thetennesseestar--2020-04-22--Two Ohio Prisons Are Now Largest Known Sources of Coronavirus Infections in America

Two state prisons in Ohio are now the largest reported sources of coronavirus infections in the United States , a New York Times database revealed this week .
As of Monday , the Marion Correctional Institution had 1,950 confirmed COVID-19 cases among inmates in a prison population of 2,500 .
An additional 154 staff members have tested positive , bringing the total number of confirmed cases from the prison to 2,104 .
That means the Marion Correctional Institution has more confirmed cases than any county in the state .
Marion County has the most confirmed cases in Ohio with 2,132 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside the prison .
The prison has more cases than Cuyahoga County ( 1,653 ) , Pickaway County ( 1,635 ) , and Franklin County ( 1,557 ) .
The Pickaway Correctional Institution accounts for a large portion of the county ’ s confirmed cases .
According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction , the prison has 1,163 confirmed COVID-19 cases among prisoners and 67 among staff , a total of 1,230 .
According to The Times , the two prisons are now the largest reported sources of coronavirus infections in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more cases than the Smithfield Food processing facility in South Dakota ( 904 ) , the Cook County Jail in Chicago , Illinois ( 768 ) , the Cummins Unit in Grady , Arkansas ( 680 ) , and the U.S.S .
Theodore Roosevelt docked in Guam ( 672 ) .
The Times notes that nearly one out of five cases in Ohio is now connected with the state ’ s prison system .
Overall , the Ohio prison system has produced 3,312 coronavirus cases and eight deaths , six of which occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Tuesday , Ohio had 13,725 cases , meaning the Marion Correctional Institution alone accounts for 15 percent of Ohio ’ s total caseload .
The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction attributed the spike in cases to its “ aggressive and unique approach to testing , which includes mass testing of all staff and inmates at the Marion Correctional Institution , the Pickaway Correctional Institution , and the Franklin Medical Center.
” “ Because we are testing everyone – including those who are not showing symptoms – we are getting positive test results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tested because they were asymptomatic , ” the agency said in a statement .
“ Gov .
DeWine spoke about this on Friday at his press conference and stressed that the data in these three locations is the result of widespread testing.
” Several liberal organizations sent a letter to the governor in late March asking him to immediately reduce “ state and local incarcerated populations.
” One prisoner has even sued for his release because of the virus , The Ohio Star reported .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-22--Trial Delayed for Accused Murderer Dr. William Husel

The Ohio doctor accused of ordering excessive painkiller doses for dozens of patients who died won ’ t face trial on murder charges until next year .
Dr. William Husel was scheduled for trial in Columbus this June , but it was delayed by a ban on mass gatherings because of the coronavirus and related changes in court operations .
Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Holbrook rescheduled the trial to start May 10 , 2021 .
“ There ’ s no way we can do it this summer , ” Holbrook said after the decision was made during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorneys .
Husel began working for Mount Carmel Health System as an anesthesiologist and ICU doctor in 2013 until he was fired in December 2018 .
Records say Husel administered at least 500 micrograms of the powerful painkiller fentanyl to each of his patients .
Prosecutors say doses that large indicate an intent to end lives .
As The Ohio Star previously reported , Its internal review concluded the 44-year-old doctor had ordered potentially fatal doses for 29 patients who died over several years , including five who it said might have received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance of improving their conditions with treatment The 44-year-old pleaded not guilty in the deaths of 25 patients in the Columbus-area Mount Carmel Health System .
Husel and his lawyers deny the allegations , saying he was providing comfort care for dying patients – not trying to kill them .
The Mount Carmel hospital said it also fired 23 nurses along with the pharmacy management team , accepted the resignation of CEO Ed Lamb , and referred more employees to their respective state boards for review .
Samantha Witwer is a reporter at @ @ @ @

The Arizona U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) recently revealed that 22 Arizonans have been indicted for drug-related charges following a multi-year investigation of a South Phoenix criminal street gang.
“According to the criminal complaints filed last week, in January 2020, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) began an investigation targeting a drug and firearms supplier in South Phoenix. In February 2021, in conjunction with the DPS investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Violent Street Gang Task Force began investigating the Lindo Park Crips (LPC), a criminal street gang operating in South Phoenix,” according to a press release from the USAO.
The release outlined that DPS and FBI investigators targeted LPC members and drug suppliers, ultimately leading to a major bust. Investigators reportedly found over 2,000 grams of cocaine, 35,000 counterfeit pills suspected to contain fentanyl, 26 grams of methamphetamine, four and a half grams of crack, 32 doses of MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy or XTC), and weapons, including 17 firearms and eight Glock conversion devices.
All 22 defendants are charged with either conspiracy to distribute cocaine or fentanyl, and some are charged with actual possession of the drugs. Furthermore, several are charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm in relation to drug trafficking.
According to the release, these charges incur heavy fines and jail time if convicted. For the drug charges, a conviction for conspiracy to distribute or intent to sell the amount of cocaine charged in the complaint carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine, while a conviction for the amount of fentanyl can be up to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Moreover, a conviction for illegally possessing a firearm carries jail time up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine.
Most of the 22 individuals come from Phoenix, but others hail from cities across Arizona, including Avondale, Florence, Buckeye, and Goodyear. The youngest defendant is Jesus Salazar, 24, of Avondale, while the eldest is 62-year-old Terry Lee King of Phoenix.
The USAO stated that this case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCFETF) operation which seeks to dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States.
All defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
As The Arizona Sun Times reported, Border Patrol agents recently seized 4.2 kilograms of fentanyl and 2.1 kilograms of heroin at a highway checkpoint at the El Centro Station. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBS) said the drugs confiscated had an estimated street value of $190,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states that as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on the person’s tolerance. Based on that statistic, this bust alone involved enough fentanyl to kill over 2 million people.
According to statistics from CBS, 3,513.15 kilograms of illicit fentanyl were confiscated in May, which would hypothetically be enough to kill 1,756,575,000 people under the DEA’s metric.
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Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Phoenix Police Department” by Phoenix Police Department.


thetennesseestar--2020-04-22--Prominent Minneapolis Civil Rights Attorney and BLM Activist Endorses Ilhan Omar’s Primary Opponent

A prominent civil rights attorney and Black Lives Matter activist announced Monday that she is endorsing Rep. Ilhan Omar ’ s ( D-MN-05 ) opponent in the DFL primary .
Nekima Levy Armstrong , former president of the Minneapolis NAACP and one-time candidate for Minneapolis mayor , criticized Omar for her “ dismal track record ” and “ neglect ” of the Fifth Congressional District .
“ For the last 15 months , I have waited in vain for Rep. Ilhan Omar to rise to the occasion of prioritizing the needs of the Fifth Congressional District above many of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and attention .
As a resident of the Fifth , an attorney and longtime advocate for equity and justice , I see every day the lingering effects of benign neglect upon our community as well as a desire for real change and access to opportunity , ” Levy Armstrong said in a Monday column for The Star Tribune .
She said she decided to endorse Antone Melton-Meaux over Omar after reading his own recent op-ed in The Star Tribune .
In the article , Melton-Meaux said Omar “ appears to be more focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the district.
” “ I find it to be refreshing that Melton-Meaux pulled no punches in his opinion piece in highlighting the significant concerns surrounding Omar ’ s dismal track record , her lack of presence when it ’ s time to vote in Congress , and her failure to pass any significant legislation until the COVID-19 Relief Act , which only happened very recently .
These are issues that we ought to be paying attention to , so we ’ re able to make an informed decision about who our next leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Melton-Meaux pointed out that Omar has “ the seventh-worst attendance record for missed votes among first-term representatives.
” “ From October to December last year , she missed more votes than 94 percent of Congress .
That doesn ’ t work for us .
Omar had her first bill passed as part of a coronavirus relief package .
While laudable , all of her other proposed bills have failed to go anywhere .
That doesn ’ t work for us , ” he added .
He went on to criticize Omar for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparent with the local media and her constituents .
“ Omar has repeatedly made divisive statements that have been hurtful to members of our Jewish community .
She creates distraction and drama , not results .
That doesn ’ t work for us , ” he said , noting that 95 percent of Omar ’ s financial support comes from outside her district .
“ Omar failed to find time to even visit all of her district , yet she found time to write an autobiography and travel around the country for Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he concluded .
“ I call on Rep. Omar to commit to a series of public debates to defend her poor representation and lack of transparency and accountability to the people of our district and the residents of Minnesota.
” Kate Wittenstein , treasurer of Omar ’ s campaign , published a rebuttal to Melton-Meaux ’ s piece in which she accused him of “ race , class , and gender erasure ” and using “ dog whistles to Islamophobia.
” “ In responding to critiques of Omar , Wittenstein placed the blame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omar ’ s failure to get a single bill out of a House committee before January .
Omar is a member of the House of Representatives controlled by the Democrats , so this explanation falls short and exemplifies Omar ’ s inability to get things done within her own party , ” Levy Armstrong replied .
Wittenstein touted Omar ’ s support for the Liberian community in her response , but failed to “ mention that Omar voted against the bill that granted them permanent resident status , ” Levy Armstrong noted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Fifth District deserves a leader who will put our interests first , and one who will be accountable and transparent .
There is too much at stake to allow another two years of what we have experienced over the last 15 months .
We deserve better , ” she concluded .
Melton-Meaux , a Minneapolis attorney and mediator , will face off against Omar for the DFL nomination in the August 11 primary .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected ] .
Photo “ Antone Melton-Meaux ” by Antone Melton-Meaux .
Photo “ Ilhan Omar ” by Ilhan Omar .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-22--Ohio Creates Task Force to Address Coronavirus Racial Disparities, Continues to Ignore COVID-19’s Ge

Ohio Creates Task Force to Address Coronavirus Racial Disparities, Continues to Ignore COVID-19’s Gender Discrepancies

Gov .
Mike DeWine announced Monday that he created the Minority Health Strike Force due to the coronavirus disproportionately impacting minority groups .
Ohio Department of Health ( ODH ) data shows that 22 percent of Ohioans who have tested positive for the Chinese virus in Ohio are black , which makes up 14 of the state ’ s population , according to the governor ’ s press release .
“ We must recognize that there are many Ohioans who have an increased risk of being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 , and we must do everything we can to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
DeWine said that this “ data is not complete ” and that the number of COVID-19 cases in the black community is “ certainly higher.
” Here is the demographic break down of coronavirus cases in Ohio : The health task force consists of 38 people who have backgrounds in government , private sector , civil rights and religion .
Ohio is the latest state to create a task force trying to address the racial disparities in coronavirus cases .
In the 26 states reporting cases by demographics , black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 deaths , according to John Hopkins University .
United States Census Bureau data from 2018 estimates that black people account for 13 percent of America ’ s population .
As Ohio tries to address racial discrepancies in coronavirus cases and deaths , another category it seems to be forgetting about is the disproportions in how this virus affects men compared to women .
Currently , 60 percent of the cases in Ohio belongs to men .
According to the World Population Review , males only make up 49 percent of the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced if it will create a task force to address the gender disparity .
As of Tuesday , Ohio has 13,725 confirmed cases with 538 deaths , according to the ODH .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] Photo “ Mike DeWine ” by The Ohio Channel .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-22--Michigan Conservative Coalition Submits Open Letter to Lansing Mayor Clarifying It Is Not Associated

Michigan Conservative Coalition Submits Open Letter to Lansing Mayor Clarifying It Is Not Associated with New Protests

The Michigan Conservative Coalition recently issued an open letter to Lansing Mayor Andy Schor warning that upcoming protests in Lansing are not associated with the group .
The MCC organized the “ Operation Gridlock ” car rally last week protesting Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s lockdown orders .
The rally drew thousands of cars to Lansing on April 15 to protest Whitmer ’ s most recent lockdown orders , which restrict travel within the state and the sale of items like gardening or flooring supplies in large stores .
The protest also included several people on the lawn of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a different protest that co-opted their own .
“ It ’ s unfortunate that an unrelated group chose to crash our vehicle rally and invite people to protest on the Capitol lawn , ” the MCC said in its open letter .
“ However , those few hundred can ’ t take away from the tens of thousands who stayed in their vehicles .
Our guidelines to participants were modeled after the ‘ Stay Safe ’ guidelines for social distancing.
” The letter also praised local law enforcement for clarifying that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital and for only issuing a single citation during the rally .
“ Our volunteers worked hard to make sure that those attending complied with the relevant aspects of the Governor ’ s ‘ Stay Safe ’ program , ” said Marian Sheridan , a MCC co-founder , in a statement .
“ Our guidelines to participate in Operation Gridlock were widely communicated to potential participants using social media , email and text messaging .
Overwhelmingly , Operation Gridlock participants followed those guidelines.
” The letter went on to say that the MCC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned that are unrelated to the MCC , although they have adopted the “ Operation Gridlock ” name .
“ These events are co-opting our event name by using titles such as ‘ Operation Gridlock 2.0 , ’ ” the letter said .
“ We inequivalently [ sic ] assure you Michigan Conservative Coalition is not involved in any way with such events .
We do not support or encourage attendance to these protests .
Quite the opposite , we will be communicating in various ways that citizens should not participate.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard its protest and called on the governor to reopen Michigan ’ s economy .
“ Michigan citizens also deserve a plan to get back to work before the economy is damaged beyond repair , ” Sheridan said .
“ Numerous private sector outdoor jobs like landscaping , nurseries , excavation and lawn services are shut down , while public sector employees routinely perform the exact same work in plain sight .
Construction — including some road repair — is totally shut down , though not a single neighboring state is doing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get back to work.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with the Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ] Background Photo “ Lansing City Hall ” by [ [ : en : User : { { { 1 } } } | { { { 1 } } } ] ] .
CC BY 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-22--State of Michigan Rescinds Coronavirus Contact Tracing Contract with Democratic Organization After B

State of Michigan Rescinds Coronavirus Contact Tracing Contract with Democratic Organization After Backlash

The state of Michigan said on Tuesday that it had canceled a contract connected to its coronavirus contact tracing program after the state received backlash for the organization ’ s connection with Democratic campaigns .
The contract was originally with Every Action VAN , which touts itself as the “ leading technology provider to Democratic and progressive campaigns , ” according to its website .
The state had planned to use the organization to help facilitate efforts to perform contact tracing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
In contact tracing , volunteers will reach out to those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposed to the coronavirus to see if they have symptoms , as well as log their personal information .
Livingston County Commissioner Wes Nakagiri was one of the first to express concern over Michigan ’ s choice in the organization after he volunteered to be one of the people calling people who have possibly been exposed and logging their information , including both personal and medical information .
“ This enables NGP VAN to share this confidential information with both the MDHHS and Democrat candidates , ” Nakagiri said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deceitful way to take political advantage of the biggest public health crisis of our lifetimes .
Providing confidential information collected from contact tracing to Democrat candidates is an egregious violation of the public trust.
” Nakagiri also accused the state of using taxpayer dollars to fund a “ scheme which benefits Democrat candidates.
” “ While researching this matter I observed a bi-partisan company which would provide free phone and database service to an organization providing emergency response to COVID-19 , ” he said .
“ But , ultimately the best way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bypass a third-party database and enter it directly into the existing Michigan Disease Surveillance System.
” The move was also initially questioned by several Republican politicians .
“ Awarding the contract for such a critically important project to an openly partisan political firm raises major questions about Governor Whitmer ’ s ethics and her priorities , ” said Laura Cox , Michigan Republican Party Chairman , in a statement .
“ In addition to the fact that a partisan company should not be handling a public health crisis , the Michigan Republican Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be used .
The fact that there is now the possibility that it will be utilized for partisan ends is deeply troubling.
” The sentiment was echoed by Rep. Shane Hernandez ( R-83-Port Huron ) , who criticized an apparent lack of bid process from the state .
“ I want to know what safeguards the governor has in place to ensure the information gathered during this COVID-19 response doesn ’ t wind up in the hands of any campaigns , ” Hernandez said in a statement .
“ When reading the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to media reports that this was being done , I found myself questioning if the governor is fully aware of which companies are being awarded contracts , or if this was an intentional decision for political gain.
” Tiffany Brown , the spokesperson for Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , said the contract should have been approved the by the state ’ s Emergency Operation Center but was not , according to The Detroit News .
“ The state is committed to ensuring this important tracing work can begin quickly to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health data is safe and secure , ” Brown told the outlet in a Tuesday afternoon email .
The announcement of the contract with Every Action VAN came in a press release from Michigan ’ s State Emergency Operation Center .
“ How did the Whitmer Administration approve an emergency contract if it did not go through the appropriate government processes ?
” said Tori Sachs , executive director of Michigan Rising Action , in a statement .
“ Gov .
Whitmer ’ s office is saying the SEOC didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the contract came from the SEOC via email on April 20 .
Something does not add up and Michigan taxpayers deserve answers.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-04-22--Minneapolis to Allow Broadcast of Muslim Call to Prayer Over Loudspeakers During Ramadan

Mayor Jacob Frey announced Tuesday that he will allow a mosque in Minneapolis to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer over loudspeakers during the month of Ramadan .
The call to prayer , known as the adhan , will be played over a loudspeaker in Minneapolis ’ s Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and is “ expected to reach thousands of residents , ” Frey ’ s office said in a statement .
The call to prayer will be broadcast five times a day from a speaker located outside the Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque at South Fifth Street and Cedar Avenue .
“ At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pray apart , it ’ s incumbent on leaders to create a sense of togetherness where we can , ” Frey said in a press release .
“ Adhan provides solidarity and comfort – both of which are essential during a time of crisis .
As our Muslim community prepares for Ramadan , we hope the broadcast will offer a measure of stability and reassure our entire city that we are all very much in this together.
” Frey said he “ facilitated ” the noise permit for the request and noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday evening , the start of Ramadan , which lasts for roughly a month .
The Council on American-Islamic Relations ( CAIR ) of Minnesota reportedly paid for the audio equipment that will be used for the broadcast .
“ This historic effort to promote religious inclusion – offering the call to prayer in the Cedar-Riverside community – will be welcomed by the Muslim community and all those who value diversity and mutual understanding , ” said CAIR-Minnesota Executive Director Jaylani Hussein .
“ The call to prayer will be especially meaningful to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood who have been isolated due to the pandemic .
It will help them feel more connected to their community and mosque in this sacred month , ” he added .
Imam Sharif Mohamed of the Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque said Muslims all over the world “ understand and feel great comfort in the public call to prayer.
” “ In this time of fear and isolation , the Muslim communities of Minnesota benefit from a city that honors and loves all of its diversity , ” he said .
Anthony Gockowski is managing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-22--Nashville Mayor John Cooper Announces Plans to Reopen City’s Economy After COVID-19 Pandemic

Nashville Mayor John Cooper said at a press conference Tuesday that he and other city officials will introduce their own plan to reopen the city ’ s economy after it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Cooper said he will likely introduce his plan on Thursday and that it will not follow the one Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee announced for the state Monday .
As reported , Lee is scheduled to end his statewide stay-at-home order on April 30. Cooper said his plan for restarting Nashville ’ s economy uses what he called a data-driven approach with four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in early May , he said .
“ [ Lee ’ s plan ] excludes the state ’ s major metro areas , including Nashville and Davidson County , and applies to 89 of our 95 counties , ” Cooper said.
“ But many features of our reopening process make us different — size and population density , infection level , number of businesses that operate here , transportation , commuter patterns , and our global tourism industry.
” To reopen , Cooper said Nashville will have to meet the following requirements : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than one , meaning each individual does not infect more than one other person in Davidson County • A 14-day downward trend in new cases of COVID-19 • Adequate testing and Personal Protective Equipment capacity for the region • A robust health infrastructure to conduct contact tracing investigations throughout the community Alex Jahangir , who chairs Davidson County ’ s Metro Coronavirus Task Force , said that as of Tuesday Davidson County had 1,936 confirmed COVID-19 cases , an increase of 33 in the previous 24 hours .
“ There are an additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bringing our total to 3,685 in the region , ” he said.
“ Unfortunately , yesterday we had two more individuals die because of this disease , a 68-year-old female and an 85-year-old male .
Both had underlying medical conditions .
That brings the total death number in Nashville to 22.
” Meanwhile , Leslie Waller , an epidemiologist with the Metro Nashville Public Health Department , said at Tuesday ’ s press conference that in recent weeks most of the new cases in Nashville have shifted geographically .
“ Most of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southeastern part of the county , ” she said .
“ Communities that call it home are numerous and diverse , and they work in a number of essential service jobs.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ John Cooper ” by John Cooper .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Mark Green to Introduce SOS ACT to Prevent Chinese-State Acquisition of Companies Affecting U.S. Nat

Mark Green to Introduce SOS ACT to Prevent Chinese-State Acquisition of Companies Affecting U.S. National Security

U.S. Rep. Mark Green ( R-TN-07 ) this week will introduce the SOS ACT ( Secure Our Systems Against China ’ s Tactics ) .
If enacted into law , Green said his SOS ACT will incentivize America ’ s investors to purchase distressed companies critical to America ’ s national security , according to a press release .
Green is calling on Congress to include this bill in any future coronavirus relief package to thwart China ’ s efforts to strategically acquire companies critical to America ’ s defense during the crisis , the press release said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus crisis and gobble up distressed companies that are vital to our national defense while they are economically vulnerable and looking for capital .
We can not let this happen .
The businesses that supply the equipment , systems , and technologies for our military to operate are essential to a strong America .
Without a fully-armed supply chain , we will be vulnerable to attack and at a comparative disadvantage with China , ” Green said .
“ That ’ s why I ’ m introducing the SOS ACT to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain .
My bill will set aside $ 10 billion from the CARES Act to incentivize America ’ s investors to invest their capital in vulnerable companies that are critical to our national security .
Investors would have investment guarantees , providing them with additional incentives to ameliorate risk and keep our defense supply chain strong .
We must protect our Nation from China ’ s predatory actions .
My bill will not require new funding but will simply reallocate existing funding , making it an easy addition to any relief package.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Green sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging them to include incentives for American companies to move back from China .
Specifically , Green said in the letter that members of Congress should do this through any upcoming legislation they might consider while fighting COVID-19 .
“ Prior to the coronavirus outbreak , many American companies had moved their operations to the People ’ s Republic of China ( PRC ) , lured by incentives like lower costs and an abundance of cheap labor .
However , over the past three years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have gone to great lengths to make the United States the best place in the world to do business .
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act slashed taxes , the President ’ s energy agenda has led to cheaper utilities , and right-to-work laws have made many states more attractive , ” Green said in the letter .
“ One of the big disincentives to American companies moving back to our soil is the cost .
For many , it is too expensive and too risky to undertake an international move at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as millions of Americans file for unemployment each week , and as we ’ ve been forced to make our own homemade masks out of scarves and bandanas , we need to bring our companies home.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Gov. Bill Lee said more than 23,000 Tennesseans have received a free COVID-19 test at one of 67 drive-through testing sites over the past three weekends.
“Testing remains one of the most important tools for gaining more information in our fight against COVID-19, and the 23,000 tests we’ve completed over the last three weekends have provided incredibly valuable data,” Lee said in a statement. “We’re grateful to the thousands who came out to receive a test this weekend and we continue to remind Tennesseans: when in doubt, get a test.”
Last weekend alone, 5,153 Tennesseans received a free COVID-19 test. Lee said the free testing is part of the Unified Command Group’s efforts to widen access to testing regardless of symptoms.
“Our weekend sites have been equipped to meet the demand for free testing across the state,” said Dr. Lisa Piercey, Tennessee Department of Health commissioner. “With ample capacity at our county health departments during the week, we continue to encourage Tennesseans to take advantage of free testing at these locations.”
The Tennessee Department of Health has a map of testing sites published on its website. As of Thursday, Tennessee had completed 236,328 COVID-19 tests. That’s more than double the number of tests performed in states like Minnesota, which claims it has the ability to test up to 20,000 individuals in a day, but has yet to surpass 6,000 daily tests.
Between Wednesday and Thursday, Tennessee tested an additional 9,227 residents, according to the Department of Health.
Tennessee has also performed more than twice as many tests as Kentucky, which had tested 81,391 residents as of Thursday.
Most of Tennessee’s COVID-19 tests have been performed by non-state health labs, which account for 225,427 of the state’s 236,328 total tests.
Tennessee now has 14,096 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 237 deaths, and 6,783 recovered patients.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “North Carolina National Guard Members” by the National Guard. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Commentary: Deflation Is Here, and It Is a Real Threat to Any Economic Recovery from the Virus

The price of a barrel of oil briefly fell below zero dollars this week , demonstrating clearly what happens when there is no longer demand for a product or commodity , as tens of millions of Americans are leaving cars in their driveways and airlines are largely grounded .
All around the world , it ’ s much the same situation as the global economy has collapsed in the wake of the Chinese coronavirus pandemic .
In that environment , prices fall , and sometimes they can fall all the way to zero with a sufficient collapse of demand .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s simply nowhere left to store the oil being pumped out the ground and as it is , it will take months or longer to clear existing inventories .
Overall , last month consumer prices fell by 0.4 percent led by the drop in energy prices .
This is a flashing red light warning of further economic calamity .
Oil is just one example , but a collapse of demand appears destined to affect many sectors of the economy .
The one I ’ m the most worried about at the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last time prices began falling on home prices .
How many homes are being sold right now ?
What should happen to prices if there is no demand for new homes because unemployment lasts a lot longer than we would like ?
In the last financial crisis , suddenly , homeowners owed more on their houses than those houses could be sold for at the same time they were losing their jobs .
Many just stopped paying their mortgages .
Financial institutional holders of mortgage securities then stopped receiving payments of principal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t afford to service their own debts and credit markets began seizing up .
8.3 million jobs were lost in that recession , with 6 million foreclosures between 2007 and 2010 .
Already at least 22 million Americans have lost their jobs in just a month , and it looks like that number will only continue getting worse until states begin reopening over the next couple of months as the virus wanes .
Making matters worse , the dollar was already quite strong relative to other currencies when the pandemic-induced recession began .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weighted U.S. Dollar Index rose to an all-time high as the world poured into U.S. treasuries in a flight to safety .
This might be the biggest warning light of all .
The Great Depression dragged on for as long as it did because of the failure to understand the unintended consequences of keeping the dollar exchange rate to gold too high as other economies engaged in massive competitive devaluation and retired the interwar gold standard .
Then as now , deflation was the problem amid collapsed demand , and as long as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising .
Deflation began after World War I , stopped in the 1920s before beginning anew in 1927 and then went nuts in 1930 .
Inflation was marked at -2.7 percent in 1930 , -8.9 percent in 1931 , -10.3 percent in 1932 and -5.2 percent in 1933 .
As that occurred , unemployment rose dramatically , hitting 11.2 percent by the end of 1930 , up to 19.2 percent by the end of 1931 , up to 25 percent in 1932 and peaked in March 1933 at 25.4 percent .
Something quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was not until 1933 when Franklin Roosevelt ended the interwar gold standard that unemployment finally began collapsing down to 11 percent by 1937 before spiking again in the 1937-38 double dip recession as deflation started up again .
Ultimately , the ongoing problems were not fully alleviated until the massive mobilization of World War II .
Today we are arguably in the same exact position or maybe even worse with the global economy effectively shut down .
The dollar is way too strong , unemployment is rising faster than at any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many businesses will be able to survive being shuttered for more than a month , with states not expected to begin to fully reopen for a few weeks longer .
Amid all the uncertainty , financial institutions and central banks are stocking up on U.S. treasuries , which has the perverse effect of making the dollar even stronger .
To combat the deflation , the Treasury could use the CARE Act ’ s increased Exchange Stabilization Fund , which was boosted to $ 500 billion from $ 90 billion to support small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to quarantine foreign currencies and weaken the dollar relative to other currencies .
How ?
According to an Aug. 21 , 2019 report from the Congressional Research Service , “ In addition to its initial capitalization ( $ 2 billion ) , Congress allowed the ESF to remain outside of annual appropriations .
Instead , the ESF retains all of the earnings from its operations .
The main limitation on the ESF ’ s ability to intervene to reduce the value of the dollar is the amount of dollar-denominated assets in its portfolio… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign exchange operations , Treasury could ( 1 ) seek an additional appropriation from Congress ; ( 2 ) monetize its holdings of IMF special drawing rights ( SDR , an international reserve asset ) , valued at $ 50 billion , by temporarily selling them to the Fed ; or ( 3 ) engage in a currency swap arrangement called ‘ warehousing , ’ in which the ESF sells foreign currency to the Fed and agrees to repurchase it at a later date , during which the Fed credits dollar reserves to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swap.
” In addition , the Fed could help a lot , as it has all the same powers as the Exchange Stabilization Fund , but without limits .
Per the Congressional Research Service , “ The Fed can also purchase foreign currencies to reduce the value of the dollar ; but unlike the Treasury , it is not limited in how much it can purchase .
Because the Fed controls the money supply , it has the option to create bank reserves as desired to purchase foreign currencies.
” Meaning , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Treasury is currently backstopping American businesses , and could help devalue the dollar from its current all-time highs .
The Fed has already cut interest rates to zero , which should also help in principle , per the Congressional Research Service : “ In addition to foreign exchange intervention , economic theory predicts that short-term interest rates , the Fed ’ s main policy tool , also affect the value of the dollar .
The value of the dollar is determined by the relative demand for U.S. goods and services and U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dwarf trade flows , so the value of the dollar is particularly sensitive to interest rates in the United States relative to the rest of the world .
Foreign capital can only flow into the country on net ( i.e.
, when foreign purchases of U.S. securities or physical capital exceed U.S. purchases of foreign securities or capital ) through the exchange of foreign currency for dollars .
Theory predicts that if the Fed lowers interest rates relative to the rest of the world , it would reduce the demand for U.S. capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollar .
This is one of the standard channels through which lower interest rates stimulate the economy .
Although U.S. interest rates are currently low , they are even lower for many major trading partners.
” But if the Fed refuses to intervene to keep the dollar ’ s value stable — again , it just hit an all-time high — President Donald Trump needs to pay attention .
Congress has already acted to increase the size of the Treasury Exchange Stabilization Fund but with the program currently invested in payroll protection , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets is limited at the moment .
The President could direct Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to work with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors to engineer a devaluation , using the boosted the Exchange Stabilization Fund to buy foreign exchanges and then selling them directly to the Fed .
Or get the Fed to unlock its own exchange stabilization powers and conduct those operations directly .
As long as the dollar keeps rising , based on past experience , unemployment could keep increasing — even after states reopen their economies .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice , known as warehousing , to occur , in its Jan. 2017 meeting : “ the Committee authorizes the Selected Bank , with the prior approval of the Subcommittee and at the request of the United States Treasury , to conduct swap transactions with the United States Exchange Stabilization Fund established by section 10 of the Gold Reserve Act of 1934 under agreements in which the Selected Bank purchases foreign currencies from the Exchange Stabilization Fund and the Exchange Stabilization Fund repurchases the foreign currencies from the Selected Bank at a later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table .
What is occurring right now could be the greatest economic emergency since 2008 and 1929 , and so far the federal government is focused rightly on preserving American jobs on the fiscal side of the equation .
But on the monetary side , far more aggressive action is needed by the Fed and the Treasury to stabilize the dollar amid falling prices .
Oil markets are just the beginning .
Deflation is not to be trifled with , and the longer action is postponed , sadly , the worse it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the end will be everything we should have been doing from the get-go .
The dollar was already way too strong before the pandemic , and it is most certainly too strong for this recession , Mr. President .
Act now while you still can .
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Ivy League Universities Flush with Cash Set to Receive Millions in Federal Coronavirus Funding

The eight elite private colleges of the Ivy League are slated to receive millions in taxpayer-funded coronavirus stimulus money despite controlling endowments with a combined value in 2019 of over $ 140 billion .
Five Ivy League schools posted operational surpluses of over $ 200 million in 2019 , according to their financial statements from that year .
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said that schools with significant endowments should determine whether they really need federal assistance and to send any unneeded stimulus funding to schools that are actually in need .
The eight Ivy League schools are set to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal funding through the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act .
Harvard University spokesman Jason Newton said Monday that the school will be giving 100 % of its $ 8.6 million federal funding package to its students with urgent financial needs amid the pandemic .
And a Brown University spokeswoman said its $ 4.8 million CARES Act package would be used to help sustain its commitment to offer “ generous financial aid ” to its students in financial need .
None of the other six Ivy League schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caller News Foundation asking if they would relinquish any of their federal coronavirus funding .
Total compensation packages — salary and benefits — for the chief executives at the eight Ivy League schools ranged from $ 971,000 to $ 2.9 million in 2017 , the latest year that data is available , according to The Chronicle of Higher Education .
The CARES Act , which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in March , will provide nearly $ 14 billion in relief funding to more than 5,000 universities across the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The funds are set to be distributed to schools formulaically based on the number of Pell Grant recipients at each institution and their total student enrollment .
The formula , which Congress set , does not take into account a school ’ s financial health .
Schools must agree to divert 50 % of its stimulus funding directly to students who have been disrupted by the coronavirus crisis , while the remaining funds can be used for institutional use .
But DeVos said it ’ s a “ poor use of taxpayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with significant endowments and has asked those universities to send any unneeded federal funds to schools in need , according to DeVos spokeswoman Angela Morabito .
“ We hope that the presidents of these schools will take the Secretary ’ s advice and direct CARES Act funds to students in need , no matter where those students are enrolled , ” Morabito told the DCNF .
The University of Pennsylvania , which controls an endowment valued at $ 14.7 billion in 2019 , did not answer the DCNF when asked if it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nor if it would use the $ 519 million operating surplus it reported in its 2019 financial statements to help its students .
Columbia , Princeton and Yale Universities , which reported in their 2019 financial statements operational surpluses of $ 222.9 million , $ 405.5 million and 270.4 million , respectively , also did not respond when asked if they would relinquish their coronavirus funding .
Dartmouth College , which reported a more modest $ 32.6 million operational surplus in its 2019 financial statement , also did not respond to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their 2019 financial statements operational losses of $ 104.2 million and $ 25.4 million , respectively , but the schools also control endowments that in 2019 were valued at $ 7.3 billion and $ 4.2 billion , respectively .
Cornell did not respond to DCNF when asked if it would relinquish its federal coronavirus funding .
Brown University vice president for Communications Cass Cliatt told the DCNF : “ For years , Brown had been committed to offering generous financial aid so that the students we admit can attend college regardless of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds will help sustain that commitment during a time of great economic stress for students and their families .
The funds have not yet been received.
” Harvard University , which posted an operational surplus of $ 228 million in its 2019 financial statement and also has the nation ’ s largest college endowment valued at $ 40.9 billion as of 2019 , said Monday it would allocate 100 % of its $ 8.7 million CARES funding package to its students facing urgent financial needs amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Harvard will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need , ” Newton , the spokesman from Harvard , said in a statement Monday .
“ This financial assistance will be on top of the significant support the University has already provided to students — including assistance with travel , providing direct aid for living expenses to those with need , and supporting students ’ transition to online education.
” Harvard vice president for Finance and CFO Thomas J. Hollister addressed the school ’ s massive endowment in a statement to The Harvard Crimson on Thursday , saying that the private school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endowment as we responsibly can.
” Hollister said the value of the endowment has declined “ substantially ” from its $ 40.9 billion valuation in 2019 due to the coronavirus stock market crash .
He told The Crimson it was now valued in the “ mid-30 billion range.
” Hollister also said Harvard will need to balance its long-term financial welfare with the need to deliver financial support to the school in the short term , adding that “ there ’ s a lot less flexibility in the use ” of the endowment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was given to the university for future generations , and not just the current generation , ” Hollister told The Crimson .
“ Consequently , what we try to do is spend roughly 5 percent a year , because the rest of it hopefully is earning returns to be available for future generations.
” In reporting its $ 298 million operating surplus and a total increase in net assets of $ 2.3 billion in 2019 , Harvard said that 70 % of its endowment is restricted to specific programs , while the remaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Andrew Kerr is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Ivy League Flags ” by Kenneth C. Zirkel .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Neil McCabe Describes the Dynamics of a Republican Party Run By Left-Wing Consultants and Staffers i

Neil McCabe Describes the Dynamics of a Republican Party Run By Left-Wing Consultants and Staffers in Washington

On Wednesday ’ s Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Michael Patrick Leahy spoke with special guest former Breitbart colleague and Washington journalist Neil McCabe .
During the third hour , McCabe described the dynamics of how the Republican Party really works in Washington and how it leaves conservatives as a targeted minority .
Towards the end of the segment , he reflected how Republicans have gone after conservatives like Thomas Massey who both Leahy and McCabe agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : We are joined now by our good friend , my former Breitbart colleague Neil McCabe .
Washington journalist extraordinaire .
Good morning Neil .
Leahy : Well , so the Democrats want to have proxy voting in Washington in the House of Representatives .
What do you make of that ?
McCabe : I must have been in high school when Senator Pete Wilson have to vote in a gurney ?
McCabe : And a very my best friend in D.C. Brian Darwin worked for many years for Rand Paul and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at two in the morning for a vote and he showed up in his pajamas , bathrobe , and slippers .
He was like , OK , I ’ m going back to bed now .
( Leahy laughs ) And people were like , “ Hey , why didn ’ t you dress up ?
” Why don ’ t you schedule the vote when you know you need my vote how about scheduling it at a different time .
( Leahy laughs ) It is a major constitutional shift if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of times what happens in the House and the Senate is a Senator might have surgery so a Republican Senator says has surgery , they will reach out to a Democrat and the Democrat will also excuse themselves as a courtesy .
Not really needed in the House because there are so many votes swashing around with 435 .
But there are cases when you basically tell your leadership , “ Hey I can ’ t be here for the vote for whatever reason and the House will hold you to it.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ok but when I need your vote to outlaw puppies you better be there.
” Leahy : Yeah .
Well , you know what I see this as ?
This is the continued destruction of the institution of the House of Representatives by Nancy Pelosi and others .
It began really when they got rid of regular order in determining budgets .
Leahy : And now all they want to do is elect a Speaker , Nancy Pelosi who basically tells everybody in Congress , well this is what we ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be any deliberation .
Being a member of the House of Representatives will be utterly meaningless .
You ’ ll just be a shill .
That ’ s what it looks like to me .
McCabe : Let ’ s not pretend that the Republicans haven ’ t been part of this .
McCabe : I ’ ve said it before and I ’ ll say it again , Conservatives have found a home in the Republican Party but the Republican Party is run by left-wing staffers and consultants who are absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When Paul Ryan took over in 2015 he said he was going to restore regular order .
McCabe : It was a lie .
And that ’ s the same Paul Ryan when he was the Budget Chairman right after the 2014 midterm when the Republicans won the Senate he cut a special deal with the Democrats Patty Murray who was chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee .
Ryan cut a deal during that lame duck to have a two-year budget .
He deliberately cut a special deal with the help of Bainer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate wouldn ’ t have an influence on the budget .
He deliberately cut out the Republicans so that he could cut a deal with the Democrats before they lost control of the Senate .
I think people had like 12 minutes to read that bill before they rammed it down their throat .
And Ryan tried the same thing with the repeal and replace bill which they dropped on a Monday at like six .
So basically what happens is that people fly in .
The House of Representatives works Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 6:00 p.m. Paul Ryan released the text of his repeal and replace bill before anybody even knew what was going on .
People were still flying in and people landed and their phones started blowing up .
And we saw what happened to that thing .
It was a disaster because people were standing up and saying “ Hey , what happened to regular order ?
” Rand Paul almost got arrested by the Capitol Police because he tried to walk into the room where Paul Ryan ’ s team and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replace bill that everybody thought .
And so my point is Michael , the Republicans are in on it too .
Leahy : Yes , a lot of them are .
Some of them aren ’ t .
Some of them are fighting the good fight .
McCabe : Well it ’ s Conservatives .
People who identify as Conservatives are really different animals .
You just happen to be in the Republican Party because that ’ s the apparatus that ’ s available to you .
Leahy : Speaking of these 800-page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read except maybe 10 minutes before they pass .
So the Senate passed yesterday a bill to increase the funding for the SBA loans to small businesses .
The paycheck protection program .
They ran through 349 billion dollars in about seven working days .
And now they ’ re going to put another 250 billion in .
I guess there ’ s 25 billion for testing and more for hospitals .
Do you see that coming up and being voted on by the House of Representatives tomorrow and signed into law tomorrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Republicans in the House , he ’ s going to play ball on this .
He ’ s kind of a mixed bag .
When that two trillion-plus bill went through… McCabe : The CARES Act .
House Conservatives were going to go through that and sort of claw back some of the pork and Kevin McCarthy said , no we made a deal with the Democrats and we are going to stick with it because it ’ s a matter of honor .
( Leahy laughs ) McCarthy was an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCarthy is a creature of Capitol Hill and he ’ s not going cause Pelosi any problems believe me .
Leahy : Now famously Thomas Massie when the CARES Act was passed he wanted to have an opportunity to oppose it because of the pork .
( Chuckles ) The wrath of the president and the wrath of many .
McCabe : The Republican leadership Liz Cheney who is from Wyoming is head of the Republican conference , she gave money to Massie ’ s opponents .
And it turns out that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crazed racist .
So he tried to get the money back .
She asked for the money back and I don ’ t know if the guy is going to give it to her .
Massey is looking better and better .
It ’ s another example of how the Republican leadership goes after Conservatives .
Massie once told me that John Bainer offered somebody two million dollars to run against Massie in the primary .
Bainer said I ’ ll fund your campaign at least two million dollars .
The guy traveled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inhabitable spot in Kentucky .
The guy says no way man .
Leahy : He didn ’ t want to represent the district .
( Chuckles ) McCabe : I don ’ t want to live there .
Leahy : Massie is a very interesting guy .
He ’ s an MIT grad in engineering and an entrepreneur .
He ’ s a multi-millionaire .
Independent and more Libertarian .
I think you ’ re right he ’ s looking better and better every day .
And we ’ ll follow his career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanks so much for joining us every Wednesday at 7:15 a.m. Our good friend and former Breitbart colleague and of course , Washington journalist with much more to hear from Neil in the future .
Thanks for joining us today .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Louisiana’s ‘Cajun Navy’ Mobilized for COVID-19 Response

NEW ORLEANS , LA .
– Louisiana boaters who repeatedly mobilized to rescue people stranded by catastrophic floodwaters are now working to halt the spread of COVID-19 on dry land .
Volunteers with the Cajun Navy Relief and Rescue have been collecting and distributing medical supplies to protect Louisiana health care workers and their patients .
Beneficiaries include Visiting Angels , which provides in-home care for the elderly and disabled — those believed to be at greatest risk from the pathogen .
The leadership team at Visiting Angels in New Orleans first discussed their coronavirus response in January , understanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 caregivers in the area .
“ Our employees are in the homes of some of the region ’ s most vulnerable people , ” Visiting Angels care coordinator Donna White explains .
“ How can they be expected to do that without masks ?
It ’ s not safe for them , and it ’ s really not safe for our elderly clients.
” White says her team first attempted to purchase masks in February but had no luck .
By mid-March , when New Orleans emerged as a new COVID-19 hotspot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for help , White reached out to citizen-led groups that have been sewing masks for health care professionals .
She received some masks , but not nearly enough .
Then she saw a post by the Cajun Navy Relief and Rescue , offering to help those lacking adequate personal protective equipment , or PPE .
“ I reached out to them on March 30 and said we had been searching for 200 masks for two months , ” White recalls .
“ Within days the Cajun Navy was delivering large orders of masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when others can not is not new to the Cajun Navy , whose name refers to the descendants of French-speaking immigrants who settled in Louisiana in the 18th century .
The Cajun Navy began in 2005 , in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that devastated much of Louisiana with punishing winds and catastrophic flooding .
Then-Louisiana state Senator Nick Gautreaux put out a plea to boaters across the southwestern portion of the state , known as “ Cajun Country ” and famous for its fishing and bayous .
He asked for help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gautreaux expected 20 or 25 boats to show up .
Instead , at least 350 boat operators reported for duty .
Todd Terrell was one of them .
He had family and a seafood business in the area and was eager to help .
“ We knew a lot of fishermen , ” he said , “ and if you could get your hands on a boat or a truck , you were rescuing everyone you could .
Friends .
Family .
Strangers .
It didn ’ t matter.
” The makeshift flotilla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Orleanians from their flooded homes and rooftops .
In 2016 , record rainfall caused rivers to overflow and submerged thousands of homes around Baton Rouge .
Once again , Louisianans became stranded amid rising waters .
Without prompting , volunteers took to their boats to rescue fellow citizens , informally referring to themselves as the “ Cajun Navy.
” Now retired , Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré commanded the U.S. military ’ s relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina .
In an interview with NPR during the Baton Rouge flooding , he credited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all due respect to the organized first responders , ” he said , referring to government-run efforts , “ the Cajun Navy stood up and , again , saved a lot of people ’ s lives.
” Since then , Louisiana boaters have expanded their reach and responded to hurricanes in nearby states , such as with Hurricane Harvey in Texas in 2017 .
A second group , the United Cajun Navy , has many retired police officers , firefighters and military personnel with emergency and medical experience .
Terrell , who founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can become nimbler and respond more quickly than federal relief operations directed from Washington .
“ When one of our volunteers returns from a rescue with a boatload of victims , FEMA wants us to file a report or fill out paperwork , ” Terrell explains , referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency .
“ But that ’ s not who we are .
When we were rescuing these guys , we left another boatload of their neighbors behind .
All we ’ re thinking about is going back to get them.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a can-do attitude in the most difficult — and dangerous — situations .
“ People don ’ t deserve what happens to them during a flood , a hurricane or a pandemic , ” says David Lay , a volunteer with the United Cajun Navy .
“ It changes their life in an instant .
And , whether it ’ s getting them safely to land or providing masks for frontline health care workers , we ’ re here to save lives.
” Lay knows loss and sacrifice all too well .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contaminated water during Hurricane Harvey .
The leg was amputated , but he continues to volunteer .
Lay is currently assisting residents in Mississippi recovering from Easter Sunday tornadoes ( on April 12 ) .
Unfortunately , Lay isn ’ t the only volunteer who has suffered injury or worse .
On April 13 , while removing a tree that had fallen on a resident ’ s home , Patrick Hadley — a man with whom Lay volunteered for years — died from a heart attack .
Lay and his crew were devastated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next day .
“ We went home that night to hug our families , but we all agreed we had to come back out , ” Lay said .
“ Helping people is what brings us all together .
Now we ’ re doing it in his honor.
” While the Cajun Navy is most famous for boat rescues , volunteers understand that COVID-19 requires a different kind of effort .
Colleen Udell , president of The Cajun Navy Relief and Rescue says their mission to save lives during times of crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White from Visiting Angels agrees .
“ By providing masks , the Cajun Navy allowed us to continue our in-home care when the elderly need protecting the most.
” The United Cajun Navy , meanwhile , has delivered meals , masks and gloves to hospitals and health care workers .
The organization also has supported local fishermen by buying their seafood to feed the hungry .
When asked how he is able to attract so many volunteers , Terrell says heroes emerge during frightening times .
Udell agrees , adding , “ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help your community , and the Cajun Navy proves that helping during a disaster is not out of an ordinary person ’ s reach .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Crom Carmichael Points Out Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Got Caught Taking Government Money and Giv

Crom Carmichael Points Out Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Got Caught Taking Government Money and Giving It to Her Democratic Friends

Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast live from Music Row on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – Leahy was joined on the newsmakers line by the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael .
At the top of the third hour , Carmichael chuckled at how Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer got caught giving government money to fellow Democratic friends who would contract out the task of private contact tracing typically done by healthcare professionals .
He shook his head at the act and reiterated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about power , money , and expanding government .
Leahy : We are joined by the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael .
Crom , during the break you sent me a story that we ’ ve actually covered at The Tennessee Star .
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been caught in the act .
Tell us about it .
Carmichael : Well you know this is so typical .
And this lady , well this person , I ’ m not going to confer the description of a lady .
( Leahy laughs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person is such a typical Democrat .
What she ’ s done is she ’ s taken government money to work on this coronavirus and she awarded it then got caught with her hand in the cookie jar .
She awarded it to a Democrat consulting firm that works in politics on her campaign .
So she ’ s been taking government money and rewarding her friends who don ’ t have any experience in doing what she gave them the money to do .
Leahy : To do contact tracing which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals do .
She gave that contract to a bunch of political hacks that are a bunch of Democrats .
Carmichael : And that ’ s typical of what Democrats do .
I ’ m not saying that there are no Republicans that do it because they are .
But there are many many more Democrats who do this because that ’ s the nature of their party now .
It ’ s all about power .
It ’ s all about money .
And it ’ s all about expanding the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The contract was canceled .
But if she hadn ’ t been caught they would be out there , these Democratic political hacks would be doing the contact tracing and collecting all of this private information on people and sharing it with the Democratic Party database .
Carmichael : Yeah .
But they also probably would be doing a terrible job of the contact tracing .
In other words , what they would be doing is playing politics not playing healthcare .
Leahy : Exactly right .
By the way , Democrats had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the public trust by Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan .
But they have an awful lot to say about the president ’ s executive order suspending most immigration .
Tell us about that .
Carmichael : Here ’ s what ’ s interesting .
I ’ ve seen two or three polls .
The one that kind of jumped out at me that is more or less in keeping with the other polls was that having a temporary ban on immigration during this crisis is favored by 79 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 11 % .
So , eight out of nine people support a temporary ban .
And the Democrats are so reflexively anti-Trump that no matter what he says or what policy he does they immediately came out and jumped all over him .
Then when they saw what the people thought of it , then they ’ re beating a hasty retreat trying to delete their Tweets and ( Leahy laughs ) trying to delete all kinds of stuff from their Facebook pages .
( Giggles ) This is nothing but a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it allows guest workers to come in .
These are mostly the people who work on farms and help with the harvests .
And frankly , I think that ’ s needed because first of all its not easy work to do from the standpoint that if somebody has never done it… Carmichael : Well , they ’ re not going to do it well or quickly because it takes time to learn how to do that job fast .
Mike Bloomberg says he can tell you how to be a farmer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Bloomberg doesn ’ t have a clue how to be a farmer .
And people who say that farm work is easy work , they ’ re wrong .
Leahy : They ’ ve never been on a farm if they say that .
Carmichael : They ’ ve never been on a farm .
Our farmers need that kind of help because it ’ s what is normal for that kind of business .
But the rest of it , Trump is making a wise decision because he wants to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as quickly as possible .
Leahy : We have 22 million unemployed .
It ’ s just crazy .
Carmichael : Well , that ’ s so far .
Leahy : It ’ s going to get worse .
Carmichael : Is it later this week we ’ ll get this week ’ s report .
My guess is that we ’ re going to top off somewhere north of 30 million and then when we reopen it ’ s not going to be a snapback .
Leahy : It ’ s going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crom Carmichael , thanks for joining us .
Back with us on Friday .
And then studio freedom day May 4 if in the studio if all goes well .
Thanks , Crom .
Listen to the full third hour : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Gretchen Whitmer ” by Gretchen Whitmer .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Trump Suspends Immigration for 60 Days to ‘Put Unemployed Americans First in Line’

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Wednesday to suspend all immigration into the United States for 60 days , with the chance of extensions , as the nation struggles with the coronavirus pandemic and reopening the economy .
“ We have a solemn duty to make sure these unemployed Americans regain their jobs and their livelihoods .
Therefore , in order to protect American workers , I will be issuing a temporary suspension of immigration into the United States , ” the president said Tuesday evening during the daily press briefing on COVID-19 .
“ By pausing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens.
” Trump first mentioned the plan to do so in a tweet late Monday , but offered more details at the briefing .
He later added the restriction could go beyond 60 days .
“ We must first take care of the American worker .
This pause will be in effect for 60 days , after which the need for any extension or modification will be evaluated , ” Trump said .
Dr. Deborah Birx , response coordinator for the White House coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Houston , Philadelphia , Atlanta , Baltimore , and St. Louis seem to be declining in the number of COVID-19 cases , but Washington , D.C. , isn ’ t showing a decline .
As of Tuesday , the United States has 820,104 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 24,648 deaths , according to the tracker at Johns Hopkins University .
The briefing came just hours after the White House reached an agreement with lawmakers on Capitol Hill for a $ 484 billion aid package extending a federal loan program for small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief program can be forgiven if the firms do not fire their employees .
The package also provides money for hospitals and testing for coronavirus .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that so far the Paycheck Protection Program has saved 30 million jobs .
The treasury secretary was enthusiastic that the loan program would continue , but acknowledged that large employers managed to access the money .
“ We have over a million companies that have received this with less than 10 workers , ” Mnuchin said .
“ So , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I will comment , there have been some big businesses that have taken these loans .
I was pleased to see that Shake Shack returned the money .
… The intent of this program was not for big public companies that have access to capital.
” Mnuchin said the Treasury Department is giving companies that were not eligible but applied for loans the benefit of the doubt , and would not impose penalties if the companies paid back the money .
Trump jumped in to say he would request the big companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money .
“ Harvard is going to pay back the money , ” Trump said .
“ They shouldn ’ t be taking it .
Harvard is going to .
I ’ m not going to mention any other names , but when I saw Harvard , they have one of the largest endowments anywhere in the country , maybe in the world.
” Mnuchin said the administration supports a “ Phase 4 ” spending package to boost the economy that will be focused on infrastructure , aid to restaurants , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier Tuesday at the White House with New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .
The two talked about federal support for a statewide coronavirus testing program .
Asked later about whether the United States had adequate testing , Trump said , “ We have tested more people than any other country in the world.
” During the briefing , Trump also got a question about reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un was facing death .
“ I wish him well .
We ’ ve had a good relationship , ” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of “ The Right Side of History ” podcast .
Lucas is also the author of “ Tainted by Suspicion : The Secret Deals and Electoral Chaos of Disputed Presidential Elections .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Fifteen Election Results That Were Thrown Out Because of Fraudulent Mail-In Ballots

“ It mandates states allow for ballot harvesting and vote by mail .
On the whole , this has little to do with a COVID-19 response and a lot to do with the agenda the Democratic Party has proposed in the past , ” Jason Snead , executive director of the watchdog group Honest Elections , said of the bill in a phone interview with The Daily Signal .
“ They seem to view this as a politically opportune moment to advance legislation , ” Snead said of Obama and other proponents .
“ States should be encouraging wide use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Snead said , adding that states also should prepare for contingencies during the November general election even though it ’ s too early to know what the coronavirus crisis will be like at that point .
While working in the civil rights division of the Justice Department , J. Christian Adams helped bring successful cases against election fraudsters in Starr County , Texas and Noxubee County , Mississippi .
“ With ballot harvesting , the politically connected visit the homes of people and vote the ballots for them .
These are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adams , now president of Public Interest Legal Foundation , an election integrity group , told The Daily Signal .
In the fallout from the Mississippi case , judges overturned the results of several races .
“ You can ’ t overlook the importance of government jobs in the economically dependent areas , ” Adams said .
“ Vote harvesters , in some cases , don ’ t have jobs and make more doing this than anything else in some parts of the country.
” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , unsuccessfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill in the $ 2.2 trillion coronavirus emergency relief bill that Congress passed late last month .
“ The largest number of voter fraud cases involve absentee ballots , ” said Hans von Spakovsky , manager of the election law reform initiative at The Heritage Foundation , where he is a senior legal fellow .
Earlier this year in New Mexico , a man and a woman pleaded guilty in a scheme that involved falsifying absentee ballots in favor of a city councilman running for mayor of the town of Espanola in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 20 voter fraud cases resulted in overturned elections , according to The Heritage Foundation ’ s Election Fraud Database .
“ The problem with vote harvesting is that it destroys the secret ballot .
It allows people to go into homes , pressure people , ” von Spakovsky , who also is a former Justice Department lawyer , member of the Federal Election Commission , and member of the 2017 Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity .
The Democrats ’ legislation , called the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 20 days of early voting and “ no excuse ” absentee balloting .
The rule in most states is that a ballot must be postmarked before Election Day .
The Senate bill would force states to accept absentee ballots up to the point polls close , which voter integrity proponents worry would encourage vote harvesting .
The Klobuchar-Wyden legislation also states that local governments should begin processing absentee ballots up to two weeks before an election to avoid delay in certifying a winner .
Currently , most jurisdictions don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part to prevent voting trends from leaking out to the public or campaigns .
Here are 15 instances in which courts threw out an election result based in whole or in part on absentee voting fraud , from The Heritage Foundation ’ s database and other sources .
• In one of the most high profile cases , the North Carolina Board of Elections decertified the outcome of the 2018 race in the 9th Congressional District and ordered a new election after evidence of absentee ballot fraud emerged .
About 61 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican candidate Mark Harris over Democrat Dan McReady , although only 16 % of those requesting a ballot were Republicans .
In the new election , Republican Dan Bishop stepped in as the party nominee and won .
• In 2018 , Dennis Jones beat Tracy Gray by one vote in a Republican primary in Texas for a seat on the Kaufman County Commissioners Court .
Gray challenged the outcome , alleging a vote harvester submitted illegal mail-in ballots , while eligible provisional ballots went uncounted .
After a hearing , a state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new election , which Gray won by 404 votes .
• In another 2018 Texas case , Armando O ’ Cana seemingly won a run-off race for mayor in Mission , Texas , beating incumbent Norberto “ Beto ” Salinas .
But after strong evidence emerged that O ’ Cana ’ s campaign had bribed voters , tampered with absentee ballots , and improperly “ assisted ” voters at the polls , state Judge J. Bonner Dorsey invalidated the result , saying : “ I hold or find , by clear and convincing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes was in excess of 158.
” • In 2017 , Eatonville , Florida Mayor Anthony Grant was convicted of a felony charge of voting fraud and misdemeanor absentee voting violations .
Prosecutors said that as a candidate in 2015 , Grant coerced absentee voters to cast ballots for him .
In at least one case , prosecutors said , Grant personally solicited an absentee vote from a nonresident .
Grant , a former mayor , lost the in-person vote but won the election with more than twice the number of absentee ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grant ’ s indictment , then-Gov .
Rick Scott suspended the mayor .
After his conviction , he was sentenced to 400 hours of community service and four years ’ probation .
This case was more than a decade after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement concluded : “ The absentee ballot is the ‘ tool of choice ’ for those who are engaging in election fraud.
” This 1998 report came after the department concluded an investigation of Miami ’ s mayoral election the year before .
A judge had thrown out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud case that involved more than 5,000 absentee ballots .
• In 2017 , an Alabama state judge reversed the result of a race for Wetumpka City Council in which incumbent Percy Gill appeared to have won by three votes .
Gill ’ s opponent , Lewis Washington , contested the outcome .
A trial showed eight absentee ballots cast for Gill either had a forged signature or weren ’ t notarized or signed in front of the requisite number of witnesses .
• In the 2016 race for mayor of Gordon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 votes .
Melton later was convicted on two counts of absentee ballot fraud and removed from office .
He was sentenced to a year in prison and two years ’ probation .
• In 2016 , Missouri state Rep. Penny Hubbard won the 2016 Democratic primary in the state ’ s 78th House District by just 90 votes .
Her opponent , Bruce Franks Jr. , contested the outcome over a lopsided absentee vote tally .
Judge Rex Burlison ruled that enough improper absentee ballots were cast to change the results and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 1,533 votes .
• In 2016 in Texas , former Weslaco city commissioner Guadalupe Rivera pleaded guilty to one count of providing illegal “ assistance ” to a voter in a 2013 race he won by 16 votes .
Rivera admitted filling out an absentee ballot “ in a way other than the way the voter directed or without direction from the voter.
” A judge determined that 30 ballots were cast illegally and ordered a new election , which Rivera lost .
He initially faced 16 related charges , but 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal .
He was sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to pay a $ 500 fine .
• In 2015 , Fernando Gonzalez clinched a win by 10 votes over Sergio Dias for a seat on the city council of Perth Amboy , New Jersey .
After a determination that at least 13 absentee ballots were cast illegally , a state Superior Court overturned the results and ordered a new election .
The second time , Gonzalez won by nine votes .
• New York State Assembly candidate Hector Ramirez pleaded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a forged instrument during his 2014 campaign .
Prosecutors charged Ramirez with deceiving voters into giving their absentee ballots to his campaign on the false premise that it would submit them .
Instead , Ramirez ’ s campaign inserted his name on at least 35 absentee ballots , prosecutors said .
Ramirez initially won , but a recount determined that he lost by two votes .
Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett ruled that Ramirez could not run for office again for three years .
• In 2014 in Pennsylvania , Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Harmar Township , pleaded guilty to illegally soliciting absentee ballots to benefit his wife and her running mate in the 2009 Democratic primary for town council .
Prosecutors said Toney applied for the ballots , then had them filled out illegally by individuals who were not expected to be absent on Election Day .
The absentee ballot count flipped the primary results , securing a victory for his wife ’ s running mate .
During a subsequent FBI investigation , prosecutors said , Toney attempted to prevent two grand jury witnesses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to three years ’ probation .
• After a 2012 federal investigation of a voter fraud conspiracy in West Virginia , Lincoln County Sheriff Jerry Bowman and County Clerk Donald Whitten pleaded guilty to stuffing ballot boxes and falsifying absentee ballots to try to steal a Democratic primary election in 2010 .
Lincoln County Commissioner Thomas Ramey pleaded guilty to lying to investigators .
Bowman and Ramey were involved in helping Whitten get re-elected .
He won the primary but a judge overturned the election , tossing out 300 fraudulent ballots .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a rural jurisdiction when the Justice Department brought a civil suit against Noxubee County , Mississippi over a massive absentee voter fraud operation run by the local Democratic Party machine .
Prosecutors said notaries paid by the machine took ballots from mail boxes and voted the ballots in place of the intended voters .
On June 29 , 2007 , U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee issued an opinion finding that county Democratic Party Chairman Ike Brown worked with the county ’ s Democratic Executive Committee to manipulate the process .
Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Voting Rights Act through racially motivated manipulation of ballots , obtained and improperly counted defective absentee ballots , and allowed improper “ assistance ” of voters to ensure that his favored candidates won .
The 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment .
The Justice Department entered into a consent decree with Noxubee County ’ s superintendent of general elections , administrator of absentee ballots , registrar , and county government to prohibit discriminatory and illegal voting practices and require officials to report such incidents .
“ Dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts , ” said Adams , who was involved in the case as a Justice Department civil rights lawyer at the time .
• In 2004 , the Alabama Supreme Court overturned the results of a mayor ’ s race in Guntersville after finding that absentee ballots were cast without proper identification and should have been discarded .
• In the 2003 mayor ’ s race in East Chicago , Indiana , challenger George Pabey defeated eight-term incumbent Robert Patrick on Election Day , but lost by 278 votes after about 2,000 absentee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intimidation and vote buying emerged and the Indiana Supreme Court ordered a new election .
Pabey won with 65 % of the vote , as detailed in the 2008 book “ Stealing Elections ” by journalist John Fund .
The fraud led to at least seven convictions or guilty pleas in 2008 , according to the Heritage database .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Commentary: The Privilege of Identity Politics

Last month , Melinda Gates announced that “ we need to apply a gender lens to solving this [ coronavirus ] crisis.
” She linked to a March 12 story in the New York Times reporting that with women making up to 70 percent of healthcare workers worldwide , women are at “ disproportionate risk.
” COVID-19 may very well end up “ exacerbating gender , social and economic fault lines , ” Gates claimed .
Buried in the Times story , however , was an inconvenient detail .
It appears as an afterthought in parentheses at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about women being “ squarely in the virus ’ path , ” but then comes this : “ ( although some early studies of coronavirus in China suggest men have a higher death rate ) .
” Well , one would think that before asserting the greater vulnerability of women to the disease a reporter would check on mortality rates or at least wait until more information comes in .
But , of course , that would be to allow the possibility that males have a higher susceptibility , and that would yield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story would be shot .
Let ’ s go with the female vulnerability instead .
That ’ s what Melinda Gates did .
After all , she has steered piles of cash at the Gates Foundation to the issue .
Last October she wrote a story in Time Magazine under the headline , “ Here ’ s Why I ’ m Committing $ 1 Billion to Promote Gender Equality.
” And on March 7 , she published an op-ed in the New York Times with the title , “ How to Start a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accompanying the story showed a sign announcing , “ WOMEN ’ S RIGHTS are HUMAN RIGHTS.
” That conversation might begin with this : Can you explain why men are more likely than women to die of coronavirus , thus far making up more than two-thirds of all fatalities ?
To an epidemiologist , that ’ s not a significant disparity—it ’ s a grossly significant disparity .
I have a sister who is an epidemiologist , and she tells me that the two-thirds rate is holding steady across races , age groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s a gender lens .
To ignore this—indeed , to reverse it—is more than absurd .
It ’ s insidious .
Imagine what Gates would say if 67 percent of the deceased were female .
We would see another $ 1 billion go into research into this disease that targets women .
The eagerness with which she jumped to the gender lens narrative proves that her whole outlook should not be called “ gender equality.
” It ’ s about the advancement of women .
Gender imbalances that work to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college graduation rates , don ’ t much interest her .
Crisis moments have just this kind of clarifying effect .
Extreme circumstances make it hard to sustain the illusion of objectivity .
It is one thing to claim that there are more men named “ James ” leading Fortune 500 companies than there are women , as Gates did in her Time article .
It is another thing to assert the special vulnerability of women when male corpses outnumber females by such significant numbers .
When identity politics contradict the facts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identity politics collapse .
So do the sensitivities that go with them .
When President Trump asked Surgeon General Jerome Adams to address another disparity , the higher susceptibility of African Americans and Latinos , Adams did what any doctor would do .
He examined the physical traits and behavioral habits of those groups .
He urged them to curtail alcohol , cigarettes , and drugs ( the use of such substances is higher among those groups ) .
Then , given the higher frequency of multigeneration households , he told family members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a folksy tone , he said , “ Do it for your Big Mama .
Do it for your Pop-Pop.
” Well , such an appeal couldn ’ t go uncontested .
Nobody in the Trump Administration is allowed to get that familiar with minority populations , even if the official is part of a minority group ( the surgeon general is black ) .
An NPR reporter quickly called him out .
She claimed at the very moment he said it , people were jumping online to voice their offense at what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Big Mama ” and “ Pop-Pop ” was just that : offensive .
She wanted to know what he would say to those people who were upset .
It was an awkward moment .
Adams responded with a personal aside : “ I have a Puerto Rican brother-in-law .
I call my Grand Daddy ‘ Grand Daddy.
’ I have relatives who call their grandparents ‘ Big Mama.
’ So that was not meant to be offensive .
.
.
” My guess is that 80 percent or more of the people watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are you kidding ?
” Unemployment claims have skyrocketed , hospitals worry about their morgues filling up , and viewers can ’ t believe that this should be the substance of a question .
They ’ ve had enough .
The ritual of offense has been rehearsed a million times before , but it doesn ’ t fly when death and disease , job loss , and financial ruin are in play .
Seeing yet another identity politician highlighting the hypersensitive reactions of people who rush to Twitter to broadcast their huffy self-absorption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game really is .
Maybe this is a turning point for some of the political moderates in the population .
The Left won ’ t give up identity politics , of course , but the ubiquity of political correctness may be turning middle-of-the-road liberals off for good .
The current catastrophe could be hastening their estrangement .
Identity politics rely on thin skins ; a crisis demands everyone get thicker .
Identity politics presume some groups are victims , others are victimizers , but in a crisis like this one , everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed .
This is why we see , in normal times , identity politics operating most forcefully in elite zones .
You find adherents in wealthy , top-tier schools more than on satellite campuses of state university systems ; in human resources in corporate America more than among clerks at the mall ; in Silicon Valley more than on the floor of the BMW factory in Spartanburg ; and in the White House press corps .
It takes a lot of privilege to work up to politically correct ressentiment .
The full impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for many , many months .
We can hope , however , that the exposure of identity politics as a setup , of the indignation and accusation as way overdone , of political correctness as a tactical rhetoric and not a moral etiquette , will last long after the disease is gone .
When an entire country is hit , when everybody feels the pain , and the voices of identity nonetheless unleash old guilt trips over and over , it is time to stop listening .
Mark Bauerlein is a senior editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Emory University , where he has taught since earning his Ph.D. in English at UCLA in 1989 .
For two years ( 2003-2005 ) he served as director of the Office of Research and Analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts .
His books include Literary Criticism : An Autopsy , The Pragmatic Mind : Explorations in the Psychology of Belief , and The Dumbest Generation : How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future .
His essays have appeared in PMLA , Partisan Review , Wilson Quarterly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his commentaries and reviews in the Wall Street Journal , Washington Post , Boston Globe , The Guardian , Chronicle of Higher Education , and other national periodicals .
Photo “ Melinda Gates ” by UK Department of International Development .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Memphis Restaurant Association Members Ready to Reopen their Doors…Once Government Allows it

Members of the Memphis Restaurant Association want to go back to work after COVID-19 forced them to close down .
This , according to MRA member Ernie Mellor , who owns Hog Wild – Real Memphis BBQ .
“ I will say the majority of our members are ready to go when we get the green light , ” Mellor told The Tennessee Star in an email .
“ [ But ] there are a few w/ hesitation.
” Mellor said he could not answer our other questions , for reasons he did not specify .
About 20 other MRA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
Mellor told The Memphis Business Journal this week , though , that if things continue as they are then restaurants will shut down .
“ If we stay shut down for any length of time — talking June or July — the banks are gon na start wanting their money , vendors are gon na be looking for their money , ” Mellor told The Business Journal .
“ I think there ’ ll be a lot of folks who are ready to go out and eat and socialize a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll be some who want to stay at home , so let them stay at home.
” Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland , the publication said , extended the city ’ s stay-at-home guidelines until at least May 5 .
As The Star reported Tuesday , Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee said the state shutdown of restaurants to protect against the COVID-19 pandemic was necessary , even if members of the Memphis Restaurant Association reportedly described it as unconstitutional .
“ What is most important is that these shutdowns occurred in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have done what Tennesseans needed to do .
That was to put in place measures and to follow those measures to do just what was necessary to stop the spread of a deadly virus .
They have done that , ” Lee said .
“ We certainly can not entirely stop it , but we can slow it to a point that we can manage that spread and have the capacity in our health care system to take care of it and allow Tennesseans to operate and run their businesses at the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I am grateful that Tennesseans have done what they have done to get us to the place where we are .
We are encouraged to move forward.
” Members of the Memphis Restaurant Association reportedly want Lee to allow them to open at 50 percent capacity on May 1 and at 100 percent capacity a month later .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--California Highway Patrol Says No More Protests on State Property After Monday’s ‘Operation Gridlock

California Highway Patrol Says No More Protests on State Property After Monday’s ‘Operation Gridlock’ Demonstration

California Highway Patrol ( CHP ) will not issue any more event permits on any state properties after people on Monday protested the state ’ s lockdown measures , according to The Sacramento Bee .
“ Permits are issued to provide safe environments for demonstrators to express their views , ” the CHP said in a statement to The Bee .
“ In this case , the permit for the convoy was issued with the understanding that the protest would be conducted in a manner consistent with the state ’ s public health guidance .
“ That is not what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience into account when considering permits for this or any other group.
” The Bee reported Monday that protesters gathered in Sacramento to drive around the state Capitol while hundreds of others stood “ shoulder to shoulder cheering them on as they expressed opposition to the governor ’ s stay-at-home order.
” While the protests were going on Monday , Gov .
Gavin Newsom spoke at his coronavirus press conference .
“ My understanding is the protest that CHP has supported has physical distancing that was allowable on the basis of people being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group , ” the governor said .
According to KTLA , Newsom told reporters that he was going to reach out to CHP and find out why it issued a permit for this protest .
These types of “ Operation Gridlock ” protests have taken off across the country as people want their state governors to reopen their local economy .
For example , last week in Michigan thousands of protesters came to its capital and protested the extreme measures implemented by Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
Local organizers released a video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital : Currently , California has been in a “ stay-at-home ” order since March 9 .
Last week , California announced it would reopen its economy along with Oregon and California .
As of Monday , the California Department of Public Health numbers shows the state has 33,261 confirmed cases of the Chinese virus .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] Photo “ Operation California Gridlock ” by Danielle Smith .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--House Freedom Fund Endorses State Rep. Timothy Hill for U.S. House First District

The House Freedom Fund ( HFF ) announced Tuesday that it has endorsed current State Representative Timothy Hill ( R-Blountville ) for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House First District .
The seat is being vacated by retiring U.S. Representative Phil Roe ( R-TN ) , after serving six terms in Congress .
Hill is currently serving his fourth term in the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 3 , which includes Johnson and parts of Carter and Sullivan counties .
Hill told The Tennessee Star about the HFF endorsement , “ For the first time in this congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which sets Hill apart from the other 15 Republican primary candidates in what he says is a very conservative district .
The HFF is a grassroots-funded political action committee ( PAC ) , affiliated with the House Freedom Caucus , that helps elect conservative candidates to the U.S. House of Representatives .
The House Freedom Caucus was established in January 2015 by a handful of Republican U.S .
Representatives and initially chaired by Representative Jim Jordan ( R-OH-04 ) .
Members of the House Freedom Caucus are generally considered to be more conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the membership list is not published .
HFF says it only supports candidates who are dedicated to open , accountable , and limited government , and who support policies that promote the liberty , safety and prosperity for all Americans .
The announcement includes quotes from Jordan and Rep. Scott Perry ( R-PA-10 ) , explaining the purpose of the HFF .
“ The House Freedom Fund helps grassroots candidates get the financial support they need to compete with establishment candidates , ” said Jordan .
“ Some groups offer candidates token support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides candidates with substantial resources to help them win , ” said Perry .
Between January 2019 and March 2020 , HFF contributions to other committees and independent expenditures totaled over $ 3.3 million .
As of March 31 , HFF reportedly had $ 646,950 cash on hand .
HFF said of Hill , “ Timothy is a small business owner with a proven record of fighting for lower taxes , less spending , the 2nd Amendment , and the sanctity of life .
He is the conservative choice in this race who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the liberal policies promoted by Nancy Pelosi.
” HFF points out that the election is in a very strong Republican district , with Phil Roe having won 77 percent of the vote in November 2018 against a Democrat and Independent candidate .
Therefore , as HFF says , the August 6 Republican primary will determine who wins the seat in November .
Hill told The Star that the endorsement process started with his record in the Tennessee House which was the draw to the HFF .
After a discussion with the executive director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jordan .
Normally , those discussions would have happened in person , but could not because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Hill said that he thought it might take more discussion , but the decision was made very quickly .
The word Hill used to describe to the HFF endorsement to The Star : “ Humbling.
” “ It ’ s humbling , because the reason I was Conservative in my voting habits in Nashville was not for recognition .
The reason I was Conservative in my decision making is because that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s who my district is.
” Hill said it ’ s not only getting recognition for his record , but really an invitation .
“ Really , what it is , it ’ s an invitation to come join them [ the House Freedom Caucus ] and fight for what we believe in , ” he said .
Hill summed it up , “ It ’ s humbling , and it ’ s a step in the process .
We ’ ve got plenty of work to do , but it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get that kind of recognition.
” Currently , Hill is one of 16 candidates that HFF has endorsed in the 2020 election cycle , but the only one in Tennessee .
Should Hill be the successful Republican nominee in the August 6 primary , he would face off against a Democrat and Independent candidate in the November 3 general election .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .