thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Rep. John DeBerry’s Democrat Opponent Condemns Vote for Enhanced Penalties for Assaults Against Firs

Rep. John DeBerry’s Democrat Opponent Condemns Vote for Enhanced Penalties for Assaults Against First Responders and Damage to Property During Protests

State Rep. John DeBerry ’ s Democrat opponent in the November election condemned the long-time legislator ’ s vote for a bill that increased penalties for committing assault against a first responder or damaging public and private property .
DeBerry is running as an Independent in the November 3 general election for House District 90 , having been ousted by the majority White Executive Committee from the Tennessee Democrat Party after serving in the Tennessee House of Representatives as an elected Democrat for nearly 26 years .
DeBerry ’ s general election opponent , Torrey Harris , won the three-way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a feat he could not accomplish in the 2018 Democrat primary when Harris challenged DeBerry .
In the Democrat primary about two weeks ago , Harris got 3,829 votes .
Comparatively , he received 3,112 votes in the 2018 Democratic primary , bested by DeBerry ’ s 4,737 votes .
The legislation DeBerry was criticized for was considered in the 2nd Extraordinary Session of the 111th Tennessee General Assembly called by Governor Bill Lee and held during this week .
One of the issues to be addressed in the special session was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s proclamation , “ whether additional legislation to safeguard the right of all Tennesseans to peacefully demonstrate by protecting the safety of state employees and the public and preventing damage or destruction of public property is appropriate.
” This was after Lee explained his reasoning , “ Whereas , I have repeatedly supported the right of Tennesseans to engage in peaceful assembly and protest , and many peaceful protests and demonstrations have occurred across Tennessee in recent weeks , including on and around the State Capitol grounds , but some protests on and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in vandalism and defacement of public property , overnight camping on public property in violation of state law , and other risks to public safety.
” The legislation itself , in fact , repeats some of the same language in the proclamation and recognizes elsewhere in its whereas clauses that Tennesseans have the right to engage in peaceful assembly and protests and that the right to free speech and assembly are guaranteed under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution .
The bill defines a “ first responder ” and the conditions under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first responder .
It goes on to detail the penalties for violations of that section of the law , which ranges from a Class A misdemeanor , a $ 5,000 fine and minimum mandatory sentence of 30 days incarceration up to a Class C felony , a fine of $ 15,000 and a minimum mandatory sentence of 90 days incarceration .
Other provisions address aggravated criminal trespass , including that to the residential property of a law enforcement officer and other specified individuals , what constitutes damage relative to vandalism , obstruction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camping on state property and pointing a laser at first responders under certain circumstances .
When it comes to illegal camping on state property , the person must receive notice from an official that camping is prohibited and then continue illegally camping on state property before committing an offense .
For any property seized in conjunction with a camping violation , the offender has 90 days to claim the property for its return .
In large part , offenses described in the legislation included penalties that were enhanced from a misdemeanor to felony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the associated fines .
When the legislation came up for a vote on the House floor , there was much-heated debate from Democrats who opposed the legislation despite Republican rebuttals that it would not apply to those who were peaceably protesting .
After more than an hour of debate , DeBerry was recognized by House Speaker Cameron Sexton ( R-Crossville ) .
“ I don ’ t want to question the patriotism or the integrity of any of my colleagues who have spoken before me .
That ’ s not for me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not for them to do .
We find ourselves doing it quite a bit in this body and that ’ s unfortunate , because folks sent us here not to accuse each other of anything , but to do the job they sent us to do.
” DeBerry began and went on to qualify his position on the proposed bill .
“ I rise not to go against or support this legislation , ” he said .
DeBerry went on to explain his perspective .
I rise because I continue to hear references @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this country and growing up in the state of Tennessee as I walked with my father and worked with my father here in the state of Tennessee and Memphis , Tennessee and across this state and across this country in the middle of what has been referenced to on several occasions , the civil rights movement .
And , you know , people continue to refer to this , but I saw it .
I saw men and women stand with courage and integrity and class and they changed the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ world could see in them was the lie that was being told about them .
I am one of those individuals who walked in back doors because the law said I had to .
I ’ m one of those individuals who rode on the back of the bus on the back seats that were not cushioned , because the law said I had to .
I went to the water and drank “ colored ” water , because the law said I had to .
I went to a school where everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and segregated , because the law said that I had to .
So , all of these things we continue to refer to are the things that me and my generation lived .
We saw it for ourselves without reading it in the history books , but we lived it .
DeBerry continued for a total of about 10 minutes .
The legislation went on to pass in the House with a 71-20 vote along party lines with the exception of DeBerry and John Mark Windle ( D-Livingston ) .
The Senate also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , again along party lines , with the exception of Nashville Republican Steve Dickerson voting with Democrats .
Harris issued a statement the following day on his Facebook page , mischaracterizing the bill by titling his press release “ Tennessee lawmakers target protesters by criminalizing peaceful protesting as a felony.
” Then , the very first statement in the body of the press release is , “ Let ’ s be factual.
” Harris did then qualify his “ factual ” statement that the majority of protests and protesters in Tennessee have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them .
Harris went on to call out DeBerry for being an African American legislator from Memphis who voted to punish those protesting over the killing of unarmed African Americans .
While much of the debate against the legislation seemed to focus on how it would hurt Black protesters , even the Capitol Hill protesters ’ own pictures contradict that sentiment .
At the 59-day mark of protesters occupying Capitol Hill at their renamed Ida B .
Wells Plaza , group photos show that the majority of protesters are White .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his floor speech , Harris rendered a judgment of DeBerry ’ s vote based on what he perceives civil rights leaders ’ reactions would be .
“ Civil rights leaders like Rev .
Martin Luther King , Jr. , and the late John Lewis would be dismayed at such a vote a time like this.
” DeBerry as an Independent and Harris , a Democrat , will go head-to-head in the November 3 general election with no Republican in the House District 90 race .
The full video of DeBerry ’ s August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HB 8005 / SB 8005 can be read below and watched here .
I don ’ t want to question the patriotism or the integrity of any of my colleagues who have spoken before me .
That ’ s not for me to do , just as it is not for them to do .
We find ourselves doing it quite a bit in this body and that ’ s unfortunate , because folks sent us here not to accuse each other of anything , but to do the job that they sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go against or support this legislation .
I rise because I continue to hear references to what I saw in growing up in this country and growing up in the state of Tennessee as I walked with my father and worked with my father here in the state of Tennessee in Memphis , Tennessee and across this state and across this country in the middle of what has been referenced to on several occasions , the civil rights movement .
And , you know , people continue to refer to this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men and women stand with courage and integrity and class and they changed the world .
They changed the world because what the world could see in them was the lie that was being told about them .
I am one of those individuals who walked in back doors because the law said I had to .
I ’ m one of those individuals who rode on the back of the bus on the back seats that were not cushioned , because the law said I had to .
I went to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because the law said I had to .
I went to a school where everybody looked me and the country was divided and segregated , because the law said that I had to .
So , all of these things we continue to refer to are the things that me and my generation lived .
We saw it for ourselves without reading it in the history books , but we lived it.
” I went with my father when he and our neighbor got one of those “ I am a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watched him stand there proudly with Dr. King and other men and women – Black and White – who had enough courage to stand up against what was wrong .
And the way they did it , they had on their suits , their shirts , their ties , their hats and , if it was cold , their overcoats .
They locked arms and they marched peacefully and Dr. King stood for that which was peaceful because the world took a look at what was happening in Memphis and Chicago and Detroit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
We changed the entire world .
We changed it because those men and women had enough guts , integrity , enough citizenship and love of country because my father was a Korean War era soldier as many of those other men and women were .
They didn ’ t beg for anything .
They didn ’ t beg for citizenship , they demanded it because they were American citizens who paid taxes , who raised children , who paid house notes and rent and did everything that they were supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this country and its constitution those things they were supposed to have .
They did it by standing like men and women of integrity and class and common sense and values .
When the riots started and folks started burning stuff down , that ’ s when my father took my arm and we left .
We left because that was not what we were there for .
That was not what Dr. King was there for .
That ’ s not what others who were famous in the civil rights days were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This was not part of our movement and it only hurt everything .
That man lay in a pool of blood .
I stood there and watched him make a speech .
The building wasn ’ t really full , it was crowded because there was a terrible storm that night but my daddy was intending and most certainly he wanted to hear that speech and wanted me to be there .
I gave my seat to a lady who came in wringing wet and stood over , not because there weren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I could stand against the wall and be closer as he spoke .
I watched that man shiver .
I watched his voice shake .
I watched him tremble , because he knew , something he knew that he probably wasn ’ t going to leave Memphis .
I don ’ t know what providence God had given to make him prepare for this when he said he ’ d been to the mountaintop .
I don ’ t know what he was thinking when he said I may not get there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good man on that terrible stormy night that something bad was getting ready to happen .
Whenever we use the opportunity to do wrong .
That policeman that put his foot on that man ’ s neck was wrong and every one of us in this room decry it .
Every one of us in this room condemn it .
We say it is wrong .
And , in America , we have a system of justice , a system of justice that ’ s going to bring the full impact of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every one of us in this room will support that .
And we know , we know that man lay there in a pool of blood .
This man didn ’ t die surrounded by his children and his wife .
He died in a pool of blood from a coward ’ s bullet .
He died on that day , and I remember as we went back to Memphis and all of the riots broke loose , everything he stood for , everything he stood for was all of a sudden being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calmer voices came and said Dr. King was against this .
He was against this .
He was against this .
My family raised money and sent my dad to Washington for that march when that man stood there and said that he wanted his children judged by the content of their character , not the color of their skin .
And all we do in America right now is talk about color .
Every issue , every issue is about race , it ’ s about color instead of us sitting down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of common sense and common justice and understanding that our enemies are looking with a greedy vigilance upon us as we tear ourselves apart internally .
They have been watching us for 50 years , preparing step by step by step by step for us to kill ourselves .
And I may not be back here next year and I ’ m sure everything I say is going to be misconstrued and misquoted and used against me in November .
Fine .
Fine , because I stand for my father ’ s legacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women who acted like they had some sense and some courage and changed this country by being men and women who stood for something .
If we don ’ t start standing for something , don ’ t you know that the people who are looking at what ’ s happening in Washington and Detroit and Portland and Seattle , they ’ re getting emboldened because we act like a bunch of punks , too frightened to stand up and protect our own stuff .
You tell me that somebody got the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid for , that American taxpayers paid for and somebody has the right to destroy it , deface it and tear it down ?
What kind of people have we become that we can ’ t protect our own stuff and when the heroes are those who violate the law ?
Our police chief in Memphis , Tennessee when they shut the bridge down between Memphis and Arkansas , our police chief walked up there because it was a peaceful protest , even though they had shut down that bridge .
He walked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters .
He let them know that they had a right to protest and after a while , he walked them all off the bridge .
Because they conducted themselves properly , he conducted himself properly and there was no one harmed on that evening .
Peaceful protest ends peacefully .
Anarchy ends in chaos .
And , what we see right now , any of us with any common sense , any common sense whatsoever know that what we see is not peaceful .
So , we can continue to fool ourselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and public relations in order to frost this stuff over and put a nice picture on what we see that is frightening , frightening .
I have a nephew who is a policeman who talked about getting attacked the other night .
You ’ re telling me that somebody has the right to throw feces and urine in the face of those that we as taxpayers pay to protect us and that ’ s okay ?
If we don ’ t get this right right now , I ’ ve got grandchildren .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country we ’ re going to have 5 , 10 , 15 , 20 years from now .
If we don ’ t start acting like we got some guts , right now – brethren , sisteren , friends , colleagues – right now .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .

by Scott McClallen
Sixteen Michigan schools have been awarded $205,028 to develop Great Lakes-based science, technology, engineering, and math – STEM – programs.
“These grants will support freshwater literacy programs and offer students access to real world STEM experiences,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “Our Great Lakes are our greatest asset, and we must empower young Michiganders to learn more about them and continue advancing conservation efforts. Michigan’s economic competitiveness depends on a workforce proficient in STEM and committed to solving our biggest challenges. Investments like these will help prepare our kids to lead our state into the future.”
Grant proposals were submitted and reviewed through a competitive process. Selected projects study freshwater conservation and real-world experiences.
Grant awardees and amount are as follows:
Alcona Community Schools: $6,892 to expand 3-P learning by studying coastal and wetland habitats.
Alpena Public Schools: $8,078 so students can work as scientific researchers collecting data and making observations to determine if environmental issues are impacting the Thunder Bay River Watershed.
Avron Township School: $5,000 to adopt two beaches so it can participate in science lessons.
Atherton Community Schools: $10,000 to engage 195 middle and high school science students in 3-P learning through its “Health in Our Hands” curriculum.
Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District: $20,000 for 3-P learning to support teachers.
Farmington Public Schools: $15,870 to incorporate “student voice” in water steward topics and activate 3-P teaching
Forest Hills Central Woodlands ⅚ School: $20,000 to provide 3-P learning students, including transportation for all students to visit the Inland Seas Schooner and engage in the remotely operated vehicle program through Inland Seas Education Association.
Grand Rapids Montessori, Grand Rapids Public Schools: $8,862 to help students identify and solve habitat loss for local pollinators, bird and turtle species through a partnership with the John Ball Zoo.
Harrington Elementary School: $12,000 for Marshall Public Schools to partner with Albion College to develop “outdoors at school” curricula for grades K-5.
Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency: $20,000 to support Southwest MiSTEM and the Kalamazoo Nature Center to establish a Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative hub to continue water stewardship education programs.
Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools: $15,000 to participate in the Flint River Green project, where students learn about the Flint River Watershed and its community impact.
Muskegon Area Intermediate School District: $15,000 to expand 3-P learning for 420 fourth grade students and 3-P training for 19 fourth grade teachers.
Pickfield Public Schools: $9,996 so students can gather water quality data from the local watershed.
Stanton Township Public Schools: $5,000 to train new teachers to carry out future Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative activities.
Washtenaw Intermediate School District: $20,000 to build a foundation for cross-district collaboration in support of freshwater-focused place-based education.
Wayne-Westland Community Schools: $13,330 to activate a 3-P learning program.
The grants continue the 2020 From Students to Stewards Initiative and the 2021 MiSTEM Transformative Playbook grants.
The Great Lakes account for over 20% of the world’s surface freshwater.
– – –
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square. A graduate of Hillsdale College, his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org. Previously, he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Commentary: Voting in-Person Is Better Than Voting by Mail

As a general rule , whatever comes cheap and easy isn ’ t highly valued .
Yet some people these days want to take something once cherished—sacrificed for with oceans of blood and treasure—and reduce it to nothing more than a short walk to the mailbox .
I am referring to the act of voting .
About 110 billion human beings have lived on this planet since Adam and Eve .
What portion of that total do you suppose were empowered to cast a secret ballot in a free and fair election ?
I doubt it was even as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you stand on the question of mail-in voting for this November ’ s election ?
It is a hot topic right now , propelled to the fore by the pandemic .
One side says that since we are supposed to keep our distance , casting our ballots by mail will avoid circumstances that could spread the virus .
The main argument from the other side is that mail-in voting presents unacceptable risks of fraud , dysfunction and uncertainty that would jeopardize the integrity of the electoral process .
Personally , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mailed-in ballot gets delivered to the right place at the right time does not mean there wasn ’ t some hanky-panky at the moment the boxes were checked .
But I do know that when you show up at a polling place , it is you and only you who ’ s checking those boxes in the privacy of the booth .
It took more than a month for the results of several races in the June 23 New York primary to be known , all because of a surge in virus-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail ballots were ultimately rejected during the certification process .
Imagine the potential for confusion and abuse if vote-by-mailman were mandated nationwide for legislative , congressional , and presidential contests .
Moreover , I am suspicious of the idea because those who are calling for it are pretty much the same crowd that doesn ’ t want a voter to ever have to produce identification .
I think they realize that anything that makes fraud more feasible will help their political party—which is a sad commentary on that party .
In a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hans Spakovsky argued that “ Americans should insist on their right to vote in-person in their polling places in November , where they can be sure their ballots are safely received and counted.
” He reasons as follows : Mail-in ballots are the ballots most vulnerable to being altered , stolen , or forged .
Just look at the current investigation going on in Paterson , N.J. , over a recent municipal election conducted entirely by mail .
Four Paterson residents have already been charged with criminal election fraud , including a councilman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything from voters reporting that they never received their absentee ballots ( even though they are recorded as having voted ) to accusations that one of the campaigns may have submitted fraudulent ballots .
Mail-in ballots also have a higher rejection rate than votes cast in person .
In the Paterson case , election officials apparently rejected one in five ballots for everything from signatures on the ballots not matching the signatures of voters on file , to ballots not complying with the technical rules that apply to absentee ballots .
What about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem .
We can add a few extra polling places if necessary .
We can wear masks and stand a few feet apart .
We can early vote in most states .
And if you know you will be out of town or ill on Election Day , you can vote absentee—a legitimate option no one objects to when it ’ s necessary and minimal .
If the virus nonetheless adds some inconvenience to the voting process , so be it .
You can complain about that some day to people who live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , or to your 95-year-old grandfather who dodged hellfire on Hacksaw Ridge .
Do not mis-read me .
I am not one of those folks who thinks voting , no matter who or what you vote for , is holy writ .
I would never support mandatory voting , as a few countries have .
I ’ ve even defended a principled non-voter ’ s right to send a message by not voting .
I urge lazy or thoughtless people to get up to speed or leave the vote to others more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who see voting as their license for legalized plunder , I say clean up your character or stay home .
What I am against are these two evils : corrupting the process to serve the interests of crooks who lust for power and demeaning it by requiring no real effort .
If mass mail-in voting takes hold in this country , we can add yet another of our hard-won rights to the growing pile we don ’ t much care for anymore .
And if a walk to the mailbox gets too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone .
Punch a few buttons from the convenience of our recliners and bingo !
We will have ourselves a President , a Governor or a Senator !
Then we can get back to the Khardashians before the commercial ’ s over .
That is not , in my view , a technique for either strengthening or preserving a free society .
The Risks of Mail-In Voting by Hans Von Spakovsky How Important is Your Vote ?
By Lawrence W. Reed The Left is Calling for Mail-In Voting : Here ’ s Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Allen 28 Million Mail-In Ballots Went Missing in Last Four Elections by Mark Hemingway Lawrence W. Reed is President Emeritus and Humphreys Family Senior Fellow at FEE , having served for nearly 11 years as FEE ’ s president ( 2008-2019 ) .
He is author of the 2020 book , Was Jesus a Socialist ?
as well as Real Heroes : Incredible True Stories of Courage , Character , and Conviction and Excuse Me , Professor : Challenging the Myths of Progressivism .
Follow on LinkedIn and Twitter and Like his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website is www.lawrencewreed.com .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Nashville Judge Rules in Favor of Left-Wing Activist Justin Jones

Jones has led demonstrations against the police at Legislative Plaza for the past few months .
As reported last year , authorities banned Jones from inside the Tennessee capitol building after he threw a cup at then-Speaker of the House Glen Casada .
Jones updated his followers of his latest developments on his Facebook page .
“ The judge denied the District Attorney ’ s motion to ban me from the Capitol grounds and require electronic GPS monitoring .
The state filed this motion at the direction of Gov .
Bill Lee ’ s appointed commissioner and stated I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ” Jones said .
Jones , in his post , did not identify the judge .
“ One important note in the judge ’ s ruling is stressing the seriousness of the government restricting people ’ s constitutional right to free movement especially in issues of moral dissent and protest , ” Jones wrote .
“ Grateful for this step forward for protecting constitutional rights , especially after last night ’ s passage of extreme anti-protestor bills in the Tennessee legislature.
” Staff for Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk said Friday they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Tennessee Star concerning the identity of the judge and additional information about Jones ’ case .
As The Star reported last month , recent protests at the State Capitol have forced the Tennessee Highway Patrol to spend nearly $ 900,000 in overtime costs .
And that ’ s just between May 31 , around the time the protests started , up until June 30 .
As reported in June , Tennessee Highway Patrol officers removed protesters ’ extra equipment from Legislative Plaza after they failed to comply with an agreement made between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plaza the Ida B .
Wells Plaza .
Wells was an early civil rights leader .
When organizers started this protest on June 12 , they asked for “ government officials to defund and demilitarize the police , remove what they call racist statues , and fire Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson.
” As The Star reported , Anderson recently vacated his position .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Justin Jones ” by @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--GOP Lawmakers Call on Trump Admin to End Tax Breaks for Abortions

Over 100 Republican members of Congress sent a letter Wednesday calling on President Donald Trump ’ s administration to end tax deductions for abortions .
In a letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , 23 senators and 80 representatives urged the Department of the Treasury “ to take swift action to issue new regulations to protect innocent human life by ending tax breaks for abortion under the guise of medical care.
” “ Abortion is not health care , as it takes an innocent human life , ” Republican Montana Sen. Steve Daines , who joined lawmakers in sending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News Foundation .
“ The IRS should reverse its misguided policy.
” The lawmakers note in the letter that following the passage of Roe v. Wade , IRS officials determined that “ amounts paid for any legal abortion are tax-deductible as ‘ medical care ’ under §213 ( d ) ( 1 ) ( A ) of the Internal Revenue Code.
” “ This holding , in turn , creates tax breaks for abortions through the medical expenses deduction as well as through health flexible spending accounts , health savings accounts , health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health accounts and tax breaks that incorporate §213 ( d ) ’ s definition of ‘ medical care , ’ ” the letter from lawmakers said .
The senators and representatives insist that the holding must be reversed with regard to abortion .
“ Every human life from the moment of conception is invaluable , ” said Republican Indiana Sen. Mike Braun in a statement provided to the DCNF .
“ Taking the life of an unborn child through abortion is certainly not health care , and should not be treated as such.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the March for Life , the Susan B. Anthony List , the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops , and Americans United for Life , have endorsed the letter , according to a press release from the Senate Pro-Life Caucus .
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Commentary: George Soros Has Spent a Lifetime on Liberal Influences

This week , billionaire financier George Soros celebrates his 90th birthday .
That ’ s a big number , but it ’ s dwarfed by another Soros number : 708 million .
That ’ s the cash his two principal foundations poured out just in 2018 ( the latest year publicly known ) , and precious little went to any ballets , symphonies , or art museums .
Instead , it went into politicized groups like Planned Parenthood , to fight for abortion ; the Brennan Center , to tear down voter ID laws ; and to all-purpose left-of-center powerhouses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Center for American Progress .
How big is $ 708 million a year in American politics ?
Well , the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee combined took two years , 2017 and 2018 , to raise $ 502 million .
Or compare Soros ’ s $ 708 million to the giving done in 2018 by libertarian billionaire Charles Koch ’ s namesake foundation : $ 128 million .
In addition to Soros ’ s $ 708 million in “ charitable ” giving , there are the millions he gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Open Society Policy Center , which as Influence Watch notes , was the second-largest source in the whole country for federal lobbying in 2019 , bigger than high-spending lobbying groups like the National Association of Realtors , the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America , and the American Hospital Association .
That ’ s right : giant multinational corporations can only look on in envy when they see the fortune the Soros empire gets to spend on D.C. lobbyists .
In fact , Soros ’ group roughly tripled the lobbying done by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lockheed .
As his birthday reminds us , Soros himself won ’ t live forever .
But even after he goes to his reward , the tens of billions of dollars he ’ s invested in his philanthropies , and his children ’ s own investments in politicized giving , mean that his massive influence on American politics will continue as far as the eye can see .
Capital Research Center , where I work , has studied Soros for years .
He was born in Budapest and is best known as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ breaking the bank of England ” in 1992 .
Most recently , we took a deep dive into Soros ’ own words when my colleague Shane Devine reviewed at length his newest book , “ In Defense of Open Society.
” As Devine observes , Soros has a multipronged plan to “ heal ” America of her supposed sins .
His medicine includes “ nonpartisan ” redistricting , stacking federal courts with left-wing judges , and a “ properly conducted ” 2020 Census ( read : “ boosting Democratic turnout in elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaning up ” corruption in journalism , the pharmaceutical industry , and the legal field that stems , he believes , from their profit-seeking .
( It ’ s unclear why his own profit-seeking never corrupted him . )
And the man is making good on his vision , thanks to his vast Open Society Network , a nexus of numerous foundations and advocacy groups .
All told , between 2000 and 2018 Soros ’ foundations spent nearly $ 8.9 billion , and this year he ’ s already announced he ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice.
” Soros has already effectively inserted himself into the criminal justice system by slowly transforming it—again through massive investment—via local district attorneys ’ races .
Since 2015 , Soros has spent at least $ 17 million to swing district attorney races in states such as Pennsylvania , Virginia , and Arizona—key battlegrounds targeted by Democrats for takeover .
A number of these district attorneys supported by Soros are also behind calls to defund the police and efforts to release rioters arrested as part of the George Floyd protests and riots in cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his 90th year , Soros ’ s influence on the American political process remains strong .
And the world is nearly guaranteed to see it continue as both his sons , Alexander and Jonathan , have picked up the mantle of their father ’ s liberal activism .
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich recently blamed the leftward lurch of modern Democrats on the party ’ s being “ owned ” by people financed by Soros .
He has a point .
Soros has bought enough influence to direct the path of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chaos society has recently suffered thanks to that leftward move , it ’ s baffling that Democratic leaders in cities such as Chicago , Minneapolis , Detroit , Seattle , and Portland continue to take their cues from Soros ’ strategy of correcting America ’ s “ shortcomings.
” Scott Walter is president of the Capital Research Center and served in the administration of President George W. Bush .
Photo “ George Soros ” by Niccolò Caranti .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Seattle Mayor Appeals Judge’s Decision That Could Result in Her Removal from Office

Democratic Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan urged the state supreme court Wednesday to overturn a lower court decision that allows efforts to remove her from office to proceed .
King County Superior Court Judge Mary Roberts has permitted a recall effort that could effectively remove Durkan from office , according to the Seattle Times .
A total of five Seattle residents submitted the petition due to the mayor ’ s handling of the police response to protests and a weeks-long encampment in the city formerly known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest ( CHOP ) , the Times reported .
Durkan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roberts refused to reconsider her stance , according to the local outlet .
Her most recent effort to avoid the potential removal simply asks the higher court to reconsider and offers no new arguments , the Times reported .
The five residents alleged Durkan “ endangered the peace and safety of the community and violated her duties , ” according to a court document .
The recall process could be extensive , as the petitioners would have to collect over 50,000 signatures — one-fourth of the total voters in the last mayoral election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the midst of unprecedented challenges for the city , Mayor Durkan has consistently acted to protect the public health and safety of residents during the pandemic , economic devastation , and demonstrations for justice , ” Nyland told the Times .
In the beginning stages of the CHOP incident , Durkan tweeted that the seized zone is “ a place for free speech , community and self expression.
” The area occupied by CHOP included an abandoned Seattle police precinct .
A total of six people were shot in the occupied area before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , according to the New York Times .
Jake Dima is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Jenny Durkan ” by ragesoss .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Male-Only Draft Is Constitutional, Federal Appeals Court Rules

A Louisiana federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the all-male military draft is constitutional , according to the Associated Press .
The 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans overturned a Texas court ’ s 2019 decision , saying in the newest decision that “ only the Supreme Court may revise its precedent , ” the AP reported .
California-based men ’ s rights group the National Coalition for Men and two individuals , James Lesmeister and Anthony Davis , filed a lawsuit against the Selective Service and its director , Donald Benton , for unlawful sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The case was initially argued in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas , per court documents .
“ At this time NCFM is exploring its options , including filing a Petition for Write of Certiorari with the United States Supreme Court , ” the National Coalition for Men said in a statement following the most recent court decision .
Selective Service System spokesperson Jennifer Burke told the Daily Caller News Foundation , “ The recent court ruling regarding Selective Service indicates that the agency ’ s current registration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agency remains capable of adapting to any potential changes to the law , should they occur , ” Burke added .
The National Commission on Military , National and Public Service said in March 2020 report , ” [ T ] he time is right to extend Selective Service System registration to include men and women , between the ages of 18 and 26 .
This is a necessary and fair step , making it possible to draw on the talent of a unified Nation in a time of national emergency.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ review of the military selective service process , ” according to its website .
The 5th Circuit court cited the 1981 United States Supreme Court case Rostker v. Goldberg , the AP reported , which stated that a male-only draft does not violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment , according to the court ’ s opinion .
“ Men and women , because of the combat restrictions on women , are simply not similarly situated for purposes of a draft or registration for a draft , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the opinion .
Neil Shah is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--NYT Report Suggests One-Third of TikTok Users Might Be Under 14

Roughly a third of TikTok ’ s 49 million daily users in the United States are 14 years old or younger , The New York Times reported Friday , citing internal documents .
The Chinese app ’ s workers noticed videos from children who appear much younger that remained on the video-streaming platform for weeks , a former employee told the Times .
The Children ’ s Online Privacy Protection Act ( COPPA ) , passed in 1998 , requires internet companies to obtain parental permission before gathering data from adolescents under 13 .
Data show that the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July that the company believe to be 14 or younger was 18 million , or around the same number of users over 14 , the Times reported .
The app ’ s other U.S. users are of unknown age , according to the report .
TikTok conducts “ high-level age-modeling to better understand our users and allow our safety team to better protect the safety of our younger teens in particular , ” the company said in a statement to the Times .
The app relies on multiple methods to determine user ages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrutinize profile pictures and videos , two former TikTok employees and one current employee told the Times .
The employees commented anonymously because details of the app ’ s practices are confidential .
TikTok also relies on self-reporting .
“ I would argue , once their systems have indicated to them that a user is likely under 13 , that they are past the point where they can bury their head in the sand , that their legal obligation has kicked in , ” Josh Golin , the executive director of the advocacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Times .
The app has an obligation to investigate if its system is not detecting such a large number of under age participants , Golin added .
The Federal Trade Commission fined Musical.ly , an app that was merged with TikTok in 2018 , $ 5.7 million fine in 2019 to settle accusations that it broke COPPA rules .
Meanwhile , President Donald Trump signed a pair of executive orders on Aug. 6 prohibiting American companies and individuals from communicating with TikTok ’ s parent company , ByteDance , and Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump suggested on Aug. 3 that he be amenable to Microsoft purchasing the upstart company .
Sen. Josh Hawley called on the Trump administration to “ ban ” the app in a tweet Friday responding to the Times report .
TikTok “ has already violated USA child privacy laws and last year promised the FTC they would cease and desist .
They don ’ t appear to be living up to that promise , ” the Missouri senator wrote .
“ I ’ ve asked FTC to investigate.
” Chris White is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Trump: Clinesmith Guilty Plea Is ‘Just the Beginning’ with ‘More to Come’

President Trump on Friday said that news of former FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith ’ s plea deal with Department of Justice prosecutors was “ just the beginning , ” signaling that U.S. Attorney John Durham is zeroing in on other targets in his investigation .
Clinesmith is expected to plead guilty in connection with his alteration of an exonerating email during the Crossfire Hurricane ( CH ) investigation , which targeted members of Donald Trump ’ s 2016 presidential campaign , including foreign policy adviser Carter Page .
In 2016 , the CIA sent the email to CH investigators in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Page ’ s relationship with the CIA .
Their response was not what the CH team was hoping for .
When the CH team reached out to the CIA to confirm that information , the CIA responded with an email to Clinesmith .
That message confirmed that Page had been a cooperative source of information for the CIA in the past — including a period of time being relied upon by the CH investigation to contend that Page was an “ Agent of a Foreign Power ” for FISA surveillance purposes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently in contact with the CIA , but that any information from him would be favorably received by the CIA .
Rather than include information that was favorable to their target to the FISA court , Clinesmith altered the wording on the email to indicate that Page was not a friendly source of information .
Significantly , Clinesmith reportedly shared the original CIA email with case agents and supervisors on the CH team before drafting the bogus FISA application .
It is now expected that the first two FISA warrants will be invalidated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explains the significance of this “ tidbit.
” If the knowledge of Clinesmith ’ s criminal act extended beyond Clinesmith himself , that would call into question the accuracy of every submission under oath made by members of CH .
Not just the FISA applications , but all the affidavits offered in support of search warrants across the entire scope of the CH investigation — including everything done by the Special Counsel ’ s Office since many FBI agents and other personnel carried over from the DOJ/FBI investigation of CH to the SCO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the corporate media is reporting , Clinesmith is not a minor player in the Russia hoax .
In addition to being on the Crossfire Hurricane team , he worked with disgraced FBI agent Peter Strzok to arrange a Trump-Flynn briefing in 2016 , was on Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s team , and took part in the effort to set up former Trump advisor George Papadopoulos .
He is also notorious for texting “ Viva la Resistance ” to a colleague after Trump won the 2016 election .
CBS News correspondent Catherine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s plea deal suggests that he may be cooperating with investigators on this point .
During a White House briefing on Friday afternoon , President Trump also seemed to suggest that Durham is honing in on other targets in the investigation .
“ Kevin Clinesmith , a corrupt FBI attorney who falsified FISA warrants in James Comey ’ s very corrupt FBI , is expected to plead guilty , ” President Trump told reporters .
“ That ’ s just the beginning , I would imagine .
This .
.
.
what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump continued , calling the FBI ’ s corruption a “ terrible thing.
” “ Fact is , they spied on my campaign and they got caught , ” the president added .
“ And you ’ ll be hearing more .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Child Well-Being Check Initiative Withdrawn After Uproar in Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Education has withdrawn a $ 1 million initiative to conduct well-being checks for all children in Tennessee from birth to age 18 after the program sparked uproar this week , with critics calling it a big-brother government overreach .
Gov .
Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Dr. Penny Schwinn released the Child Wellbeing Check Toolkit during a news conference Tuesday .
As originally published , the initiative recommended well-being checks for all children in the state to verify well-being as school closures have left gaps for nutrition , health , and abuse reporting services amid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were a collaborative effort of the 38-member Child Wellbeing Task Force , created by Lee in June in response to the pandemic .
According to original guidelines , a well-being check could include an email , phone call or a home visit from a well-being liaison .
Well-being liaisons would need a parent ’ s permission to speak with a child , and if a parent refused , the refusal would be noted in a database .
Local education agencies would implement the initiative and report aggregated data back to the state Child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aside $ 1 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding for the initiative .
The program received sharp criticism from members of the Legislature .
“ We firmly oppose this type of data collection and overreach by the state government , ” Rep. Scott Cepicky , R-Culleoka , wrote Thursday in a Facebook post .
“ The [ Tennessee ] Legislature agrees with Parents and school districts on the “ wellness check ” situation , ” House Republican Caucus Chairman Rep. Jeremy Faison , R-Cosby , tweeted Friday .
“ The program will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out yesterday .
The [ Tennessee Department of Education ] has heard your voice and is correcting the mistake.
” Lee ’ s office clarified Friday the initiative , as originally proposed , has been withdrawn .
Guidelines released Tuesday by the department have been removed from the department ’ s website .
“ The Department of Education has withdrawn an optional toolkit that helps guide public school districts in addressing the needs of vulnerable students who are facing extended time away from the classroom , ” spokesman Gillum Ferguson told The Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program or any sort of check-in being administered .
This optional guidance is being re-written to make this clear.
” Ferguson clarified the program has nothing to do with children enrolled in home or independent schools .
Participation in the initiative also will be completely optional .
In a radio appearance Thursday , Schwinn walked the program back , explaining the state does not have capacity to carry it out as originally presented , and the program was not explained well in the guidelines that were released two days before .
Schwinn said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a 38-member panel and several agencies , all of whom had good intentions .
“ To be perfectly honest , the language was something that we all missed , ” Schwinn said .
“ We ’ ve updated the language for its actual intent , but there is there ’ s no big brother .
It is all good intentions around a group of children who we know need some additional resources.
” Schwinn also said the goal to conduct a well-being check on every student in the state was “ aspirational.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ edits to the guidelines based on feedback it receives .
“ We ’ re talking about a group of students who we ’ ve been regularly checking in on in the school setting , ” Schwinn said .
“ We want to make sure that kids are getting fed , they ’ re getting health care , and those types of checks that oftentimes do happen at school .
In addition , we know abuse cases are up , and that reporting is down , and so it ’ s just making sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment .
Vivian Jones reports on Tennessee and South Carolina for The Center Square .
Her writing has appeared in the Detroit News , The Hill , and publications of The Heartland Institute .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Biden Raises $48 Million in 48 Hours After Picking Harris as VP

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden ’ s campaign raised $ 48 million in the 48 hours after he selected California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate , campaign officials told Reuters Thursday .
The haul is a sign of Biden ’ s growing fundraising strength ahead of his party ’ s convention which begins Monday , Reuters reported .
Biden is set to formally accept his party ’ s nomination Aug. 20 .
Biden and Harris made their first joint appearance Wednesday in Delaware , and announced that their campaign had raised $ 26 million the 24 hours since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris ’ s selection was praised by most Democrats as a historic pick since she the first woman of color to appear on a presidential ticket .
She was seen as a top contender for the vice presidential nomination before the selection , The Hill reported .
Harris has also been fundraising for Biden , and has raised over $ 5 million for his campaign during the election cycle , according to The Hill .
The Biden campaign ’ s two-day total is the latest development in what has been a massive fundraising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
Biden out-raised Trump in June , bringing in $ 141 million compared to the president ’ s $ 131 million , but was out-raised by Trump in July , raising $ 140 million compared to Trump ’ s $ 165 million , according to campaign finance reports .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Joe Biden .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Data Shows Long History of Pay-to-Play Among Ohio Republican Party, DeWine, Householder and FirstEne

Data Shows Long History of Pay-to-Play Among Ohio Republican Party, DeWine, Householder and FirstEnergy

Editor ’ s Note : This is the first of three stories examining Gov .
Mike DeWine ’ s use of pay-to-play when he was attorney general and how the Ohio Republican Party funnels money from donors to individual candidates .
This series also will examine the relationship between the party , DeWine and former House Speaker Larry Householder to FirstEnergy .
Mike DeWine , as former Ohio attorney general , often awarded no-bid contracts to lawyers and collections agencies to do state work .
Many of those chosen vendors also happened to be his campaign donors .
The Dayton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the connections between Attorney General DeWine ’ s awarding of collections contracts to vendors who also just happened to be campaign donors .
Hudson collections company CELCO Ltd. , owned by Peter Spitalieri , was formed on April 11 , 2012 , two days before then-Attorney General DeWine ’ s office issued an request for proposal ( RFP ) for collections agencies to do state work , the newspaper said .
Spitalieri also owns PASCO Group .
Since 2010 , 119 outside attorneys handling debt collection for the attorney general , their firms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.38 million to the campaigns of DeWine , his son Pat DeWine , then an appeals judge and now a justice on the Ohio Supreme Court , as well as the Ohio Republican Party .
DeWine met frequently with long-time Summit County Republican Party Chairman Alex Arshinkoff and other donors , including Spitalieri , who was a donor .
In the spring of 2010 , Validati , a division of PASCO , was awarded the contract with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to monitor compliance of the state ’ s motor vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August 4 , 2010 .
The Ohio Star issued a FOIA request with the Ohio Department of Public Safety for a copy of the contract .
Upon completion of our research , it was determined that the Ohio Department of Public Safety does not have any executed contracts with the entities in your request .
However , a contract associated with Pasco/Validati was administered by the Department of Administrative Services ( DAS ) .
The contract expired at the end of August 2015 .
The Star made the same request to DAS , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard back from the department other than an acknowledgment it had received the FOIA .
The Daily News in January 2014 reported on other allegations of pay-to-play in Attorney General DeWine ’ s office concerning an advisory panel .
The Daily News examination found that the law firms on the panels tend to be the ones who get the work .
Of the 27 law firms assigned to the cases that pay on contingency , 19 serve on DeWine ’ s panel .
Most of them also contributed via PACs or employees to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pat DeWine — more than $ 1.3 million from 2010 to 2013 .
About half of the donations came from firms whose main office is outside Ohio .
The Ohio Republican Party , which received the bulk of the campaign contributions from firms seeking outside work with DeWine ’ s office , has funneled $ 977,537 to DeWine ’ s campaign fund since he took over as AG in January 2011 .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Ohio School Reopening Plan Draws Criticism

Schools in Ohio are planning to employ a mix of in-person , at-home and hybrid options when schools reopen , according to the Ohio Department of Education .
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic , the state has left the decision on how to start the new school year to individual school districts .
A total of 325 public school districts with about 590,000 students plan to return to school full-time , according to state numbers .
Meanwhile , 55 districts with approximately 398,000 students will begin the school year remotely , while 154 districts with roughly 380,000 students will have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State officials did not have information on 78 other public school districts .
“ I have every confidence that Ohio ’ s schools will do everything they can to keep children safe , but any spread happening in the broader community will , without a doubt , be reflected in Ohio ’ s classrooms , ” Gov .
Mike DeWine said in a statement .
“ If we want our kids to go to school in person , to play sports , to be in extracurricular activities – it ’ s up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread in our communities.
” As of Tuesday , Ohio reported 102,826 “ confirmed and probable ” cases of COVID-19 and 3,708 “ confirmed and probable ” deaths from the virus , which originated in China .
The governor stressed the importance of masks , social distancing and proper hygiene as the start of school approaches .
However , state Rep. Phil Robinson , D-Solon , the ranking member on the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee , criticized DeWine for the lack of a statewide school reopening plan .
“ Instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Governor continues to shift the difficult decisions to the school districts who then shift the decisions to the parents to somehow choose between their child ’ s health , their own health and their employment , ” Robinson said in a statement .
“ What is actually happening as a result of no statewide intervention is we are deepening the economic divides in our society , perpetuating a system of haves and have nots , ” Robinson added .
“ Those who have the means to do remote learning and keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working parents who rely on in-person instruction so they can hold down a job , can not .
” DeWine , a Republican , is also facing pressure from members of his own party .
State Rep. Jena Powell , R-Arcanum , called on state lawmakers to meet to , in part , eliminate the statewide mask mandate DeWine previously implemented and to “ safely ” reopen schools this fall .
“ Ohioans need to have complete confidence that the leadership of Ohio is putting the needs of Ohioans first during this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powell said in a letter to DeWine and House Speaker Bob Cupp , R-Lima , and posted to Facebook .
Todd Defeo is a contributor to The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Minnesota Rep. Jim Hagedorn Fires Campaign Manager for Alleged ‘Irregular Spending’

Minnesota Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn fired his chief of staff , Peter Su , his office confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Su was fired as a result of concerns about alleged “ irregular spending ” out of Hagedorn ’ s office , two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told the DCNF .
“ Yes he was fired , but we do not discuss personnel issues beyond that , ” Hagedorn ’ s interim chief of staff , Carol Stevenson , told the DCNF in a text message Friday .
Hagedorn , a first-term congressman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first quarter of 2020 , according to government tracking website Legistorm .
Hagedorn ’ s office spent roughly 40 % of their annual budget in the first quarter , while the average member of Congress spent roughly 20 % of their budget over that same time period , according to Legistorm .
Nearly half of Hagedorn ’ s first quarter spending went towards printing costs and constituent mailers , according to Legistorm , which notes that the “ average member has spent 0.8 percent of their budgets on mass mailings.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who requested anonymity for fear of professional retaliation , told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Su directly oversaw the alleged unusually high spending levels .
“ Once irregular spending was brought to Rep. Hagedorn ’ s attention , he immediately consulted with the House Administration Committee and House Ethics Committee and took action to get to the bottom of what exactly had happened to these funds and suspended the person in question , ” another source with direct knowledge of the matter told the DCNF on condition of anonymity , citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the person in question was terminated , ” the source added , referring to Su .
Hagedorn said in a statement his office released to the DCNF : “ When I became aware of this matter approximately two months ago , I took immediate action by hiring outside counsel to perform an independent review , making senior-level personnel changes , and reestablishing best practices for staff and the acquisition of services.
” “ I also advised the House Committees of jurisdiction , House Administration and Ethics , of our independent review , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will continue to provide the Committees with findings from our review and offer recommendations to improve House franking operations , ” Hagedorn added .
“ While these relatively routine duties were fully delegated to my former Chief of Staff and our finance officer , I acknowledge responsibility for the oversight of my office and will continue to make any necessary management improvements , ” Hagedorn said in the statement .
The DCNF was unable to find any current contact information for Su .
An inquiry sent to his previous congressional email address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t appear to have a public presence on any major social networking platform .
Stevenson said she can ’ t provide the personal email or cell phone number of any current or former staffer .
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Michigan Health Director Says Contact Tracing Contract a Mistake, but Not Politically Motivated

Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College @ @ @ @ @ on Forbes.com and FEE.org .
Previously , he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi @ @ @ @ @ ” by Robert Gordon .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-16--Activists Push for ‘Black Lives Matter’ Painting on Nashville Street

Nashville residents are making an effort to paint “ Black Lives Matter ” on a city street .
This , according to the Nashville-based FOX 17 , which reported that social justice advocates and certain Metro Council members are pushing for this idea .
“ During a Minority Caucus meeting Tuesday , At-Large Councilwoman Sharon Hurt spoke about proposals and phone calls being submitted to the caucus for a BLM mural .
She said two key things were missing from most proposals , approval from the mayor ’ s office and the actual funding behind it .
She spoke about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who ’ ve had their murals led by or with the high support of the mayor ’ s office , ” the station reported .
“ Mayor Cooper ’ s office tells FOX 17 News it ’ s in discussion with the Metro Arts Commission , Black Lives Matter and members of the Metro Council to discuss a BLM mural .
The conversations are ongoing .
Hurt also spoke about the many steps that would have to be taken , like getting Metro Public Works on board , a certain type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ painting over crosswalks and more.
” Nashville activist Tequila Johnson , on her Twitter page Friday , discussed the idea not of a street painting — but a BLM mural in the city .
“ Do I want it personally , it doesn ’ t move me .
But the young organizers want it , so I support them , ” Johnson tweeted .
“ I uplift their strategy and leadership .
I would like the Art commission to spend less money on painting butterflies for tourists.
” Hurt , meanwhile , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As The Tennessee Star reported last week , Hurt said during a virtual meeting of the Joint Public Safety and Health Committee that the city should have stronger legislation for those not wearing masks .
She suggested that Metro officials charge such people with murder or attempted murder .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Black Lives Matter Street Mural ” by Cmichel67 .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Sumner County’s ‘The Meadows’ Housing Development Land Battle Goes Back at Least a Decade and Includ

Sumner County’s ‘The Meadows’ Housing Development Land Battle Goes Back at Least a Decade and Includes Bribery Allegations

The land battle over Sumner County ’ s “ The Meadows , ” proposed to be a 1,115-unit housing development under consideration by the Sumner County Board of Commissioners on Monday , August 17 , has a history that goes back more than a decade and includes allegations of bribery by a former Gallatin councilman .
The property in question is 386 acres of agricultural land located between Highway 109 and Dobbins Pike outside Gallatin city limits previously known as the Wallace Farm .
It was purchased by Kenneth and Tina Earp at some point prior to 2000 , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosed with a terminal illness and decided to sell the farm with an asking price of $ 1.6 million .
While some offers were made on the property , the Earps decided to take the farm off the market and a lawsuit , countersuit , and subsequent appeal ensued between the real estate listing agent and the Earps , all of which ended in dismissal .
Mr. Earp , who was a real estate developer for 40 years and was credited with building several mobile home parks , died in 2002 .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mrs. Earp had several projects before the Gallatin Planning Commission for rezoning and had also relocated to Arizona .
On September 1 , 2011 , the district attorney general requested that Tennessee Bureau of Investigation ( TBI ) open a case into allegations of bribery against then Gallatin Councilman Dale Bennett relative to consulting services he was being compensated for by Tina Earp of TME Properties .
While no evidence of bribery was found , Bennett – who was 73 at the time – was indicted on November 7 , 2011 , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consulting services while serving as an elected official .
A contract showed that Earp was to pay Bennett a total of approximately $ 24,000 for his consulting services relative to the unimproved property under consideration for rezoning by the Gallatin Planning Commission .
In 2012 , Bennett reached an agreement with prosecutors to serve one year of probation and pay court costs , Gallatin News reported .
In January 2015 , during a heated discussion with hundreds of citizens in attendance over the recent 20 percent property tax increase , County Executive Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved a $ 20 million land purchase .
No details were provided at the time , but the Sumner County Board of Commissioners delayed the discussion and the issue went away for a while .
That is , until Holt revived the project again in 2016 with a proposal to purchase the Earp property plus several others for a total of approximately 1,000 acres .
The project was vehemently opposed , particularly by residents in the largely agricultural area whose surrounding rural property would be irreversibly changed .
Sumner County taxpayers objected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially since there were plenty of vacancies in the existing Gallatin industrial park as well as competing industrial parks that were better positioned for the type of businesses Holt planned to recruit .
The risk of the property being developed into something not in keeping with the surrounding area prompted the founding of a group called Preserve Sumner County .
The mission of the non-partisan group of more than 1,000 members on its public Facebook page is to preserve Sumner County ’ s historical , agricultural and environmental resources .
Eventually , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project failed to pass the county commission .
Preserve Sumner ’ s efforts continued into the next battle over the use of the land when , in early 2019 , another plan came along called The Meadows which was originally proposed as a 1,327 unit housing development .
The plan included a request for annexation from Sumner County to the City of Gallatin and subsequent rezoning .
After several iterations of the plan and another round of objections from citizens and area property owners regarding issues such as traffic safety concerns , destroying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school capacity , the Gallatin City Council approved the annexing and rezoning the property for a 1,115-unit mixed-use development .
Since the Earp property being used for The Meadows development does not touch property within Gallatin city limits , state law requires that an interlocal agreement be approved by Sumner County and Gallatin for the provision of emergency services and road and bridge maintenance for any interceding properties .
According to a document on the background of The Meadows interlocal agreement , the proposed agreement went back and forth several times between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On May 5 , Sumner County sent a list of seven suggested changes , and , according to the background document , Gallatin incorporated five of the seven .
No details were provided on the suggested changes or which ones were incorporated .
A resolution adopting the interlocal agreement between Gallatin and Sumner County for the annexation of The Meadows development is up for consideration at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Sumner County Commission Monday , August 17 .
By order of Holt , Sumner County is under an extension of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of masks until August 29 and seating will be limited in the commission chambers for attendance by the public .
With regard to the Earp property , Preserve Sumner ’ s position was , and continues to be , that the zoning designation that the Earps bought the property under should be maintained .
While the Sumner County Board of Commissioners will not directly change the zoning of the Earp property , entering into the interlocal agreement with the City of Gallatin will , by default , allow for the rezoning .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening , $ 500,000 of funding for the Comer Barn will be discussed .
The full agenda for the Sumner County Board of County Commissioners meeting Monday , August 17 at 7 p.m. at the County Administration Building at 355 N. Belvedere in Gallatin – including proposed plot maps development details – can be found here .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .

by Eric Lendrum
On April 7th, an amicus brief was filed in favor of Florida’s current ban on using state funds to support “transgender” treatments, with 17 state attorneys general voicing their support for the law.
According to the Daily Caller, the brief’s filing was part of an ongoing legal battle in the state of Florida, where far-left, pro-transgender activists have teamed up with several pseudo-medical organizations to file a lawsuit against the law. The groups involved include the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The law in question states that Medicaid funds cannot be used to cover any transgender operations, including sex change surgery, cross-sex hormones, and puberty blockers.
The 17 states that have filed in support of Florida are: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. In their filing, the AGs argue that the organizations involved in the lawsuit have “prioritized politics over science.”
“The amici States submit this brief in support of Florida’s right to regulate medicine and determine appropriate treatments for Medicaid coverage,” the brief states. “Moreover, there is particular reason to be suspicious of the interest groups in this case.”
Their brief goes on to point out that several European countries, including the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, and Sweden have taken similar steps to crack down on transgender treatments, declaring that “transitioning treatments for minors are experimental.”
The case has already seen a judge order the three organizations to comply with subpoenas ordering them to turn over documents related to their guidance for children suffering from gender dysphoria, the official name for the condition of transgenderism. In addition, Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Biden Administration demanding access to similar internal documents related to the administration’s gender transition policies.
– – –
Eric Lendrum graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was the Secretary of the College Republicans and the founding chairman of the school’s Young Americans for Freedom chapter.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Commentary: Trump’s Huge Middle East Win

Even The Washington Post ’ s David Ignatius had to admit President Trump hit a home run with the deal he helped negotiate for Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize diplomatic relations .
“ This was , as he tweeted , a ‘ HUGE ’ achievement , ” Ignatius wrote .
It is viewed as an “ ’ icebreaker ” that could open the door to other countries , such as Bahrain , Omar and Morocco , opening diplomatic relations with Israel .
Trump will go down as perhaps the most consequential president in terms of the Middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only has stitched together this deal , he has gotten Israel and Saudi Arabia to cooperate on operations against Iran .
He became the first president ever to fly from Riyadh to Tel Aviv .
He has defeated ISIS , moved the US embassy to Jerusalem and taken out Qasem Soleimani , the Iran major general whose Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and punished Syria – as opposed to the disappearing “ red lines ” of the previous administration – for using chemical weapons on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disastrous Iran deal and stopped sending planeloads of cash to the world ’ s leading state sponsor terrorism , and he has begun to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan and Syria .
And the Middle East peace plan his son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner has developed is said to be the best hope for resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict since at least Oslo .
And that ’ s just the Middle East .
In this hemisphere , President Trump has withdrawn the US from the disastrous NAFTA deal and replaced it with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets for US farmers and manufacturers and encouraged the return of manufacturing jobs to the US .
He has convinced Mexico to place 27,000 soldiers on its southern border to prevent caravans of immigrants from traveling through Mexico to the US border , easing the strain on our border and saving enough money to finance wall construction .
Yes , in a sense , Mexico is paying for the wall .
He has forged new and stronger relationships with not only Mexico but Brazil , whose president won because he was the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as Guatemala and others .
President Trump has taken on China like no one before and no one running against him for president could hope to .
He investigated China for unfair trade practices related to technology transfers , intellectual property theft and stealing American innovations under the Trade Act .
He charged China before the World Trade Organization with discriminatory licensing practices .
President Trump has stood up to all the forced theft China inflicts on American firms and then some .
He has negotiated an interim trade deal with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese to buy rice from the US .
But he walked away from a phase 2 deal because he held the Chinese accountable for not living up to terms of the first deal .
He placed 25 percent tariffs on $ 250 billion worth of Chinese products , which has made them less competitive in the US and forced pressure on Beijing to reform .
But thanks to his strong economic policies , unemployment and inflation were basically non-existent before the pandemic , so Chinese firms , not American consumers , paid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of light you no longer see above the Sea of Japan is the end of North Korea ’ s previously rather regular missile threats to its neighbors and to the US .
The president went where no president has gone before – to North Korea – and also held two summits with North Korea ’ s leader .
They didn ’ t produce an agreement , but they did produce an understanding – and the world is a more peaceful , less anxious place because of it .
In Europe , the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our values .
He insisted all members of NATO meet their defense spending commitments , and the head of NATO , Jens Stoltenberg , has said the organization is in as good of shape thanks to this as it has been in a long time .
He is accused by the left of kowtowing to Russia ’ s Vladimir Putin , but the opposite is more accurate .
The president scored a major military victory over a group of Russian soldiers fighting in Syria .
He also achieved energy independence for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fate on energy prices and world supplies have reached a surplus .
Earlier this year , world oil prices dipped below zero briefly , and they have remained historically low .
Russia , which relies on energy for influence in Europe and cash reserves for Moscow , has been deeply wounded by America ’ s assertion of energy dominance .
In addition , President Trump has worked with countries from around the world to attack gang activity and human trafficking and to promote religious freedom .
Trump was elected on high-profile domestic issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , deregulation .
He has addressed all of these .
But he also has been perhaps the most consequential president in our lifetimes with regard to foreign policy .
And it ’ s time he get the recognition he deserves .
Martha Boneta is an American policy advisor , commentator , and farmer .
Martha is President of Vote America First .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Analysis:  Republican Crossover Voting for Democrats in August 6 Primary Election in Knox County

Analysis of the Knox County voting data for the August 6 primary and general election reveals difference-making Republican crossover votes for Democrat candidates .
At the same time there was the primary election for state and federal level offices , there was also a county general election race .
In a combined primary/general election , voters can pull a Republican , Democrat , or general election only ballot .
Those voters pulling either a Republican or Democrat primary ballot are also allowed to vote for any county general election candidate , no matter the candidate ’ s party .
Voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not vote in either party primary , but represent a very small percentage of the total ballots .
In House District 18 , there are three precincts where the entire precinct is shared with Knox County Commission District 4 , which also had the tightest of the county commission general election races .
In those three precincts , it is estimated that a total of 264 Republicans crossed over from their primary ballot to vote for the general election Democrat county commission candidate Todd Frommeyer – although Republican Kyle Ward managed to win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Hills Precinct 46 had 693 Republican ballots versus 532 Democrat ballots for the state/federal primary .
With Frommeyer receiving 606 votes in the general election , an estimated 74 Republican primary voters crossed over for the Democrat .
Bearden High School Precinct 47 had 840 Republican ballots versus 818 Democrat ballots for the state/federal primary .
With Frommeyer receiving 922 in the general election , an estimated 104 Republican primary voters crossed over for the Democrat .
Deane Hill Rec Precinct 51 had 853 Republican ballots versus 343 Democrat ballots for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an estimated 86 Republican primary voters crossed over for the Democrat .
The 264 crossover votes represents a significant 11.1 percent of the total in the three precincts alone .
There may have been other crossover votes in other precincts within House District 18 .
However , there were not as competitive county general election races to make the same comparison .
A point of comparison can be made by taking a closer look at the races for three county commission districts .
In the entire 4th county commission district , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District 18 , the Democrat candidate got 354 Republican votes or 8.3 percent more than the number of Democrat primary ballots pulled .
In the 5th county commission district , the Democrat candidate got 334 Republican votes or 4.4 percent more than the number of Democrat primary ballots pulled .
In the 2nd county commission district , the Democrat candidate got 138 Republican votes or 3.4 percent more than the number of Democrat primary ballots pulled .
Interestingly , the 2nd district was the only district where two precincts had less votes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots pulled .
In that case , Democrat primary ballot pullers totaling 58 voted for the Republican candidate .
On the August 6 election day in the 4th county commission district , crossover votes became more exaggerated than in the 14 days of early voting .
Of the 794 votes cast in the three precincts that overlap the 4th county commission district and House District 18 , 101 Republican votes or 12.7 percent more than the Democrat ballots pulled went to the Democrat candidate .
The obvious crossover voting raises the question when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but votes for a Democrat in a county commission race , which Republican did they vote for in the primary for House District 18 or the U.S. Senate race or would they have voted for if the U.S. 2nd Congressional District had a Republican primary .
One such instance was the House District 18 Republican primary , where there was a difference of just 99 votes or about 1.5 percent between candidates Eddie Mannis and Gina Oster , according to Tennessee Secretary of State election results .
Even with a less than complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the number of crossover votes in just three precincts is more than double the vote difference in the entire House District 18 Republican primary race .
In late 2018 , the State Executive Committee ( SEC ) of the Tennessee Republican Party voted overwhelmingly 45-14-1 to close the primaries .
A resolution stating such was sent from the SEC to the Tennessee General Assembly with the expectation of getting a bill passed in the supermajority Republican Senate and House .
The “ Political Party Registration Act ” under HB 1273 / SB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andy Holt ( R-Dresden ) and Sen. Joey Hensley ( R-Hohenwald ) , respectively .
The bill failed in the House Local Committee by a vote of 2-14 with 10 Republicans voting against the proposal , The Tennessee Star reported .
The Senate bill was never taken up in committee .
Another attempt was made by Rep. Tim Rudd ( R-Murfreesboro ) and Sen. Mark Pody ( R-Lebanon ) under HB 1398 / SB 1303 .
The House bill failed on voice vote in the same Local Committee before being taken up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be concerned about their ability to win a primary without garnering crossover votes in what was a majority Democrat state just a decade ago , the House District 18 data may offer evidence that crossover voting is more of a hindrance than a help .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Trump Orders Chinese Owner of TikTok to Sell U.S. Assets

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — President Donald Trump on Friday gave the Chinese company ByteDance 90 days to divest itself of any assets used to support the popular TikTok app in the United States .
Trump ’ s executive order said there is “ credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance … might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States.
” Trump last week ordered sweeping but vague bans on dealings with the Chinese owners of TikTok and the messaging app WeChat , saying they are a threat to U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy .
It remains unclear what the TikTok orders mean for the app ’ s 100 million U.S. users , many of them teenagers or young adults who use it to post and watch short-form videos .
Trump on Friday also ordered ByteDance to divest itself of “ any data obtained or derived ” from TikTok users in the U.S. Microsoft is in talks to buy parts of TikTok .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Trump ’ s earlier TikTok and WeChat orders Thursday , telling reporters he was exercising his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president to regulate international commerce to address unusual threats .
“ The administration is committed to protecting the American people from all cyber threats and these apps collect significant amounts of private data on users , ” said McEnany , adding that the Chinese government can access and use such data .
TikTok said it spent nearly a year trying to engage in “ good faith ” with the U.S. government to address these concerns .
“ What we encountered instead was that the Administration paid no attention to facts , dictated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard legal processes , and tried to insert itself into negotiations between private businesses , ” the company ’ s statement said .
About the Headline Photo : President Donald Trump walks over to speak with the press after arriving on Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown , N.J. , Friday , Aug. 14 , 2020 .
Trump heading to New York to visit with his younger brother , Robert Trump , who has been hospitalized in New York .
( AP Photo/Susan Walsh )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--White House Adviser Navarro: ‘No Question’ China Wants Biden to Beat Trump

A senior White House adviser said he agreed with an assessment by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence that China prefers that President Trump lose re-election in November .
“ Well , there ’ s no question that ’ s true , ” Peter Navarro , White House Trade and Manufacturing Policy advisor , told Just the News in an interview .
“ Donald J. Trump is the toughest – only president – he ’ s the toughest and only president to stand up to China since Nixon and Kissinger went to China back in the 70s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then , has allowed in some way , to let the Chinese Communist Party have their way with the United States economy , and also our defense sector.
” The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence recently issued a statement stating that China has harshly criticized the Trump administration ’ s statements and actions on Hong Kong , TikTok , the legal status of the South China Sea , and China ’ s efforts to dominate the 5G market .
“ Beijing recognizes that all of these efforts might affect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center , said .
“ We assess that China prefers that President Trump – whom Beijing sees as unpredictable – does not win reelection .
“ China has been expanding its influence efforts ahead of November 2020 to shape the policy environment in the United States , pressure political figures it views as opposed to China ’ s interests , and deflect and counter criticism of China .
Although China will continue to weigh the risks and benefits of aggressive action , its public rhetoric over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the current Administration ’ s COVID-19 response , closure of China ’ s Houston Consulate , and actions on other issues.
” The assessment also said Iran would like to see Trump lose while Russia would like to see him win .
In the interview , Navarro criticized presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , who will be receiving the Democratic presidential nomination next week .
The Biden campaign did not respond to comment from Just the News .
“ And Joe Biden , eight years as VP , 44 years as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never stood in the way , ” Navarro said .
“ I mean , let ’ s talk about Hunter , just for a minute , right ?
Hunter goes over on Air Force Two to China and comes back with a billion dollars for a hedge fund .
I mean , this is wrong .
So , I think it ’ s really important for the American people to really understand what China did to us in the 2000s , taking our manufacturing base with their unfair trade practices .
And now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected us with a china virus that Joe Biden wants to blame on Donald Trump .
That ’ s wrong.
” Carrie Sheffield is White House Correspondent for Just The News .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--School District Closes Schools, Charges Students $140 per Week to Attend ‘Learning Centers’

Shortly after announcing that the fall semester would begin online , the board of education of the Durham , North Carolina public school department said it will charge families $ 140 per week to send their children to “ learning centers ” at various local schools .
The school board , which last month said it planned to activate its “ Plan C ” and start school in the fall with virtual learning , this week “ authorized the opening of six learning centers to provide support for students who need supervision ” while schools remain online , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DPS Superintendent Pascal Mubenga stated that there are “ many families in Durham who need additional support during the school day.
” The learning center initiative is specifically “ part of a broader community initiative to support working families and families with increased economic hardships , ” the district ’ s website stated .
The learning centers will “ provide a safe space to complete online learning , meals and snacks , and social-emotional activities , ” the district said .
Students will be “ assigned to small pods with daily wellness screenings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and planned circulation and seating of six feet social distancing.
” Families will be charged a “ regular rate ” of $ 140 per week to send their children to the centers .
Families with employees of the school system will get a reduced rate of $ 105 per week , while low-income students will be charged $ 70 per week .
A $ 35 signup charge will also be collected from most families .
“ Learning centers ” will be operated for both elementary and middle school students , officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have announced their intent to continue with distance-learning programs at least through the start of the semester and possibly for the duration of it , citing concerns that schools could become hotspots for COVID-19 transmission .
Many experts have claimed that , according to epidemiological data , children are unlikely to contract COVID-19 , fall gravely ill from it , and/or spread it to other children or adults .
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield said last month that the child mortality rate for the disease is “ one-in-a-million.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said this week that the danger that coronavirus presents to children is “ even less than that of seasonal flu.
” Daniel Payne is a reporter at Just the News .
Photo “ Dr .
Pascal Mubenga ” and “ Students in Class ” by Durham Public Schools .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Texas Test Rate Drops as Schools Reopen, Prepare for Football

AUSTIN , Texas ( AP ) — Anyone can get a coronavirus test at the CentroMed clinic in San Antonio , but on a recent day , the drive-thru was empty .
Finally two masked people in a maroon SUV pulled straight on through with no wait .
With hundreds of deaths reported each day , students returning to class and football teams charging ahead with plans to play , Texas leaders who grappled with testing shortages for much of the pandemic are now facing the opposite problem : not enough takers .
“ We ’ re not having enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Greg Abbott said .
The number of coronavirus tests being done each day in Texas has dropped by the thousands in August , mirroring nationwide trends that has seen daily testing averages in the U.S. fall nearly 9 % since the end of July , according to The COVID Tracking Project .
The problem is dwindling demand : Testing centers like CentroMed are no longer inundated by long lines that stretch for blocks , or closing hours early because tests run out .
The dropoff comes as the U.S. has surpassed 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in on 170,000 deaths .
It threatens to put the U.S. even further behind other countries that have better managed the pandemic , in part , through more aggressive testing .
The trend worries health experts who fear that Texas risks flying blind into the fall if it doesn ’ t increase testing .
Texas embarked on one of the fastest reopenings in the U.S. in May but retreated weeks later in the face of massive outbreaks , ultimately leading Abbott to impose a statewide mask order after previously saying he wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmed hospital on the Texas border was airlifting COVID-19 patients hundreds of miles ( kilometers ) north in search of open beds , and Houston this month began threatening $ 250 fines for not wearing face coverings in an effort to drive down infection numbers .
In recent weeks , things have improved , including a nearly 40 % drop in hospitalizations since July ’ s peak .
But deaths remain high , and doctors in some parts still say they ’ re still stretched .
Texas is averaging more than 210 reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks , according to The COVID Tracking Project .
On Saturday , it reported 238 deaths .
Overall , the state has recorded more than 9,800 fatalities .
The rolling average of people who test positive for the virus in Texas is stubbornly elevated at 16 % — a figure that itself could be a sign of insufficient testing .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said a positivity rate under 10 % is an indicator that a state has robust testing .
Abbott has said that unless Texas gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay shut .
Other states in the South clobbered by the virus this summer are also seeing improvements , including Alabama .
Intensive care units remain frustratingly full there , but the average new confirmed cases each day has dropped below 1,000 , from 1,800 in mid-July .
It ’ s not clear why testing has fallen off , even as many areas of the country are still experiencing serious outbreaks .
Health experts suspect some Americans , jaded by images of long testing lines and the possibility of results taking a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bother unless they ’ re ill. Others have suggested that mixed messages about the disease — like President Donald Trump ’ s recent false claim that 99 % of COVID-19 cases are harmless — could deter people from seeking tests .
“ The good answer would be because we have less COVID , fewer people have symptoms .
A bad answer might be that people gave up because it ’ s taking a long time , ” said Dr. Junda Woo , medical director for San Antonio Metro Health .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have a lot of the answers behind the data.
” Some cities in Texas are now offering tests to virtually anyone after months of restricting limited supplies to only those with symptoms , and Abbott has said the state is working on rapid virus testing for nursing homes and schools .
Some students are already back in classrooms and in football-obsessed Texas , which has by far the most high school football players in the nation with about 170,000 , practices are underway .
“ At this point everybody ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Light , a professor at Texas A & M University who ultimately decided to send her 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son back to classrooms when school opens Tuesday .
“ The teachers , the staff , the students , the parents .
Because we ’ re not exactly sure how this is going to work.
” Sam Chama is anxious because his girlfriend ’ s 5-year-old son is getting ready to start kindergarten in a few weeks in Austin .
As a former elementary school employee , he knows how easily younger children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And starting the year with virtual learning , the 35-year-old geologist says , is just buying time with the expectation that things will soon get better .
He wonders : What happens if it doesn ’ t ?
“ This is assuming that there will be a decline or some type of control , which I don ’ t think will happen , ” he said .
Paul J. Weber is a reporter with The Associated Press .
AP journalists Desiree Mathurin in Atlanta , Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge , Louisiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Eric Gay in San Antonio contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : Thrall High School football player Hayden Stefek wears a face mask as he goes through a practice , Thursday , Aug. 13 , 2020 , in Thrall , Texas .
Coronavirus testing in Texas has dropped significantly , mirroring nationwide trends , just as schools reopen and football teams charge ahead with plans to play .
( AP Photo/Eric Gay )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--State Senator Joe Morrissey Commentary: Violent Protesters Have Gone Too Far

I condemn , in the strongest manner possible , the horrific violence that occurred in Richmond this past Saturday , July 25 , 2020 .
Setting fire to a $ 75,000 city utility vehicle , smashing scores of windows on the VCU campus and destroying the private property of innocent citizens on Monument Avenue and vicinity is despicable .
This type of behavior is not legitimate protest .
Rather , it is indefensible mayhem that should be prosecuted .
I have always supported the Constitutional right of individuals to assemble and protest – irrespective of the cause or issue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to assemble and protest in any way , shape or fashion .
However , when that peaceful protest morphs into rioting , burning , and destruction of personal property , then those responsible have gone too far .
There are two approaches that police and government can use when dealing with protestors .
Examples of each -one good and one bad- have been demonstrated in our city during the last six months .
The first approach , illustrated by Colonel Anthony S. Pike , Chief of the Capitol Police , occurred on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens – many of them carrying guns – converged on the State Capitol to protest legislation to restrict guns .
Police treated the protestors and rally-goers with the respect to which they were entitled .
Colonel Pike and his Capitol Police force told the protestors and rally-goers on Capitol Square that they were free to protest , speak as loudly as they wanted ( including the use of bullhorns ) and confront Legislators in a dignified fashion .
In turn , Colonel Pike promised those protestors that they would also be protected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ peacefully .
The result was a calm and peaceful demonstration without bloodshed , violence or destruction of property .
The second and clearly wrong approach to dealing with protestors occurred nearly 8 weeks ago when city police confronted a group of several hundred people at the Lee Circle and promptly at 7:32 pm , inexplicably gassed a crowd of peaceful protestors including mothers and their children , community activists and elderly citizens .
The very next day Mayor Stoney apologized and took full responsibility for the police misconduct .
However , the damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there has been a lack of mutual trust between protestors and the police .
What is worse is the following .
In an attempt to glue back together his shattered reputation , Mayor Stoney has made mistake after mistake such as firing one police chief , hiring another police chief who shot an innocent man 18 years ago , and even worse , trying to placate the violent protesters .
Let ’ s be clear , many of the protesters are peaceful and nonviolent .
That is why 2 weeks ago my family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Circle , cooked hotdogs and handed out water and food to both police and protestors .
Though peaceful protesters can and should be heard , I have absolutely no regard , respect or patience for those inciters that have imbedded themselves in with the peaceful protestors and have engaged in violence and mayhem .
The Mayor has no idea what to do next and has lost the respect of both the citizenry and the peaceful protesters .
Sadly , Mayor Stoney does not have the skill set to lead the city during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for mayor but here is what I would do .
Allow the peaceful protesters to continue to protest as long and as loud as they want .
However , with regard to the white supremacists , hate mongers , flame throwers ( literally ) , and property destroyers , the answer is clear .
Arrest them , prosecute them , and punish them .
Joe Morrissey is a Virginia State Senator representing the people of the 16th district .