thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Minneapolis and Hennepin County Absentee Ballot Boards Ignore Party Balance Law

It was not enough to allow the city to burn .
Then it wasn ’ t enough to emasculate city law enforcement .
Now the Minneapolis City Council is corrupting the absentee ballot count by stacking ballot boards with handpicked staff rather than following state law that requires regular ballot boards to include people from the major political parties .
Hennepin County , the most populous in the state , is doing it , too .
After the Al Franken/Norm Coleman recount debacle in 2008 , where few observers trusted the 312 votes that placed Franken in the U.S. Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislature decided that it could not trust public employees or temporary staff hired by insiders to review and count absentee ballots .
The solution it required was just good common sense : citizen judges from the competing parties could keep the process honest .
Otherwise Republicans are almost entirely excluded , and Democrats who are not on the payroll are , too .
Just like precincts are supposed to be staffed by a Democrat and a Republican , so too are absentee ballot boards .
The key change is that citizen judges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the critical process of accepting and rejecting absentee ballots .
Minneapolis is accomplishing this unlawful deception by using a provision in election law that allows “ deputy city clerks ” to serve on absentee ballot boards .
Hennepin County is doing the same thing .
They are fully backed by , and always cite , a written Guide from Secretary of State Simon that makes the party balance law optional ( re-writes the law ) .
If Minneapolis and Hennepin County are allowed to get away with this , absentee ballots will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that is , in secret , literally behind closed doors , by insiders with no direct answerability to the public .
Minneapolis does not have “ deputy city clerks ” on its payroll and there is no authority for the City Council to appoint anyone to this non-existent position .
Neither city ordinances nor the City Charter authorize the appointment of “ deputy city clerks.
” Notwithstanding , on October 2 , 2020 , the Minneapolis City Council appointed 103 “ deputy city clerks ” without legal authority to do so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ City thinks it has found a clever way to shunt aside Republican and Democrat election judges and instead have all the rejecting and accepting of absentee ballots done by elections staff insiders .
The MVA filed a lawsuit against Minneapolis on Monday , October 5 , 2020 .
The Petition for Quo Warranto asserts that Minneapolis has no “ deputy city clerks ” and no authority to appoint them .
Beyond that , the Petition points out that the duties ( serving on the ballot board ) are not those of a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is able and authorized to assume all of the duties of , in this case , the City Clerk .
And , of course , the idea that the City would have scores of “ deputy city clerks ” is absurd and the attempt to designate that many is clearly aimed at flooding the absentee ballot board .
Minneapolis election officials have made it clear in email messages to citizen election judges that none of them will be involved in accepting and rejecting ballots .
All of that critical work will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As for Hennepin County , the chief election officer Ginny Helms testified in a Senate hearing on October 8 that it was just too hard to follow the party-balance law , and cited Secretary Simon ’ s Guide for the authority to ignore it without making any effort .
Ramsey County , by contrast , reported that it was in full compliance with the party-balance rule .
Elections officer Dave Triplett testified that Ramsey used the party lists over several months to find the people they need ; they only use deputy county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boards .
I note that MVA had sued both Hennepin and Ramsey County , along with Minneapolis and Duluth to enforce the party balance rule ; that suit , while not yet final , has already yielded some good results .
Finally , all of this is in the context of another attack on the integrity of the vote : MVA has also filed suit to stop a non-profit called the Center for Tech and Civic Life ( CTCL ) from influencing the general election .
CTCL is a left-leaning election activist group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongholds like Minneapolis .
( Michelle Malkin wrote about the CTCL effort to improperly influence Wisconsin elections in Alpha News here . )
CTCL boasts that its major funding sources include Google and Facebook , and the group just recently received a contribution of $ 250 million from billionaire Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife .
It has granted $ 3 million to Minneapolis .
What can you do to make sure your vote counts ?
Vote in person on Election Day or at your voting location on October 27 or later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tabulator yourself .
( If you are in an all-mail ballot county , you will not have that option but you can turn in your own ballot . )
It is wise to avoid mailing an absentee or mail-in ballot .
You can review the Minnesota Voters Alliance Voter Guide here .
Kim Crockett is a Minnesota attorney and advisor to Minnesota Voters Alliance .
She co-hosts a new show on election integrity on AM1280 The Patriot .
Photo “ MN Absentee Ballot ” by Tony Webster CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Ohio Senate President Wants Rule Ending Alcohol Sales After 10 p.m. Repealed

Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof plans to keep the pressure on Gov .
Mike DeWine when he says he is considering allowing the state ’ s restaurants and bars to serve alcohol after 10 p.m. DeWine , who in late July asked the liquor commission to order no alcohol sales after 10 p.m. , has said over the past two weeks he is reviewing the ban and wants to balance its impact on small business with public health .
“ We ’ ve heard from a significant number of businesses from my district and around that state that this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while we appreciate the governor ’ s efforts throughout the year , we think the focus should remain on social distancing , not on timelines , ” Obhof said .
To that end , Obhof is seeking co-sponsors for a bill that repeals the rule that ends sales at 10 p.m. “ Nothing in the bill should be construed as accepting the validity of July 31 rule .
The basis for the Rule is unclear , and the 10 p.m. curfew is inconsistent with the recommendations of the administration ’ s own Restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his request for co-sponsors .
“ Of course , many of us also question whether an agency or commission may promulgate rules that directly contradict the Revised Code .
However , whether it is valid or not , the Rule is currently being enforced , and we believe it is prudent for the legislature to repeal it.
” Obhof , speaking to Richland County commissioners this week , said DeWine ’ s order goes against Ohio law that sets dates and times alcohol can be sold , according to the Richland Source .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason that it ’ s more dangerous for me to drink a beer at 10:01 p.m. than it is to have a beer at 9:58 p.m. , ” Obhof told commissioners , according to the Richland Source .
Also , earlier this week , the Columbus City Council voted unanimously to repeal a city ordinance that stopped the sale of food and alcohol at restaurants and bars at 10 p.m. and closed all on-site business at 11 p.m. An Ohio native , J.D .
Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Georgia , Alabama and Texas .
He has served as a reporter , editor , managing editor and publisher .
Davidson is a regional editor for The Center Square .

Richmond Police arrested 11 people during a protest outside the Richmond City Justice Center on Tuesday.
The group was gathered outside of the Justice Center to protest conditions in the Richmond jail after COVID-19 outbreak among 100 inmates and staff was reported.
Richmond police officers arrived outside of the Justice Center to help the Richmond Sheriff’s office deal with the group protesters who had moved from the public sidewalk onto Justice Center grounds during the demonstration, causing a security concern, according to the Richmond police description of the incident,
Just before 7 p.m., a man on a bicycle attempted to block a tow truck trying removing a vehicle that had been illegally parked in front of the Justice Center. When a Richmond police officer arrived at the scene, the man tried to flee on his bike and was then stopped by the officer. Other protesters witnessed this and attempted to stop the arrest, leading to those people being arrested as well, according to the police account.
A video of the incident was captured and published to the RVA Magazine Instagram account. That video is below.
A flyer on social media for the protest read: “Our comrades on the inside are facing retaliation from officers for simply requesting adequate medical attention. These conditions are inhumane. We stand in solidarity with those who have been kidnapped, convicted and caged.”
On Wednesday, Richmond police released the names and charges for the 11 protesters arrested.
Their names and charges are as follows:
Stephen Roach Obstruction of Justice Impeding the flow of traffic
Benjamine Skromine Obstruction of Justice Impeding the flow of traffic
Gabrielle Brost Hoffman Obstruction of Justice
Aditya Mohan Obstruction of Justice
Rachel Fidlow Obstruction of Justice
Andre Rosson Obstruction of Justice
Alex Oxford Obstruction of Justice with Force
Jonathan Miranda Disorderly Conduct
Susanna Keating Disorderly Conduct
Mollie Luck Disorderly Conduct
Carmen Day Disorderly Conduct
– – –
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 “Richmond City Justice Center Protest” by RVA Mag.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Nessel Joins Other 21 AGs Requesting Supreme Court Review of Title X Contraceptive Rule

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined 21 state attorneys general Tuesday to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court ’ s decision to uphold an administration Title X rule from President Donald Trump .
Chris Gast , communications director for Right to Life Michigan , told The Center Square the U.S. Supreme Court already upheld the regulations in the 1991 case of Rust v. Sullivan , but were never fully implemented as President Bill Clinton suspended and reenacted new regulations lasting through Trump ’ s 2019 decision .
“ There ’ s really no legal argument that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Gast said .
“ The Supreme Court has already spoken.
” Gast argued the original Title X Family planning is clear : abortion can ’ t be used as a method of family planning .
“ This is about as open and shut as it gets , ” Gast said .
Nessel ’ s office said that in 13 states , more than half of Title X grantees have withdrawn from the program , and several states no longer have any Title X providers because they don ’ t offer family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burdened residents ’ need for healthcare .
Nessel joined a cohort of states , including the attorneys general of California , New York , Oregon , Colorado , Connecticut , Delaware , the District of Columbia , Hawaii , Illinois , Maryland , Massachusetts , Minnesota , Nevada , New Jersey , New Mexico , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , Vermont , Virginia , and Wisconsin .
“ The new Title X rule removes valuable health care programming for some of our most vulnerable populations .
That ’ s why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Supreme Court to review the lower court ruling that allowed this damaging new protocol to proceed , ” Nessel said in a statement .
“ This administration has consistently shown a lack of concern for programs that benefit the health of low-income women and families , and this new rule adds another blemish to that tarnished track record.
” The coalition , led by a majority of Democrats , argues the rule restricts access to healthcare and birth control and prohibits doctors from telling patients their healthcare options , including abortion referrals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association , the Oregon Medical Association , Planned Parenthood Federation of America , the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association , and Essential Access Health in challenging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decision .
In 2019 , the Department of Health and Human Services re-adopted a Ronald Reagan-era rule changing the Title X program , including : • Limiting the information that can be shared with a patient at a Title X clinic • Mandating referrals for prenatal care for all patients • Requiring clinics providing Title X-funded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from any program offering abortion care Before 2019 , the Title X program funded pro-abortion public health services , including family planning counseling , access to FDA-approved contraceptive methods , pelvic exams , and screenings for high blood pressure , anemia , diabetes , sexually transmitted diseases and infections , and cervical and breast cancer .
Scott McClallen is a reporter for The Center Square .
Photo “ Dana Nessel ” by Michigan Attorney General ’ s Office .
Background Photo “ Supreme Court ” by David CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Richmond Mayor Candidate Tracey McLean Calls for Cohesive Community

Candidate for Richmond mayor Tracey McLean laid out her vision for Richmond on Stacey Thomas ’ Facebook Live talk show on Friday evening .
McLean explained her background and a platform calling for reparations and racial equity in Richmond .
“ I have a calling to the city of Richmond from God , ” McLean said .
“ As I go out into the community they express that they couldn ’ t talk to the mayor , nobody will help them .
[ They describe ] things that they actually had to face alone , especially now since we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mode of desperation.
” McLean was not invited to a mayor ’ s race debate earlier this week because she didn ’ t meet either the fundraising threshold or the polling threshold .
She said that illustrates Richmond ’ s divisions .
” For years Richmond has been separated between the haves and the have nots , ” McLean told The Virginia Star .
To address that , McLean is calling for reparations to the African-American community .
In the Facebook Live event , McLean said , “ That would do a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It would also solve issues as far as drug abuse , it would solve issues as far as educational inequality.
” McLean added , “ Dealing with [ inequality is necessary ] for African-Americans to start to heal .
Finally , honestly , having this conversation about being responsible for the pain , being responsible for the outcome.
” “ Hometown hero !
!
You got my vote , ” commented viewer Bryant Stephenson .
McLean has only raised $ 382 in a race where the incumbent has raised $ 546,983 , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McLean recently polled at just 3 percent ; her next closest competitor was at 11 percent .
McLean said her strategy is built on door-knocking and face to face interaction .
She told The Star , “ The poll numbers are not discouraging .
Trailing or not , I am in the race .
I am running this race because I care about the community.
” “ I ’ m not here by accident .
I ’ m here for a greater purpose , ” McLean told Thomas .
“ For the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to need somebody who actually wants to do something to really build the community.
” “ What does a cohesive community mean to you ?
You ’ re the voter , you make the choice .
Vote for people to be in office to have that voice.
” McLean added , “ I think I ’ m that person , so lean on McLean in 2020.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Former State Delegate Tim Hugo Announces Bid for Lieutenant Governor in 2021

Former member of the Virginia House of Delegates Tim Hugo announced Monday that he is officially entering the 2021 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election .
Hugo is the fourth Republican to enter the race and is the ninth person to announce their candidacy overall .
During an interview with The Virginia Star , Hugo said a big factor in his decision to run was the recent policies and actions of Democratic politicians in Virginia and Congress .
“ Last year when we were all running , I said very candidly and directly , it ’ s not your grandad ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take things too far to the left on business issues , social issues , taxes , police , and they really have , ” Hugo said .
“ If you have seen what they have done this year in the General Assembly , in Washington [ D.C. ] , we just have to stand up and say enough is enough we are not going to take this anymore.
” More specifically , Hugo brought up the current state of sections in downtown Richmond , where many stores and businesses are boarded up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building after a turbulent summer of civil unrest .
Much like his 17 years serving in the House , Hugo plans to focus his campaign on conservative , right-wing ideals and issues .
“ I think I ’ ve got a broad swath of issues to present to the voters and I [ hope to ] get the opportunity to serve , to help lead the Commonwealth on the issues I find important : transportation , taxes , jobs and families , ” Hugo told The Star .
Hugo , a former member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also mentioned the protection of the 2nd Amendment was a mightily important topic , and expressed his desire to use the platform provided to the lieutenant governor to be vocal on issues and to help set the agenda .
“ I ’ m a conservative that the business community likes and a business guy the conservatives like that happens to be from Fairfax County , ” Hugo added .
“ There ’ s also issues that I ’ ve focused on that are outside of conservative business issues [ like child prostitution and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the three Republicans currently running for governor , two being Sen. Amanda Chase ( R-Chesterfield ) and Del .
Kirk Cox ( R-Colonial Heights ) , and of fellow Republican lieutenant governor candidate Del .
Glenn Davis ( R-Virginia Beach ) , yet he remains confident in his ability to win .
“ I will do very well in a primary [ election ] , and I look forward to that , ” Hugo said .
“ If we have a spirited competition , let ’ s have that discussion .
Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , let ’ s see who has the ability to relate to Republicans around the state and let ’ s see who has the ability to be the best ticket mate for November 2021 .
I think that would be me.
” Other Republican candidates running for lieutenant governor include businessman Puneet Ahluwalia and veteran Lance Allen .
Even though the official announcement has been made , Hugo is currently putting more attention to the current elections , and the next three weeks , trying to help Virginia Republicans and President Trump secure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own campaign .
After the November general elections , Hugo said he plans to travel throughout the state talking to voters and hosting events in all corners of the Commonwealth .
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 “ Tim Hugo ” by Tim Hugo .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Unity Theme at Greene County GOP Pig Roast

Virginia ’ s newest crop of Republicans sprung up at a Greene County farm on Saturday .
Candidates including Daniel Gade , Bob Good , and Senator Amanda Chase ( R-Chesterfield ) spoke to 397 people at the 41st Annual Greene County GOP Pig Roast .
The candidates expressed an urgent need for Republicans to work together to regain power in Virginia .
Candidate for U.S. Senate Daniel Gade said he was not a career politician .
“ I ’ m a different kind of candidate.
” Gade added , “ When I go in the booth to vote on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just going to vote for myself , I ’ m going to vote for all of you.
” “ Never before in the history of the U.S. has the Constitution been more at risk , ” said Chuck Smith , who is running in the 2021 attorney general race .
“ We need leaders with spine.
” Puneet Ahluwalia is running for the 2021 Lieutenant Governor nomination .
“ As a citizen soldier , as a patriot , I decided to come out , ” he said .
“ Not on my watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do nothing.
” Emcee John Fredericks said that it ’ s time for Virginia ’ s Republicans to unite .
“ We ’ re going to turn Virginia red again .
Why do you think the President keeps tweeting about Virginia ?
He ’ s not tweeting about Massachusetts or Connecticut .
He tweets about us because he sees the polls that we see , and right now , we are within three points of pulling the biggest upset on election night in history , and it ’ s coming on November 3.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia ’ s 5th Congressional District Bob Good said the Republican Party of Virginia is not divided .
“ The media talks about a fracture , we don ’ t sense any fracture .
We don ’ t ever hear from the voters that they are fractured , we don ’ t sense any division in the party.
” Attendee Mason Pickett said key messages from the speakers were unification , retaking control of the U.S. House of Representatives , and supporting the police .
“ Do you really want to let Nancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] , who will really not be able to be herself , she will be AOC ’ s puppet to a certain degree .
She ’ s afraid of AOC in my opinion.
” Pickett said all of the speakers did well , but Smith and Good were on the top of his list .
Greene County Sheriff Steven Smith told The Virginia Star that he ’ s been to several of the GOP Pig Roasts in previous years , but turnout was high this year .
“ I think people are energized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their candidates , they don ’ t like what ’ s going on in the country and in the state.
” Sisters Ellen Deane and Barbara Ballard told The Star that their father Galen Morris helped found the Greene County GOP Pig Roast tradition .
“ My parents were [ part of ] five or six couples that turned Greene County from blue to red back in the ’ 50s , and they started this pig roast 41 years ago for George Allen when he ran the first time , ” Deane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event went well .
“ It was very positive I thought , all the speakers were .
Kind of a pep rally type feeling.
” “ I think it ’ s awesome that you have a group of like-minded people that can come together , because so often Trump supporters are attacked because they support him , ” attendee Jackie Houchens said .
“ And they never say what they appreciate or what policies they like about Joe Biden , they just attack us because we like Trump and we ’ re automatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pig roast are important to help preserve a two-party political system : “ I ’ ve never known that you ’ d be afraid to be for a candidate .
Being for Trump , you ’ re afraid to be for him .
You ’ re afraid something will happen .
And I never remember that before.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] John Fredericks is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Metro Board of Health Resumes Controversial COVID Patient Database for First Responders

Metro Public Health Department will officially resume an updated version of the controversial COVID-19 patient database for the benefit of first responders .
This follows Metro Department of Communications ( DEC ) weeks-long interim testing for the database .
The Metro Board of Health discontinued the first version of the system in June due to privacy concerns .
About two months later , the board decided to resume the database .
The members discussed an interim database that would take six weeks to develop .
This following database will serve as the more permanent solution .
According to the board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Metro Public Health Department will relay testing information to a law enforcement database that ensures addresses match GPS information .
After , the DEC receives the information and provides first responders with case positivity information for the address associated with a call .
DEC Director Steve Martini helped construct the details for this new database .
It operates using a Motorola Solutions system for dispatch communications .
Under the newer database , the DEC will have the ability to inform first responders if the address on a call is associated with any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the addresses aren ’ t available initially , first responders may receive names to transport individuals to hospitals or law enforcement facilities .
“ There is essentially no way there can be any kind of fishing for individual information on the part of law enforcement like a traffic stop or trying to find out something about somebody personally , ” stated board member “ The only way law enforcement has access to that data is if they are specifically calling about transporting an individual.
” Positive case information will remain in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all information will be available 24 hours a day , 7 days a week for first responders .
Earlier this week , Nashville Metro Council granted Mayor John Cooper the power to deputize employees to enforce COVID-19 mandates .
Metro Department of Health spokespersons couldn ’ t be reached by press time .
Training for the database could begin as early as next week .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by nashville.gov .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Commentary: H-1B Visa Change is Good News for American Workers

Though his administration has been marked by setbacks and subversion , President Trump is looking to add a policy notch to his belt and , more importantly , a win for beleaguered American workers .
On October 6 , the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced reforms of the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program .
The H-1B allows foreign nationals to enter the country to work in “ specialty occupations ” —but that term , like the program itself , is riddled with problems .
These visa workers are commonly used to replace Americans , doing the same job for less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of skill .
Americans are often compelled to train their foreign replacements .
The changes will narrow the definition of “ specialty occupation , ” and close loopholes exploited by companies to displace American workers .
It will also enhance DHS ’ s ability to enforce H1-B worksite compliance , and limit the validity of an H-1B visa to one year for a worker placed at a third-party worksite .
“ The changes that go into effect immediately will ensure that U.S. companies will use H-1B workers to augment our domestic labor force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been the case for far too long , ” the Federation for American Immigration Reform said in a press statement .
Not everyone was pleased at this good news .
“ This will not only hurt companies that employer [ sic ] H-1B workers , ” complained immigration attorney Sarah Pierce , “ but also the hundreds of thousands of companies that benefit from their work.
” If Pierce is agonizing , then this is truly cause for applause because it is guaranteed to nudge the balance of power toward everyday Americans over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t come soon enough .
In the third quarter of the current fiscal year , the federal government approved 95.5 percent of all H-1B visa applications filed—the highest ever since Trump took office .
Trump ’ s campaign triumphed in 2016 , in part , because of his promise to end job offshoring , a promise that resonated profoundly with voters in industrial swing states .
A report published October 5 by advocacy group Public Citizen , however , found that 200,000 American jobs have been offshored during his presidency .
The Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the amount , or $ 10 billion more , in contracts to firms that offshored during his term than to those that did not , ” according to the study .
Labor outsourcing via programs like the H1-B is often connected to offshoring .
The issues both relate to labor , and have both been killers of American livelihoods .
The top ten worst offshoring offenders listed in the Public Citizen report are Boeing , General Electric , United Technologies , Accenture , Securitas , AT & T , Honeywell , Hewlett Packard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are all companies that have ruthlessly outsourced jobs with programs like the H-1B .
In late 2019 , AT & T put thousands of American workers on the chopping block , after assigning them to train their foreign replacements .
After a pair of deadly crashes , it was revealed Boeing outsourced 737 Max software development to foreign engineers earning just $ 9 an hour .
Accenture and IBM were among the top 10 companies to request H-1B high-skilled worker visas in 2019 .
Some have complained that the timing of this announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intended to shore up last minute support .
And ?
“ I wish it had come sooner , and there were more , but I ’ m happy with whatever we can do to make the system better , ” Florida labor attorney Sarah Blackwell remarked .
Blackwell is right .
Moreover , these regulations , however late they ’ ve come , can not be easily undone after Trump is no longer president .
We are the legacy we leave behind .
Our successes and failures weigh upon this and the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a change to the immigration system that will be a lasting achievement of which the Trump Administration can be proud .
Pedro Gonzalez is assistant editor of American Greatness and a Mount Vernon Fellow of the Center for American Greatness .
Photo “ Hire American ” by The White House .

A dozen individuals have been charged in a gun-running conspiracy that funneled firearms from Tennessee and Kentucky to Chicago, according to a release from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In total, the 12 individuals are facing a 21-count indictment with charges for dealing in firearms without a license, transporting and receiving firearms into another state, making false statements to a federally licensed firearm dealer, and multiple other offenses.
Three of the alleged members of the gun pipeline were enlisted members of the U.S. Army and were stationed at Fort Campbell in Clarksville.
Demarcus Adams, Brandon Miller, and Jarius Brunson, along with other individuals charged in the indictment, allegedly purchased legal firearms from dealers in the area. After securing the guns, the DOJ contends the group would deliver the firearms to individuals in Chicago.
Law enforcement officials also claim the scheme was connected to gang violence in Chicago, saying that “the defendants conspired to purchase and deliver over 90 illegally obtained firearms to the Chicago area to facilitate the ongoing violent disputes between the Pocket Town Gangster Disciples and their rival gangs.”
Authorities detailed that at least two deaths were connected to firearms distributed in the movement from Tennessee to the Chicago area.
In addition to Clarksville, the organized crime circle operated in Oak Grove, Kentucky:
“The indictment further alleges the methods used by co-conspirators to purchase firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers in the Clarksville, Tenn. and Oak Grove, Kentucky areas, which included communicating via text messages to coordinate the purchase and delivery of firearms to the Chicago area; providing false information on firearms purchase application forms; and using apps such as Zelle and CashApp to facilitate payment for the illegal transfer of firearms. On one occasion, the indictment alleges that in addition to several firearms available for sale, Brandon Miller had 1,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition available for purchase,” the release from the DOJ details.
— — —
Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Justice Department Announces Superseding Indictment Charging 12 in Gun-Running Conspiracy to Supply” by The Justice Department.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Commentary: Five Charts Showing Sweden’s Strategy Worked

Government officials in Sweden announced this week that the government expects to maintain its mild restrictions on gatherings “ for at least another year ” to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 .
Unlike most other European countries and nations around the world , Sweden declined to initiate a nationwide lockdown or mask mandates , opting instead for a policy that restricted large gatherings and relied on social responsibility to slow transmission of the virus .
For months , Sweden was criticized for its decision to forego an economic lockdown .
“ Sweden becomes an example of how not to handle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headline in a July article .
Sweden had become a “ cautionary tale , ” The New York Times declared the same month .
“ They are leading us to catastrophe , ” The Guardian warned in March .
Dozens of similar examples can be found .
With every passing week , however , it ’ s becoming more clear that Sweden got the virus right .
For starters , Swedish officials point out that even if lockdowns did save lives , they can not long be endured .
“ The measures that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainable , we ’ re trying to find a level that is steady and that keeps the spread down .
We can ’ t get rid of it , but we can keep it down at a reasonable level , ” Johan Carlson , the director general of Sweden ’ s public health agency , said in an interview with public broadcaster SVT on Sunday .
It ’ s also worth pointing out that Sweden has avoided some of the economic carnage of its European neighbours experienced by implementing harsh lockdowns .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sweden ’ s economy experienced much less damage during the pandemic .
Both of these facts help explain why Sweden has not witnessed the widespread social unrest other nations have seen .
“ A certain fatigue is setting in , this has been going on for a number of months , ” Carlson admitted .
“ But we are not seeing anger or aggression , we ’ re not seeing the same reactions as in Europe.
” This should come as no surprise .
Life in Sweden is still relatively normal .
People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pools or parks .
Schools and places of business remained open .
Hence , the mass protests , violence , and spikes of mental health deterioration , drug overddoses , and suicide nations around the world have witnessed in 2020 have been notably absent in Sweden .
Perhaps most importantly , Sweden ’ s “ lighter touch ” seems to have tamed COVID-19 .
While many European countries that implemented lockdowns are witnessing a resurgence of the virus , Sweden ’ s cases and deaths remain a stark contrast to other European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was concern around a slight uptick in cases that began in mid-September , but the increase is well below other European nations , which has resulted in fewer COVID-19 related deaths .
Yinon Weiss , a founder of RallyPoint and a Harvard Business School grad , has shown , Sweden ’ s current daily death rate is exponentially lower – 25x , 10x , 7x – than many of its European counterparts that initiated strict lockdowns , such as Spain , the United Kingdom , and France .
Throughout the pandemic , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to these larger nations , since they have higher population density .
The link between COVID-19 and urban density is weak at best , but even if you account for population density data show that Sweden ’ s capital of Stockholm has outperformed American cities that locked down like Boston , Philadelphia , and Chicago .
( And of course New York . )
Even the Nordic countries with low death rates that Sweden often is unfavorably compared to are now seeing a sharp rise in cases ( though death in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Critics of Sweden ’ s policy will point out that Sweden ’ s COVID-19 death rate is still higher than its Nordic neighbors – the result of a failure to adequately protect its eldercare homes – but the goal was never to have the lowest coronavirus death rate in Europe .
It was to limit the spread of the virus and prevent hospital systems from being overwhelmed .
Despite predictions that its laissez-faire policy would result in mass infection and 96,000 deaths , Sweden succeeded and its per capita death toll today remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The last three months have been particularly striking , Weiss points out .
With every passing week we ’ re seeing that the world ’ s lockdown experiment failed , and failed horribly – destroying millions of businesses , tens of millions of jobs , and causing widespread mental and physical health deterioration .
( There ’ s a reason European leaders such as Boris Johnson are now consulting with Sweden ’ s top infectious disease expert , Anders Tegnell . )
As John Tierney recently explained in City Journal , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders is that they may have made sense before we had solid data and little clue about the type of virus we were dealing with .
We know better now .
There is no correlation between lockdown stringency and COVID-19 deaths , while their harms are induspitable .
This is why thousands of medical practitioners and public health scientists have signed a new declaration – the Great Barrington Declaration – expressing grave concerns over the adverse effects of lockdowns and calling for a more targeted approach .
In June , following publication of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not as dangerous as first believed , I suggested lockdowns could prove to be the biggest expert “ fail ” since the Iraq War .
Four months later , the evidence only looks stronger .
Jonathan Miltimore is the Managing Editor of FEE.org .
His writing/reporting has appeared in TIME magazine , The Wall Street Journal , CNN , Forbes , Fox News , and the Washington Times .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Security Guard Matthew Dolloff Jailed in Deadly Shooting at BLM-Antifa Protest in Denver

DENVER , Colorado ( AP ) — A private security guard working for a local TV station was jailed for investigation of first-degree murder in the deadly shooting of another man during dueling right- and left-wing protests in downtown Denver , police said Sunday .
Matthew Dolloff , 30 , was taken into custody in connection with a clash that took place Saturday afternoon in Civic Center Park .
A man participating in what was billed a “ Patriot Rally ” slapped and sprayed Mace at a man who appeared to be Dolloff , the Denver Post reported , based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The man identified by the newspaper as Dolloff drew a gun from his waistband and shot the other person , according to the Denver Post journalist who witnessed the episode .
The shooting victim was not named by authorities and died at a nearby hospital .
But his son identified the man on Sunday to the Denver Post as Lee Keltner , a 49-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who operated a hat-making business in the Denver area .
“ He wasn ’ t a part of any group , ” Johnathon Keltner told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally for the police department and he ’ d been down there before rallying for the police department.
” A woman who said she was the victim ’ s mother , Carol Keltner , wrote in a social media post that her son was killed after being shot in the head .
A decision on any charges will be up to the Denver District Attorney ’ s Office , police said .
A spokesperson for District Attorney Beth McCann said Sunday that the arrest affidavit in the case remained sealed and referred further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not immediately clear if Dolloff had an attorney .
Police Division Chief Joe Montoya said two guns were found at the scene , as well as a Mace can .
The shooting occurred beneath a city surveillance camera , and police said they have footage of the incident , KUSA-TV reported .
KUSA said it had hired the guard through the Pinkerton security firm .
“ It has been the practice of 9NEWS for a number of months to hire private security to accompany staff at protests , ” the station said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrations happening at about the same time that drew hundreds of people to the park .
Protesters at a “ BLM-Antifa Soup Drive ” nearby held up flags and signs railing against Nazis and white supremacists .
Security guards in Denver are supposed to be licensed , with additional endorsements needed to carry a firearm or operate in plainclothes , according to rules for the industry adopted by the city in 2018 .
In photos from Saturday ’ s shooting , Dolloff did not appear to be in uniform .
His name does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that lists several thousand licensed security guards .
Representatives of Pinkerton did not immediately return email and telephone messages for comment .
About the Headline Photo : A man turns after fatally shooting another man during dueling protests , Saturday , Oct. 10 , 2020 in Denver .
The man on the left side of the photo was supporting the “ Patriot Rally ” and sprayed mace at the man on the right side of the image .
The man at right , then shot and killed the protester at left .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ station was in custody Saturday after a person died from a shooting that took place during dueling protests in downtown Denver , the Denver Post reported .
( Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--USDA Awards Tennessee Providers Another $17M for Rural Broadband Expansion

Broadband providers in seven Tennessee counties will receive a total of $ 17 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for broadband expansion , providing service to an estimated 4,100 households .
The $ 17 million investment comes on the heels of $ 10 million in USDA rural broadband grants awarded in Tennessee last month , bringing state and federal investment in broadband expansion to a total of $ 88 million since August 2020 .
“ Access to a high-speed internet connection is a cornerstone of prosperity , and unfortunately many of America ’ s rural communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Bette Brand , who serves as an under secretary of rural development at the USDA .
The funds will be distributed among five broadband providers serving seven counties across the state : • Volunteer Energy Cooperative will use a grant of $ 3.7 million to provide broadband services to more than 2,500 people , 79 farms and several businesses in Meigs County ; • Ben Lomand Holdings will expand broadband services in Cumberland County with a grant of $ 1.9 million ; • In Campbell County , Highland Communications will use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connect nearly 3,000 people , 73 farms , 25 businesses , eight educational facilities and a fire station to broadband ; • DeKalb Telephone Cooperative will connect more than 2,000 people in Smith , Trousdale and Wilson counties with a grant of $ 2.2 million .
• A $ 2.7 million grant to West Tennessee Telephone Company Inc. will connect nearly 3,000 people to broadband in Carroll County .
Funds were awarded in response to applications for grants through the USDA ReConnect program , which received an allocation of $ 600 million from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the U.S. “ Connecting America ’ s rural communities to this essential infrastructure is one of USDA ’ s top priorities , because we know that when rural America thrives , all of America thrives , ” Brand said .
Significant investment in rural broadband comes as many school children and families continue to rely on the internet for education and work amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Before recess in March , the Tennessee Legislature had approved $ 10 million for broadband , but the funding was cut during budget cuts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill Lee has allocated $ 61 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding to broadband expansion .
Vivian Jones is a reporter for The Center Square .
Photo “ Network Switch ” by @ felixtriller CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Voting-Related Lawsuits Pepper U.S. Before Election Day

by The Associated Press Hundreds of lawsuits about voting have been filed before the Nov. 3 election .
The cases concern the fundamentals of the American democratic process , including how ballots are cast and counted .
A look at some of the top lawsuits in battleground states : ARIZONA : A federal judge ruled in favor of Democrats by holding that voters who neglected to sign their early ballots before mailing them in get up to five days after the election to fix the problem .
The judge ruled that it was not fair for elections officials not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the problem .
The case has since been appealed to the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
IOWA : Several of the election disputes involve mail-in voting rules .
In one , Democrats are challenging a new GOP-backed law that blocks county auditors from filling in any missing voter ID information on absentee ballot applications returned by voters .
In a related case , Republicans have persuaded judges to invalidate tens of thousands of absentee ballot applications submitted by voters whose ID information had been pre-filled on the forms by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican secretary of state ’ s rules that drop boxes must be located on county property and not at grocery stores or other community sites .
MICHIGAN : Officials are mired in litigation over how long ballots can be counted after Nov. 3 .
State law requires the ballots to be counted by Election Day .
But a state judge , citing mail delays , has ordered that they be counted if they are postmarked by Nov. 2 and arrive by Nov. 17 .
The Republican-led Legislature is appealing .
The issue could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidential contest in the state , which Trump won by less than 10,000 votes in 2016 .
Absentee voting has only been permitted since 2018 , but some 2.7 million people have requested absentee ballots .
MINNESOTA : Republicans have challenged the state ’ s Nov. 10 deadline for mail-in ballots to arrive this year , a 7-day extension granted because of the pandemic .
Under a consent decree , the ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 .
Republicans are appealing the plan .
Meanwhile , Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting for her 2nd District seat to February due to the Sept. 21 death of Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate Adam Weeks .
A delay could have national implications if the presidential election remains in dispute in January and the seat remains empty when her first term concludes in January .
NEVADA : The Democratic-led Legislature passed a law this year that sends mail-in ballots to every registered voter and lets someone else return it on the voter ’ s behalf .
The latter practice , known as ballot harvesting , had previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Democratic Gov .
Steve Sisolak , also let county election officials start counting mailed ballots on Oct. 19 .
The Trump campaign challenged the law , suggesting mail-in voting was rife with fraud , but a federal judge said they failed to show any actual harm .
NEW HAMPSHIRE : A judge in April struck down a 2017 New Hampshire law that made it more difficult for people to vote if they registered the month before the election .
The judge said the added paperwork was “ unreasonable.
” The Republican-led Legislature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s loss there in 2016 .
State officials have appealed to the state Supreme Court .
Meanwhile , the American Federation of Teachers , citing the pandemic , challenged some state voting procedures in August , including an Election Day deadline and lack of prepaid postage for absentee ballots .
Both the Trump campaign and state officials pushed back , and a judge mostly dismissed the suit while ordering the state to help would-be voters obtain registration forms .
NORTH CAROLINA : The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee are suing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from enforcing rule changes that could boost the number of ballots counted .
That includes guidance that will allow the fixing of absentee ballots with deficient information without forcing the voter to fill out a new blank ballot .
OHIO : A federal judge in Cleveland this month ruled that a new Ohio directive allowing ballot drop boxes at locations “ outside ” boards of elections means they can be placed at multiple locations — a ruling at odds with the intention of the state elections chief .
It ’ s not yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available across the state before the election .
Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose appealed , and on Friday a three-judge panel on the 6th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals approved his request to put the lower court ’ s decision on hold .
A state appeals court ruled that requests for an absentee ballot can not be sent by fax or email , finding it could swamp local election officials and threaten the security of the election .
PENNSYLVANIA : Pennsylvania has seen a frenzy of election-related suits as state officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about half the expected turnout , to cast mail-in ballots .
Trump ’ s campaign has asked the courts to bar counties from using unstaffed drop boxes or mobile sites to collect mail-in ballots ; to throw out state guidance on signature discrepancies ; to overturn a county residency requirement on poll watchers ; and to let campaign representatives watch people register or fill out mail-in ballots in election offices .
On Saturday , a federal judge dismissed challenges to the poll-watching law and efforts to limit how mail-in ballots can be collected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republican lawmakers have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a ruling that gives counties three days after Election Day to receive and count eligible ballots .
VIRGINIA : The key court case over the election in Virginia involves the requirement that absentee voters find a witness to watch them sign their ballots .
After the League of Women Voters filed suit over the issue , a federal judge issued a decree allowing voters to skip that step given the pandemic if they don ’ t feel it ’ s safe to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party of Virginia , which opposed the consent decree , is now challenging the state guidance on the issue , saying it ’ s likely to confuse voters .
WISCONSIN : A federal appeals court upheld a six-day extension for counting absentee ballots in Wisconsin as long as they are postmarked on or before Election Day .
The recent ruling gave Democrats in the state at least a temporary victory in a case that could nonetheless by appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court .
About the Headline Photo : In this Oct. 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fill out ballots during early voting at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections in Cleveland .
Hundreds of lawsuits about voting have been filed ahead of the November election .
( AP Photo/Tony Dejak , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Titans Back at Work, Not Talking About COVID-19 Outbreak

NASHVILLE , Tennessee ( AP ) — The Tennessee Titans have heard some of the calls for the NFL to punish them harshly for the team ’ s role in the league ’ s first COVID-19 outbreak , and they have some words of caution after first-hand experience .
And testing , even as much as the NFL does , is not perfect .
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill said Saturday it ’ s been a roller coaster as people with no symptoms test positive while others with full-blown symptoms receive consecutive negative tests on multiple days .
He noted everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not prevent the virus from being spread .
“ It was really eye-opening and just the fact of we really don ’ t know , so we have to treat everyone as if they have the virus , unfortunately , ” Tannehill said .
“ I feel like we probably lost faith in the testing system just through everything we ’ ve been through over over the past week and a half.
” As the Titans ’ outbreak grew to 23 with 21 positive tests returned since Sept. 29 , safety Kevin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to forfeit games as the NFL first postponed , then rescheduled its game with Pittsburgh to Oct. 25 .
The league also moved Pittsburgh-Baltimore to Nov. 1 .
The Titans ( 3-0 ) hope now to host Buffalo ( 4-0 ) on Tuesday night .
“ If anybody went into the season thinking that there weren ’ t going to be a couple of positive tests or outbreak somewhere of all 32 teams , I think that was kind of foolish to think , ” Byard said .
“ I mean , obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the team that had the outbreak .
We ’ re not trying to get COVID-19.
” What the Titans weren ’ t talking about was just how this outbreak occurred , not until the NFL and NFL Players Association speak first .
“ We ’ ve been completely transparent with the NFL , the NFLPA throughout this entire process , and we ’ re going to wait for their summary before commenting further on any of those discussions , ” coach Mike Vrabel said .
The Titans and the New England Patriots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing both teams to return to their facilities .
The Patriots had not been at their facility since reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore ’ s test came back positive Wednesday .
Tennessee ( 3-0 ) hadn ’ t been together on a field since Sept. 27 when the Titans beat the Vikings 31-30 in Minnesota .
Rain forced the Titans inside for practice Saturday .
Vrabel said the Titans have been transparent with both the NFL and the NFLPA during the review about how they followed protocols .
Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk with the officials running the investigation .
As a result , the Titans have moved 30 lockers from their locker room to their indoor practice field .
Vrabel said the team made adjustments to the way meals are taken , and any in-person meetings among coaches will be held at the indoor field .
Both Tannehill and Byard declined to comment when asked about player workouts Sept. 30 , a day after the NFL closed the Titans ’ facility , saying they had been “ transparent ” with the review done by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re very confident in how they ’ ve handled their end of the review .
“ I ’ m sure that this won ’ t be the first time that somebody says something bad about us or one of our players or one of our coaches or me or our team , ” Vrabel said .
New England coach Bill Belichick said the Patriots won ’ t be making any decisions or long-range plans until they have more information .
His plan was to get through Saturday with a practice planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field .
Their game with Denver was moved from Sunday to Monday .
“ One thing we ’ ve learned this year is that we all have to be able to adapt to changes and adjustments and make adjustments , so that ’ s what we ’ re going to do , ” Belichick said .
Tennessee has gone without a positive test for the fourth time in six days with the latest results , a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press .
The person spoke on condition of anonymity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced the latest results .
Now that both the Titans and Patriots are back at work , the question is whether either team gets any of the players currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list back for their next games .
The NFL and union updated protocols for when players who test positive can return to play , depending on whether the player experienced symptoms .
Neither Gilmore nor quarterback Cam Newton , both on the reserve/COVID-19 list , practiced Saturday .
Belichick , speaking before practice , would not say whether either would play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get some players back if they clear the protocols to return , including long snapper Beau Brinkley .
The Titans have possible replacements going through testing protocols in case Brinkley isn ’ t back for a team that won its first three games by a field goal inside the final two minutes .
Later Saturday , the Titans activated offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson , their first-round pick who had been out since Sept. 6 , and defensive back Greg Mabin , a member of the practice squad , off the reserve/COVID-19 list .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility .
All players and coaches tested negative for COVID-19 after being sent home from their training facility Friday because of a presumptive positive coronavirus test for one player .
Their game Sunday against Arizona will be played on time .
Teresa M. Walker is a Pro Football Writer with The Associated Press .
AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner and freelancer Gethin Coolbaugh contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : In this Sunday , Sept. 20 , 2020 , file photo , Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel watches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Nashville , Tenn. Vrabel ’ s debut as an NFL head coach came in the league ’ s longest game because of lightning delays , and now he ’ s guiding the Tennessee Titans through the league ’ s first COVID-19 outbreak .
( AP Photo/Wade Payne , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Recovery Continues, Economy Should be Back to Peak in Fourth Quarter

The rapid recovery from the lockdown continues .
Economic reports from September indicate the economy has rebounded to 97 percent of its peak reached this past February .
The surge in new orders for both manufacturing and service companies points to further gains in the months ahead .
These gains should bring the economy ’ s output and spending ( GDP ) back to its prior peak during the fourth quarter of the year .
The rebound has occurred despite a lag in employment and in spite of ongoing lockdowns in various states .
Many of the jobs lost in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retail will return slowly .
The jobs lost for good will be replaced by jobs in other areas .
The speed at which new jobs are created depends on the strength of the economy ’ s fundamentals .
These fundamentals—low taxes and cuts in regulations—point to further strength in the year ahead .
The current strong forecast for the upcoming years assumes President Donald Trump will be reelected .
If Biden is elected , the near-term momentum will continue through the first half of next year .
The Democrat ’ s agenda has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1913 .
If that agenda is implemented , it will mark the sixth time private investment , productivity , real growth , and living standards suffer due to a reliance on policy moves away from classical economic principles .
Housing activity tends to be among the earliest and most sensitive indicators of an economic recovery .
With the aid of historically low interest rates and plenty of liquidity , all measures of housing activity are booming .
The Homebuilders ’ index for early September hit its highest reading in its history .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveys for new orders in September were particularly strong , with both manufacturing and service companies registering readings above 60 .
Although initial unemployment claims remain high , they are down sharply from their peak .
As always , stock prices represent a key early indicator of where the economy is going .
With stock prices remaining high , it ’ s another sign the economy is likely to do well .
Coincident indicators show the extent to which the economy recovered into August and in some cases into September .
Historically low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the money supply provide a strong force promoting higher stock prices .
The S & P500 index remains in the vicinity of its fundamental value .
I continue to expect the combination of massive monetary stimulus and low interest rates to limit a major downturn in stock prices .
As the chart below shows , the lockdown took profits well below their longer-term trend .
As the economy recovers , there will be a substantial increase in profits for the coming year , bringing profits back to their trend .
Rising profits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing economy provide a power force for an upward move in stock prices .
This will be the case even if Biden wins .
While the stock market would take a temporary hit if he wins , the current positive forces should bring it back quickly .
The main impact of a Biden presidency will be on the years beyond 2021 .
As in previous moves away from classical principles , corporate profits will continue to grow .
The increased costs of doing business will fall mostly upon the poor and middle-class workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a Biden presidency .
Although you ’ d never know it from the media , the good news surrounding the virus continues .
Based on incoming data over the past sixth months , the CDC has dramatically reduced its estimates of the death rate from the virus .
Had the original death rates been available , there would have been no justification for shutting down the economy .
The Center for Disease Prevention and Control ’ s new death statistics show everyone under 70 has more than a 99 percent chance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 years old have a 95 percent chance of surviving , even if they have serious diseases .
If you are healthy and over 70 , your odds of survival are over 99 percent .
The National Bureau of Economic Research analysis of the COVID outbreak provides evidence to show how the spread of the disease has not been affected by actions taken by government .
In other words , the virus behaves the same regardless of whether the economy is locked down or not .
Similar analysis of the effectiveness of widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusion .
Our health officials continue to warn of a second wave .
So far , they have been wrong about just about anything related to COVID .
Let ’ s hope their predictions of disaster continue to be proven wrong .
Robert Genetski , Ph.D. , one of the nation ’ s leading economists and financial advisors , has spent more than 35 years promoting the use of classical economic and investment principles for sound financial decisions .
He heads ClassicalPrinciples .
Photo “ Stock Ticker ” by Insider Monkey CC BY-ND @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--West Virginia Site Chosen for High-Speed Hyperloop Travel Facility

CHARLESTON , West Virginia ( AP ) — Virgin Hyperloop One will build a certification center in West Virginia for the high-speed transportation concept that uses enclosed pods to zip passengers underground at over 600 mph ( 960 km/h ) .
The company had received bids from more than a dozen states in the past year to build a 6-mile ( 9.7-kilometer ) testing track and other safety facilities over hundreds of acres for the electromagnetic levitation transportation technology .
Hyperloop technology , which Tesla founder Elon Musk is also developing , hopes to one day provide clean-energy fast travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building a route that would link Chicago and Pittsburgh in under an hour .
Certification for commercial travel is still expected to be at least a decade away .
West Virginia and Virgin officials said the new center will bring thousands of temporary construction jobs to a state that has witnessed economic decline with the downturn of the coal industry .
The facility will employ up to 200 full-time workers when completed .
“ What we ’ re doing is bringing a new industry straight to the place where West Virginians once mined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Virgin Hyperloop One , at an announcement with the governor and state ’ s U.S. senators .
Missouri had hoped to land the project for an ultrafast Hyperloop track that would transport passengers between St. Louis and Kansas City in 30 minutes .
State lawmakers earlier this year passed a bill that would give the Missouri Highways and Transportation Committee the authority to form a public-private partnership to build it .
Delaware , Georgia , New Mexico , North Carolina , North Dakota , Ohio , South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running for the facility , according to a Virgin Hyperloop news release .
The company did not say if any financial incentives were offered in West Virginia ’ s proposal .
Mike Schneider , a vice president at Virgin Hyperloop , said the company was not “ looking for gigantic tax breaks.
” A spokeswoman said that the project is expected to be financed by private and public funds .
“ The Hyperloop Certification Center is a long-term , multi-county project , so we are still working through how the various assistance programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman Sarah Lawson wrote in an email .
The center will be located over 800 acres ( 325 hectares ) in Tucker and Grant counties in the northeast of West Virginia .
Construction is planned to begin in 2021 on an assembly facility for pods , safety centers and other operations .
Virgin will partner with Marshall University and West Virginia University , which predicted the center will add $ 48 million annually to the state ’ s economy .
The U.S. Department of Transportation has aimed to support the nascent technology with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hyperloop systems rely on low-pressurized tunnels to ensure pods can transport passengers and goods at high speeds .
Cuneyt Dil is a reporter with The Associated Press .
Photo “ Hyperloop Pod ) by Z22 CC4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Commentary: Amy Coney Barrett Exposes Society’s Double Standard on Family Size

Amy Coney Barrett , President Trump ’ s nominee to the Supreme Court , has seven children .
Unless you have been living under a rock , you already knew that .
All the media coverage of her nomination , which was announced on September 26 , devoted extensive attention to this fact .
If a poll were to be taken , no doubt more Americans would be able to identify the birth country of Barrett ’ s two adopted children ( Haiti ) , than the Federal Court Circuit on which she currently serves as a judge ( the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate has been declining for years , and in 2019 it hit a record low of 1.7 .
Thus , the size of Barrett ’ s family is certainly unusual .
But does it deserve the amount of coverage and commentary it has generated ?
After all , this is a personal matter for Barrett and her husband .
But that ’ s just it .
Our society pays a great deal of lip service to the idea that decisions about pregnancy and giving birth are “ private.
” A woman should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice , however , absolutely everyone feels entitled to express their opinion .
In Vogue magazine last year , Prince Harry , who was still a working member of the British royal family at the same time , stated that his family would have no more than two children .
In Vancouver at the moment , a group called World Population Balance is running an ad campaign encouraging families to have fewer children due to fears of overpopulation .
I am a mother of three , and have experienced firsthand and how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is public property .
Complete strangers ask me about things that I consider to be very personal .
After my first baby was born , I got questions about if and when my husband and I would have a second .
Then after we did welcome our second baby , the questions started to revolve around whether our family was now “ complete.
” Now that I have three children , the questions have shifted again .
Just a few weeks ago , a casual acquaintance asked me if my third pregnancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks quite different from his two siblings , so I sometimes get asked if all three are mine .
My three children are still within the acceptable range of family size – but just barely .
Parents who have more than three are met with amazement at best , and often with outright derision and hostility .
Journalist Mollie Hemingway calls this “ Fecundophobia.
” The choice of whether to have kids or not is held so sacrosanct that our laws permit the decision to be made many months after a new human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the choice to a period of time after birth .
So why the weird reaction to people receiving children as a blessing instead of fighting them tooth and nail with hormones , chemicals , surgery and scissors ?
Our society has a double standard .
A woman ’ s right to choose is treated as all important , but only so long as she “ chooses ” to have a small family .
Hemingway continues , “ Keeping the womb empty at all costs during all , or nearly all , of one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qua non of modern American womanhood .
Woe to the woman who ‘ chooses ’ otherwise.
” The example set by prominent , public individuals can help to shape our culture .
Perhaps if Barrett is confirmed to the Supreme Court , society will become a little bit more accepting of large families .
That would be a welcome development .
Emma Freire is a writer living in Sao Paulo , Brazil .
She has also been published in The Federalist and The American Conservative .
Photo “ Barrett Family ” by The @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Pelosi Unveils 25th Amendment Proposal to ‘Create a Process for Future Presidents’

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday unveiled legislation that would allow Congress to oust a president from office using the 25th Amendment , stressing that “ this is not about President Trump , ” but about creating “ a process for future presidents , ” meaning potentially Joe Biden .
The bill would set up a commission to assess the president ’ s ability to lead the country and ensure a continuity of government .
It comes one year after Pelosi ’ s House launched impeachment proceedings against Trump .
If passed by a 2/3 vote in both houses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president to become acting president after it was determined that the president was “ unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.
” Pelosi , who has raised questions about Trump ’ s mental fitness for years , has lately used the president ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis to question his health and his behavior .
“ This is not about President Trump , ” Pelosi maintained Friday , after her chic color-coordinated mask had slipped well below her nose .
“ He will face the judgment of the voters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to create a process for future presidents.
” President Trump immediately responded to the legislation on Twitter , arguing that Democrats are gearing up to remove a future President Joe Biden and replace him with his V.P .
pick Sen. Kamala Harris .
“ Crazy Nancy Pelosi is looking at the 25th Amendment in order to replace Joe Biden with Kamala Harris , ” Trump tweeted .
“ The Dems want that to happen fast because Sleepy Joe is out of it !
!
!
” Pelosi ’ s bill , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly dismissed as a stunt by Republicans .
“ It ’ s an absurd proposal , ” said White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Fox News .
“ Absolutely absurd , ” said Senate Majority Leader McConnell during an appearance in Shepherdsville , Kentucky .
Pelosi on Thursday had signaled to reporters that the controversial legislation was coming .
Clad in a bright orange face mask to match her orange suit , Pelosi said that she would be “ talking about the 25th Amendment ” on Friday .
“ The public needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , ” Pelosi said Thursday .
Trump later responded : “ Crazy Nancy is the one who should be under observation .
They don ’ t call her Crazy for nothing !
” Trump commented further on the Speaker ’ s 25th Amendment gambit on the Rush Limbaugh Show , Friday afternoon .
“ She ’ s gone crazy , she ’ s a nutjob , ” Trump said of Pelosi , adding : “ I think they put it in so they can Kamala in , replacing Biden.
” “ Exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s exactly what it is !
It ’ s a trial run to see if they can kick Biden out.
” Limbaugh echoed Pelosi ’ s words , saying , ” it ’ s not aimed at you.
” “ That was the first thing I thought of , ” Trump told the legendary radio host .
Debra Heine reports for American Greatness .
Photo “ Nancy Pelosi ” by AFGE CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--By Two-to-One Margin Voters Believe FBI Should be Prosecuted for Its Role in Russia Probe

A near-majority of voters say FBI agents and leaders should be prosecuted for their role in the Russian collusion conspiracy theory , according to a new Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen .
Among the voters , 46 percent said FBI officials should be criminally charged over the scandal , while only half that number — 23 percent — said they shouldn ’ t .
The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted by Rasmussen using a mixed mode approach from October 1-3 , 2020 .
Click here to see this poll question ’ s cross-demographic tabulations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s methodology and sample demographics .
In a related Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen , just one-third of voters were aware that the FBI lied to a judge to obtain wiretaps against 2016 Trump campaign associates .
When asked , 33 percent of voters said it was “ true ” that FBI agents lied to a judge to obtain warrants against Trump campaign affiliates .
A fifth of all voters — 21 percent — found the allegation to be “ false , ” while 46 % were unsure .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware that former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith earlier this year admitted to falsifying an email used to obtain a wiretap against 2016 Trump campaign aide Carter Page .
The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted by Rasmussen using a mixed mode approach from October 1-3 , 2020 .
Click here to see this question ’ s cross-demographic tabulations .
Click here to see this question ’ s methodology and sample demographics .
Daniel Payne is a reporter for Just the News .
Photo “ FBI ” by Federal Bureau of Investigation .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Texas Mayoral Candidate Arrested on 84 Counts of Mail-In Voter Fraud

The Daily Caller reports Zul Mohamed , a Carrollton , Texas mayoral candidate was arrested and charged with more than 100 felonies related to voter fraud after he allegedly sent 84 mail-in ballot applications , authorities said .
In a news release , Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his Election Fraud Unit assisted the Denton County Sheriff ’ s Office in arresting Mohamed on 84 counts of mail-in ballot application fraud and 25 counts of unlawful possession of an official mail-in ballot .
At the time of his arrest , Mohamed was in the process of stuffing envelopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County .
Mohamed could face up to 20 years for the charges .
“ Mail ballots are inherently insecure and vulnerable to fraud , and I am committed to safeguarding the integrity of our elections , ” Paxton said .
“ My office is prepared to assist any Texas county in combating this form of fraud.
” The investigation began September 23 when the sheriff ’ s office was notified by the Denton County Elections Office of possible fraudulent activity related to absentee ballot applications .
Officials say absentee ballots had been requested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that belonged to a nursing home facility , according to CBS DFW When investigators made contact with the residents whose ballots had been requested they learned that none of the residents had asked for ballots to be mailed to the P.O .
Box .
The P.O .
Box was obtained using a fake Texas driver ’ s license and fake University of North Texas student identification .
Investigators watched the postal facility and placed an undercover officer there .
A box of ballots was picked up Oct. 7 by a person who police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him back to his home and executed a search warrant where they found a box containing the requested ballots , including several that were open .
“ Voter fraud is a serious and widespread issue and can not be tolerated , ” Denton County Sheriff Tracey Murphree said in a statement , according to Fox News “ The fact an actual candidate for public office would engage in these activities is appalling .
We will continue to aggressively investigate allegations of voter fraud.
” Catherine Smith reports for American Greatness .
Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Criminal Charges and Fines Numbering into the Thousands Over Now-Unconstitutional COVID Orders Under

Criminal Charges and Fines Numbering into the Thousands Over Now-Unconstitutional COVID Orders Under Question

Thousands of Michiganders are wondering if criminal charges and fines levied against them are still valid after the Michigan Supreme Court last Friday ruled Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s COVID-19 executive orders issued after April 30 are illegal .
Some don ’ t have answers – yet .
Owosso barber Karl Manke ’ s attorney David Kallman told The Center Square he ’ s expecting Attorney General Dana Nessel ’ s office to drop criminal charges against Manke , who operated his barbershop in violation of Whitmer ’ s orders .
The administrative charges through the Michigan Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ ve got criminal cases all over the state for gym owners , ” Kallman said .
“ I ’ m expecting all of those to be dismissed shortly.
” Over 2,500 Detroiters were ticketed by the Detroit Police Department ( DPD ) from April 14 through May 18 , according to Michigan Capitol Confidential .
DPD hasn ’ t answered a Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA ) request for the total number of people ticketed from May through Aug. 3 , although the FOIA was due Aug. 25 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 ticket while the Grand Rapids Police department gave none as of Aug. 3 , according to documents obtained through FOIA .
It isn ’ t immediately clear if those misdemeanor charges and fines will be dropped .
Law enforcement and state agencies ticketed Michiganders ranging from barbers to gym owners for violating Whitmer ’ s orders .
Gary Marshall , owner of FitStop24 in Niles and Dowagiac , reopened on June 1 – three months before Whitmer allowed gyms to open .
Marshall said his fines totaled $ 18,000 , which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Square he reopened soon after Whitmer announced she was reopening bars .
“ Obesity was one of the major leading factors why people were hospitalized because of [ COVID-19 ] , ” Marshall said .
Thirty-one percent of adult Michiganders are classified as obese .
COVID-19 was the sole contributing cause of fewer than 450 COVID-19-related deaths in Michigan since the beginning of the pandemic through September , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Marshall stopped charging customer accounts March 16 , which immediately affected the life of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife .
After nearly three months , he said , he was forced to reopen .
“ I didn ’ t have a choice , ” Marshall said .
“ Financially , if I wouldn ’ t have opened when I opened , I would have lost everything .
“ This is my livelihood .
This is my children ’ s future .
This is my mortgage , ” Marshall continued .
“ This is my life savings , and it ’ s about to be gone while other businesses ’ are having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sense.
” Nessel ’ s Press Secretary Ryan Jarvi , citing the Friday ruling , said they “ will no longer enforce the Governor ’ s Executive Orders through criminal prosecution.
” “ However , her decision is not binding on other law enforcement agencies or state departments with independent enforcement authority , ” Jarvi said in a statement .
Following Friday ’ s ruling , Marshall said the county prosecutor told him his case was dismissed .
“ I was ready to go to jail , ” Marshall said , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 misdemeanors .
“ It ’ s always been about taking care of my family first and foremost , but it became more than that .
I wanted to prove that what I was doing was right , and I had all the data and science to back me up.
” Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .
Previously , he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Ohio Officials Say Some Ballots Reported Incorrect May be Right

by The Associated Press COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) — Officials in Ohio say some of the nearly 50,000 absentee ballots reported last week to be incorrect may have been correct after all , but replacement ballots will be sent to all of the affected voters in the county that is home to the state ’ s capital and largest city .
The vendor supporting the board initially reported an analysis indicating that 49,669 incorrect ballots were mailed , Franklin County officials said in a news release dated Saturday .
But officials said a revised analysis by the vendor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots may have in fact been correct.
” Officials said , however , that “ out of an abundance of caution ” replacement ballots will still be provided to each voter who may have received an incorrect ballot .
No estimate was provided of how many ballots earlier reported to be incorrect might be correct .
With about 240,000 ballots mailed , about 1 in 5 voters receiving an absentee ballot may have received one in error , officials said .
That represents 6 % of Franklin County ’ s approximately 880,000 registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 million voters registered statewide in the presidential battleground state .
The mistake happened after someone changed a setting on a machine that places absentee ballots into mailing envelopes , county elections officials said .
Some ballots had an incorrect congressional race , while others had the correct information but were sent to voters in a different precinct .
The elections board said multiple checks are in place to ensure only one voter can cast a ballot , including rejecting any replacement ballots if someone went ahead and voted in person .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on an election seeing an unprecedented number of absentee ballot requests , spurred by the coronavirus pandemic that prompted widespread concerns about in-person voting .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Virginia Attorney General Candidate Chuck Smith: The Constitution is at Risk

Chuck Smith has been a marine , a U.S. Navy JAG corps commander , and a lawyer .
Now , he wants to be an Attorney General .
“ Never before in the history of the United States has the Constitution been more at risk , ” he told a crowd at the 41st annual GOP Pig Roast on Saturday .
“ Never before in the history of Virginia have the rights of man , the freedoms of Americans been more at stake .
If there ever was a time that we need to get back to our common sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , get back to God , get back to our leadership , that time is now.
” Smith is the first Republican to announce his candidacy for the 2021 Attorney General primary .
Since January , he has raised $ 144,096 , according to The Virginia Public Access Project .
Smith was ubiquitous at the Saturday pig roast , shaking hands with everyone he could find .
His speech was well received .
“ The gentleman that ’ s running for Attorney General , first time I ’ ve ever heard him speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Star .
“ That was a great , great , great speech he gave about standing up for America and what America stands for .
Ex-marine .
Very impressive.
” In his speech , Smith said , “ We need leaders with a spine who will stand and say ‘ [ No , you ] will not take down our statues , you will not take down our monuments , you will not take down our police officers , you will not take down our military bases , you will not take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not take down our president , and by God , you will not take down the United States of America . '
” “ It ’ s important [ for me ] to run so we can get the Constitution back as the supreme law of the land , ” Smith said in an interview .
“ The Governor is governor because we have a state law .
The Constitution is a federal law .
The federal law trumps state laws .
Even under certain divisions of the Constitution like the Tenth Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power .
But their police power never trumps the federal law.
” Smith continued , “ And so our Attorney General has completely ignored the fact that the Constitution is higher than the state law on questions of masks , mandating masks , mandating injections , questions of the red flag law , all issues of the Second Amendment , opening churches.
” Smith said his experience makes him the best choice for Attorney General .
He said , “ I think God put me in this position , I think the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I bring to the table , and we ’ re going to make it happen.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Chuck Smith ” by Eric Burk .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--Residents Describe City on the Brink at Minneapolis Committee Meeting

“ We have never seen anything like this.
” “ I ’ m scared to even drive after dark.
” “ Everybody feels the same way .
We all want to move.
” That ’ s just some of the feedback the Minneapolis City Council received during an Oct. 8 meeting of the Public Health and Safety Committee .
More than 60 residents signed up to speak their minds at the two-hour virtual meeting , grilling council members on their “ irresponsible rhetoric ” and failure to adequately staff the Minneapolis Police Department .
“ We should all know as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ ‘ dismantle , ’ and ‘ abolish ’ have severe consequences .
We are a city in crisis and need action now , ” said one resident who lives in the Loring Park neighborhood .
“ We are putting citizens and officers at risk working with a demoralized and burned out patrol staff that is down to 450 for a city of 437,000 , ” she added .
Another resident wondered if council members were still receiving private security while “ the constituency are generally afraid.
” “ I will just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearings and public comment periods like this that we as a council , we ’ re receiving the comments so it ’ s not necessarily a back-and-forth but I do recommend you contact your council member to be able to engage more thoroughly in that dialogue , ” replied Council Member Phillipe Cunningham , chair of the committee .
Several speakers wanted answers on whether or not the Minneapolis Police Department is currently staffed in accordance with the City Charter , which requires roughly three officers per every 5,000 residents .
A lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 officers had retired or quit while another 111 were on some type of medical leave , including 40 officers who submitted PTSD claims .
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has said that he expects at least 100 officers to leave by the end of the year .
Cunningham was one of nine council members who announced their intent to “ dismantle ” and “ defund ” the police force just days after George Floyd died while in the custody of Minneapolis police .
They have since walked back their plan to pursue police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among residents , according to a recent New York Times article on the topic .
But some residents think the council ’ s rhetoric was enough to embolden criminals throughout the city .
“ Through ongoing irresponsible rhetoric , City Council members , you have endangered us , our homes and our businesses .
Brazen criminals now lurk in broad daylight knowing that the City Council , the city ’ s own leadership , through its anti-law enforcement and anti-safety rhetoric , is giving them opportunities to terrorize the community with more ease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an immigrant who has lived in Minneapolis for 16 years told the council last week .
Like many others who spoke at Thursday ’ s meeting , he said gunshots have become a “ nightly occurrence ” in a city that now has 66 homicides on the year — compared to 48 in all of 2019 .
“ You guys have had years to address any cultural problems within the Minneapolis Police Department .
You have failed to do so .
Instead , you embark on a campaign against your own police department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city organization .
The City Council has failed me , it has failed my neighbors , it has failed the city , ” he continued .
“ Shame on you.
” Minneapolis resident Bill Rodriguez encouraged the City Council to consider his “ Operation Safety Now ” plan , a proposal supported by several other speakers .
Rodriguez said the plan calls for a 60-day “ surge of uniformed law enforcement to back up our depleted police ” and a “ communications campaign ” to keep residents informed .
“ Crime is rampant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve never felt less safe .
Meanwhile , there ’ s no leadership , no communication , not enough cops on the street , and now the chief says that some 911 calls may soon go unattended , leaving us to fend for ourselves .
This is crazy .
You folks need to spend less time tearing down the police , which is making things worse , and more time working together on the number one issue : our safety .
A greater sense of urgency is needed before this crisis spirals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If we don ’ t act soon , here ’ s what ’ s going to happen : you ’ ll be presiding over the biggest exodus of businesses and families that this town has ever seen just as some of you are running for reelection next year , ” he added .
Several of his fellow residents said they are either planning to leave the city or have neighbors who are leaving .
“ I can tell you that recently I ’ ve been scared to walk alone by myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ m scared to even drive after dark .
Everybody around me is moving out , which is hard to deal with , ” said one resident .
“ What can I do about this situation ?
I thought about three things I can do .
First , I can move out of the city .
With all the for-sale signs in my neighborhood , I ’ m not the only person who thinks Minneapolis is no longer safe , ” said another resident , who told the council members that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every murder , shooting , break-in and any criminal act that has happened this summer.
” One woman and her husband are recovering from concussions after they were assaulted near Target Field by a man with a pipe .
“ We are in the process of looking for places outside the Minneapolis area , ” she said .
“ We even have friends now who refuse to come down and visit us because they are afraid for themselves .
I ’ m afraid to drive to work and I ’ m afraid to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the residents who addressed the committee said they have found bullet rounds in their homes .
According to the Minneapolis Police Department ’ s crime dashboard , the city has experienced 4,171 violent crimes this year — up from 3,452 in 2019 — and 15,562 property crimes .
As far as solutions go , residents said they ’ ve heard a lot from the council about “ community engagement.
” The Public Health and Safety Committee approved a resolution Thursday to hire additional employees for “ community safety engagement efforts.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t even know what that means because how can you engage a community that ’ s afraid to go out at night ?
” said one resident .
“ Not because of the pandemic but because of crime.
” Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News .
He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform , and reported for The Daily Caller .
Photo “ Minneapolis Unrest ” by Chad Davis CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--With Another Monument Vandalized, Richmond Residents Ask if Graffiti Will Ever Be Cleaned

One of the last remaining city-owned Confederate statues in Richmond was vandalized recently , raising questions about how long the graffiti littered throughout downtown and other prominent areas will remain .
After a summer of civil unrest , graffiti on monuments , buildings , sidewalks and even some houses has become a normal sight for those who visit or live in the city of Richmond .
The latest statue tagged with graffiti was the A.P .
Hill monument , located at the intersection of Hermitage Road and West Laburnum Avenue in Richmond ’ s northside .
The monument was spray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early morning hours on Friday According to the Richmond Police Department ( RPD ) public affairs division , at approximately 7:21 a.m. on Friday a 4th precinct RPD officer noticed several writings on the statue .
Some of the spray paint included scribblings of : BLM , Stoney=Foney , Trump=Nazi and wear a mask .
Hill is also buried underneath the monument .
This incident is just one out of thousands of cases of graffiti throughout the city and it raises the question of when the spray paint will actually be removed after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ E. Lee monument is still almost completely covered in graffiti and many storefronts or buildings that line Broad Street , as well as other avenues , feature graffiti almost every block .
One organization working to slowly return Richmond , a city known for its beauty , back to normal by removing graffiti is Strength and Unity Virginia , a nonprofit community organization .
“ I saw all of what was going on downtown , ” Said Bobby Eberth , President and CEO of Strength and Unity Virgina , in an interview with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I saw that , I [ thought ] how is this acceptable with all the profanities , vulgarities and hate speech against police and race ?
How is this something that is positive where people will take a picture in front and smile with their kids ?
” Eberth specifically pointed out that the idea of removing graffiti did not come from spite against any group of people or organization and that he views every person as equal , even vetting those who wanted to join the team for bias .
Since beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his team have removed graffiti from a number of monuments , businesses and homes in Richmond .
So far , the group has cleaned the Jefferson Davis monument , the Confederate soldiers and sailors monument , the Matthew Fontaine Maury monument , Jeb Stuart , Stonewall Jackson , the Christopher Columbus statue in Byrd park , the Arthur Ashe monument , statues and gravestones in Evergreen cemetery and the Slavery Reconciliation statue , Eberth said .
Because many of the graffitied monuments and statues relate to the Confederacy , a hotbed topic in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition while at a site cleaning .
“ We ’ ve had people approach us , cuss at us , you know that kind of stuff , ” Eberth said .
“ We ’ ve had [ people ] just approach us and threaten us .
We even had one person , who is under RPD investigation right now , that assaulted us.
” Despite the work from Strength and Unity Virginia much of the graffiti remains , which is supposed to be removed by the city ’ s Department of Public Works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed that a team member had called the DPW about cleaning up the graffiti and was told that the city was not going to do anything about it .
Eberth also said he has not seen DPW workers to get rid of the spray paint The Star reached out to the DPW several times to inquire about their plans to remove the graffiti , but did not get a response by press time .
Another organization that has been working to clean up the city , and just recently began removing graffiti , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean , safe and green initiative .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-12--TRUMPDATE: Latest From the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 12

Welcome to the Monday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update !
We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 ( and after…if need be ! )
.
It ’ s officially 22 days until the election on November 3 – and 19 days until early voting in Virginia closes .
The deadline to register to vote in time for the 2020 election is TOMORROW , October 13 .
The Commission on Presidential Debates reversed course and cancelled the second presidential debate originally scheduled for this Thursday .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the commission decided the debate between the president and Joe Biden would be conducted virtually .
But President Trump made it very clear that he wouldn ’ t participate in a virtual debate .
The president said he had been feeling better , and on Saturday the president ’ s doctor , Dr. Sean Conley , said Mr. Trump no longer posed a threat to transmit COVID-19 and cleared him to end his isolation .
The president ’ s website indicates Mr. Trump will be in Sanford , Florida tonight , Johnstown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iowa on Wednesday speaking at campaign rallies .
President Trump appeared at his first public campaign event over the weekend at the White House .
In Virginia , the Team Trump campaign will make that last-ditch effort to get voters registered in time to participate in the 2020 election .
If you haven ’ t registered to vote , and you are eligible , do not wait !
On Sunday , John Pence and Republican candidate for Congress Nick Freitas appeared at a campaign event in Culpeper .
Freitas is in a tightly-contested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 7th Congressional District seat .
Millions of dollars have been poured into both campaigns , a key race for Republicans in the commonwealth .
A Richmond Times-Dispatch article out Sunday indicated that while Spanberger has a sizeable lead in fundraising , Freitas outpaces Spanberger in spending by outsiders , including PACs .
The Freitas campaign has channeled a lot of the same strategy the Trump campaign has , emphasizing in-person interactions and making phone calls .
Check back every day for more Trump Virginia campaign updates !
If you want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need signs email Fredericks or Justin Rice .
To Donate to our Virginia campaign click here .
For more information , or to sign up to become a volunteer , click here .
John Fredericks is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star .
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .