thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--Commentary: What We Must Believe to Believe Biden Won

The Democrats dismiss any mention of the innumerable irregularities that tainted the general election as little more than crackpot conspiracy theories .
This is a convenient way to avoid addressing serious questions raised by serious observers , but it will further undermine confidence in key institutions that form the foundation upon which the republic stands .
Public trust in government , media , and even science was already declining before Election Day .
This trend will dramatically accelerate if Americans don ’ t get answers to questions such as the following : Why would the voters deliver the Democrats a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House to the worst presidential candidate in living memory ?
Biden ’ s “ victory ” seems even more implausible after an audit of his performance in remarkably predictive bellwethers .
The Wall Street Journal reports that Biden had a nearly perfect record of losses in counties whose election results have presaged presidential winners for decades : “ From 1980 through 2016 , 19 of the nation ’ s more than 3,000 counties voted for the eventual president in every election .
Only one … backed President-elect Joe Biden last week.
” So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basement lost 95 percent of these counties yet won the election ?
What of the fabled bellwether Ohio ?
Last month , the New York Times advised that if Trump didn ’ t win there it was over : Four years ago , Mr. Trump built a particularly balanced coalition among Ohio ’ s white voters , winning across education levels .
But his support in the state has waned over the past four years , particularly in the suburbs … Columbus ’ s growth , and the expansion of suburbs and exurbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue-collar areas , might have once spelled an opportunity for Republicans .
But under Mr. Trump the Republican Party has lost its footing among specifically these kinds of voters — and the growth in Franklin County plays into Mr. Biden ’ s hands .
Well , not so much .
President Trump trounced Biden in Ohio , winning the state by 8.2 percent .
Suddenly , AP demoted the state to a bit player in presidential politics : What we are expected to believe here is that the bellwether counties discussed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been left behind by the rest of the nation in the long march toward the mandatory lockdowns and mask mandates that Biden wants to impose on the electorate .
In reality , Trump won Ohio and the vast majority of these counties because absentee ballots were managed transparently according to long-standing and coherent guidelines in place long before the election .
The only bellwether county out of the 19 that Biden won is located in Washington state , which long ago went to all mail-in ballots and one-party rule .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coincidence .
This brings us to ground zero for election fraud — Pennsylvania .
The Commonwealth illegally changed its election rules before and during the voting process .
Essentially , the Commonwealth Court and the Secretary of the Commonwealth ignored the General Assembly and the U.S. Constitution to rig the election on behalf of Joe Biden .
The American Spectator ’ s Paul Kengor and Jeffrey Lord have covered this chicanery here , here , here , and here .
We are expected to believe that such stories are conspiracy theories , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election observers from vote-counting locations and erecting physical barriers to prevent them from watching .
Finally , we come to the Smartmatic/Dominion software that was used to tabulate votes in the swing states of Arizona , Georgia , Michigan , Nevada , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin .
As this Fox interview with Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani reveals , this software was developed in Venezuela and banned from the U.S. a decade ago .
It ’ s now been brought back into the country under the aegis of a subcontractor .
Its major design @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counters to calculate how many votes they need to win .
Jeffrey Lord has more here .
The Democrats want you to believe this is a conspiracy theory .
It isn ’ t .
The Democrats knew they couldn ’ t beat Trump honestly , so they ’ re stealing the election .
In the end , to accept Joe Biden as our legitimate Chief Executive , we must believe the voters hammered the Democrats in congressional , state , and local elections , yet decided to elect the “ leader ” of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he dramatically underperformed among minority voters , yet received 10 million more votes than Barack Obama .
We must believe that virtually all of the reliable election bellwethers were wrong .
We must believe that all of the elections in the swing states were conducted honestly and that the Venezuelan software used to tabulate the votes was secure .
All of this beggars belief .
Joe Biden may be inaugurated in January , but he certainly wasn ’ t elected president .
David Catron is a recovering health care consultant and frequent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can follow him on Twitter at @ Catronicus .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--Trump Team Says It’s Won Hearings in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania Legislatures on Voting Concerns

Save my name , email , and website in this browser for the next time I comment .

by Thomas Catenacci
A group of 27 Republican congressmen urged President Donald Trump to order a Justice Department-appointed special counsel investigation of “legitimate questions” about election irregularities.
The Republican congressmen asked Trump to direct Attorney General William Barr to appoint the special counsel, according to a letter obtained by Politico that was sent to the White House on Wednesday. Reps. Lance Gooden, Paul Gosar, Louie Gohmert, Scott Perry and Jody Hice were among the 27 congressmen who signed onto the letter.
“The American people deserve a definitive resolution to the uncertainty hovering over the outcome of our election, but legitimate questions of voter fraud remain unanswered,” the congressmen wrote.
Barr said on Dec. 1 that the Department of Justice has yet to find any evidence of election fraud that could sway the result, sparking criticism from conservatives. Trump hesitated when asked if he still had confidence in Barr.
“The Department of Justice has been asked on multiple occasions to launch an investigation into this matter, but inaction from the Department along with public comments made by the Attorney General indicate a lack of willingness to investigate the irregularities your campaign and other elected officials across the nation have alleged,” the Republican congressmen continued.
“The appointment of a Special Counsel would establish a team of investigators whose sole responsibility is to uncover the truth and provide the certainty America needs,” they added.
Several news organizations including The Associated Press and Fox News declared former Vice President Joe Biden the winner of the election on Nov. 7. Trump’s campaign has filed numerous lawsuits alleging widespread fraud, but courts across the country have handed the campaign many defeats.
Texas filed a new lawsuit against Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin Tuesday arguing the states altered their election procedures illegally. Alabama and Louisiana have expressed interest in joining the suit, according to Newsweek.
“Our Country stands at an important crossroads,” the lawsuit said. “Either the Constitution matters and must be followed, even when some officials consider it inconvenient or out of date, or it is simply a piece of parchment on display at the National Archives.”
“We ask the Court to choose the former,” it continued.
– – –
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--Commentary: Something Rotten in Pennsylvania

An October 29 story in the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that election officials in several Pennsylvania counties were debating how to alert voters that their mail-in ballot might not meet state requirements .
“ Officials across Pennsylvania are trying to help voters fix mail ballots that would otherwise be disqualified because of technical mistakes in completing them , creating a patchwork of policies around how—or even whether—people are notified and given a chance to make their votes count , ” reporter Jonathan Lai explained .
Some jurisdictions were contacting voters directly ; one county , according to the paper , sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voters .
But there was a much bigger story behind Lai ’ s article : Election officials clearly violated the law by inspecting mail-in ballots before November 3 .
According to Pennsylvania ’ s election rules , county election boards were required to “ safely keep the ballots in sealed or locked containers ” until pre-canvassing legally began at 7 a.m. on Election Day .
Not only were an unknown number of mail-in ballots mishandled by election workers days before the official start date , election observers were not present at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted absentee in the general election ; nearly 2 million of those votes were cast for Joe Biden .
One analysis found rejection rates for Pennsylvania mail-in ballots was 30 times lower this year compared to 2016 .
While the president ’ s lawyers have fixated on hard-to-prove , complex allegations of software rigging and “ seized ” servers overseas , the more obvious instances of provable voter fraud , especially in the Keystone State , remain mostly ignored .
In a fair world , or a country that still takes itself seriously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand a do-over of Pennsylvania ’ s election .
Rules were changed at the last minute , ballot “ curing ” guidance inconsistently applied before and after Election Day , and none of the results in other races are in line with a decisive Biden victory .
Take , for example , the fact that Pennsylvania ’ s incumbent state treasurer—a Democrat—was soundly defeated by a Republican challenger .
Joe Torsella , considered a 2022 U.S. Senate or gubernatorial candidate , lost by nearly 80,000 votes .
“ Torsella ’ s loss marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican beat an incumbent Democratic statewide officeholder and caps a brutal election cycle for Pennsylvania Democrats in down-ballot races , ” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on November 11 .
Biden received nearly 224,000 more votes than Torsella ; the difference between Donald Trump and Torsella ’ s Republican opponent was less than 90,000 votes .
A Republican also won Pennsylvania ’ s auditor general ’ s race by nearly 200,000 votes .
In the state ’ s 17th Congressional District , Democratic incumbent Conor Lamb barely survived an upset by Republican Sean Parnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a secure Democratic hold .
And in an even bigger shock , Frank Dermody , the Democratic minority leader of the Pennsylvania state legislature , lost the seat he occupied for 30 years to a Republican .
In 2020 the mood of the Pennsylvania electorate—and the country in general—clearly favored Republicans , which makes Biden ’ s 80,000-vote advantage over the president dubious at best , illegitimate at worse .
Nonetheless , after an Obama-appointed judge over the weekend dismissed the Trump campaign ’ s plea to delay certifying the results , Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat , is expected to make Biden ’ s victory there official on Monday .
But Pennsylvania Republicans aren ’ t giving up yet .
Parnell and U.S. Representative Mike Kelly ( R-Pa. ) just filed a lawsuit that claimed Act 77 , the law signed in 2019 by Democratic Governor Tom Wolf to extensively relax the state ’ s mail-in voting rules , including a “ no excuse needed ” provision , is unconstitutional .
“ Mail-in voting , in the form implemented through Act 77 is an attempt by the legislature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and permit universal , no excuse , mail-in voting absent any constitutional authority.
” Republican state lawmakers are threatening to subpoena executives from Dominion Voting Systems after the company backed out of a scheduled public hearing last week .
Dominion is at the center of widespread concerns over unexplained “ glitches ” and last-minute software updates .
In a press conference on November 20 , one outraged Republican state legislator accused the company of “ retreating into the darkness ” and refusing to answer questions about the reliability of its voting machines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Pennsylvania ’ s incumbent state treasurer—a Democrat—was soundly defeated by a Republican challenger .
Joe Torsella , considered a 2022 U.S. Senate or gubernatorial candidate , lost by nearly 80,000 votes .
“ Torsella ’ s loss marks the first time since 1994 that a Republican beat an incumbent Democratic statewide officeholder and caps a brutal election cycle for Pennsylvania Democrats in down-ballot races , ” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on November 11 .
Biden received nearly 224,000 more votes than Torsella ; the difference between Donald Trump and Torsella ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A Republican also won Pennsylvania ’ s auditor general ’ s race by nearly 200,000 votes .
In the state ’ s 17th Congressional District , Democratic incumbent Conor Lamb barely survived an upset by Republican Sean Parnell in a race most experts rated as a secure Democratic hold .
And in an even bigger shock , Frank Dermody , the Democratic minority leader of the Pennsylvania state legislature , lost the seat he occupied for 30 years to a Republican .
In 2020 the mood of the Pennsylvania electorate—and the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s 80,000-vote advantage over the president dubious at best , illegitimate at worse .
Nonetheless , after an Obama-appointed judge over the weekend dismissed the Trump campaign ’ s plea to delay certifying the results , Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Bookvar , a Democrat , is expected to make Biden ’ s victory there official on Monday .
But Pennsylvania Republicans aren ’ t giving up yet .
Parnell and U.S. Representative Mike Kelly ( R-Pa. ) just filed a lawsuit that claimed Act 77 , the law signed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extensively relax the state ’ s mail-in voting rules , including a “ no excuse needed ” provision , is unconstitutional .
“ Mail-in voting , in the form implemented through Act 77 is an attempt by the legislature to fundamentally overhaul the Pennsylvania voting system and permit universal , no excuse , mail-in voting absent any constitutional authority.
” Republican state lawmakers are threatening to subpoena executives from Dominion Voting Systems after the company backed out of a scheduled public hearing last week .
Dominion is at the center of widespread concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ software updates .
In a press conference on November 20 , one outraged Republican state legislator accused the company of “ retreating into the darkness ” and refusing to answer questions about the reliability of its voting machines .
Julie Kelly is a political commentator and senior contributor to American Greatness .
She is the author of Disloyal Opposition : How the NeverTrump Right Tried―And Failed―To Take Down the President Her past work can be found at The Federalist and National Review .
She also has been featured in the Wall Street Journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forbes , and Genetic Literacy Project .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--US Could Reach Herd Immunity by May 2021 If 70 Percent of Americans Get the Vaccine, Top Doctor Says

America could reach herd immunity by May of next year if a majority of citizens are vaccinated , a prominent health expert told CNN ’ s Jake Tapper Sunday .
Dr. Moncef Slaoui , the chief scientific adviser for President Donald Trump ’ s immunization program Operation Warp Speed , told Tapper on his show “ State of the Union ” that if 70 % of the populace receives a coronavirus vaccine , the U.S. could reach herd immunity by May 2021 .
The achievement of mass immunity is key for the return to “ normal life ” for Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , normally , with the level of efficacy that we have—95 % —70 % or so of the population being immunized would allow for true herd immunity to take place , ” the chief scientist told Tapper .
“ That is likely to happen somewhere in the month of May or something like that based on our plans.
” Major pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have both introduced potential COVID-19 shots with an effectiveness greater than 90 % in initial testing , according to The Washington Post .
Pfizer applied for emergency approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the injection ready for use in the coming weeks , The New York Times reported .
“ Our plan is to be able to ship vaccines to the immunization sites within 24 hours of approval , ” he said .
“ So I would expect maybe on Day Two after approval , on the 11th or on the 12th of December , hopefully , the first people will be immunized across the United States.
” A total of 58 % of Americans said they would take a COVID-19 vaccination , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats and 49 % of Republicans indicated they would take an immunization if it was available , the poll revealed .
Slaoui said he was committed to changing the public ’ s perception of the vaccination .
“ I really hope and look forward to seeing the level of negative perception people have about the vaccine decrease and positive perception increase , ” he said .
“ Most people need to be immunized before we can return to a normal life.
” Jake Dima is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation @


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--Supreme Court Calls New York’s COVID-19 Restrictions ‘Discriminatory,’ Sides with Religious Leaders

The Supreme Court late Wednesday night sided with religious organizations challenging Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s coronavirus restrictions and called the New York Democrat ’ s measures “ discriminatory ” in its injunction for emergency relief .
The conservative justices , including Justice Amy Coney Barrett , favored the religion organizations in the 5-4 ruling , while Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal justices .
It was the first time Barrett was a deciding factor as the court ’ s newest justice after replacing the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
The majority said that Cuomo ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far more restrictive than any Covid-related regulations that have previously come before the Court , much tighter than those adopted by many other jurisdictions hard hit by the pandemic , and far more severe than has been shown to be required to prevent the spread of the virus.
” Earlier this year , the court sided 5-4 in favor of the liberal justices on COVID-19 religious restrictions in California and Nevada , according to CNN .
Cuomo ’ s restrictions limit the number of people who can attend religious services to 10 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest , regardless of a church or synagogue ’ s capacity .
In areas with slightly less risk , attendance is limited to 25 people .
“ New York ’ s restrictions on houses of worship not only are severe , but also are discriminatory , ” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in his concurring opinion Wednesday .
“ In light of the devastating pandemic , I do not doubt the State ’ s authority to impose tailored restrictions—even very strict restrictions—on attendance at religious services and secular gatherings alike , ” Kavanaugh continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on houses of worship are not tailored to the circumstances given the First Amendment interests at stake.
” Jewish organizations , represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty , asked the Supreme Court to consider whether Cuomo ’ s executive order violates the Free Exercise Clause when it “ disfavors worship ” and “ when the official who issued it made clear through unambiguous statements that the order was targeted at a religious minority ’ s practices and traditions.
” “ The Governor made overwhelmingly clear that his Cluster Initiative was designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he falsely blames for the spread of COVID-19 — Orthodox Jews , ” the request said , referring to Cuomo ’ s early October statement to the Orthodox community .
Cuomo had said : “ If you ’ re not willing to live with these rules , then I ’ m going to close the synagogues.
” “ The Governor did not attack religious belief generally , but singled out a particular religion for blame and retribution for an uptick in a society-wide pandemic , ” the injunction request said .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ and referred to them as a ‘ problem , ’ due to his own perceptions of the community.
” Justice Neil Gorsuch noted in his opinion that in Cuomo ’ s judgement , “ laundry and liquor , travel and tools , are all ‘ essential ’ while traditional religious exercises are not.
” “ That is exactly the kind of discrimination the First Amendment forbids , ” Gorsuch wrote .
Cuomo ’ s office did not immediately respond to request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Mary Margaret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--Disney to Lay Off 32,000 Workers as Coronavirus Devastates Theme Parks

Disney is preparing to lay off 32,000 employees as the coronavirus pandemic continues to keep visitors away from theme parks .
Most of those layoffs would come from Disney ’ s parks , experiences and products division , according to a report Disney filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday .
The company announced in September that it would lay off 28,000 layoffs , but those pertained largely to part-time employees .
“ Due to the current climate , including COVID-19 impacts , and changing environment in which we are operating , the Company has generated efficiencies in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business roles , furloughs and reductions-in-force , ” the company wrote in the Wednesday filing .
“ As part of these actions , the employment of approximately 32,000 employees primarily at Parks , Experiences and Products will terminate in the first half of fiscal 2021 , ” it continued .
Disney also notes that 37,000 additional employees who avoided losing their jobs permanently have been furloughed since Oct. 3 , Variety Magazine reported .
The company had already suffered devastating losses the third quarter of 2020 , reporting a net loss of $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company reported earnings of over $ 1.2 billion , according to the Associated Press .
Disney ’ s two U.S. parks have seen attendance plummet in 2020 due to the pandemic and have been closed for parts of the year .
While Disney World in Orlando , Florida , reopened earlier this year after closing in March , Disneyland in Los Angeles will remain almost entirely closed through the end of 2020 .
The U.S. has recorded nearly 13 million cases and over 262,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--#WalkAway Campaign Founder Brandon Straka Announces Mass Canvassing in Georgia to Help David Perdue

#WalkAway Campaign Founder Brandon Straka Announces Mass Canvassing in Georgia to Help David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler

# WalkAway Campaign founder Brandon Straka announced this week that he is coordinating grand scale plans to help U.S. Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) and U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) win reelection .
U.S. Senate Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock want to represent the Peach State .
Perdue and Loeffler are on the January 5 , 2021 ballot for the U.S. Senate against Ossoff and Warnock , respectively .
“ PATRIOTS – in the next two days I ’ m putting a plan together for a mass canvassing campaign in Georgia .
This will include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live rallies .
We must KICK ASS in GA to take these two Senate seats .
Had great talks with GA GOP today !
I need ALL HANDS ON DECK .
Stay tuned !
” Straka wrote .
PATRIOTS-in the next 2 days I ’ m putting a plan together for a mass canvassing campaign in GA .
This will include door knocking , phone banking & live rallies .
We must KICK ASS in GA to take these 2 Senate seats.Had great talks w GA GOP today !
I need ALL HANDS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At that rally Straka said people are leaving the political left because they realize that MSNBC , CNN , Anderson Cooper , Don Lemon , and others don ’ t tell the truth .
Instead , Straka said those same outlets function as the “ propaganda arm for the Democrat Party.
” Straka said he once despised Trump .
He said the mainstream media informed him that Trump ridiculed a physically disabled reporter at a political rally — and Straka believed everything that the media fed him .
Straka , who is gay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adult life voting off his minority status because the media told him that only Democrats care about marginalized groups while Republicans are “ greedy , straight White people.
” As reported this week , members of a left-leaning environmental group have announced that Georgia ’ s two U.S. Senate races are the key to them and their political allies in Washington , D.C. enacting the Green New Deal into law .
Members of this group , the Sunrise Movement , announced their intentions late last week .
According to an emailed Sunrise Movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Georgia U.S. Senate elections “ to transform this country.
” The newsletter did not identify which of the four primary U.S. Senate candidates would help them achieve their goals .
The Green New Deal , however , is a Democratic Party initiative .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--Minnesota Media Said Dominion Tech ‘Delayed Election Results’ in 2016

The left-leaning Star Tribune , one of Minnesota ’ s largest news outlets , reported that technology from Dominion Voting Systems “ delayed election results ” in 2016 .
Dominion is a Canada-based tech company responsible for supplying equipment that tabulates the vote at Minnesota ’ s central counting location and other polling places , per the Office of the Secretary of State .
Since the 2020 election , Dominion has been at the center of several controversies related to allegations of election fraud .
Those who support President Donald Trump and believe fraud occurred in November are critical of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no fraud occurred tend to trust the company .
However , this partisan split on opinions about Dominion has not always existed .
As recently as Jan. 9 of this year , the Star Tribune amplified criticism leveled against Dominion by Congress in an article titled , “ Voting machine vendors get scrutiny at congressional hearing.
” Representatives were concerned about Dominion ’ s voting machines early this year after U.S. intelligence chiefs issued warnings about the potential for foreign interference in the election , according to the article .
These worries were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts for its machines from abroad , the article added .
The Star Tribune appears to have removed this article from its website , but it remains accessible via web archives and a now-defunct link to the piece , which still appears in Google searches .
The Star Tribune also published an account of Dominion ’ s systems failing in Minnesota in 2016 .
Just one year after Scott and Dakota counties began using Dominion products for their local elections , the systems experienced issues that delayed results for the 2016 election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article states that an auditor in Scott County attributed the delay in results to a “ software glitch ” with new equipment from Dominion .
However , the outlet has now changed its tune .
Since Nov. 3 , the Star Tribune has consistently defended Dominion and attacked those who challenge the decision of legacy media outlets to call the election for former Vice President Joe Biden .
One week after Election Day , the Star Tribune published an article aimed at defending Dominion and minimizing or negating its alleged connections to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a so-called “ explainer ” that defended the company , an article that characterizes contemporary concerns about Dominion as a “ conspiracy theory , ” and has suggested that those who challenge the integrity of the 2020 election are racist .
The Star Tribune is not alone in performing an about-face with regards to Dominion .
Top Democrats , liberal pop-commentator John Oliver and Minnesota ’ s own Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar all once attacked Dominion ’ s products but now dismiss skepticism of their impact on the most recent election .
Klobuchar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years until this November .
In a 2019 letter , she called the company ’ s machines and software a threat to the “ integrity of our elections , ” claimed that they are “ prone to security problems , ” and even cited specific instances of Dominion products switching votes in 2018 .
However , the senator now praises the security of the 2020 election that relied considerably on Dominion systems .
Minnesota ’ s liberal media and lawmakers are not the only ones who seem to have buried their previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ ‘ Voter fraud ’ claims are a racist attack on Black voters , ” and has repeatedly cast doubt on those who have questioned Dominion since Nov. 3 .
Just last year , the network showed how easy it is to hack a Dominion system in a video President Donald Trump re-circulated via Twitter earlier this month .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--Commentary: Stop Judging Christians

Commentary: Stop Judging Christians

Stop judging Christians who endeavor to live daily for the Lord , who embrace His Holy Word , and who are unapologetic about sharing His Word with others .
Stop mocking , laughing at , and criticizing us because we don ’ t vote the way you vote or because we ’ re not “ virtue signaling ” or trying to please the prevailing culture or seeking to earn favor in the eyes of the world .
Stop judging us because we happen to recognize the crystal clarity and significance in all of Scripture .
Every passage of Scripture is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is there for a specific reason .
Stop belittling our symbols .
So what if we hold up “ banners ” to our faith ?
Little ichthys fishes on car windows and websites , and crosses worn around our necks .
What are they to you ?
The Bible is full of stories about the significance of banners and symbols which encouraged the children of God .
The early church used the ichthys symbol as a means of identifying friend or foe .
And we ’ ve all heard stories of 20th-century American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crosses as reminders of God , His promises , His salvation , and His sovereignty .
Stop calling us “ haters.
” That is a vicious and baseless label ( as are the other terrible tags some have so freely tried to attach to us ) , and it is the exact opposite of who , and what , we are .
Hate is antithetical to the true Christian .
To suggest that a fundamentally believing Christian is a hater is like saying a fiercely devoted soldier is a coward .
It simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a small percentage of actual unloving and difficult-to-love people among us as you would in any other group .
Every group has their proverbial 10 percent—the bad apples we might say—though for us such people are likely Christian in name only , because we Christians simply are not permitted to hate .
In fact , we are admonished to strive to love even when it ’ s not easy .
And we strive to love even those who truly hate us and would like to “ cancel ” us and our voices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Love .
That ’ s an understatement .
For the Christian , to love is our greatest commandment .
Love is key .
It ’ s the very core—the heart and soul you might say—of our faith .
Love is also a multifaceted word with not as many descriptors for it in the English language as there are in other , far-older languages .
And God is much more than Love alone .
God is Holy and Righteous for starters , and we are not .
Think about that : Holy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weightiness of those words ?
God is also a judge and a consuming fire .
So yes , God is Love , but His nature doesn ’ t end there .
That ’ s why , as we read in Proverbs 9 , “ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
” And Hebrews 13 tells us , “ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
” So what about hate ?
We Christians love the things of God , and we certainly eschew the things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps the only things we truly hate are sin and evil .
And aren ’ t they one in the same ?
Sin is evil , and evil is sin .
Anyway , we do indeed hate sin—especially our own sins—because sin grieves God .
Yes , other people ’ s sin may sometimes be recognizable to us ( for instance , it ’ s fairly obvious to me when someone utters the Lord ’ s name in vain , or when someone lies , steals , covets , or commits murder ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are charged to struggle with .
Not yours .
That is , unless you try to force us into championing that which Scripture clearly tells us is an abomination to God .
Some opposed to our faith say we ’ re “ judgmental.
” But isn ’ t that a rather harsh judgment they ’ re making about us ?
So back to love .
We most assuredly love others—I mean everyone .
For us , love goes far beyond a self-interested feeling .
Love for us is a selfless act .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s why we pray always for the strength and ability to love and the resources to give .
We feed the homeless , for instance , and we do so all the time .
But we don ’ t shout it from the rooftops .
Nor do we condemn you if you don ’ t participate .
We also give to the church ; and we do so with our money , with in-kind gifts , and with our time in ways others will never see , and our keeping-others-from-seeing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and homeless outreach centers and often directly to the homeless themselves on the street and to other strangers and to each other .
We deliver meals .
We lament with the brokenhearted .
We pay bills for others , even when we barely have enough to pay our own .
We volunteer at hospitals and anywhere else we see suffering .
We give of our time and resources to the poor , the sick , the elderly , the emotionally wrenched , the hopeless , the hurting , the fearful and the broken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone else knowing because , as we read in Matthew 6 , we are to give and to do for others without our left hand knowing what our right hand is doing .
So please stop judging us !
You don ’ t know us .
W. Thomas Smith Jr. is a former U.S. Marine infantry leader and counterterrorism instructor .
Today a military analyst and military technical consultant , he writes about national security issues , and he has covered war in the Balkans , on the West Bank , in Iraq @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--Ohio Health Care Workers Free from COVID-19 Civil Liability

Health care centers and medical professionals are free from liability related to the COVID-19 pandemic under a new Ohio law signed by Gov .
Mike DeWine .
Among other things , the new law temporarily grants qualified civil immunity to health care isolation centers to protect medical professionals from liability claims throughout the COVID-19 pandemic .
It also expands the authority of emergency medical technicians to provide medical services in hospitals , if needed .
“ We remain focused on providing relief , care and flexibility to Ohioans as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic , ” Senate President Larry Obhof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation removes unnecessary bureaucracy to care and services during a health crisis.
” It comes at a time when Ohio faces record-breaking COVID-19 cases and hospitals statewide continue to struggle with a growing number of patients and stresses on health care workers .
The state showed more than 12,000 COVID-19 positives Monday , but those numbers also contain positives from two labs that , due to technical issues , were not able to report data for two days .
At the same time , hospital officials continue to warn of the stress placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the Cleveland Clinic , according to Dr. Robert Wyllie , 970 health care workers are out because they are either in quarantine or they have active COVID-19 cases .
Wyllie said those workers did not catch the virus at the hospital , but rather in the community .
On Tuesday , DeWine also signed into a law a bill that extends the expiration date of driver licenses , identification cards and vehicle registration past Dec. 1 .
At the beginning of the pandemic , the state extended most things associated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the same extensions have been increased .
If an expiration date is March 9 , 2020-April 1 , 2021 , the expiration date is automatically extended and will remain valid until July 1 , 2021 .
And on Monday , DeWine signed into law a bill that allows boards of trustees for Ohio ’ s public universities to meet electronically .
An Ohio native , J.D .
Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in Ohio , Georgia , Alabama and Texas .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managing editor and publisher .
Davidson is a regional editor for The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--Michigan County Board Approves Resolution Urging Gov. Whitmer’s Impeachment


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--Former Tennessee Commissioner Hodgen Mainda, Accused of Sexual Harassment, Has Uncertain Status with

Former Tennessee Commissioner Hodgen Mainda, Accused of Sexual Harassment, Has Uncertain Status with Leadership Tennessee

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Hodgen Mainda has stepped down from his position after someone reportedly lodged sexual harassment allegations against him , and it appears Mainda might have also left his role on Leadership Tennessee ’ s Advisory Council .
Leadership Tennessee ’ s website listed Mainda as a member of its Advisory Council on Wednesday .
By Thursday , however , the Leadership Tennessee website no longer listed Mainda as a member of the Advisory Council .
Officials with Leadership Tennessee did not return The Tennessee Star ’ s request for comment Wednesday or Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leadership Tennessee “ engage leaders and citizens in non-partisan dialogue focused on problem-solving.
” InsuranceJournal.com reported earlier this month that TDCI officials produced insufficient evidence to prove Mainda acted inappropriately at a conference in Florida in February of this year .
The website reported that Mainda resigned his position in late October and returned to the private sector in Chattanooga .
As The Star reported last year , Gov .
Bill Lee appointed Mainda .
Chattanooga ’ s Electric Power Board previously employed Mainda as one of its vice presidents .
“ Hodgen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a community leader in Chattanooga , ” Lee said at the time , while announcing Mainda ’ s appointment .
“ He is respected for his ability to build partnerships across multiple sectors , and we welcome his leadership to such a multifaceted department like Commerce & Insurance.
” As The Tennessee Watchdog reported in 2011 , EPB officials spent $ 111 million of federal stimulus money — taxpayer money — on a Smart Grid that would help the public utility compete against already-existing private Internet Service Providers .
The Smart Grid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million .
Customers who only used EPB ’ s electrical service financed $ 160 million via a loan to EBP Telecom , while EPB ’ s actual Internet and cable television customers were responsible for the remainder .
As The Tennessee Watchdog reported that year , private competitors were unhappy .
Then-EPB head Harold DePriest told the website that year that Chattanooga residents cared little for how it was financed .
“ To tell you the truth , my customers don ’ t care as long as they get good services at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ When we got in business , Chattanooga had 20 High Definition channels .
Today we have 120 .
When we got in business we had exceedingly slow Internet , but now we ’ ve got one gigabyte.
” EPB is one of nine publicly-owned communications networks in Tennessee .
At the time , those nine publicly-owned communications networks had accumulated a deficit of $ 176 million .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-11-27--Thousands Join Virtual Roanoke Drumstick Dash

On a normal year , 10,000 people turn out for Roanoke ’ s Atlantic Union Drumstick Dash , a fundraiser that supports the Rescue Mission of Roanoke ’ s meal services program .
The Dash is still happening this year , but it ’ s using a new format where individual racers sign up online and complete the race distance wherever they choose , anytime in November .
“ When individuals sign up for the drumstick dash , what they ’ re really doing as we like to say is they ’ re providing an opportunity , ” Drumstick Dash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a lot of people that come here to the Rescue Mission , and we don ’ t really know what they ’ re looking for , but what they get is a hot meal and a conversation with those who work here .
And that conversation many times will lead to case management , addiction services , emergency shelter , whatever that individual needs , ” Berry said .
Last year the race provided over 200,000 meals , Berry said .
In the past , the race has been a 5K , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an 8K as well .
Walkers can also complete a 5K .
Racers use a phone app to track their mileage .
Berry said since there ’ s no easy way to compare the relative difficulty of the routes , there are no time rankings this year .
However , there are plaques for largest teams in three categories : churches , businesses , or schools .
On Tuesday , Berry said that 4,500 people had signed up , but he was hoping to have 6,000 by the end of November .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; 5K walkers pay $ 20 , and the 8K run has been discounted to $ 27 .
Donors can also give money without racing .
“ People really like the format .
But what we ’ ve really been amazed by is the fact that those who have signed up have actually been donating above and beyond their race registration at an extremely high level , ” Berry said .
“ The donations we are getting are much higher than previous years.
” “ It ’ s not just an awesome family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is really the largest anti-poverty , anti-hunger demonstration that we have here in the Roanoke valley , ” he added .
“ It ’ s a way that people can show that they are taking a stand against poverty , against hunger , and encourage others to do the same.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Marathon Runners ” by The Rescue Mission of Roanoke .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Breakdown of Sidney Powell’s Lawsuits in Georgia and Michigan

Attorney Sidney Powell delivered on her promise to file massive election fraud lawsuits in Georgia and Michigan .
The Georgia lawsuit was the weightier of the two , totaling 104 pages , with the Michigan lawsuit reaching 75 pages .
Both lawsuits and all evidence are included on Powell ’ s legal defense fund website .
Thanksgiving Eve was an action-packed day for Powell – she followed up the presidential pardoning of her client , General Michael Flynn , by filing both lawsuits just before midnight .
Powell filed the Georgia lawsuit first .
In her tweet announcement , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed suit in Michigan as well .
“ The # Kraken was just released on # Georgia .
Complaint being uploaded at DefendingTheRepublic.Org .
Exhibits to follow .
Also # ReleaseTheKraken in # Michigan @ realDonaldTrump @ jbinnall @ GenFlynn @ molmccann @ abigailcfrye @ jbinnall @ Scavino45 @ marklevinshow @ MariaBartiromo ” The Georgia lawsuit alleged that a combined effort of hacked electronic voting systems and fraudulent absentee ballots were incorporated to rig the election in favor of Democratic candidate Joe Biden .
The suit claimed that the Dominion Voting Systems ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was designed to keep Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez in power through vote manipulations .
Further , the suit claimed that Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger executed a reckless deal with Dominion to secure the voting systems for the state .
Concerning the absentee ballots , the suit claimed that unlawful early processing and improper auditing took place .
Additionally , the suit included multiple testimonies from electronic intelligence analysts , and affidavits from poll workers and challengers stating that vote counting was conducted unlawfully .
Independent journalists have sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lawsuits .
One researcher , Doug Ross , compiled an infographic organizing the voter fraud allegations within the Georgia lawsuit .
According to Ross , the issues presented fall into three distinct categories : illegal elections procedures , insecure voting machines , and illegal ballots .
Indication of unlawful procedures included witness testimonies of broken chain of custody , prevention of poll-watchers , and irregular ballots .
Expert software security testimonies and evidence from “ found ” votes during the recount highlighted the insecurities of the voting machines .
The legality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates for absentee ballot applications and witness testimonies of ballot tampering .
Immediately following the Georgia lawsuit , Powell filed another , slightly shorter lawsuit in Michigan .
Similarly to the Georgia lawsuit , the filing claimed that the electronic voting systems manipulated the election results in favor of Biden .
The suit focused specifically on Wayne County and the city of Detroit – though it named election officials throughout the state as guilty of improper vote counting as well .
In addition to the similar allegations against Dominion , the suit claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by preventing all forms of meaningful access to the vote counting process , manipulated voting records , and counted fraudulent ballots as they rejected Republican ballots .
Like the Georgia lawsuit , the Michigan case referenced numerous testimonies from a variety of expert witnesses and poll workers .
Powell ’ s team has made all of their evidence available on a separate crowdsourcing website – it appears that the address , named “ HERE IS THE EVIDENCE , ” was intended as a response to media and politicians questioning where the evidence was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by court filings , voting legislation , illegal votes , polling place irregularities , discarded or destroyed ballots , voting machine irregularities , general claims of fraud , and unverified submissions .
Powell ’ s legal team reviews each submitted claim and either deletes it or assigns it a ranking of significance .
Powell has since followed up her lawsuits by releasing bits of information to the public that support her claims .
On Friday , Powell shared a video explaining how hackers can manipulate electronic voting machines through computer codes .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attorney stating that her team has check stubs from individuals who were paid to ballot harvest .
According to Powell ’ s evidence crowdsourcing website and social media feeds , their legal team continues to receive more evidence day by day .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Sidney Powell ” by Fox Business .

by Peter Hasson
Twenty-eight congressional Democrats signed a letter Wednesday condemning the Department of Education for ruling that public schools that allow biological males who identify as transgender to play girls’ sports are violating Title IX civil rights legislation.
Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined 27 House Democrats in signing the letter, which charged that the department’s order “discriminates against transgender youth” by restricting girls’ sports to biological females.
“The decision of the Department of Education to issue a determination targeting transgender student athletes on the eve of Pride Month is not coincidental. It is a transparent example of their campaign against the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ children,” Connecticut Rep. Jahana Hayes, the letter’s lead signer, said in a press release.
The DOE on May 15 issued a ruling stating that public schools that allow biological males into girls’ athletics are violating Title IX, which protects women’s access to education and athletics.
The Department of Justice previously backed a lawsuit filed by high school girls in Connecticut who said the liberal state’s transgender policies violated their rights.
Sports across the country are on hold due to the novel coronavirus, but biological males who identify as transgender have previously racked up accomplishments in female athletics.
Franklin Pierce University runner CeCe Telfer, for example, won an NCAA DII women’s track championship in May 2019. Telfer is a biological male who identifies as transgender.
University of Montana runner June Eastwood, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, was named the Big Sky Conference’s female athlete of the week in October 2019. Both Eastwood and Telfer previously competed on their university’s men’s team before switching to the women’s team.
Rachel McKinnon, a biological male who identifies as transgender, won women’s cycling world championships in both 2018 and 2019.
Wednesday’s letter isn’t the first instance of Democratic politicians arguing in favor of allowing biological males into female athletics.
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar in February 2019 called for an investigation into USA Powerlifting for barring biologically male athletes from women’s events.
A piece of Democratic legislation called the Equality Act, which passed the House with unanimous support from Democrats, would require schools to allow biologically male athletes into girls’ sports, if the male athletes identify as transgender.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, pledged to get the Equality Act passed into law within his first 100 days in office, if he wins the November election.
“Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time,” Biden wrote in a January tweet. “There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights.”
– – –
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Commentary: An American Moses

Commentary: An American Moses

Donald Trump is a hero .
That ’ s an objective statement of fact that no fake news outlet or phony fact-check can change .
The only question remaining , then , is : Will Donald Trump be remembered as a triumphant hero , or a tragic hero ?
Nothing Is Over Just as with 2016 , the movie-like narrative of the 2020 election was building up to be yet another truly glorious comeback victory from the greatest political underdog in modern history , Donald J. Trump .
He was actively fighting against Big Tech , the polls , Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street , the Democratic Party , establishment Republicans , the international community , violent anarchist mobs , a Chinese plague , and the deep state—virtually the same rogues gallery he was up against in 2016 , with a few new additions and even higher stakes .
By midnight of November 3 , he was speeding towards a stunning landslide reelection victory .
He had effortlessly taken Florida by the biggest margin for any presidential candidate in 16 years .
He had won Ohio by a slightly higher margin than in 2016 , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that state for any candidate since 1988 .
Turnout from the rural , working-class areas he needed to win was at historic levels , and he had insurmountable leads in the three crucial Rust Belt states .
He was winning , and winning big .
The sudden , and nearly simultaneous , stopping of the counts in Wisconsin , Michigan , Pennsylvania , Arizona , and Georgia somewhere between midnight and 1 a.m. , followed by the abrupt restart and announcement of new leads for Joe Biden in all of those states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are at the heart of the very legitimate and credible claims of voter fraud by President Trump and his supporters .
There is a path for victory for the president , both legal and political , despite the media ’ s best efforts to pull a “ nothing to see here ” routine as they rush to declare the race over in favor of Biden , insisting that there is no voter fraud despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary .
What Comes Next It has been said before , and needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is far too late for our Republic as once we knew it .
No matter what happens , no matter whose hand rests on the Bible on January 20 , 2021 , to take the oath of office , half of the country will deem that president ’ s term to be illegitimate .
Half the country will claim that the election was stolen , either by voter fraud or by voter suppression .
Half the country will spend the next four years demonstrating in the streets , whether it be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to destroy the country , or furious patriots trying to save it .
To that extent , a second Trump term may matter just as little as a Biden presidency , even if a Biden Administration is as short-lived as some predict it will be in favor of a Kamala Harris presidency .
If President Trump does indeed serve a second term , a betting man would be wise to put his money on the likelihood of a second impeachment , for starters .
Should Trump prevail in this election , the media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Big Tech most likely will be reading the same four-letter word from the same script : coup .
With this one word , often used by Trump supporters ( accurately ) to describe the deep state ’ s efforts to sink his presidency with the “ Russian collusion ” hoax , the Left will begin explicitly making the argument that President Trump is an usurper and a dictator who should not be in office .
At this point , the evidence seems to suggest overwhelmingly that whatever victory Trump may be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one , with the president and the nation robbed of the landslide triumph toward which he was heading , and any second term will be marred by even more obstructionism in the halls of Congress and targeted violence in the streets .
But there is still a victory to be achieved here , and it is not the possibility of earning a second term in the face of insurmountable odds , as satisfying as that would be .
Indeed , it is true poetic justice that this election fiasco in and of itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a victory for Donald Trump .
Ben Weingarten made a good case at The American Mind , pointing out that President Trump ’ s greatest achievement was not the monumental tax cuts , the renegotiated trade deals , crushing ISIS , or building the wall ; his greatest achievement was exposing the sheer corruption , unholy levels of power , and vicious contempt of the ruling class in our country .
It was evident in every single thing they did to try to destroy him over the last five years , with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s willpower , fueled by his love of country and determination to save it from the forces that were out to destroy him .
Adding to that , it must be said that nothing has exposed their corruption more than this debacle of an election .
Now , at least 74 million Americans are well aware of the fact that the elite will even undermine our own electoral processes from within just to get their way , the will of the people be damned .
The true kicker , however , is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheating surely has been part of our electoral politics throughout our history .
It ’ s that Donald Trump was the one who exposed it by finally fighting back , whereas all other Republicans instinctively would have recoiled in fear .
That is why his efforts to fight back now , even if they are ultimately for naught , will still leave behind a legacy that will last far beyond the next four years .
Indeed , many of his most recent achievements surely will be swept under the rug , undermined , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blindly credited to Biden .
But there is no denying that he leaves behind a framework for a stronger country in every way possible .
He saved the economy , not once , but twice ; he ultimately defeated the Chinese virus , giving us a vaccine in the final months of his first term ; he restored American strength around the globe , through more calculated but restrained uses of our military as well as a tougher approach to trade .
And he leaves behind a clear blueprint for how an unapologetically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass voter fraud , win electoral landslides and create previously unprecedented political coalitions , even against overwhelming opposition from the elite .
As such , it is clear that Donald Trump has already secured his place in history as a tragic hero .
Like Moses , he did what everyone else previously thought to be impossible and led his people out of systematic oppression , with chains , whips , and slavery being replaced by indoctrination , lies , and blind obedience to an elite that never had our best interests at heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposed the leadership of both political parties .
He exposed Hollywood , academia , Big Tech , and the globalists who are in charge of nations that we previously thought to be our closest allies .
He awakened millions to the realities of the culture war that was already raging against us , and the scourge of mass immigration .
He drew back the curtain , pulled the wool from our eyes , and led us out of the cave so that we would no longer stare endlessly at the illusions of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all his great deeds , Moses never did live to see his people enter the promised land .
He could , however , pass on in peace knowing they would get there one day .
So too , it appears , shall it be the case for President Trump .
The true tragedy of the story of Donald Trump is that he may not see the fulfillment of what he started .
But he showed us the way to a better place , and nothing can take that away from him .
Eric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Santa Barbara , where he was the Secretary of the College Republicans and the founding chairman of the school ’ s Young Americans for Freedom chapter .
He has interned for Young America ’ s Foundation , the Heritage Foundation , and the White House , and has worked for numerous campaigns including the 2018 re-election of Congressman Devin Nunes ( CA-22 ) .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Iran Scientist Linked to Military Nuclear Program Killed

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates ( AP ) — An Iranian scientist named by the West as the leader of the Islamic Republic ’ s disbanded military nuclear program was killed Friday in an ambush on the outskirts of Tehran , authorities said .
Iran ’ s foreign minister alleged the killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh bore “ serious indications ” of an Israeli role , but did not elaborate .
Israel , long suspected of killing several Iranian nuclear scientists a decade ago , declined to immediately comment .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once told the public to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fakhrizadeh .
The killing risks further raising tensions across the Mideast , nearly a year after Iran and the U.S. stood on the brink of war when an American drone strike killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad .
It comes just as President-elect Joe Biden stands poised to be inaugurated in January and will likely complicate his efforts to return America to a pact aimed at ensuring Iran does not have enough highly enriched uranium to make a nuclear weapon .
That deal , which saw Iran limit its uranium enrichment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has entirely unraveled after President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018 .
Trump himself retweeted a posting from Israeli journalist Yossi Melman , an expert on the Israeli Mossad intelligence service , about the killing .
Melman ’ s tweet called the killing a “ major psychological and professional blow for Iran.
” Details about the slaying remained slim in the hours after the attack , which happened in Absard , a village just east of the capital that is a retreat for the Iranian elite .
Iranian state television @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under a load of wood blew up near a sedan carrying Fakhrizadeh .
As Fakhrizadeh ’ s sedan stopped , at least five gunmen emerged and raked the car with rapid fire , the semiofficial Tasnim news agency said .
Fakhrizadeh died at a hospital after doctors and paramedics couldn ’ t revive him .
Others wounded included Fakhrizadeh ’ s bodyguards .
Photos and video shared online showed a Nissan sedan with bullet holes in the windshield and blood pooled on the road .
While no one claimed responsibility for the attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed the finger at Israel , calling the killing an act of “ state terror.
” “ Terrorists murdered an eminent Iranian scientist today .
This cowardice — with serious indications of Israeli role — shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators , ” Zarif wrote on Twitter .
Hossein Dehghan , an adviser to Iran ’ s supreme leader and a presidential candidate in Iran ’ s 2021 election , also blamed Israel — and issued a warning .
“ In the last days of their gambling ally ’ s political life , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Iran to wage a full-blown war , ” Dehghan wrote , appearing to refer to Trump ’ s last days in office .
“ We will descend like lightning on the killers of this oppressed martyr and we will make them regret their actions !
” The attack comes just days before the 10-year anniversary of the killing of Iranian nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari that Tehran also blamed on Israel .
That and other targeted killings happened at the time that the so-called Stuxnet virus , believed to be an Israeli and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The area around Absard , which has a view of Mount Damavand , the country ’ s highest peak , is filled with vacation villas .
Roads on Friday , part of the Iranian weekend , were emptier than normal due to a lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic , offering his attackers a chance to strike with fewer people around .
Fakhrizadeh led Iran ’ s so-called AMAD program that Israel and the West have alleged was a military operation looking at the feasibility of building a nuclear weapon .
Tehran long has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilian purposes .
The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran “ carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device ” in a “ structured program ” through the end of 2003 .
That was the AMAD program , which included work on the carefully timed high explosives needed to detonate an implosion-style nuclear bomb .
Iran also “ conducted computer modeling of a nuclear explosive device ” before 2005 and between 2005 and 2009 , the IAEA has said .
The agency said , however , that those calculations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspectors now monitor Iranian nuclear sites as part of the now-unraveling nuclear deal with world powers .
Experts believe Iran has enough low-enriched uranium to make at least two nuclear weapons if it chose to pursue the bomb .
Meanwhile , an advanced centrifuge assembly plant at Iran ’ s Natanz nuclear facility exploded in July in what Tehran now calls a sabotage attack .
Fakhrizadeh , born in 1958 , had been sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council and the U.S. for his work on AMAD .
Iran always described him as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Revolutionary Guard , Fakhrizadeh had been seen in pictures in meetings attended by Iran ’ s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , a sign of his power .
In recent years , U.S. sanctions lists name him as heading Iran ’ s Organization for Defensive Innovation and Research .
The State Department described that organization last year as working on “ dual-use research and development activities , of which aspects are potentially useful for nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems.
” In 2018 , Netanyahu gave a presentation in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stolen by Israel from an Iranian nuclear archive .
“ A key part of the plan was to form new organizations to continue the work , ” Netanyahu alleged .
“ This is how Dr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , head of Project Amad , put it .
Remember that name , Fakhrizadeh.
” Jon Gambrell is a reporter for The Associated Press .
AP writers Amir Vahdat and Mohammad Nasiri in Tehran , Iran , and Deb Riechmann in Washington contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : This photo released by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene where Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed in Absard , a small city just east of the capital , Tehran , Iran , Friday , Nov. 27 , 2020 .
Fakhrizadeh , an Iranian scientist that Israel alleged led the Islamic Republic ’ s military nuclear program until its disbanding in the early 2000s was “ assassinated ” Friday , state television said .
( Fars News Agency via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Steve Bannon Presents ‘War Room: Pandemic’

An all new LIVE STREAM of War Room : Pandemic starts at 9 a.m. Central Time on Saturday .
Former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon began the daily War Room : Pandemic radio show and podcast on January 25 , when news of the virus was just beginning to leak out of China around the Lunar New Year .
Bannon and co-hosts bring listeners exclusive analysis and breaking updates from top medical , public health , economic , national security , supply chain and geopolitical experts weekdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ET .
The show ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voice News , the John Fredericks Radio Network , Salem Media Group , and Newsmax TV and the podcast is available on Apple , Spotify , Stitcher , SoundCloud , and Google Play .
You can watch past episodes here .
Previously , Bannon hosted a series of three , two-hour long special programs entitled Descent into Hell : The Chinese People Confront the CCP .
The groundbreaking specials aired live on the John Fredericks Radio Network , America ’ s Voice Network , Dish TV Channel 219 , The Epoch Times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mandarin .
For more information , visit www.pandemic.warroom.org and @ WarRoomPandemic .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Mattis Didn’t Disclose Ties to China-Boosting Firm in Column Slamming Trump’s ‘America First’ Policy


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Commentary: Excuse Me If I’m Not Willing to Unite Behind Biden

Nothing feels right about what is happening in America .
Not the fraudulent election results , not the politicized court rulings , and not the biased media coverage .
All have converged in a perfect storm to steal this election from Donald Trump .
I don ’ t believe for one second that Creepy , Sleepy , Hidin ’ Joe Biden won this election .
If he is sworn into office , it will be the result of a well-orchestrated voter fraud scheme , biased judges , and a mainstream media-Big Tech alliance to censor the news .
From the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escalator in 2015 to announce his candidacy for office , Establishment forces have tried to take Trump down .
Excuse me if I ’ m not willing to “ unite ” under a Biden-Harris administration .
For the past four years I ’ ve endured the fake news stories of Russian collusion , impeachment ( I can ’ t remember on what grounds ) , children in cages , Melania ’ s wardrobe , Ivanka ’ s wardrobe , Trump ’ s diet , and on and on .
I ’ m experiencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media and establishment forces have inflicted on conservatives for the past five years .
The dishonest and distorted reporting from the media never ends .
This week , President Trump directed the head of the federal agency responsible for presidential transitions to begin releasing funds for a potential Biden presidential transition .
At the same time , the president clearly stated he is conceding nothing and will continue his legal challenges against widespread voter fraud .
Here is the Yahoo News headline : “ In latest blow to Trump , GSA administrator releases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on to explain , “ Trump has pursued a legal strategy to try to overturn the will of the voters in key battleground states where Biden was declared the winner.
” Declared the winner ?
By whom ?
By the media ?
Trump is simply doing right by the American people , doing his job in preparing for a possible transition of power .
Instead of getting praise , he gets this headline from CNN .
“ Trump ’ s effort to steal the election is done , ” with this follow up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not-secret attempt to steal the presidential election likely met its end Monday.
” Not even a mention of Trump ’ s continued fight to ensure fair and honest elections .
“ What does GSA being allowed to preliminarily work with the Dems have to do with continuing to pursue our various cases on what will go down as the most corrupt election in American political history ?
We are moving full speed ahead .
Will never concede to fake ballots & ‘ Dominion.
’ ” In an earlier tweet , the president praised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transitions .
“ I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country .
She has been harassed , threatened , and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her , her family , or employees of GSA .
Our case STRONGLY continues , we will keep up the good… “ …fight , and I believe we will prevail !
Nevertheless , in the best interest of our Country , I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocols , and have told my team to do the same.
” As a Christian , I am taught to be a peacemaker .
I try to be a peacemaker in all that I do and say .
But nothing about “ turning the other cheek ” in this situation feels right to me .
Nothing .
Donald Trump isn ’ t perfect .
Everyone who voted for him knew that four years ago .
We were clear-eyed about who he is .
He ’ s no Boy Scout .
But he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is the first president to ever be criticized for keeping his campaign promises .
Sure , the ride was bumpy these past four year .
But that ’ s because the media and the entrenched bureaucracy in our government fought Trump tooth and nail over everything he did .
They could not stand the thought of an outsider coming in and making changes to the status quo .
D.C. insiders profit off the status quo .
If the problems get solved , they are no longer needed .
The Left wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Civil War statues they are tearing down , they are already tearing down Trump ’ s legacy .
They are just so eager to return to the status quo .
I am not .
I ’ ve seen what a return to freedom looks like .
I ’ m never settling for the status quo again .
What that means in practical terms , I don ’ t know .
But I sure as heck won ’ t be “ uniting ” under a Biden-Harris administration .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--President Trump Pledges to Campaign in Georgia December 5 for Sens. Perdue, Loeffler

President Donald Trump said he will campaign in Georgia on December 5 for incumbent Republican U.S. Sens .
David Perdue ( R-GA ) and Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) in the runoff election .
On Friday , in response to a Newsmax story saying many conservatives may boycott the election , Trump tweeted , “ No , the 2020 Election was a total scam , we won by a lot ( and will hopefully turn over the fraudulent result ) , but we must get out and help David and Kelly , two GREAT people .
Otherwise we are playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick people .
I will be in Georgia on Saturday !
” The president also made the campaign appearance pledge to members of the Armed Forces in a teleconference call on Thanksgiving , but the White House clarified that he would campaign in Georgia on December 5 , Breitbart reported .
The January 5 election will determine control of the U.S. Senate .
Perdue is running against Democrat Jon Ossoff .
Loeffler is running against Democrat Raphael Warnock .
The president ’ s son , Donald Trump Jr. , is pushing back against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted , “ I ’ m seeing a lot of talk from people that are supposed to be on our side telling GOP voters not to go out & vote for @ KLoeffler and @ PerdueSenate .
That is NONSENSE .
IGNORE those people .
We need ALL of our people coming out to vote for Kelly & David.
” # WalkAway Campaign founder Brandon Straka announced that he is coordinating plans to help Perdue and Loeffler win reelection , The Georgia Star News reported .
Straka tweeted , “ PATRIOTS-in the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan together for a mass canvassing campaign in GA .
This will include door knocking , phone banking & live rallies .
We must KICK ASS in GA to take these 2 Senate seats.Had great talks w GA GOP today !
I need ALL HANDS ON DECK .
Stay tuned !
” Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Amistad Project Asks Michigan Supreme Court to Preserve Evidence of Election Irregularities

The Amistad Project of the Thomas More Society said it filed a lawsuit on Thanksgiving asking the Michigan Supreme Court to physically secure all evidence of irregularities in the 2020 election and declare the results invalid on the basis of alleged unlawful conduct by state and local officials .
“ In numerous instances , state and local officials brazenly violated election laws in order to advance a partisan political agenda , ” said Phill Kline , director of The Amistad Project .
“ The pattern of lawlessness was so pervasive and widespread that it deprived the people of Michigan of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the integrity of the entire process into question.
” The Michigan litigation , which is the product of lengthy and intensive investigations by the Amistad Project , outlines several alleged major violations by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and election officials at all levels and argues that these violations effectively disenfranchised millions of voters by depriving them of both due process and equal protection .
Specifically , the suit notes that Benson circumvented the explicit intent of the Michigan Legislature , which established an absentee ballot process designed to minimize the risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this process by sending unsolicited absentee ballot applications to every household in the state without verifying whether the intended recipients were still residing at the same location , whether they were eligible to vote in 2020 or even whether they were still alive .
Benson compounded the error by establishing a process for online absentee ballot applications , again without statutory authority .
This precludes the possibility of obtaining an actual signature from the voter , as required by law .
The secretary of state ’ s unlawful actions flooded the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less secure than in-person voting .
Courts have repeatedly found that mail-in and absentee ballots are particularly susceptible to fraud , the Amistad Project said .
This vulnerability was exacerbated by the numerous irregularities during the vote counting process , particularly in Wayne County , detailed in numerous affidavits included with the Amistad Project ’ s litigation .
The affidavits describe election workers counting ballots from voters whose names did not appear on official voter rolls , failing to verify signatures on absentee ballots and even backdating absentee ballots that arrived too late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the late arrival of tens of thousands of “ unsecured and unsealed ” ballots .
Throughout the vote-counting process , both election observers and the public were obstructed from meaningful access by election officials , constituting yet another violation of state law .
When election workers duplicated flawed ballots that could not be read by machine , for instance , they ignored the legislative mandate that a representative from each major party sign off on every ballot — a crucial safeguard designed to prevent unscrupulous election workers from altering or otherwise defying voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were paid directly by grants from an organization called the Center for Tech and Civic Life ( CTCL ) , which was funded by $ 350 million donated by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg .
Most of the grants awarded by CTCL went to jurisdictions in crucial battleground states that reliably vote for left-leaning candidates .
In addition to paying the salaries of election workers and funding the purchase of voting equipment , the CTCL grants came with strict conditions designed to promote absentee voting and discourage in-person voting .
Failure to abide by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the grant monies , giving the private organization de facto control over the election process .
The Amistad Project is asking the Michigan Supreme Court to direct that the Michigan Legislature conduct a comprehensive investigation into all claims of irregularity and fraud in order to determine which votes are valid .
Since it is unlikely that these investigations could be completed in time to meet constitutional deadlines for appointing presidential electors , it is likely that the only remedy available in the presidential contest would be for the Michigan Legislature to exercise its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Electors , the Amistad Project said .
The Michigan suit is the latest election-related action taken by the Amistad Project .
The organization on Tuesday filed a lawsuit contesting the results of the presidential election in Georgia , saying fraudulent votes cast were 15 times greater than the margin separating Donald Trump and Joe Biden , The Georgia Star News reported .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--New Affidavit Notes ‘Historically Strange’ Surge in Incomplete Nevada Voter Registrations

Save my name , email , and website in this browser for the next time I comment .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Ohio Secretary of State LaRose Certifies Ohio Election Results

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose officially certified the results on Friday of the 2020 presidential election .
In a press release , the top election officer ’ s Press Secretary Maggie Sheehan , the office called the election “ record-setting , ” proof that voting “ was most secure and more accessible than ever before.
” According to the release , the secretary ’ s office conducted a precinct-by-precinct review of data collected by each of Ohio ’ s 88 Boards of Election .
Ohio election results can be viewed by clicking , here .
• With nearly 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated population of 11.7M people ) , 2020 eclipsed the 2008 General Election as the year with the highest number of votes .
• All 88 counties had a higher turnout than the 2016 Presidential General Election .
• 58.6 % of votes were cast early ; 94 % of absentee ballots were returned .
• 2020 saw the fewest number of mail-in ballots rejected looking back to 2012 .
Rejection Rates by General Election : Eighty-four ballots that were postmarked before November 2 but delivered after the 10-day grace period following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comparison , 317 ballots were returned late by the postal service in the primary election – in just one county , ” said the secretary ’ s office in the release .
Ohio counted mail-in votes before day-of , in-person votes on Election Day and was able to do so because the state canvassed the mail-ins up to four weeks before November 3 , according to LaRose .
This gave rise to Biden ’ s early lead that quickly deteriorated and resulted in Trump ’ s 3,154,834 votes to Biden ’ s 2,679,165 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The released statement noted that counties continue the post-election audit process , “ further ensuring Ohioans have faith in the integrity of the electoral process and that every valid vote is counted.
” It also noted that on December 14 the 18 members of Ohio ’ s Electoral College will meet in the Ohio Statehouse Senate Chamber to cast their electoral votes for president and vice president .
With a Trump victory in the Buckeye State , the December 14 meeting will consist of the following Republican electors , one for each of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two representing the entire state : Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Task Force Recommends Redirecting Police Funds, Stoney Says No

The City of Richmond ’ s Task Force To Reimagine Public Safety released its final report on Monday , after three months of meetings .
The task force issued several recommendations focused on using community resources more and law enforcement less .
Those recommendations include a new 911 system to triage non-criminal calls away from law enforcement and reducing police funding to send more resources to other agencies .
However , Mayor Levar Stoney is not implementing the policies exactly as recommended .
“ I don ’ t believe in defunding the police .
I believe we have to fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , ” Stoney said at a press conference , according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
“ Some of those reforms will live in other agencies and other organizations that can support bringing about a human services lens to public safety .
That ’ s what I think we need to do.
” One of the recommendations of the task force was to restructure 911 services .
“ 911 should remain the number called by residents , but non-criminal calls should be triaged to a non-police , human services-centric response system , ” states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-criminal calls including barking dogs , misbehaving children , loud music , accidents on private property , and welfare checks .
Another recommendation calls for the police to “ Humanize Use of Force Policies.
” The task force found that Richmond ’ s use-of-force policies meet national standards , but implementing the policies is often left to the judgement of individual officers .
The task force recommends changing the policies to emphasize deescalation .
The task force said new policy should require officers to intervene when other officers , including supervisors , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on improving community involvement and using non-police city responses where possible .
The task force suggests training both city employees and the public to rethink how they view problems and needs for service .
Fraternal Order of Police of Virginia President John Ohrnberger told The Virginia Star that he hoped the city would increase police funding .
He said , “ I do not understand how evaluating and re-directing of 911 calls to another type of call center will not slow down response time in the city of Richmond .
Domestic violence calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement responds to .
I would hope the city council evaluates these recommendations and uses sound judgement in implementing such changes.
” “ Some of them will need to be evaluated and some will be actionable ASAP , ” Stoney said , according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch .
“ I think we owe it to those who worked on this plan to be thorough in our review of the recommendations.
” In a letter introducing the report , Stoney said he convened the task force as a response to the summer ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s law enforcement struggled in their response to the protests and riots in Richmond over the summer .
Rioters burned and looted local property , and police officers teargassed protestors before the 8 p.m. curfew began , according to city press releases and a police Twitter account .
Council members complained about the response .
Some cited heavy-handed police tactics while others cited a lack of police response .
“ People in my district and throughout the City have asked me repeatedly for three weeks why there is no end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The looting , fires and roadblocks need to stop immediately , ” Council member Kim Gray said , according to NBC12 .
“ There has to be another way to deescalate a situation so that innocents are not impacted by something as impactful as tear gas , chemical irritants and flashbangs , ” Council member Michael Jones said , according to NBC12 .
Stoney forced then-Chief of Police William Smith to resign , according to WWBT .
Protestors booed the Mayor , according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch .
Eventually , Stoney used emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Confederate monuments , which earned him national attention and may have saved his bid for re-election .
However , his removal of the monuments has been marred by an investigation into a potential conflict of interest over a $ 1.8 million contract allegedly given to one of Stoney ’ s political donors .
Additionally , the city ’ s murder rate rose over the summer .
“ I ’ m mindful and appreciative of the emphasis the task force placed on equity and restorative justice throughout the process .
The report is firmly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an acknowledgement of the difficulty of changemaking on a large , permanent scale , ” Stoney said in a press release .
In the press release , Chief of Police Gerald Smith said the Richmond police department wants to be better , although he highlighted the department ’ s strong performance on accountability and consistency .
“ Our recent Advanced GOLD Standard Reaccreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies proves Richmond Police is very good when it comes to consistent policies and management practices and provides accountability through checks and balances on all levels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He added , “ However , the input of the task force , the voice of the community , is vital to ensure that our work is implemented in the way our community needs and expects.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Michigan Restaurant Owner Loses Franchise with Big Boy for Breaking Pandemic Restrictions

The owner of a restaurant in Sandusky , Michigan , says it is being “ forced to terminate ” its contract with the Big Boy franchise over its decision to stay open despite pandemic restrictions .
A recent order from the state of Michigan has closed indoor restaurant dining in the state from November 18 to December 8 .
It also closed in-person learning for college and high schools , movie theaters , bowling alleys and arcades .
The order additionally cancels group fitness classes and organized sports .
Troy Tank , the owner of a former Big Boy restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain open in order to help his employees .
“ This has gone to [ sic ] far , I have to remain open , I have 25 families that depend on this place to pay their bills , ” Tank said in a Facebook post about a visit from a state official .
“ …This has all been deemed unconstitutional and dozens of law suits have been filed in the last 48 hours .
As a American citizen I am standing my ground for my family and yours.
” The restaurant follows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % capacity , according to WXYZ .
Both employees and guests are required to wear masks .
Tank said on Facebook that the Big Boy corporation is pressing legal action against the restaurant .
“ Unfortunately we have been contacted by corporate Big Boy and they are planning on taking legal action against us.It is our decision at this time due to our hand being forced to terminate the franchise agreement we have with them , ” Tank said .
“ We had hoped that after 35 years of working together that corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind us , they did not .
So because of this we plan on moving forward without them.
” Big Boy Restaurant Group LLC said it is looking to halt the restaurant ’ s operations .
“ Big Boy has and always will be dedicated to the health and safety of our customers and staff , ” the franchise said in a statement , according to WXYZ .
“ The actions of a franchisee in Sandusky , Michigan are not representative of Big Boy as a brand , our operations , or standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approve or support in any way the actions of this franchisee and is in the process of taking legal action to stop them from operating as a Big Boy Restaurant under the present conditions .
Big Boy has taken immediate action to rectify the situation , maintain our commitment to quality , and adherence to health regulations.
” Tank has set up a GoFundMe to help with the $ 5,000 in fines he says the restaurant has accrued for remaining open .
As of Friday , the fund had raised more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Walz Indicates Bipartisan COVID Relief Could Come Next Week

MINNEAPOLIS , Minnesota ( AP ) — Gov .
Tim Walz said Wednesday that a bipartisan pandemic relief package may materialize as soon as next week to provide assistance to businesses hurt by the shutdown meant to slow the spread of the virus Walz said during a tour of a Brooklyn Park warehouse facility where he was helping to package emergency food boxes that he and lawmakers are “ pretty close ” to an agreement on a relief package , the Star Tribune reported .
The Democratic governor and Minnesota House Republicans unveiled separate relief initiatives on Tuesday to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and families struggling amid the pandemic .
The Minnesota Department of Health on Wednesday reported 6,399 new cases and 72 more deaths , matching the single-day high for deaths since the start of the pandemic and bringing the state ’ s totals to 289,303 cases and 3,375 deaths .
More than 1,800 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized Wednesday in Minnesota , including 387 who were in intensive care .
The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in Minnesota has nearly doubled over the past two weeks , from about 28 deaths per day on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day on Nov. 24 , according to data from The COVID Tracking Project .
Overall , long-term care facilities have been tied to 2,244 deaths since the start of the pandemic , representing 68 % of all COVID-19 deaths statewide .
New data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows 90 % of the state ’ s nursing homes and 58 % of assisted-living facilities have active virus outbreaks .
The data includes more than 70 senior care homes that didn ’ t have any COVID-19 infected residents one month ago , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jan Malcolm said Tuesday that 47 long-term care facilities are in “ a crisis staffing situation ” and are receiving active support from the state , including help from federal health nurses .
Walz ’ s administration has taken the unusual step of emailing all state employees and asking them to consider volunteering for two-week stints in long-term care facilities , particularly in greater Minnesota .
The email , which was sent to the heads of all state agencies , says no prior experience is required , and the state would cover travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re trying to really turn over every stone , so to speak , to think about ways to support the staffing needs across the healthcare continuum , but particularly in long-term care , with the number of health care workers in these settings that continue to be exposed , ” Malcolm said .
In the last month , the National Guard has been called to help with emergency staffing in eight long-term care facilities .
Of those eight recent calls , seven are for homes beyond the Twin Cities metro area , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Franklin Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center , a 40-bed nursing home in south-central Minnesota , 31 residents and 17 staff have been infected since early November .
As of Tuesday , six residents had died , a spokesman for the home said .
“ This is real , and it doesn ’ t matter what you believe , ” Josh Domeier , the nursing home administrator , said in a video update on Facebook .
“ I am watching residents who were just fine yesterday who are tanking today , and my head has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directions.
” Walz also on Wednesday announced a $ 1 million relief fund toward the state ’ s ailing tourism industry .
The grants are intended for tourism promotion nonprofits and communities that rely on tourism as an economic engine Meanwhile , Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit and a motion for a temporary restraining order Wednesday against a southern Minnesota gym for defying Walz ’ s executive order to close .
Brandon Reiter , the owner of Plainview Wellness Center , told The Associated Press he plans to fight the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ livelihood , ” he said .
“ I ’ m not going to go down without a fight as far as for my business and providing for my family .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Loeffler Campaign Sends Cease and Desist Letter Against False Claims in ‘Looting Loeffler’ Ads

Legal representation for Senator Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) sent a cease and desist letter to a station regarding an attack ad .
Though the recipient of the letter was redacted , MediasTouch was identified as the creator of the ad dubbing the senator “ Looting Loeffler.
” MediasTouch describes itself as a Democratic super PAC , created earlier this year by three brothers with the express primary goal of defeating President Donald Trump .
The contested video debuted nearly two weeks ago .
In it , Loeffler is accused of buying and selling key stock shortly after a classified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced .
The video included clips from Fox News that explained how Loeffler sold energy , automotive , retail , and airline stocks , then bought stocks with Amazon and Citrix .
At the end , the ad stated “ Fire Looting Loeffler ; Vote Warnock and Ossoff by January 5th.
” Loeffler ’ s letter used evidence from testimonies and government investigations to debunk the claims made by the trending attack ad .
“ Not only are these claims demonstrably false , they are intended to not just mislead your viewers but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite the shiny graphics and snide VoiceOver that MediasTouch uses to make these unfounded and sensationalist claims , there is simply no truth to them.
” Included in the letter are links to various articles concerning past coverage , Loeffler ’ s past statements , and even the federal government ’ s investigation findings on her stock portfolio dealings .
Mainly , the letter explained that Loeffler doesn ’ t have control over her portfolio – only third-party advisors do .
“ MeidasTouch ’ s advertisement ignores the findings of investigatory bodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth , and provides no substantiation in support of its untruthful claims.
” The letter ended by reminding the redacted licensee that they should be aware of their liability for “ knowingly broadcasting false claims.
” In response , MeidasTouch shared a copy of the letter and stated it wouldn ’ t back down .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-28--Upcoming General Assembly Session Will Have Legislation Limits

When the General Assembly starts its 2021 regular session in January , the volume of legislation will be much different from years past because of the coronavirus pandemic .
According to Senator Emmett Hanger ( R-Augusta ) , both the Senate and the House of Delegates will impose limits on the amount of legislation members can introduce for the session .
“ The issue for us now because we ’ re still going to be in the COVID environment is that we are going to restrict the introduction of bills , ” Hanger said in an interview with The Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at that previously in a broad sense , but for this year in particular , we are looking at some more significant limitations on the amount of legislation that individuals can introduce.
” “ Basically , what it ’ s going to amount to is you can request more bill drafts , ” Hanger continued .
“ I think about up to 25 in the Senate , but as far as introductions , we ’ re only going to be allowed to pre-file eight bills and then an additional four that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first week of session.
” For the House , Hanger said he believes that delegates will be able to introduce a total of seven bills each .
Assuming that every member introduces the maximum amount of legislation that would be 700 bills in the House , which is still well below the number of past regular sessions .
The process of introducing bills this year has also been partially affected by coronavirus and the special session because a lot of work that is supposed to be done in between sessions – meeting with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about carrying potential legislation – is having to be done in a much shorter period of time and electronically , Hanger said .
Just like the extremely lengthy 84-day special session , one of the main priorities this year will be the continuation of work between the Assembly and Governor Ralph Northam on the state ’ s biennial budget .
“ Initially , we were supposed to be focusing almost exclusively on the budget and that ’ s really what it ’ s going to be more this time because right now we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hanger told The Star .
“ We have programs in place that need funding , we have a limited amount of funding , there are concerns about our revenue projects and there are unmet needs out there .
So a lot of work will be done in the area of the budget , that will be the focus.
” After passing additional amendments to the budget in the special session , the governor will now meet with a group of business people called the Governor ’ s Advisory Commission on Revenue Estimates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice .
That group will meet with Northam in early December to evaluate Virginia ’ s economy and give a recommendation of what to expect in terms of revenue growth or decline for the fiscal years ending in June of 2021 and June 0f 2022 .
Northam then has to come up with realistic amounts of funding to give to state agencies that fall in line with the revenue targets and , on December 18 , he will present that amended budget to the two appropriations committees of the Assembly , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year will not be exclusively , but more closely aligned with just work on the budget , which can be a broad endeavor itself , ” said Hanger , a member of the Senate Finance and Appropriate Committee .
Hanger also said that several other issues will continue into the regular session such as gun restrictions , racial equity and education , specifically how school systems are handling COVID so far .
Last week , a point of contention between Republicans and Democrat lawmakers emerged over the length of the 2021 session after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) announced the House would remain virtual and Republican Minority Leaders Del .
Todd Gilbert ( R-Shenandoah ) and Sen. Thomas Norment ( R-James City ) called for the session to not extend beyond 30 days .
Assembly sessions on odd-numbered years are constitutionally mandated to be 30 days , but , in the last three decades or so , legislators have routinely voted to extend the shorter session to 46 days , which requires two-thirds of affirmative votes in each body .
Many Republican ’ s from both chambers previously told The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extension .
Nevertheless , Hanger said Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw ( D-Fairfax ) told him that Republicans are just playing games and if Democrats truly want a session to go past 30 days , they will do it .
One method would be to have the governor call legislators back to work for another special session after the 30 days have gone by .
“ I would hope that those of us in the Republican party and those of us in the Democratic party can just kind of get our heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think it ’ s a very positive move to limit the amount of legislation that can be introduced and that can go a long way in allowing us to have a shorter session.
” The 2021 regular session is scheduled to start on January 13t Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Virginia State Capitol ” by Ron Cogswell .
CC BY 2.0 .