’ s what we did over 50 years ago , ” he said .
Its throwback splashdown aside , SpaceX made history with the mission , which launched May 30 from NASA ’ s Kennedy Space Center .
It was the first time a private company launched people into orbit and also the first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a decade .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pilot of NASA ’ s last space shuttle flight in 2011 and the commander of this SpaceX flight .
NASA turned to SpaceX and also Boeing to build capsules and ferry astronauts to and from the space station , following the retirement of the shuttles .
Until Hurley and Behnken rocketed into orbit , NASA astronauts relied on Russian rockets .
SpaceX already had experience hauling cargo to the space station , bringing those capsules back to a Pacific splashdown .
“ We are entering a new era of human spaceflight where NASA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and operator of all the hardware .
We ’ re going to be a customer , one customer of many , ” Bridenstine said from Johnson Space Center in Houston .
“ I would love to see a fleet of crew Dragons servicing not just the International Space Station but also commercial space stations.
” SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell called the mission a springboard to “ doing even harder things , ” like collaborating on astronaut flights to the moon and then Mars .
“ There ’ s no question , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making sure we could bring Bob and Doug back home safely , ” Shotwell said .
SpaceX needs six weeks to inspect the capsule before launching the next crew around the end of September .
This next mission of four astronauts will spend a full six months aboard the space station .
Hurley and Behnken ’ s capsule will be refurbished for another flight next spring .
A Houston company run by a former NASA official , meanwhile , has partnered with SpaceX to send three customers to the space station in fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to launch its first crew until next year .
The company encountered significant software problems in the debut of its Starliner capsule , with no one aboard , last year .
Its capsules will touch down in the U.S. Southwest desert .
By beating Boeing , SpaceX laid claim to a small U.S. flag left at the space station by Hurley and the rest of the last shuttle crew .
Minutes after splashdown , Musk tweeted a flag emoji followed by “ returned.
” “ Space is the new air , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel .
Also on board : a toy dinosaur named Tremor , sent into space by the astronauts ’ young sons .
The boys recorded a wake-up call for their fathers Sunday morning .
“ Don ’ t worry , you can sleep in tomorrow , ” said Behnken ’ s 6-year-old son Theo , who was promised a puppy after the flight .
“ Hurry home so we can go get my dog.
” Marcia Dunn is an Aerospace reporter at The Associated Press .
The AP Health and Science Department receives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
About the Headline Photo : The SpaceX capsule splashes down Sunday , Aug. 2 , 2020 , in the Gulf of Mexico .
Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken spent a little over two months on the International Space Station .
It s the first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts and the first time a private company has ferried people from orbit .
( Cory Huston/ NASA via AP )

by Marcia Dunn
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) — Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company.
It was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit. The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year.
Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken arrived back on Earth in their SpaceX Dragon capsule named Endeavour, less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida. The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters about 40 miles off the coast of Pensacola, hundreds of miles from Tropical Storm Isaias pounding Florida’s Atlantic coast.
“Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX,” said Mission Control from SpaceX headquarters.
“Anybody who’s touched Endeavour, you should take a moment to just cherish the day, especially given all the things that have happened this year,” Hurley said right before exiting the capsule more than an hour after splashdown. Both astronauts gave a thumbs-up as they emerged.
Their ride home in the capsule was fast, bumpy and hot, at least on the outside.
The spacecraft went from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph (28,000 kph) to 350 mph (560 kph) during atmospheric reentry, and finally to 15 mph (24 kph) at splashdown. Peak heating during descent was 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,900 degrees Celsius). The anticipated top G forces felt by the crew: four to five times the force of Earth’s gravity.
Within a half-hour of splashdown, the scorched and blistered 15-foot capsule was hoisted aboard a SpaceX recovery ship with a staff of more than 40, including doctors and nurses. To keep the returning astronauts safe in the pandemic, the recovery crew quarantined for two weeks and were tested for the coronavirus.
The opening of the hatch was held up briefly by extra checks for toxic rocket fumes outside the capsule. After meeting with doctors, the astronauts were flown by helicopter to Pensacola, for the flight home to Houston and a reunion with their wives and sons. Musk was also headed to Texas from SpaceX’s Mission Control in California to meet with them.
There was one unexpected problem that could have endangered the operation: Once the capsule was in the water, private boats “just made a beeline for it,” and got too close, said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, promising to do better next time at keeping sightseers on pleasure boats safely away. NASA video showed one vessel flying a large campaign flag for President Donald Trump.
The Coast Guard in Pensacola said it had deployed two vessels to keep the public at least 10 miles away from the capsule.
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who both attended the launch, congratulated the SpaceX and NASA teams.
“Great to have NASA Astronauts return to Earth after very successful two month mission. Thank you to all!” Trump tweeted.
The last time NASA astronauts returned from space to water was on July 24, 1975, in the Pacific, the scene of most splashdowns, to end a joint U.S.-Soviet mission known as Apollo-Soyuz. The Mercury and Gemini crews in the early to mid-1960s parachuted into the Atlantic, while most of the later Apollo capsules hit the Pacific. The lone Russian “splashdown” was in 1976 on a partially frozen lake amid a blizzard following an aborted mission; the harrowing recovery took hours.
Gemini and Apollo astronaut Thomas Stafford — the commander of the last crew to splash down — watched the reentry on TV from his Florida home. While pleased with the crew’s safe return, he wasn’t overly impressed. “It’s what we did over 50 years ago,” he said.
Its throwback splashdown aside, SpaceX made history with the mission, which launched May 30 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It was the first time a private company launched people into orbit and also the first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a decade. Hurley came full circle, serving as pilot of NASA’s last space shuttle flight in 2011 and the commander of this SpaceX flight.
NASA turned to SpaceX and also Boeing to build capsules and ferry astronauts to and from the space station, following the retirement of the shuttles. Until Hurley and Behnken rocketed into orbit, NASA astronauts relied on Russian rockets. SpaceX already had experience hauling cargo to the space station, bringing those capsules back to a Pacific splashdown.
“We are entering a new era of human spaceflight where NASA is no longer the purchaser, owner and operator of all the hardware. We’re going to be a customer, one customer of many,” Bridenstine said from Johnson Space Center in Houston. “I would love to see a fleet of crew Dragons servicing not just the International Space Station but also commercial space stations.”
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell called the mission a springboard to “doing even harder things,” like collaborating on astronaut flights to the moon and then Mars.
“There’s no question, it was an enormous relief after months of anxiety making sure we could bring Bob and Doug back home safely,” Shotwell said.
SpaceX needs six weeks to inspect the capsule before launching the next crew around the end of September. This next mission of four astronauts will spend a full six months aboard the space station. Hurley and Behnken’s capsule will be refurbished for another flight next spring. A Houston company run by a former NASA official, meanwhile, has partnered with SpaceX to send three customers to the space station in fall 2021.
Boeing doesn’t expect to launch its first crew until next year. The company encountered significant software problems in the debut of its Starliner capsule, with no one aboard, last year. Its capsules will touch down in the U.S. Southwest desert.
By beating Boeing, SpaceX laid claim to a small U.S. flag left at the space station by Hurley and the rest of the last shuttle crew. Minutes after splashdown, Musk tweeted a flag emoji followed by “returned.”
“Space is the new air,” he added, promising a bright future for travel.
Also on board: a toy dinosaur named Tremor, sent into space by the astronauts’ young sons. The boys recorded a wake-up call for their fathers Sunday morning.
“Don’t worry, you can sleep in tomorrow,” said Behnken’s 6-year-old son Theo, who was promised a puppy after the flight. “Hurry home so we can go get my dog.”
– – –
Marcia Dunn is an Aerospace reporter at The Associated Press. The AP Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
About the Headline Photo: The SpaceX capsule splashes down Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in the Gulf of Mexico. Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken spent a little over two months on the International Space Station. It s the first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts and the first time a private company has ferried people from orbit. (Cory Huston/ NASA via AP)


thetennesseestar--2020-08-03--Joe Carr Commentary: Sethi vs. Hagerty – An Obvious Choice

In 2014 I ran for the United States Senate against well-known and established incumbent Lamar Alexander .
Our underfunded and understaffed campaign garnered over 271,000 votes .
The largest vote total of any statewide campaign to that point and not win an election .
When we lost in 2014 , I thought it was over .
I was wrong !
We were just getting started .
Fast forward to 2020 and Tennessee once again can send a constitutional conservative to the United States Senate to stand alongside President Donald Trump .
Dr. Manny Sethi is that man .
My journey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor sure .
I took a long time evaluating the candidates .
I had numerous conversations with both Bill Hagerty and Dr. Manny Sethi over a period of several months .
I was humbled by the fact that both men not only sought my endorsement and support but advice as well .
So , I took my time .
Bill Hagerty has the endorsement , support , and power of the GOP Establishment behind him with Senator Alexander and former Governor Haslam working for him .
I think that is the wrong answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sethi is his life story and who is on his team , the decision was not difficult even though it took me a while .
I found through my lengthy evaluation process that Dr. Sethi is honorable , trustworthy , and most importantly like President Trump , he is a fighter .
Early on I was leaning toward Hagerty and indeed I might have endorsed him .
However , there were some things I could not reconcile with who Bill Hagerty said he was .
For instance , if he was so committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trumper Bill Haslam ( Bill Haslam led the Never Trump movement in Tennessee ) an integral part of his campaign ?
If Bill Hagerty was such a strong conservative , why was Senator Alexander ( with a 15 % conservative score ) raising money for him ?
If Bill Hagerty was not part of the political establishment , why did Mitch McConnell endorse him ?
If Bill Hagerty and Mitt Romney were not such close friends , why did Mitt Romney say in a Wall Street Journal article that he would “ love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If Bill Hagerty has always been a loyal Republican , then why did he donate $ 1,000 to Al Gore ’ s presidential Campaign ?
Lastly and very importantly ; why did Bill Hagerty as Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development oppose every single one of my illegal immigration bills when I was in the Tennessee General Assembly ?
Most especially the nation ’ s first state E-Verify law ?
After those questions came additional questions of integrity .
If Bill Hagerty was so appalled by all the rioting and looting by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sit on the Board of Directors of a company for nine years knowing full well that the company , R.J. O ’ Brien , was involved in supporting and promoting liberal causes and the Marxist group Black Lives Matter ?
Bill Hagerty refused to answer questions like this .
Every answer to every question was “ I have the president ’ s endorsement ” .
Bill Hagerty never answered the questions for me about Haslam , Lamar , Romney , McConnell , or R.J. O ’ Brien and to my knowledge those questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my conversations with Manny Sethi were completely different .
Every question I had ; I received a direct answer from Manny .
I asked Manny about his $ 50 contribution to Act Blue .
His response was that it was not a contribution to Act Blue but $ 50 he and his wife sent to a family friend who asked .
My research found his answer to be true .
Act Blue , like the Republican counterpart Win Red is a credit card processing company .
I asked Manny if he supported Obamacare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imply that he did .
I got another straight answer .
He said the video was spliced to take what he said completely out of context and that there is a 2016 video interview available outlining his views on the need to repeal Obamacare .
There is also a 2017 President Trump White House video explaining the same thing .
I asked Manny about his application for a White House job when Barack Obama was president .
Again , another straight answer .
The “ job ” in question is a White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a non-partisan position that is awarded to individuals based on their professional expertise .
During the Obama presidency Bill Hagerty worked for the Obama White House in a similar capacity selecting candidates for the same White House Fellowship .
The fact is this race is a once in a generational opportunity for constitutional conservatives who believe in Trump ’ s vision for Tennessee and America to make a difference .
Whether it is advancing the Pro-Life ideals , defending the 2nd Amendment , advocating for a smaller less intrusive federal government , repealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of conservative issues .
Dr. Manny Sethi has always been a consistent and reliable advocate for the vision of the Founding Fathers .
Politics in Tennessee unfortunately is too often an insider ’ s game , where the establishment candidate always wins .
I am proud to continue the fight against the machine we started in 2014 by endorsing Dr. Manny Sethi for the United States Senate .
Please join me .

In 2014 I ran for the United States Senate against well-known and established incumbent Lamar Alexander. Our underfunded and understaffed campaign garnered over 271,000 votes. The largest vote total of any statewide campaign to that point and not win an election. When we lost in 2014, I thought it was over. I was wrong! We were just getting started.
Fast forward to 2020 and Tennessee once again can send a constitutional conservative to the United States Senate to stand alongside President Donald Trump. Dr. Manny Sethi is that man.
My journey to supporting Dr. Sethi was neither immediate nor sure. I took a long time evaluating the candidates. I had numerous conversations with both Bill Hagerty and Dr. Manny Sethi over a period of several months. I was humbled by the fact that both men not only sought my endorsement and support but advice as well. So, I took my time.
Bill Hagerty has the endorsement, support, and power of the GOP Establishment behind him with Senator Alexander and former Governor Haslam working for him. I think that is the wrong answer. Contrast that with who Dr. Manny Sethi is his life story and who is on his team, the decision was not difficult even though it took me a while. I
found through my lengthy evaluation process that Dr. Sethi is honorable, trustworthy, and most importantly like President Trump, he is a fighter.
Early on I was leaning toward Hagerty and indeed I might have endorsed him. However, there were some things I could not reconcile with who Bill Hagerty said he was. For instance, if he was so committed to Donald Trump why was devout Never Trumper Bill Haslam (Bill Haslam led the Never Trump movement in Tennessee) an integral part of his campaign? If Bill Hagerty was such a strong conservative, why was Senator Alexander (with a 15% conservative score) raising money for him? If Bill Hagerty was not part of the political establishment, why did Mitch McConnell endorse him? If Bill Hagerty and Mitt Romney were not such close friends, why did Mitt Romney say in a Wall Street Journal article that he would “love it” if Hagerty would run? If Bill
Hagerty has always been a loyal Republican, then why did he donate $1,000 to Al Gore’s presidential Campaign? Lastly and very importantly; why did Bill Hagerty as Tennessee Commissioner of
Economic and Community Development oppose every single one of my illegal immigration bills when I was in the Tennessee General Assembly? Most especially the nation’s first state E-Verify law?
After those questions came additional questions of integrity. If Bill Hagerty was so appalled by all the rioting and looting by Marxist
Groups, why did Bill Hagerty sit on the Board of Directors of a company for nine years knowing full well that the company, R.J. O’Brien, was involved in supporting and promoting liberal causes and the Marxist group Black Lives Matter? Bill Hagerty refused to answer questions like this. Every answer to every question was “I have the president’s endorsement”. Bill Hagerty never answered the questions for me about Haslam, Lamar, Romney, McConnell, or R.J. O’Brien and to my knowledge those questions have never been answered.
By contrast my conversations with Manny Sethi were completely different. Every question I had; I received a direct answer from Manny. I asked Manny about his $50 contribution to Act Blue. His response was that it was not a contribution to Act Blue but $50 he and his wife sent to a family friend who asked. My research found his answer to be true. Act Blue, like the Republican counterpart Win Red is a credit card processing company.
I asked Manny if he supported Obamacare because a badly spliced video seems to imply that he did. I got another straight answer. He said the video was spliced to take what he said completely out of context and that there is a 2016 video interview available outlining his views on the need to repeal Obamacare. There is also a 2017 President Trump White House video explaining the same thing.
I asked Manny about his application for a White House job when Barack Obama was president. Again, another straight answer. The “job” in question is a White House Fellow. A White House Fellow is a non-partisan position that is awarded to individuals based on their professional expertise. During the Obama presidency Bill Hagerty worked for the Obama White House in a similar capacity selecting candidates for the same White House Fellowship.
The fact is this race is a once in a generational opportunity for constitutional conservatives who believe in Trump’s vision for Tennessee and America to make a difference. Whether it is advancing
the Pro-Life ideals, defending the 2nd Amendment, advocating for a smaller less intrusive federal government, repealing Obamacare or any other of the myriad of conservative issues. Dr. Manny Sethi has always been a consistent and reliable advocate for the vision of the Founding Fathers. Politics in Tennessee unfortunately is too often an insider’s game, where the establishment candidate always wins. I am proud to continue the fight against the machine we started in 2014 by endorsing Dr. Manny Sethi for the United States Senate. Please join me.
Stand Firm
– – –


thetennesseestar--2020-08-03--Gov. Northam Requests Ban on Evictions in Virginia, but Economic Impact Draws Concern

Gov .
Ralph Northam is asking the Virginia Supreme Court to extend a ban on evictions until September 7 amid thousands of pending cases , but some critics worry about the economic impact .
The ban was first implemented earlier this year to prevent Virginians from losing their homes because of the economic hardships caused by the shutdown over COVID-19 .
With hardships continuing statewide and the governor pulling back on the reopening of Hampton Roads , he has requested an extension .
More than 6,000 eviction cases are pending statewide .
1,978 of them are in Hampton Roads .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the COVID-19 pandemic are far from over , ” Northam said in the letter .
“ A growing wave of eviction proceedings is particularly worrisome .
There are concerning increases in COVID-19 cases in the Hampton Roads region , as well as spikes in other parts of the Commonwealth .
I have directed my team to increase enforcement of public health mitigation measures to try to contain the increases in transmission , but the potential eviction of Virginians in such affected areas poses a significant public health threat.
” Northam said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult for Virginia to economically recover .
If Virginians are evicted from their homes during the rise in cases , he said this also exacerbates the public health risk .
He said he will work with the General Assembly on stronger protections for tenants during the upcoming special session , but said the court has to take action in the meantime .
Chris Braunlich , the president of the free-market , Virginia-based Thomas Jefferson Institute , told The Center Square this policy could have a damaging domino effect .
“ We surely should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not of their own making , but the core challenge here is the downstream effects : landlords still have to pay their own creditors , ” Braunlich said .
“ They still have to use rent dollars to pay property taxes , insurance , maintenance , financing costs of the property , and sometimes utilities .
Few landlords can go long unable to replace non-paying renters with paying renters .
And the taxes they pay , especially the local property taxes , are the things that finance the firefighters and the schools and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Braunlich criticized Northam for maintaining a restrictive reopening strategy that has prevented people from getting back to work , particularly in Hampton Roads .
The administration launched a rent relief program about a month ago that is designed to provide relief to tenants who can not pay their rent because of COVID-19-related restrictions .
Northam said many of the people facing eviction may be eligible for this assistance , but some are not aware or working to get this funding .
He said some tenants may not be eligible for the relief because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fund goes directly to the landlord .
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and West Virginia for The Center Square .

by Tyler Arnold
Gov. Ralph Northam is asking the Virginia Supreme Court to extend a ban on evictions until September 7 amid thousands of pending cases, but some critics worry about the economic impact.
The ban was first implemented earlier this year to prevent Virginians from losing their homes because of the economic hardships caused by the shutdown over COVID-19. With hardships continuing statewide and the governor pulling back on the reopening of Hampton Roads, he has requested an extension.
More than 6,000 eviction cases are pending statewide. 1,978 of them are in Hampton Roads.
“Unfortunately, the public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are far from over,” Northam said in the letter. “A growing wave of eviction proceedings is particularly worrisome. There are concerning increases in COVID-19 cases in the Hampton Roads region, as well as spikes in other parts of the Commonwealth. I have directed my team to increase enforcement of public health mitigation measures to try to contain the increases in transmission, but the potential eviction of Virginians in such affected areas poses a significant public health threat.”
Northam said the rise in COVID-19 cases has made it difficult for Virginia to economically recover. If Virginians are evicted from their homes during the rise in cases, he said this also exacerbates the public health risk. He said he will work with the General Assembly on stronger protections for tenants during the upcoming special session, but said the court has to take action in the meantime.
Chris Braunlich, the president of the free-market, Virginia-based Thomas Jefferson Institute, told The Center Square this policy could have a damaging domino effect.
“We surely should have empathy for those in dire straits not of their own making, but the core challenge here is the downstream effects: landlords still have to pay their own creditors,” Braunlich said. “They still have to use rent dollars to pay property taxes, insurance, maintenance, financing costs of the property, and sometimes utilities. Few landlords can go long unable to replace non-paying renters with paying renters. And the taxes they pay, especially the local property taxes, are the things that finance the firefighters and the schools and the local social programs.”
Additionally, Braunlich criticized Northam for maintaining a restrictive reopening strategy that has prevented people from getting back to work, particularly in Hampton Roads.
The administration launched a rent relief program about a month ago that is designed to provide relief to tenants who cannot pay their rent because of COVID-19-related restrictions. Northam said many of the people facing eviction may be eligible for this assistance, but some are not aware or working to get this funding. He said some tenants may not be eligible for the relief because of federal restrictions.
The money from this fund goes directly to the landlord.
– – –
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and West Virginia for The Center Square.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-03--Commentary: The Deep Church Helps Biden

Commentary: The Deep Church Helps Biden

Were Joe Biden given a Catholic rating , it would be zero .
He not only stands against central moral teachings of the Church but has also promised to violate her religious freedom .
Should he win , he would resume the persecution of the Little Sisters of the Poor and other Catholic groups .
Despite all of this , Biden seeks the Catholic vote , and is receiving help from bad Catholics burrowed within the Church .
What Archbishop Carlo Viganò has called the “ deep Church ” is working hard for Biden ’ s election .
Exhibit A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic Reporter ’ s recent puff piece on Biden — “ How Joe Biden ’ s Catholic roots have shaped his public life.
” The truth is the exact opposite : he has spent his career rejecting his Catholic roots and selling his soul to Planned Parenthood .
In light of Biden ’ s open rejection of his faith , the piece reads almost like a parody .
It quotes him as saying , “ I grew up with Catholic social doctrine , which taught me that faith without works is dead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do.
” This is the same pol who has said he will not follow his faith on abortion and gay marriage .
Faith is irrelevant to my politics , Biden normally says , only changing his tune during campaign season , when suddenly it explains his “ public life.
” The National Catholic Reporter aids him in this con job , showering him with the most ludicrous Catholic testimonials .
Stephen Schneck , executive director of the Franciscan Action Network in Washington , D.C. , is quoted as saying , “ Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key for bringing the country back together and overcoming the divisions that divide us .
He thinks there ’ s something in Catholicism itself that provides a ground where both sides can find commonplace.
” Schneck insists that Biden ’ s support for the killing of unborn children shouldn ’ t lead anyone to conclude he is an insincere Catholic : “ I don ’ t see this as suggesting he ’ s not a good Catholic.
” The piece doesn ’ t mention that Biden officiates at gay weddings and aligns himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
It doesn ’ t mention that he has promised NARAL and Planned Parenthood that he will force Catholics to pay for the contraceptives and abortifacients of their employees .
Instead , the piece defames Donald Trump , who lifted the contraceptive mandate and has served as a reliable defender of the Church ’ s religious freedom .
We ’ re told that Biden is devout and Trump is soulless : In an op-ed last December , Biden summarized part of his pitch to religious voters , saying Trump “ doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for or believe in something bigger than himself.
” Michael Wear , who led President Barack Obama ’ s faith outreach during the 2012 campaign , said that message is central to the distinction that the Biden camp is hoping to offer .
“ Donald Trump is someone who needs religion to work for him in order to be politically successful , ” said Wear .
“ He is someone who has used religion and religious people .
He values them to the extent that they ’ re valuable to him.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Wear continued , is that he “ isn ’ t looking to see what faith can do for him .
His life has been looking to see how he can serve out of , in part , a motivation of faith.
” It is typical of the Catholic left to treat the Church ’ s friends as enemies and her enemies as friends .
It specializes in breeding the Church ’ s destroyers .
Look at all the pro-abortion “ Catholics ” in Congress , most of whom are products of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest beneficiary of the deep Church , which seeks to eliminate Catholic doctrine in favor of left-wing politics .
It dresses this sham up as “ faith in action.
” We ’ re even told in the piece that Biden , who would be the second Catholic president in American history , represents an improvement over John F. Kennedy : The election of a first Catholic president 60 years ago sent shockwaves through a once staunchly Protestant nation .
Yet when the Earl of Longford remarked to Kennedy ’ s younger sister , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be written about President John F. Kennedy and his faith , she said , “ It will be an awfully slim volume.
” For Biden , by contrast , the Irish Catholic faith of his youth seems to be written on nearly every page of his long life in an indelible way that has shaped his full biography .
It is not one of window dressing ; it is the window through which he sees much of his public life .
New York University professor and Kennedy scholar Timothy Naftali told NCR , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inner spiritual life with the public .
He left it mysterious and downplayed its effect on his approach to leadership .
He did speak of the moral force of the presidency , but , perhaps because of the pervasive bigotry toward Roman Catholics at that time in U.S. history , he left unspoken the sources of his understanding of moral imperatives.
” “ Biden , while clearly a fan of Kennedy ’ s , emerged in an era where Catholic politicians didn ’ t need to be as circumspect , ” noted Naftali @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his sleeve and proudly explains the effect of his upbringing on his worldview.
” What propagandistic nonsense .
Far from proving an ascending and edifying Catholic presence in American life , a Biden presidency would mark its corrupting nadir .
George Neumayr , a senior editor at The American Spectator , is co-author of No Higher Power : Obama ’ s War on Religious Freedom .

by George Neumayr
Were Joe Biden given a Catholic rating, it would be zero. He not only stands against central moral teachings of the Church but has also promised to violate her religious freedom. Should he win, he would resume the persecution of the Little Sisters of the Poor and other Catholic groups. Despite all of this, Biden seeks the Catholic vote, and is receiving help from bad Catholics burrowed within the Church. What Archbishop Carlo Viganò has called the “deep Church” is working hard for Biden’s election.
Exhibit A of this perverse phenomenon is the National Catholic Reporter’s recent puff piece on Biden — “How Joe Biden’s Catholic roots have shaped his public life.”
The truth is the exact opposite: he has spent his career rejecting his Catholic roots and selling his soul to Planned Parenthood.
In light of Biden’s open rejection of his faith, the piece reads almost like a parody. It quotes him as saying, “I grew up with Catholic social doctrine, which taught me that faith without works is dead, and you will know us by what we do.” This is the same pol who has said he will not follow his faith on abortion and gay marriage.
Faith is irrelevant to my politics, Biden normally says, only changing his tune during campaign season, when suddenly it explains his “public life.” The National Catholic Reporter aids him in this con job, showering him with the most ludicrous Catholic testimonials. Stephen Schneck, executive director of the Franciscan Action Network in Washington, D.C., is quoted as saying, “Biden actually sees his Catholic faith as a key for bringing the country back together and overcoming the divisions that divide us. He thinks there’s something in Catholicism itself that provides a ground where both sides can find commonplace.”
Schneck insists that Biden’s support for the killing of unborn children shouldn’t lead anyone to conclude he is an insincere Catholic: “I don’t see this as suggesting he’s not a good Catholic.”
The piece doesn’t mention that Biden officiates at gay weddings and aligns himself with the most anti-Catholic liberals in the country. It doesn’t mention that he has promised NARAL and Planned Parenthood that he will force Catholics to pay for the contraceptives and abortifacients of their employees. Instead, the piece defames Donald Trump, who lifted the contraceptive mandate and has served as a reliable defender of the Church’s religious freedom.
We’re told that Biden is devout and Trump is soulless:
In an op-ed last December, Biden summarized part of his pitch to religious voters, saying Trump “doesn’t know what it means to live for or believe in something bigger than himself.” Michael Wear, who led President Barack Obama’s faith outreach during the 2012 campaign, said that message is central to the distinction that the Biden camp is hoping to offer. “Donald Trump is someone who needs religion to work for him in order to be politically successful,” said Wear. “He is someone who has used religion and religious people. He values them to the extent that they’re valuable to him.”
“The contrast Joe Biden has to offer,” Wear continued, is that he “isn’t looking to see what faith can do for him. His life has been looking to see how he can serve out of, in part, a motivation of faith.”
It is typical of the Catholic left to treat the Church’s friends as enemies and her enemies as friends. It specializes in breeding the Church’s destroyers. Look at all the pro-abortion “Catholics” in Congress, most of whom are products of Catholic schools. Joe Biden is the latest beneficiary of the deep Church, which seeks to eliminate Catholic doctrine in favor of left-wing politics. It dresses this sham up as “faith in action.” We’re even told in the piece that Biden, who would be the second Catholic president in American history, represents an improvement over John F. Kennedy:
The election of a first Catholic president 60 years ago sent shockwaves through a once staunchly Protestant nation. Yet when the Earl of Longford remarked to Kennedy’s younger sister, Eunice Shriver, that a book should be written about President John F. Kennedy and his faith, she said, “It will be an awfully slim volume.” For Biden, by contrast, the Irish Catholic faith of his youth seems to be written on nearly every page of his long life in an indelible way that has shaped his full biography. It is not one of window dressing; it is the window through which he sees much of his public life. New York University professor and Kennedy scholar Timothy Naftali told NCR, “Kennedy didn’t share his inner spiritual life with the public. He left it mysterious and downplayed its effect on his approach to leadership. He did speak of the moral force of the presidency, but, perhaps because of the pervasive bigotry toward Roman Catholics at that time in U.S. history, he left unspoken the sources of his understanding of moral imperatives.” “Biden, while clearly a fan of Kennedy’s, emerged in an era where Catholic politicians didn’t need to be as circumspect,” noted Naftali. “He wears his faith on his sleeve and proudly explains the effect of his upbringing on his worldview.”
What propagandistic nonsense. Far from proving an ascending and edifying Catholic presence in American life, a Biden presidency would mark its corrupting nadir.
– – –
George Neumayr, a senior editor at The American Spectator, is co-author of No Higher Power: Obama’s War on Religious Freedom.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-03--Democrats Surge in Early Voting Primary, Up 58 Percent Versus 2016, Republican Turnout Remains Stead

Democrats Surge in Early Voting Primary, Up 58 Percent Versus 2016, Republican Turnout Remains Steady

In the first 12 days of early voting , turnout among Tennessee Democrats is 58 percent higher than in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ voting is 5 percent higher than four years ago , according to data from the @ @ @ @ @ office .
Overall , early voting turnout is about 15 percent higher than in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ million Tennesseans having cast ballots early so far .
Loudon , Lawrence , and Lewis @ @ @ @ @ growth , all more than tripling overall early turnout so far .
Turnout among democratic @ @ @ @ @ high in counties surrounding Nashville .
Davidson County , where Nashville is located , has @ @ @ @ @ many early Democrat voters as in 2016 .
Rutherford County turnout for the Democratic primary @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
Nearby Wilson and Sumner counties have seen three times as many voters @ @ @ @ @ Williamson County turnout is nearly four times higher .
Vivian Jones is a regular contributor @ @ @ @ @

by Vivian Jones
In the first 12 days of early voting, turnout among Tennessee Democrats is 58 percent higher than in 2016. Republican turnout for early voting is 5 percent higher than four years ago, according to data from the Secretary of State’s office.
Overall, early voting turnout is about 15 percent higher than in 2016, with nearly half a million Tennesseans having cast ballots early so far.
Loudon, Lawrence, and Lewis counties saw the highest turnout growth, all more than tripling overall early turnout so far.
Turnout among democratic primary voters has been particularly high in counties surrounding Nashville. Davidson County, where Nashville is located, has seen nearly three times as many early Democrat voters as in 2016. Rutherford County turnout for the Democratic primary doubled since the same period in 2016. Nearby Wilson and Sumner counties have seen three times as many voters in the Democratic primary. Williamson County turnout is nearly four times higher.
Early voting closed August 1. Tennessee’s Primary Election Day is Thursday, August 6.
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Vivian Jones is a regular contributor to The Center Square.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-03--Police Budgets Nationwide In Crisis After Covid, Activism Cut Funding in Half: Study

Police Departments across the country are in crisis as calls to defund the police , rioting , and the Covid Crisis threaten to sap existing resources .
A new study by the Police Executive Research Forum showed that almost half of the 258 departments surveyed are facing budget cuts .
Portland City council approved a $ 15,000,000 dollar budget cut last month as the city struggled with riots .
The Portland Police Department was forced to pay over $ 5,000,000 in overtime to deal with the unrest .
The Los Angeles Police Department budget will be cut by over $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towards funding programs for minority communities , including a youth jobs program .
The Seattle City Council has committed to cutting their police departments funding by half .
SPD ’ s budget was already cut by $ 76,000,000 in mid July .
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin criticized the Council ’ s plans “ You can ’ t govern by twitter or bumper sticker .
Community safety is too important .
Too important not to have a thoughtful approach.
” Minneapolis City Council approved a proposal to eliminate the city ’ s police department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holistic ” approach to policing .
In one of the largest moves , New York City will be cutting the NYPD ’ s budget by $ 1,000,000,000 .
In a press release New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm said “ To the thousands of New Yorkers who so admirably fought for budget justice over the past several weeks : we heard you and we stand with you .
We recognize that the City must move away from failed racist policing policies of the past.
” While these cuts are due in large part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rocked the nation after the death of George Floyd , they also reflect a deep problem facing the country .
With the economy so affected by the coronavirus pandemic , many states and cities are struggling financially .
New York reported a 17.3 % short fall on July 15th .
Governor Newsom of California called for $ 14,000,000,000 in budget cuts this year , but is struggling to make headway with lawmakers .
The Tax Policy Center released a report stating that “ Every state that has updated its ( financial ) forecast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The report showed that “ Among the 27 states for which we have data , Hawaii is facing the largest expected decline in tax revenues , due to the huge drop off in its tourism industry .
States that heavily rely on energy taxes , such as Alaska , New Mexico , and Wyoming , also expect substantial revenue shortfalls.
” With the coronavirus hampering the US Economy and growing calls to “ defund the police ” state budgets in general and police forces in particular will continue to suffer .
Ben Kolodny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ]

Police Departments across the country are in crisis as calls to defund the police, rioting, and the Covid Crisis threaten to sap existing resources.
A new study by the Police Executive Research Forum showed that almost half of the 258 departments surveyed are facing budget cuts. Portland City council approved a $15,000,000 dollar budget cut last month as the city struggled with riots. The Portland Police Department was forced to pay over $5,000,000 in overtime to deal with the unrest.
The Los Angeles Police Department budget will be cut by over $150,000,000. The money will be redirected towards funding programs for minority communities, including a youth jobs program.
The Seattle City Council has committed to cutting their police departments funding by half. SPD’s budget was already cut by $76,000,000 in mid July. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin criticized the Council’s plans “You can’t govern by twitter or bumper sticker. Community safety is too important. Too important not to have a thoughtful approach.”
Minneapolis City Council approved a proposal to eliminate the city’s police department in order to take a more “holistic” approach to policing.
In one of the largest moves, New York City will be cutting the NYPD’s budget by $1,000,000,000. In a press release New York City Councilman Daniel Dromm said “To the thousands of New Yorkers who so admirably fought for budget justice over the past several weeks: we heard you and we stand with you. We recognize that the City must move away from failed racist policing policies of the past.”
While these cuts are due in large part to the anti-police protests and riots that rocked the nation after the death of George Floyd, they also reflect a deep problem facing the country. With the economy so affected by the coronavirus pandemic, many states and cities are struggling financially.
New York reported a 17.3% short fall on July 15th. Governor Newsom of California called for $14,000,000,000 in budget cuts this year, but is struggling to make headway with lawmakers.
The Tax Policy Center released a report stating that “Every state that has updated its (financial) forecast predicts a significant decline in revenue.” The report showed that “Among the 27 states for which we have data, Hawaii is facing the largest expected decline in tax revenues, due to the huge drop off in its tourism industry. States that heavily rely on energy taxes, such as Alaska, New Mexico, and Wyoming, also expect substantial revenue shortfalls.”
With the coronavirus hampering the US Economy and growing calls to “defund the police” state budgets in general and police forces in particular will continue to suffer.
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Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. You can follow Ben on Twitter. Tips can be sent to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-03--Texas County Commissioners Vote Unanimously to Keep Confederate Monument Outside Courthouse

Parker County Judge Pat Deen said county documents did not provide any evidence that the statue had ever been officially owned by the county , the Forth Worth Star-Telegram reported .
Deen said the statue is actually property of the United Daughters of the Confederacy .
United Daughters of the Confederacy was founded in Nashville in 1894 and seeks to preserve the history of the Confederate States , according to its website .
“ We went through all the minutes from the court , starting back from roughly 1901 to 1950 .
In that time period , there has never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ever accept the Confederate statue , as you see out there , ” Parker County Attorney John Forrest said , the Star-Telegram reported .
Commissioner George Conley made a motion to “ leave the monument where it has been for over 100 years and get on with whatever happens after that , ” the Star-Telegram reported .
Commissioner Larry Walden seconded Conley ’ s motion , leading to a unanimous vote of the five-member commission in favor of leaving the monument alone , the Star-Telegram reported .
Commissioners said several constituents wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Confederate statues have been torn down across the nation .
Some have been removed by demonstrators , such as a Confederate statue in Portsmouth , Virginia , the Daily Caller News Foundation reported .
In other instances , some institutions such as the University of Mississippi have voted to remove the statues .
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Confederate Statue at Parker County , Texas Courthouse ” by Billy Harthorn .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .

by Kaylee Greenlee
A Confederate statue will remain on a Texas county courthouse lawn, commissioners voted unanimously Thursday.
Parker County Judge Pat Deen said county documents did not provide any evidence that the statue had ever been officially owned by the county, the Forth Worth Star-Telegram reported. Deen said the statue is actually property of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. United Daughters of the Confederacy was founded in Nashville in 1894 and seeks to preserve the history of the Confederate States, according to its website.
“We went through all the minutes from the court, starting back from roughly 1901 to 1950. In that time period, there has never been a motion made by the court to ever accept the Confederate statue, as you see out there,” Parker County Attorney John Forrest said, the Star-Telegram reported.
Commissioner George Conley made a motion to “leave the monument where it has been for over 100 years and get on with whatever happens after that,” the Star-Telegram reported.
Parker County Commissioners vote to keep Confederate statue https://t.co/67mKjCk4zH — Fort Worth Star-Telegram (@startelegram) July 30, 2020
Commissioner Larry Walden seconded Conley’s motion, leading to a unanimous vote of the five-member commission in favor of leaving the monument alone, the Star-Telegram reported.
Commissioners said several constituents wanted to leave the statue, the Star-Telegram reported.
Confederate statues have been torn down across the nation. Some have been removed by demonstrators, such as a Confederate statue in Portsmouth, Virginia, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported. In other instances, some institutions such as the University of Mississippi have voted to remove the statues.
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Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Confederate Statue at Parker County, Texas Courthouse” by Billy Harthorn. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-03--Minnesota Company Gets Most Aid in Iowa Hog Disposal Program

IOWA CITY , Iowa ( AP ) — One influential pork company has received most of the money from an Iowa program designed to support farmers who euthanized their hogs after the coronavirus devastated their industry , newly released data shows .
Christensen Farms , one of the nation ’ s largest family-owned pork producers , has received $ 1.86 million from the Iowa Disposal Assistance Program , or 72 % of the $ 2.6 million the program has paid to date .
The Sleepy Eye , Minnesota-based company received payments for disposing of 46,599 euthanized hogs , six times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 15 other companies and farmers who received payments reported euthanizing about 18,000 hogs combined .
Iowa is the nation ’ s largest pork-producing state , and Christensen Farms has more than half of its operations in the state , including partnerships with nearly 200 farms .
Coronavirus outbreaks at meatpacking plants resulted in worker absenteeism and temporary closures , dramatically slowing production in April and into May .
As a result , some farmers said they had no markets to sell their hogs and no space to keep them .
Industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new markets and to slow animals ’ growth but euthanized them as a last resort — a practice that can use gunshots , bolt guns , electrocution or heat .
Christensen Farms is the largest shareholder in the Triumph Foods plant in St. Joseph , Missouri , and part owner of the Seaboard Triumph Foods plant in Sioux City , Iowa .
Between the two plants , at least 611 workers have tested positive for coronavirus and three have died .
With disruptions to the supply chain , “ pork producers have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet critically necessary decisions to sacrifice pigs that processing plants were unable to take , ” the company said in a statement .
Christensen Farms spokeswoman JoDee Haala said it used a variety of methods approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association to euthanize hogs .
She said its preferred methods for disposal have been to render carcasses into fats used in products such as animal feed or using them as compost .
Christensen Farms said it was grateful for the support from the Iowa program “ as the sector navigates prolonged and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agriculture and Land Stewardship released the claims data Wednesday in response to an open records request by The Associated Press .
Iowa launched the program in May to reimburse farmers $ 40 for each euthanized market-ready hog up to 225 pounds ( 102 kilograms ) .
It is paid for with federal funds provided to the state for coronavirus relief .
Participation has been lower than anticipated , agriculture department spokeswoman Keely Coppess said .
It ’ s unclear why some filed claims and others did not , she said .
Only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6,200 pig farms have sought payments .
Christensen Farms reported euthanizing all 46,599 hogs between May 1 and June 5 .
It received the maximum allowed claim of 30,000 hogs in the first round of funding and 16,599 in the second .
Demand for the program dropped in the next two rounds of funding , which covered the bulk of June .
Producers making claims must provide proof of proper disposal and an affidavit from a veterinarian .
The department expanded eligibility this month to producers who euthanized hens after the price of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant and school closures .
For the first time , this round of funding also will pay $ 4 per piglet of up to 25 pounds ( 11 kilograms ) euthanized between May 1 and July 20 .
The number of hogs euthanized dwarfs the number donated during the first phase of Iowa ’ s highly touted Pass the Pork program .
The state launched the program in April to pay the cost of having pigs processed and packaged for food banks .
By early June , 451 pigs had been donated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan J. Foley is a reporter at The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : In this Dec. 20 , 2017 , file photo , is the Seaboard Triumph Foods pork processing plant in Sioux City , Iowa .
Christensen Farms , one influential pork company has received the vast majority of payments from an Iowa program designed to support farmers who euthanized their hogs after the coronavirus devastated their industry .
Newly released data shows that Christensen Farms has received $ 1.86 million from the Iowa Disposal Assistance Program .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.6 million the program has paid to date .
( Tim Hynds/Sioux City Journal via AP , File )

by Ryan J. Foley
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — One influential pork company has received most of the money from an Iowa program designed to support farmers who euthanized their hogs after the coronavirus devastated their industry, newly released data shows.
Christensen Farms, one of the nation’s largest family-owned pork producers, has received $1.86 million from the Iowa Disposal Assistance Program, or 72% of the $2.6 million the program has paid to date.
The Sleepy Eye, Minnesota-based company received payments for disposing of 46,599 euthanized hogs, six times as many as the second highest claimant. The 15 other companies and farmers who received payments reported euthanizing about 18,000 hogs combined.
Iowa is the nation’s largest pork-producing state, and Christensen Farms has more than half of its operations in the state, including partnerships with nearly 200 farms.
Coronavirus outbreaks at meatpacking plants resulted in worker absenteeism and temporary closures, dramatically slowing production in April and into May. As a result, some farmers said they had no markets to sell their hogs and no space to keep them. Industry officials say they took steps to find new markets and to slow animals’ growth but euthanized them as a last resort — a practice that can use gunshots, bolt guns, electrocution or heat.
Christensen Farms is the largest shareholder in the Triumph Foods plant in St. Joseph, Missouri, and part owner of the Seaboard Triumph Foods plant in Sioux City, Iowa. Between the two plants, at least 611 workers have tested positive for coronavirus and three have died.
With disruptions to the supply chain, “pork producers have been faced with making unfathomable and heartbreaking, yet critically necessary decisions to sacrifice pigs that processing plants were unable to take,” the company said in a statement.
Christensen Farms spokeswoman JoDee Haala said it used a variety of methods approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association to euthanize hogs. She said its preferred methods for disposal have been to render carcasses into fats used in products such as animal feed or using them as compost.
Christensen Farms said it was grateful for the support from the Iowa program “as the sector navigates prolonged and unprecedented uncertainty.”
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship released the claims data Wednesday in response to an open records request by The Associated Press.
Iowa launched the program in May to reimburse farmers $40 for each euthanized market-ready hog up to 225 pounds (102 kilograms). It is paid for with federal funds provided to the state for coronavirus relief.
Participation has been lower than anticipated, agriculture department spokeswoman Keely Coppess said. It’s unclear why some filed claims and others did not, she said. Only a tiny fraction of Iowa’s estimated 6,200 pig farms have sought payments.
Christensen Farms reported euthanizing all 46,599 hogs between May 1 and June 5. It received the maximum allowed claim of 30,000 hogs in the first round of funding and 16,599 in the second.
Demand for the program dropped in the next two rounds of funding, which covered the bulk of June. Producers making claims must provide proof of proper disposal and an affidavit from a veterinarian.
The department expanded eligibility this month to producers who euthanized hens after the price of liquid eggs plummeted as a result of restaurant and school closures. For the first time, this round of funding also will pay $4 per piglet of up to 25 pounds (11 kilograms) euthanized between May 1 and July 20.
The number of hogs euthanized dwarfs the number donated during the first phase of Iowa’s highly touted Pass the Pork program.
The state launched the program in April to pay the cost of having pigs processed and packaged for food banks. By early June, 451 pigs had been donated, resulting in 200,000 servings of pork.
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Ryan J. Foley is a reporter at The Associated Press.
About the Headline Photo: In this Dec. 20, 2017, file photo, is the Seaboard Triumph Foods pork processing plant in Sioux City, Iowa. Christensen Farms, one influential pork company has received the vast majority of payments from an Iowa program designed to support farmers who euthanized their hogs after the coronavirus devastated their industry. Newly released data shows that Christensen Farms has received $1.86 million from the Iowa Disposal Assistance Program. That’s 72% of the $2.6 million the program has paid to date. (Tim Hynds/Sioux City Journal via AP, File)