thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Vanderbilt Coronavirus Modelers Revise Hospitalization Estimates Down from the Thousands to About 30

Vanderbilt Coronavirus Modelers Revise Hospitalization Estimates Down from the Thousands to About 300

A Vanderbilt coronavirus model has revised its estimated count of current Tennessee hospitalizations from the thousands to nearly 300 .
The current model is available here .
Vanderbilt University Medical Center a month ago began releasing weekly models of possible coronavirus transmission and hospitalizations in regions of the state .
As of May 11 , 275 were currently hospitalized with COVID-19 .
The total number ever hospitalized was 1,363 .
Last month , they said hospitalizations in Tennessee could by early May could hit up to 5,000 or even 15,000 .
The researchers say their revisions come as the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may change the transmission rate later .
There are two important things to know about the data presented here .
First , with an incubation period of up to 14 days , cases reported through this week likely reflect infections transmitted up to 2 weeks ago .
Second , because of this time lag , we believe it is too early to assess the impact of businesses reopening across the state or of more Tennesseans resuming activities outside their homes .
Therefore , data presented here should be considered a new “ baseline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Calculations using state data received through May 11 show the statewide transmission number , or “ R , ” to be 0.96 ( Confidence interval : 0.90 – 1.04 ) .
Transmission numbers in the regions around Nashville and Memphis are similarly estimated at around 1.0 ( Nashville area : 0.92-1.09 , Memphis area : 0.91-1.10 ) .
The researchers also say the spike in cases recently may be due to the fact that the state is testing large numbers of people in “ congregate settings , ” meaning nursing homes and prisons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .

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


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Commentary: The Intolerant, Ingrate Left Wants Christians to Stop Helping COVID-19 Victims

Just as soon as the Christian organization Samaritan ’ s Purse came to the aid of overwhelmed New York City officials and sick residents struggling to combat the effects of COVID-19 , New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson decided the diverse , “ tolerant , ” progressive city had enough of its assistance , due to its Christian foundation , and effectively kicked the charity out .
While it ’ s usually Christians who are scolded for their so-called intolerant beliefs that are rooted in centuries-old religious traditions , here it seems like it ’ s progressives who aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embracing views that are different than theirs—even if those very views inform their acts of charity and medical care .
Samaritan ’ s Purse is , of course , a renowned Christian relief organization that focuses mostly on offering medical aid in times of crises , setting up emergency field hospitals in disease-ridden , war-torn , or terrorist-ravaged hot spots around the world .
It has gone everywhere from the Bahamas to Mozambique to Iraq and has treated everything from injuries caused by ISIS to Ebola .
Now , it ’ s helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York and Italy .
When COVID-19 began to overwhelm New York City just a few weeks ago—at the peak of what we now think was the frightening “ curve ” of the outbreak—Samaritan ’ s Purse arrived , built a giant tent hospital in Central Park with the full knowledge and cooperation of the nearby highly acclaimed Mount Sinai Health System , and went to work .
Here ’ s what Samaritan ’ s Purse accomplished , according to its website : We operated our respiratory care unit in Central Park from April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partnership with the Mount Sinai Health System , we treated more than 300 coronavirus patients in New York , including 190 at the park site .
More than 240 relief specialists served at various times on the Disaster Assistance Response Team there .
We ran a similar medical facility outside of Milan , Italy , that opened on March 20 and closed May 7 .
The 14-tent unit was set up adjacent to the Cremona Hospital in order to treat an overflow of coronavirus patients .
Our DC-8 aircraft made two airlifts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 20 tons of supplies , and a large Disaster Assistance Response Team .
Those efforts sound not only peaceful and benign , but also quite remarkable .
Not so , according to a number of New York City officials , who started a culture war where there wasn ’ t even a battle—except for those fighting for their lives due to COVID-19 .
According to a May 4 New York Post column , “ Four local Democratic members of Congress—Reps .
Jerry Nadler , Carolyn Maloney , Adriano Espaillat , and [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mount Sinai expressing their ‘ concern ’ about the group ’ s efforts and demanding to know how it had received permission to operate in Central Park.
” Combine that with Johnson ’ s tweets and you have yourself a culture war coup d ’ etat .
Johnson specifically called out the organization ’ s religious views , tweeting they were too exclusive and hateful : Their continued presence here is an affront to our values of inclusion , and is painful for all New Yorkers who care deeply about the LGBTQ community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to supporting [ health care workers ] and protecting our city ’ s public health .
But as a city that values diversity and compassion for all , we can ’ t continue allowing a group with their track record to remain here when we ’ re past the point they ’ re needed .
Mount Sinai must sever its relationship with Samaritan ’ s Purse .
Its leader calls the LGBTQ community ‘ detestable ’ and ‘ immoral.
’ He says being gay is ‘ an affront to God , ’ and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enemy.
’ … Johnson concluded his tweetstorm : “ Hate has no place in our beautiful city.
” Samaritan ’ s Purse did indeed leave a few days later , although it ’ s unclear whether those tweets motivated it or whether it had already planned to leave New York City on May 5 .
Johnson ’ s interpretation that Samaritan ’ s Purse is a bigoted , hateful organization because it espouses traditional Christian beliefs—specifically , that marriage is between a man and a woman—is not a new lens through which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t make it accurate .
Even before the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015 , that was the premise of virtually every LGBTQ group , the plaintiff in that 2015 court case , the ACLU , and many others .
Since when is it “ bigotry ” to hold sincere religious beliefs that people have practiced for centuries ?
The LGBTQ community claims to advocate tolerance and inclusion , but it is inviting and welcoming only when everyone believes what it does , even when , as we saw here , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis—has nothing to do with political ideology .
There ’ s no evidence that Samaritan ’ s Purse came to New York City to condemn gay marriage or even to spread the Gospel .
From the sound of it , Samaritan ’ s Purse pitched its tent , gave medical care to patients suffering with COVID-19 , and after a few weeks , or perhaps when its presence became controversial , it left .
There is still a cultural divide between Christians and LGBTQ groups and their supporters .
That ’ s unfortunate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over that and desire harmony with everyone without compromising their beliefs .
I ’ m sure many in the LGBTQ community do as well .
It ’ s possible that divide may always exist , but I wish that Christians could maintain their beliefs and still extend courtesy and grace , and that people like the New York City Council speaker would be as inclusive and tolerant as they claim to be toward Christians trying to help them .
Nicole Russell is a contributor to The Daily Signal .
Her work has appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times , National Review , Politico , The Washington Times , The American Spectator , and Parents Magazine .
Photo “ Samaritan ’ s Purse Volunteers ” by Samaritan ’ s Purse .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Poll: 40 percent of Americans More Likely to Home-School, Enroll Children in Virtual Schools After L

Poll: 40 percent of Americans More Likely to Home-School, Enroll Children in Virtual Schools After Lockdown

A new RealClear Opinion Research poll of 2,122 registered voters found that a strong majority surveyed support school choice and 40 percent are more likely to pursue homeschooling opportunities after COVID-19 restrictions end .
Slightly more than 40 percent polled said they are more likely to home school or virtual school after lockdowns .
Before the coronavirus shutdown , roughly 4 percent of K-12 students were in home education settings .
More than 64 percent polled said they support school choice and 69 percent support the federal Education Freedom Scholarships proposal .
The majority supporting these measures are young parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the poll found .
“ Every single family with kids in school has been incredibly disrupted by the lockdowns , ” John Schilling , president of the American Federation of Children , said in a prepared statement .
“ With 55 million students no longer in their normal educational setting , families are clearly considering new options and many are seeing the benefits of homeschooling and virtual schooling.
” Of those who said they would enroll their children in a home school , neighborhood home school co-op , or virtual school , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent were black parents .
Among the majority who support federal Education Freedom Scholarships , nearly 72 percent were between the age of 18 and 34 , 74 percent were black , and 72 percent lived in an urban area .
The scholarships are 100 percent privately funded by donations and do not take taxpayer money from local public school students or public school teachers , the U.S. Department of Education states .
Of the 64 percent of respondents who said they support school choice and the right to use the tax dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to send their child to the public or private school that best serves their needs , 67 percent were between the age of 18 and 34 , 67 percent were black , and 69 percent lived in an urban environment .
The American Federation for Children , which commissioned the poll , argues the findings indicate the need for education reform .
“ Millions of families are seeing the inadequacies of school districts that are too inflexible , ” Schilling said .
“ We owe it to our nation ’ s families and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional educational options.
” Among registered voters polled in Florida , Georgia , Kentucky and Virginia in December 2019 , more than 70 percent in each state support school choice , with the lowest support of 71 percent reported in Virginia and the highest support of 79 percent in Georgia .
Nationwide , since the first school choice poll was conducted in January 2015 for the American Federation for Children , a strong majority has expressed support for school choice ranging from 63 percent to 73 percent .
– – – Bethany Blankley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Nashville Police Arrest Ex-Convict, Who Wasn’t Supposed to Have a Gun, for Allegedly Robbing Someone

Nashville Police Arrest Ex-Convict, Who Wasn’t Supposed to Have a Gun, for Allegedly Robbing Someone at Gunpoint

An ex-convict in Tennessee is in jail once again this week for allegedly robbing and shooting a 55-year-old man .
This , according to a press release Nashville officials put out this week about Denevie K. Bell .
“ The victim was walking when Bell , 38 , allegedly robbed him at gunpoint .
During the hold-up , the victim was shot in the side .
He was transported to Skyline Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries .
After the shooting , Bell fled in a burgundy Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by accused accomplice Damon Sales , 19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the fact and remains jailed in lieu of $ 1,000 bond , ” according to the press release .
“ Investigation by Madison Precinct detectives led to the identification of Bell as the gunman .
Officers yesterday located Bell hiding in the back seat of a parked vehicle near his Charles E. Davis Boulevard residence .
He was taken into custody after attempting to flee on foot .
An arrest warrant charging him with especially aggravated robbery was issued late last night .
He is also charged with resisting arrest and assaulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities charged Bell with a string of aggravated street robberies involving holding up women at gunpoint , the press release said .
“ He has been out on bond in the 2015 cases , which remain unresolved .
Bell was arrested on charges of gun theft and unlawful gun possession in April and was released on $ 27,000 bond .
He is now charged with violating bond conditions .
Bell has prior convictions for aggravated robbery and carjacking.
” This is not the first time authorities in Tennessee have arrested a convicted criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though the person legally wasn ’ t allowed to have it .
As The Tennessee Star reported in February officials charged a Madison man with carjacking , brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence , and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm .
Officials charged Devan Javon Thompson , 31 , of Madison .
As The Star reported last year , Justin Jerome Jones pleaded guilty in November in U.S. District Court to three counts of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Nashville man , Kevin Mark Paul , in U.S. District Court to 15 years in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Author Scott Turow Joins The Tennessee Star Report to Talk About His New Novel: ‘The Last Trial’

American author and lawyer Scott Turow joined The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – Friday morning on the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Turow discussed what inspired his newest novel “ The Last Trial ” where he continues to follow the aging life of much-loved attorney Sandy Stern who made his debut in the novel turned Hollywood blockbuster “ Presumed Innocent.
” He went onto discuss one of his and his fan ’ s favorite characters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and gave a glimpse into the premise of the story .
Leahy : We are joined now by one of my personal favorite authors .
One of the all-time crime legal thriller writers Scott Turow .
Welcome , Scott !
Turow : Thank you , Michael .
I ’ m glad to be with you .
Leahy : It ’ s a real highlight of my radio broadcasting career to have you on here .
By the way , you and I were on the Harvard campus at about the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1978 .
I was there as an undergrad in 1977 .
Unfortunately , we never crossed paths .
You wrote a fabulous book called “ One L ” about your experiences then .
You are still selling 30,000 of those a year ?
Turow : Yes .
“ One L ” continues to sell much to my amazement because its 42 or 43 years later as we both remember .
And the book is still pretty popular especially with people going to law school or that are thinking about it or their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recall your famous movie made out of your book , “ Presumed Innocent ” with Harrison Ford .
A big blockbuster made over two million back then .
Your latest book is called the “ Last Trial ” and it continues the story of Sandy Stern ’ s trials who is the defense attorney there and he ’ s now in his 80s .
If you don ’ t mind , I have to tell you that I read the prologue of this and its the best prologue I ’ ve ever read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s just very compelling .
Turow : Thank you .
I think my editor who suggested the prologue head of Grand Central Publishing Ben Severe he will take a deep bow for that .
Leahy : Well , he should .
It ’ s very interesting .
Can I give a little bit away on the prologue ?
Turow : Oh .
Go for it .
Leahy : It starts with this : A woman shrieks in a courtroom .
Well , that ’ s interesting .
Why ?
And the protagonists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harrison Ford character way back when in “ Presumed Innocent ” he ’ s in his 80s and this is his last trial .
He ’ s on the floor not breathing and they ’ re trying to fix him and they are saying he ’ s not going to make it .
Now my favorite character of this , he works with his daughter who is a paralegal named Pinky Stern .
She ’ s got a nail in her nose .
When grandpa falls to the floor and there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building .
And you think well what ’ s she doing ?
Then she comes back with blood on her hands and she ’ s got , wait for it…a defibrillator .
And I ’ m guessing she saves grandpa but I don ’ t know yet .
What a great character .
Turow : As does the author .
If you ask me where she came from I have no idea .
There is nobody in my life like Pinky .
Leahy : I was going to ask you that because your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tattoos with an attitude .
She ’ s got like a nail in her nose .
How big is her nail by the way ?
Turow : Yes .
So she ’ s odd and knows she ’ s odd and has gotten to the stage in her life where she simply embraces it .
And she ’ s outspoken .
Often inappropriately .
And very very convinced about the correctness of her own opinions which sometimes have a considerable basis as it turns out and sometimes are just completely wrong .
Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s the one who took the right steps to save her grandfather .
Turow : Right .
Right .
Right .
That ’ s a very good guess and certainly , that ’ s the right thing to do in any event .
Everybody else in the courtroom has been rushing to Sandy Stern ’ s aid and she ’ s the one who thinks , wait a minute there may be equipment at hand that could save his life .
Leahy : Exactly .
Why after you ’ ve introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1980s was the first time you introduced him in “ Presumed Innocent ?
” He successfully defended the Harrison Ford character there .
Turow : Played by Raul Julia by the way in the movie just to orient your listeners .
Leahy : Yes .
The late great Raul Julia .
He did a great job in that movie .
Turow : Absolutely .
Absolutely .
Although Raul Julia who was about six foot three and a very handsome man with a full head of hair is nothing like the character I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steve describes elsewhere in another of my novels he ’ s basically dumpy .
And you would walk past him on the street without noticing anything .
But when he stands up in the courtroom it ’ s like he has a beacon inside of him .
And he ’ s just one of those people whose magic when you turn him on in court .
Leahy : Why did you decide to continue this character to his last trial ?
This is a longstanding character .
His last gasp ?
His last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this story ?
Turow : Sandy Stern has made an appearance whether in the foreground or the background in every novel that I ’ ve written .
And about ten years ago I published a novel called “ Innocent ” which was the sequel to “ Presumed Innocent.
” And in that trial , Stern has advanced cancer .
And looks like he ’ s on his last legs .
So many readers wrote to me and said please please tell us that Sandy Stern is not dying .
( Leahy chuckles ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s not dying .
But as I continued to write these books and Stern made his background appearances I began asking myself , “ Well ok the guy was seriously seriously ill with cancer , what in the world could be saving him for such a prolonged period ?
” And that ’ s where I got the idea that he must have had treatment with some new wonder drug .
Turow : Well , actually the hydroxychloroquine is one that is sort of at the edges of what goes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of discussion of clinical trials for pharmaceutical products and how they work .
And the problem in the Last Trial is not that this wonder drug invented by Stern ’ s long time friend Doctor Carol Pasco and the winner of the Nobel Prize in medicine .
The problem isn ’ t that it doesn ’ t work .
It ’ s a very successful therapy for many cancer patients .
The problem is that after you ’ ve been taking it for about a year there is a small cohort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They have a sudden allergic reaction .
And the issue really a moral and legal issue .
But it ’ s one where the FDA has a pretty firm position which is if patients are going to take a drug like Gelivia or hydroxychloroquine they can only do it if they have fair warning about what all the side effects are and if those risks of those side effects outweigh the benefits of the drug .
So Carol has not disclosed the fact that people can not only have their lives prolonged but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And so he ’ s now on trial for fraud , for insider trading and even for murder .
And he was the guy who got Gelivia this wonder drug to Stern .
And so he now comes back to Stern I saved your life now you save mine .
Leahy : As you wrote this Scott were you at all watching the unveiling drama of this high profile research company called Theranos out in Silicon Valley with Elizabeth Holmes ?
She ’ s on trial now too .
Turow : Yes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how you pronounce the name of the company .
You said Theranos .
Inside my head I always said Thera-Nos .
Leahy : You could be right .
Turow : I could be wrong too .
( Leahy laughs ) I did read quite a bit about what when on there .
A case I read a lot about was Biox .
Sort of like Sandy Stern my interest in Biox was that I ’ ve got a bad back and I ’ ve always have taken it .
And Merck the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market even though many of their Doctors knew that it caused heart problems .
There never was a criminal prosecution as I recall .
There were several celebrated civil trials that cost Merck a fortune because they had not let people know that this drug could exacerbate complicated heart conditions .
And a point of fact that Biox is no longer on the market .
The FDA and Merck and everybody else decided that the risk of a heart attack as compared to having your back pain just wasn ’ t worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Last Trial by Scott Turow .
Go to www.scottturow.com .
Scott , I hope you come back .
You are a big golfer , right ?
Leahy : We might have a bit of a nice surprise for you next time you come back .
Scott Turow , thanks for joining us .
Turow : Michael , thank you very much for that .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ The Last Trial ” by Amazon .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Google Employees Blame Conservative Backlash for Canceled Racial Justice Program

Google acknowledged nixing an internal racial justice program Wednesday , and some employees believe the company did it fearing lawsuits from “ right-wing employees , ” according to an NBC News report .
The company ended Sojourn in 2019 , claiming the program designed to teach about racial injustice was too difficult to expand beyond the United States , NBC News reported Wednesday .
Current and former employees , however , told NBC the program ended because Google feared backlash in the wake of former software engineer James Damore ’ s 2018 lawsuit that accused the company of ideological discrimination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for cutting Sojourn is that the company doesn ’ t want to be seen as anti-conservative , ” one Google employee told NBC in an interview after asking for anonymity for fear of reprisal for talking to the media .
“ It does not want to invite lawsuits or claims by right-wing white employees about Google discriminating against them.
” Damore was fired in 2017 for internally publishing a memo outlining his views on gender differences and how they affect females in the tech industry .
The memo , which was leaked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s view that there is a lack of freedom to express personal opinions at Google .
Damore asked the court on May 8 to dismiss his lawsuit after entering into a written agreement with Google .
Three other people who applied for jobs at Google-affiliated companies joined the lawsuit , alleging they were unduly turned down due to diversity hiring quotas .
Google ’ s chief diversity officer Melonie Parker disputed the allegations , telling NBC that , “ We ’ re really maturing our programs to make sure we ’ re building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked on diversity training programs throughout 2019 were transferred to other projects , according to the current and former employees cited by NBC .
The employees said that other training programs like Google ’ s DEI for Managers and Allyship 101 have similarly been cut , noting that discussing diversity became taboo , too .
“ In 2018 , after all the Damore stuff , the higher-ups stopped saying the word diversity and were instead saying D & I , as in D ampersand I , ” one current employee told NBC , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inclusion initiatives .
“ Google has never shied away from using the word diversity .
We have always used that word .
We are not directing anyone not to use this word anymore , ” she said .
Some reports indicate that Google ’ s anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies include discussion about transgender issues .
Google ’ s anti-harassment training material contains instructions on the use of preferred pronouns , including ones for individuals who believe they are non-binary , the Daily Caller reported in July 2019 .
The materials instructed Google employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and flag “ any harassment , discrimination , or other inappropriate conduct.
” Neither Google nor Damore attorney Harmeet Dhillon responded to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .
Chris White is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo by Google .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Montgomery County Sued For Doling Out Coronavirus Money to Illegal Aliens

Montgomery County , Maryland , a sanctuary jurisdiction that garnered national attention in 2019 for a string of alleged rapes by illegal aliens , is being sued for allotting millions in coronavirus relief funds to its undocumented community .
Two residents in Montgomery County sued county executive Marc Elrich , a Democrat , and the director of the Department of Health and Human Services for green-lighting a program that provides direct financial assistance to illegal aliens who live in the county , but are not eligible for any federal or state relief , according to The Washington Post .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard Jurgena and Sharon Bauer said that Montgomery County ’ s Emergency Assistance Relief program violates federal law .
The two residents are being represented by Judicial Watch , a conservative legal organization .
The Montgomery County Council , made up entirely of Democrats , unanimously approved a $ 5 million program in April that provides direct cash assistance to low-income residents .
The Emergency Assistance Relief Payment program , a response to the economic turmoil caused by coronavirus , was introduced at the request of the county executive .
The funds dole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 1,450 to low-income households that don ’ t otherwise qualify for state or federal benefits .
Notably , eligible recipients include those who do not have a Social Security number , which would qualify certain illegal aliens .
Jurgena and Bauer argue that this program violates federal law , which forbids illegal aliens from obtaining local and state benefits unless state law specifically allows it .
The lawsuit pointed out that the Maryland government has not given Montgomery County explicit permission to implement this program .
“ Montgomery County Executive Elrich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal authority on their own to spend taxpayer money for cash payments to illegal aliens , ” Tom Fitton , the president of Judicial Watch , said in a statement .
The lawsuit marked the latest public ire Montgomery County ’ s government has received for how it deals with those living in the country unlawfully .
The county is widely regarded as a “ sanctuary county ” for its refusal to completely work with federal immigration authorities .
Elrich signed “ The Promoting Community Trust Executive Order ” in July 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking individuals about their immigration status and largely prohibited them from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) agents .
The county had already refused to honor ICE detainer requests , and the new order was the latest sanctuary measure enacted by a deep-blue locality in response to the Trump administration ’ s crackdown on illegal immigration .
However , Montgomery County and its new sanctuary policy soon became the focus of national media attention after a string of illegal aliens were accused of rape or sexual abuses — some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public after Montgomery County authorities refused to honor ICE detainer requests placed on them .
Amid the backlash , Elrich ultimately backpedaled on the order .
In November , a county representative said ICE agents would be allowed to pick up wanted illegal aliens in the Montgomery County jail , but only in “ identified areas.
” However , local authorities are being accused of not fully committing to this policy .
A person familiar with the new process told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Montgomery County is , in fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alien is due to be released from their jail , but that these calls are taking place at the last minute , giving agents no realistic timeframe to arrive at the jail and make an apprehension .
The source spoke off the record to discuss the matter more freely .
Beyond its refusal to help ICE agents , Montgomery County has also expanded a pilot program that provides legal representation for foreign nationals challenging deportation orders .
The county has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the program .
As for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared to “ defend what it has done , ” according to WaPo .
In another comment , Montgomery County Council President Sidney Katz said that “ it is disgraceful that any group would seek to deny essential assistance for children and families who are struggling to make ends meet.
” The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to stop the county from moving forward with the program .
A remote hearing is planned for Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland .
Jason Hopkins is a reporter for the @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Facebook Offers $100K for Developers Who Create AI to Police ‘Hateful Memes’

Facebook is working to set up an AI meme police .
The social media behemoth said it is creating a contest with a $ 100,000 prize to encourage developers to create artificial intelligence that can “ identify multimodal hate speech.
” By multimodal , they mean analyzing the image and words together .
Facebook said it created over 10,000 multimodal examples with images licensed from Getty Images to help researchers .
More information on the “ Hateful Memes ” data set is here .
The competition is hosted by DrivenData In order for AI to become a more effective tool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to understand content the way people do : holistically .
When viewing a meme , for example , we don ’ t think about the words and photo independently of each other ; we understand the combined meaning together .
This is extremely challenging for machines , however , because it means they can ’ t just analyze the text and the image separately .
They must combine these different modalities and understand how the meaning changes when they are presented together .
The Hateful Memes data set contains real hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memes from the data set , we are instead showing only merely mean examples here .
In each of these sample memes , the text phrase and the image are innocuous when considered by themselves .
The semantic content of the meme becomes mean only when the text phrase and image are considered together .
The challenge arrives just after Facebook gave plans for a new “ content oversight board , ” a censorship council that includes anti-Trump activist Pamela Karlan and Muslim Brotherhood supporter Tawakkol Karman , Summit News reported .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosetta to identify inappropriate memes , but Summit News opines it must not have been effective since the company is starting the new Hateful Memes contest .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Crom Carmichael Examines How Democrats Use 1984’s ‘Orwellian’ Language on the Average Working Men an

Crom Carmichael Examines How Democrats Use 1984’s ‘Orwellian’ Language on the Average Working Men and Women of America

Broadcasting live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – Leahy was joined in the studio by all-star panelist Crom Carmichael .
During the second hour , Carmichael discussed how Democrat governors are using language that is Orwellian in its nature while acting in a manner that proves they think they are better than the average working American .
Towards the end of the segment , the duo agreed that this was indeed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential election .
Leahy : We are joined now in the studio because it ’ s freedom week by our good friend the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael .
Crom good morning .
Carmichael : Good morning Michael .
How are you , sir ?
Leahy : I am delighted that it ’ s Friday .
Its been a long week .
Lots of news happening left and right .
Carmichael : It ’ s not just news its what the news means .
I watched an old movie last night starring Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am telling you what it is fascinating to compare .
George Orwell ’ s book ( 1984 ) for those of you who have not read it I strongly encourage you to read it .
It ’ s one of those timeless books about tyranny and groupthink and things like ignorance is strength .
It has all these slogans where one word means the opposite of the other means .
Carmichael : Peace is war and all these types of things .
Well I watched that movie and I ’ m watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have in Pennsylvania what the Democrat governors are doing , and by the way , the one Democratic Governor who stands out by not doing it is Jared Polis in Colorado .
Carmichael : He ’ s being chastised for simply not falling in line and saluting the Democrat ’ s strategy of crushing all the Americans they possibly can in the name of proving that Trump is bad .
Leahy : But Crom , it ’ s all based on science and data .
Oh but we just don ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Just believe us .
Leahy : Let ’ s look at a couple of states here that have been in the news lately .
One is Pennsylvania where you have the health director who says that they are making a concerted effort to make sure that everybody in the nursing homes is safe .
And yet this health director took her own mother out of the nursing homes .
And the number of deaths in nursing homes in Pennsylvania is only exceeded in deaths in nursing homes by the inept and terrible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York .
Its the only one .
Leahy : Pennsylvania , New Jersey , and New York all in March , the governor through their department of health issued orders to every nursing home facility .
You must accept patients who have gone to the hospital and tested positive for coronavirus .
Carmichael : I did not know that Pennsylvania had done the same thing as Cuomo .
Leahy : Well , the health director took her own mother out .
After she put that directive out .
Leahy : By the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ll leave it at that .
Carmichael : That ’ s all there is .
But the governor of Pennsylvania is telling counties that don ’ t have coronavirus problems that their businesses can not open .
Leahy : They are cowardly .
According to Tom .
Carmichael : That ’ s the point I ’ m trying to make here .
Leahy : You walked me into it .
Carmichael : Now , let ’ s move to Wisconsin where the Supreme Court of Wisconsin told the governor of Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tell some commercial businesses that they can stay open and other commercial businesses that they must be closed .
In other words , he couldn ’ t discriminate among some commercial businesses and against other commercial businesses .
Now , his response to that is to say that this is the Wild West .
I am now not allowed to do anything .
Now once again , that ’ s 1984 language .
Because I can ’ t do everything I want I ’ m not allowed to do anything I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not saying is that he can ’ t apply a standard to all nursing homes as long as its a standard that applies to all nursing homes .
But what he ’ s been doing is saying you marijuana shop and liquor stores you can stay open but the toy store , even though Walmart can stay open you can ’ t stay open .
So the Supreme Court has said you can ’ t do that .
And what ’ s fascinating is the reaction by these governors .
Hogan , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty much the same way .
Leahy : Yes , he is .
Carmichael : But the rest of them are these Democrats they just seem to lust in their glory of tyranny over working men and women .
Carmichael : Now what ’ s interesting about all this is this is actually the Democrat strategy to win in November .
Leahy : Yes , it is .
Carmichael : Now , if I recall , the unemployment rate back in January was three and a half percent .
Which meant 96.5 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : Of those who are in… Carmichael : Of those who are in the age category .
Therefore they were earning money and they wanted to work .
They would show up and they would work .
So the Democrat Party is essentially thinking if we can keep that 96 % of the people on a government check they will learn to love the government check ( i.e .
1984 ) .
They ’ ll learn to love the government check and learn to love our party and they won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t think people want to work .
Carmichael : I don ’ t think that strategy is going to work because I think they ’ re incorrect .
It ’ s inherent in human beings to want to produce and be financially independent and care for your family and not expect somebody else to do it .
Did you see that 77-year-old man who cut hair and they took his license away ?
Carmichael : That was in Michigan ?
Leahy : Whitless Whitmer is trying out to be Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This guy is 77 years old .
He says , I ’ ve been practicing all the safety things and I have been working for 50 years and I ’ m going to reopen and she took his license away from him .
I really do think it would be useful if Trump wins re-election that these Democrat governors actually be indicted .
And have their pensions taken away .
Their wealth taken away and they ’ re income taken away .
Then let them bargain to get it back by going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are better than the average American .
Leahy : Well that ’ s the problem , isn ’ t it ?
Here ’ s what ’ s interesting .
You keep hearing people saying , well , on the one hand , its the Democrat view and on the other hand its the Republican view .
That ’ s been the tradition for years and years and years in American .
But right now , look at the conduct of all these Democratic governors .
JB Pritzker in Illinois .
Condescending .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I say you can ’ t do this .
Leahy : Well not only with Pritzker , not only can you not go outside but it ’ s ok for my wife to go down to my Caribbean mansion… Leahy : And don ’ t bother me about it .
Leahy : Do not ask .
That is verboten .
I sent you this little story in the state of Washington governor Jay Inslee , Mr .
Climate change is killing the world .
They ’ re doing an enforced contact tracing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have very draconian measures .
They won ’ t let you go to the grocery store .
Carmichael : Well , they ’ re also saying that if you go into a restaurant the restaurant owner is required to take the name , address , and contact information of every person that comes into the restaurant and then give that to the government .
Leahy : As if that might now be abused ?
Huh ?
Carmichael : Let ’ s get back to , does that even work ?
And the answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know everybody in a restaurant doesn ’ t mean that you can contact trace anything because it has to be a 14-day record .
There is no way to A have a 14-day record of everybody that they came in contact with .
And even then , what do you do with it ?
How do you set up the matrix and manage it without having a government contract worth tens of hundreds or millions of dollars at the same time governments are saying I won ’ t be able to open schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money and I need to raise taxes .
Leahy : I do think though the pandemic is revealing the true character of these Democratic governors .
Carmichael : Of the party .
It ’ s not just the governors .
It ’ s the party because Biden called into the bless your heart line by the way ( Leahy laughs ) he agrees with all of them .
Carmichael : He might not tomorrow .
But he doesn ’ t have to worry .
Leahy : He won ’ t remember what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t remember what he said today .
We could talk about Biden ’ s problems here in another segment because I ’ m not sure he ’ s going to end up the Democratic nominee .
In fact it may be that they are trying to take him down .
Listen to the second hour : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Marsha Blackburn Urges Colleagues to Stay Away from Chinese Entities

After the COVID-19 outbreak , and China ’ s likely role in causing it , Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) this week asked her U.S. Senate colleagues not to meet with people who represent Chinese companies .
Blackburn said this in a letter dated Thursday .
“ Denying China an opportunity to spread Communist propaganda in congressional offices sends a warning shot to Beijing that Congress will not tolerate Beijing ’ s misinformation war over the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak , ” Blackburn wrote .
“ I therefore urge you and your staff to refuse meetings with any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether they are state owned or claim to be privately run entities , and to exercise caution when accepting meetings with Chinese officials .
Banning meetings with Chinese technology companies like Huawei , ZTE , DJI and TikTok is a long overdue sanction.
” Officials have already banned Huawei and ZTE from selling telecommunications equipment to U.S. government agencies , Blackburn said .
“ Chinese dronemaker DJI is banned from supplying U.S. airports and critical infrastructure , and it ’ s time to rethink letting state and local governments use DJI ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Beijing parent ByteDance , is blocked from the government-issued devices of U.S. military personnel and federal employees at several agencies , ” Blackburn said .
“ Their company representatives likewise can not be trusted to lobby members of Congress with the best of U.S. intentions in mind .
Blacklisting China in Congress mirrors punitive steps the executive branch has already taken .
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States routinely blocks Chinese acquisitions of American companies to guard against national security risks.
” Blackburn went on to say the Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations nationwide linked to China alone .
“ The undisputed heavyweight IP theft champion of the world does not deserve any additional credentialing , ” Blackburn said .
“ Chinese Communist Party officials and Chinese entities should be shunned in the halls of Congress.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--PBS Stations That Received Millions in Federal Funds Partnered with Chinese Foreign Agent on Pro-Bei

PBS Stations That Received Millions in Federal Funds Partnered with Chinese Foreign Agent on Pro-Beijing Film

PBS affiliates that receive millions of dollars in federal funding each year are airing a pro-Beijing documentary produced in conjunction with CGTN , a Chinese-government controlled media outlet that is registered as a foreign agent with the Justice Department .
The film , “ Voices from the Frontline : China ’ s War on Poverty , ” did not disclose CGTN ’ s links to the Chinese government .
Nor did it detail the ties that the film ’ s producer , Robert Lawrence Kuhn , has to Chinese officials and the government ’ s State Council Information Office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affiliate KOCE , known as PBS SoCal , helped produce the film and premiered it Monday .
KCET , which merged with KOCE in 2018 , will air the show on Saturday .
Other PBS affiliates , including in Idaho and Las Vegas , have either already aired the film or plan to do so later this month .
The one-hour documentary touts Chinese President Xi Jinping ’ s initiative to alleviate poverty in China by this year .
“ In the last forty years , China ’ s economic development has lifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” reads the introductory script in the film .
“ To President Xi Jinping , ending poverty is his most important task , ” the script states .
The closing credits of the documentary show that it was produced by “ The Kuhn Foundation and PBS SoCal in association with CGTN.
” One PBS SoCal employee is listed as an executive producer of the film and another is listed as a production assistant .
PBS and other publicly-funded news outlets like NPR have come under fire in recent years , with conservatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perceived liberal bias .
Other news outlets have come under scrutiny for publishing propaganda promoted by the Chinese government .
President Donald Trump has proposed defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ( CPB ) , which provides the federal dollars that go to PBS affiliates and NPR .
KCET received $ 5.6 million in funding from CPB in 2019 , according to CPB records .
The station received more than $ 1.8 million in 2018 .
KOCE received more than $ 1.8 million in 2018 and more than $ 2.2 million in 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funded through a mixture of government grants , corporate sponsorships and private donations .
While federal funding makes up a small percentage of PBS affiliates ’ revenue , the organization says that government money is crucial to its survival .
“ There is no viable replacement for federal funding – which amounts to $ 1.35 per citizen per year , ” PBS SoCal says on its website .
“ The loss of federal funding would make it difficult for local stations to operate and would cause many of them to close , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PBS system .
Loss of federal funding would also have a devastating effect on PBS ’ s ability to produce the quality content our viewers love.
” The Los Angeles Times reported in March 2017 that KOCE receives between $ 2.5 million and $ 3 million in federal funding , or 11-15 % of its budget .
The Kuhn Foundation has given $ 70,000 in grants to KOCE between 2015 and 2018 , according to tax filings .
The foundation gave $ 35,000 in 2015 and $ 17,500 in both 2017 and 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , appears to be highly regarded in China , though he is not as well known in the U.S .
He has made appearances on channels like CNN and Bloomberg over the years to discuss issues in China , but appears frequently on Beijing-controlled news outlets like CGTN , CCTV , and China Daily .
In December 2018 , Kuhn was awarded the China Reform Friendship Medal at an event held in Beijing and attended by Xi Jinping .
Kuhn ’ s personal website shows a photo of him shaking hands with Xi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the medal as “ China ’ s highest award.
” Kuhn hosted a delegation that same year to Beijing to meet with Jiang Jianguo , who served as minister of the State Council Information Office , the office reported .
The State Council is also the Chinese Communist Party ’ s Central Office of Foreign Propaganda , according to the Wilson Center .
Kuhn ’ s name previously surfaced in connection to Jeffrey Epstein , the financier who committed suicide while in jail on charges that he molested underage girls .
Epstein through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kuhn Foundation in 2017 , The Daily Beast has reported .
Epstein ’ s nonprofit also bankrolled a PBS series that Kuhn produced on spirituality called “ Closer to Truth.
” CNBC reported that Epstein contributed $ 500,000 to Kuhn ’ s project in 2018 .
Kuhn offers his views on the Chinese government on a weekly segment hosted by CGTN and through documentaries he has produced in coordination with Chinese media outlets .
Xi ’ s program to fight poverty has been one area of focus for Kuhn , as has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
“ To truly understand China , one has to recognize their genuine commitment to eradicating poverty , ” Kuhn last year told China Daily , a government-controlled outlet , of his documentary .
“ Today , in the Western world , especially in the United States , there is concern about China ’ s actions and suspicion of China ’ s motives .
But one of the things I wanted this film to do was to undermine the stereotype of China as a ruthless giant out to dominate the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case.
” “ Xi ’ s commitment and determination frames the film , informing its open and close , ” Kuhn said .
In a recent episode of “ The Watcher , ” a segment that airs on CGTN , Kuhn praised the Chinese Communist Party ’ s handling of the coronavirus outbreak .
“ China ’ s mobilization is unprecedented in global health history .
Nowhere could it work like it works in China .
The reason it works is because the party works , the Communist Party of China , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls for fighting the outbreak in an open and transparent manner .
That ’ s the key : transparency , complete transparency .
As China has done and is doing updating all confirmed patients and updating all the data everyday , ” he added .
In a televised event aired by China Daily , another outlet controlled by Beijing , Kuhn asserted that China will win praise in future generations for its response to coronavirus .
“ Future historians may well look upon China ’ s fight against the coronavirus as a turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel diseases , and stop their spread , ” Kuhn said at the event , which aired March 31 .
“ History may well thank China for pioneering how to deal with virulent contagions in a globalized world , ” he said .
Kuhn ’ s view is not shared by health experts and government officials across the world who have blamed Chinese authorities for failing to contain the virus and for providing misleading information about the early stages of the outbreak .
China has been accused of releasing false statistics about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from coronavirus .
Authorities there also offered false assurances to the World Health Organization that the coronavirus was not transmitted person to person .
Kuhn ’ s praise for Chinese leaders has earned him blowback from some China watchers .
In 2005 , The New York Times reviewed Kuhn ’ s book , “ The Man Who Changed China , ” noting that a “ secret state propaganda team ” oversaw the writing of the book .
Kuhn rebutted some of those allegations , telling China Daily in 2011 saying that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government.
” Kuhn denied being paid by Beijing .
“ I have never been paid by the Chinese government , ” he said , adding : “ I am paid by foreign companies that do business in China.
” It ’ s unclear if the PBS stations were aware of CGTN ’ s status as a foreign agent for the Chinese government .
The company formally registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act on Aug. 2 , 2019 .
A spokesman for KOCE and KCET provided the Daily Caller News Foundation with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not respond to a detailed list of questions .
PBS did not respond to a request for comment , nor did The Kuhn Foundation .
Requests for comment submitted through Kuhn ’ s personal website were also not returned .
The Chinese government has long used its propaganda arms to disseminate pro-Beijing narratives .
The initiative has involved Chinese news outlets partnering with mainstream U.S. and Western newspapers , such as The Washington Post , The New York Times , The Wall Street Journal , to publish paid inserts in those newspapers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wall Street Journal reported in November 2017 that the Chinese government was partnering with Western TV companies to produce glossy documentaries aimed at burnishing Beijing ’ s image .
The story said that Xi “ has also stepped up support for co-productions with foreign partners , including documentary tie-ups spotlighting the country ’ s culture , technological advancements and infrastructure projects.
” The report pointed to “ China : Time of Xi , ” a documentary that Discovery channel ’ s Asia division aired .
Kuhn was interviewed for the film .
Chuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Voices from the Frontline : China ’ s War on Poverty ” by CGTV .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Far-Left Group Wants Someone Other Than Jim Cooper to Represent Nashville in Congress

A left-wing group that supports , among other things , the Green New Deal has endorsed a candidate for Tennessee ’ s Fifth Congressional District , and it ’ s not Democratic incumbent Jim Cooper .
Members of that group , Democracy for America , said on their Facebook page this week that they want Nashville public defender Keeda Haynes to replace Cooper .
As The Tennessee Star reported in January , Haynes also served time in federal prison .
“ Keeda Haynes gives Democrats in Tennessee ’ s 5th District the chance to replace the wildly out-of-step , Republican-lite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bold , visionary leader who is committed to their progressive values and will bring a range of life experience that is desperately needed in the halls of Congress , ” DFA officials said .
In their statement , DFA officials also said Haynes served for a crime she did not commit .
On their main website , DFA officials said Haynes will fight what they call economic , racial , environmental , gender , and healthcare injustice .
DFA has 3,727 members in Cooper ’ s district and 18,883 in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s website .
Cooper has represented Tennessee ’ s Fifth Congressional District since 2003 .
As reported in November , Cooper recently went from opposing the Green New Deal to supporting it .
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY-14 ) released the resolution that ’ s become a central part of the Democratic agenda .
The “ Green New Deal ” resolution calls for “ 10-year national mobilizations ” towards a series of goals aimed at fighting global warming , according to a copy of the bill obtained by NPR .
A separate fact-sheet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aspect of American society on a scale not seen since World War 2.
” That includes getting all our energy needs from “ clean , renewable , and zero-emission energy sources ” by “ dramatically expanding and upgrading existing renewable power sources.
” Ocasio-Cortez ’ s non-binding resolution calls for a variety of social justice and welfare state goals , including “ a family-sustaining wage , adequate family and medical leave , paid vacations and retirement security ” and “ high-quality health care ” benefits for Americans .
The resolution calls for “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including minorities , immigrants , women , low-income workers , indigenous people and youth collectively called “ frontline and vulnerable communities.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Keeda Haynes ” by Keeda Haynes .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Nashville’s Affordable Housing Residents Aren’t Exactly Lining Up for COVID-19 Tests

Droves of people who live in Nashville ’ s affordable housing projects aren ’ t volunteering for COVID-19 tests , despite city officials initially believing they would .
Nashville Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency spokeswoman Jamie Berry told The Tennessee Star in an email Friday that only 219 residents tested Thursday at Metro ’ s Edgehill Apartments and James A. Cayce affordable housing units .
Berry also said that city officials were testing more residents on Friday .
She did not say how many residents had volunteered to take COVID-19 tests that day .
“ Free testing has been underway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our goal was to reach those who lack transportation and can ’ t get to a site , ” Berry said .
“ So , the 219 who were tested yesterday may not have been tested if this weren ’ t offered in their community .
That is a win.
” Berry said city officials had taken great lengths to advertise testing throughout these affordable housing units .
She said they posted fliers door-to-door and asked Resident Association presidents to spread the word .
As The Star reported earlier this week , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that city officials would force them to test for COVID-19 .
Last week a Nashville resident named Hatuey Hiawhatha shared a photo of what looked like Nashville Police officers and National Guard troops outside a housing project .
On her Facebook page , Staton-Backus , whose city is unlisted , refers to herself as a “ Celebrity Chef/Philanthropist/Human Rights Activist/LGBTQ Advocate/Brown Bruja Tarot Card Playa.
” Staton-Backus said the following : “ Metro Nashville Police and the National Guard are in Cayce Place doing mandatory COVID-19 testing .
Other public housing residents will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , said last week that those Facebook posts were incorrect and that testing was voluntary .
As reported , authorities are out in force and using the long arm of the law to enforce Cooper ’ s COVID-19 guidelines .
Nashville business owners must comply with all of Mayor John Cooper ’ s safety rules for COVID-19 , or else police might pay them a visit .
Metro Public Health Director Michael Caldwell said at a press conference that for the first offense county officials will tell managers how to comply — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are doing just that .
For a second infraction , county officials will deliver a warning .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Nashville Boutique Venues Owner Dan Cook Describes Mayor Cooper’s Matrix of Ridiculous and Unfair Re

Nashville Boutique Venues Owner Dan Cook Describes Mayor Cooper’s Matrix of Ridiculous and Unfair Reopening Phases

On Friday ’ s Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed the owner of Nashville Boutique Venues Dan Cook to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Cook explained where his business falls in the convoluted phases of reopening in Nashville stating that he has been unable to get anywhere at Mayor John Cooper ’ s office and in desperation has reached out to local media .
Leahy : I ’ m here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studio and joined on the line by Dan Cook .
Dan is the owner of Nashville Boutique Venues .
Two great venues .
Ruby in the Hillsboro District and Clementine in the Sylvan Park area .
And these are venues for events from 30 people to 500 people .
Dan , Mayor John Cooper apparently doesn ’ t want you to make a living .
Cook : Good morning guys .
Thanks for having me on this morning .
It ’ s pretty early in the morning for those of us who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Leahy laughs ) I need another cup of coffee .
We like all businesses that are subject to , oh gosh its convoluted four-phase matrix .
You probably have seen it .
It is a creation of government .
And it ’ s kind of like , bingo you never know where you are going to end up .
But we find ourselves in sub-column A somewhere buried and assigned a reopening allocation of people that we can have in our building and it makes absolutely no sense .
So really what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re shuttered until phase four but during that time boy , all the restaurants are open .
All the retail stores .
Green Hills Mall .
Bars are even open down on Broadway before we can open up for even a 100 person wedding .
It ’ s crazy .
Leahy : Isn ’ t there a time lag here in terms of planning these things .
Don ’ t people have to plan venues out for months at a time ?
Cook : I ’ ve had a number of these conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Dan , what ’ s in it for you .
Are you doing this only for venues ?
And my answer is no .
Ever since I started having these conversations with people weeks ago that I ’ d had enough .
I ’ m really speaking for a community that is about 20,000 people in this town .
I ’ m talking about photographers , florists , caterers , waiters , DJs , bands , wedding coordinators , calligraphers .
It goes on and on and on .
And you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
And these are people who are typically not deriving unemployment insurance because they are self-employed .
So these people are flat on their backs .
And when the mayor lets us open .
Leahy : When he deigns to allow you the privilege of opening .
Cook : Exactly .
When we get the memo that we ’ re allowed to open like restaurants were allowed to open .
Like retail was allowed to open on Monday .
People aren ’ t walking in off the street to frequent my business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets the memo she ’ s got to send out invitations .
Her guests have to book travel and hotel rooms .
We ’ re talking about at least a three-month lag .
So the way I ’ m looking at it now is my business won ’ t be substantially open for probably two months .
At three months on that and everybody in this 20,000 person eco-system is flat on their back for five months without unemployment insurance .
It is a disaster .
And what makes it even worse this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matrix of the mayor ’ s with literally a stroke of the pen .
It is a zero-cost five-minute fix if they apply themselves .
Leahy : What do you recommend Dan ?
Cook : ( Scoffs ) Let me give you an example of the injustice here .
So we are , my private events venues are allowed to open up today with no more than 10 people at a private wedding .
In phase two , which is gosh knows when the mayor will allow that to happen , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
And in phase three up to 100 people .
And then some time in the distance phase four more than 100 people .
However today , at a restaurant or a retailer they can open up to 50 % capacity so that ’ s a percentage of their occupancy .
Whereas I ’ m given a flat number .
Let me put that in perspective .
When the government starts playing with numbers like this the moral hazard is severe .
So imagine the biggest venue you can think of in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Skirmmerhorn .
You name it .
Today they can have a wedding with no more than 10 people .
But if I have a bachelorette bus downtown that ’ s also a venue .
And they can have up to 10 people .
So it is regardless of size .
So we are treated as an industry totally different than retailers , restaurants , and even bars .
In phase three the Honkey Tonks can open up at 50 % capacity .
And you ’ ve seen some of those which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about capacity over 1,000 people .
And at that point in the future , I can have a wedding of no more than 100 people .
That ’ s crazy .
Carmichael : What is your capacity in your venues ?
I see where you are headed and it makes , by the way , perfect sense to me that if the mayor putting people in the other businesses the limiting to a percentage of capacity it would seem that it should apply to you .
What are the capacities of your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ruby which is in Hillsboro village , the capacity there is 200 people .
So relatively small .
However at Clementine Hall on Charlotte Avenue in Sylvan Park , that has a capacity of 794 .
So even occupancy of 25 % of our capacity would be fairly significant .
So that would essentially bump us up a phase or two in this convoluted reopening process .
and what that does and if you think about this in economic terms it really cuts off that three month tail of uncertainty for brides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting 10 calls from brides and corporate events that have booked three , five , and twelve months out in advance asking can I still have my event for fill in the blank .
215 people on July 28 ?
And my answer is always I have no idea .
Who knows what side of the bed the mayor is going to wake up on .
Carmichael : Your capacity is determined not by you but by the fire marshall is that correct ?
Cook : That ’ s correct .
Every single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the fire marshall .
Carmichael : It ’ s not you exaggerating your capacity so that you can get more people in .
It ’ s just saying the fire marshall has said my venue can have 200 .
That ’ s my capacity .
Restaurant ’ s fire marshall says a restaurant can have 200 .
So that ’ s their capacity .
Carmichael : And in addition to that are you in a position when people come to a scheduled venue can you do some safety things as people come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Absolutely .
You were dead on there .
Every restaurant and every retail store has an occupancy number given to them by the city .
And they are all opening upon a percentage basis as we discussed .
I do occasionally get asked about health and safety and what we can do .
Of course , we can implement all the health and safety measures that a retail store , a restaurant , or a bar implement .
But further , let me just tell you that those are public-facing businesses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in off the street and enter a restaurant .
However , at my businesses , they are all private events .
Carmichael : Yes .
They are invited , guests .
Cook : They are invited guests so a lot of people already know each other .
The important thing to know is because I have a contract with a client , let ’ s say a bride , excuse the analogy , I have one throat to choke here .
So if I need to implement a measure I can do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leahy : What is the solution here ?
What do you want us to do to help you get back in business ?
Cook : You are fantastic !
Obviously we have a great community there that have all been making phone calls .
I have to say that coming on this show and really going to the media has been an act of desperation on our part .
The mayor ’ s office has been really quiet .
It ’ s not that they ’ ve come back with problems or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s been crickets .
Carmichael : Are the TV stations the local stations , have you told them about your plight and the plight of 20,000 other Nashvillians ?
Cook : I just learned that I got picked up on Channel 2 this morning and I haven ’ t seen it .
I think Channel 4 and 5 may be shortly behind them .
Maybe even Fox .
Carmichael : Good .
Because they ought to be crusading on your behalf .
Leahy : Dan , will you come back next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ve made any progress and if the mayor ’ s office has talked to you and solved the problem ?
Cook : Absolutely I ’ d love to come back .
I ’ ll come back anytime you gentlemen want to have me .
Leahy : Next Friday at 7:15 a.m. Dan will give us his report .
Thanks so much for joining us .
Listen to the third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Commentary: Sweden’s COVID-19 Strategy Is Quietly Becoming the World’s Strategy

Sweden ’ s unique approach to the COVID-19 pandemic has been drawing a great deal of scrutiny for weeks , including both admiration and criticism .
The Swedes , unlike most other nations , have eschewed the hardline approach that has led to mass economic shutdowns and skyrocketing unemployment .
Restaurants , bars , public pools , libraries and most schools remain open .
While the nation ’ s “ laissez-faire ” approach has drawn rebuke from some quarters , it is also beginning to draw praise .
Officials at the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , we pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s approach “ represents a model ” to nations seeking to end the lockdowns that have caused widespread economic disruption and placed the global economy at risk .
In a sense , Sweden has become a coronavirus touchstone .
Critics point out that Sweden ’ s per capita COVID-19 death rate is higher than several of its Scandanivan neighbors—Finland , Denmark , and Norway .
Proponents point out that Sweden ’ s death rate is lower than many of its European neighbors—Belgium , France , the United Kingdom , Spain , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point out that Sweden has “ flattened the curve , ” noting that the nation of 10 million has not seen its hospitals overrun or experienced medical equipment shortages .
The debate over Sweden will no doubt continue .
However , it ’ s important to remember that actions speak louder than words .
So what are nations actually doing ?
As scholars observed in a Foreign Affairs article published Tuesday , nations around the world are quietly embracing Sweden ’ s strategy .
“ Whether or not they have openly embraced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now trying to emulate aspects of it .
Both Denmark and Finland have reopened schools for young children , ” wrote Professors Nils Karlson , Charlotta Stern , and Daniel B. Klein .
“ Germany is allowing small shops to reopen .
Italy will soon reopen parks , and France has a plan to allow some nonessential businesses to reopen , including farmers ’ markets and small museums , as well as schools and daycare centers.
” A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report shows US states are moving in a similar direction .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing measures to various degrees ( see graph below ) .
“ Non-essential ” businesses are being allowed to reopen .
Stay-at-home orders are being eased or rescinded .
In-person dining is returning .
Bans on large gatherings are being lifted .
This does not mean all restrictions will suddenly be lifted ; most establishments will almost certainly have capacity limits .
Nor does it mean there is no additional work ahead .
States transitioning from lockdown orders will no doubt have plenty of work to keep them busy—enhanced contact tracing efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect at-risk populations .
But this has largely been the Swedish model from the very beginning .
The reason others are finally embracing it , I suspect , is two-fold .
First , the initial goal of “ flattening the curve ” has been realized .
The lockdowns , it ’ s important to remember , were never intended as a permanent measure .
It was a first step of a larger plan , one designed to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed .
“ Most of the models suggest that ‘ flattening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one so you don ’ t overrun medical systems , but you ’ ve got to have a phase two , ” says David L. Katz , an American physician and former director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center .
“ If you don ’ t transition to a phase two , whenever you release the clamps the virus is out in the world waiting for you , everyone is vulnerable , and that big peak in cases , and that big peak in deaths that you ’ re trying to avoid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The problem , of course , is that somehow we became stuck in phase one .
But as Katz points out , in such a case you don ’ t really prevent deaths ; you just change the dates .
The Swedish physician Johan Giesecke recently offered a similar take in The Lancet .
“ It has become clear that a hard lockdown does not protect old and frail people living in care homes—a population the lockdown was designed to protect , ” Giesecke wrote .
“ Measures to flatten the curve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown only pushes the severe cases into the future—it will not prevent them.
” The wildcard , of course , has always been the hope that a vaccine or new miracle drugs might be quickly developed .
That remains a possibility , but it ’ s a highly unlikely one , as NIAID Director Anthony Fauci admits .
Which brings me to the second reason I think nations are adopting Sweden ’ s approach .
Nations are essentially left with a simple choice : maintain lockdowns and hope a vaccine ( or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Eric Garceitti puts it ) is developed or begin to ease restrictions .
Nations are slowly embracing the latter , and it ’ s not hard to see why .
The social and economic costs of these lockdowns are clear—and staggering : tens of millions of jobs suddenly gone , Great Depression-level unemployment , and nations around the world staggering into recessions .
( The psychological toll of the shutdowns is harder to quantify , but media reports show suicide prevention hotlines are seeing record surges . )
While there is little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the lockdowns , their benefits are less clear , evidenced by Sweden and other states that have eased lockdowns and not seen an explosion in deaths .
In fact , several scholars have argued that data suggest lockdowns haven ’ t worked at all .
“ We don ’ t need to have a national debate about whether the economic costs of lockdowns outweigh their public health benefits , because lockdowns do not provide public health benefits , ” wrote economist Lyman Stone , an adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article .
Although Stone is not the only scholar to make such a claim , it ’ s fair to see this position as an outlier .
But the degree to which the lockdowns were or were not beneficial is a subject for another day .
What matters is that presently nations and states are acting , not waiting around in the hope that someone develops a vaccine or “ cure ” ( which typically take years to develop ) .
To glean true preferences one doesn ’ t listen to what someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Behavior is what reveals true human preferences , economists point out , not their words .
“ Action is a real thing .
What counts is a man ’ s total behavior , and not his talk about planned but not realized acts , ” the famed economist Ludwig von Mises observed in Human Action .
“ Neither is value in words and doctrines .
It is reflected in human conduct .
It is not what a man or groups of men say about value that counts , but how they act.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right now , the world is quietly moving toward Sweden ’ s laissez-faire approach .
For those weary of state-enforced economic lockdowns that have caused vast economic harm and resulted in unprecedented violations of civil liberties , that ’ s an encouraging sign .
Jonathan Miltimore is the Managing Editor of FEE.org .
His writing/reporting has been the subject of articles in TIME magazine , The Wall Street Journal , CNN , Forbes , Fox News , and the Star Tribune .
Photo “ Sweeden Market ” by Sharon Hahn Darlin .
CC @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Michigan Conservative Coalition to Host ‘Operation Haircut’ on Capitol Lawn on May 20

The Michigan Conservative Coalition is planning to hold another protest in Lansing , just a month after hosting Operation Gridlock .
The protest , dubbed “ Operation Haircut , ” was inspired by the Michigan barber in Owosso who opened in defiance of the state ’ s lockdown orders .
Karl Manke , 77 , had originally opened his barbershop on May 4 , but was ticketed by Michigan State Police and ordered to close .
He recently had his license revoked after a judge denied the state a temporary restraining order .
“ Michigan ’ s small business owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough is enough .
Our Governor ’ s actions show every day that this is no longer about the China virus .
Her actions show this is now about a progressive radical agenda , ” said Marian Sheridan , a co-founder of the Michigan Conservative Coalition , in a statement .
“ Dope shops are open , abortion mills churn on , but barber shops are , somehow , unsafe .
Show us that ‘ science , ’ Governor !
” The protest will bring free haircuts to the Michigan Capitol lawn on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those attending are encouraged to practice proper social distancing and wear face coverings , the MCC said .
“ Citizens are tired of being treated like babies , ” said Meshawn Maddock , Chair of the 11th District Republican Committee , in a statement .
“ As adults , we know what needs to be done to stay safe .
Any citizen has the right to participate , or not participate , in Operation Haircut .
Lansing elites love to tell everyone else how to live .
That is not freedom .
Citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Phase 3 of Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s MI Safe Start Plan , meaning that only construction , outdoor work , manufacturing and real estate business are permitted to open , in addition to essential businesses .
“ Operation Haircut is designed to demonstrate the insanity still rampant in Lansing , ” Sheridan said .
“ Michigan needs to be reopened now to end the reign of Michigan ’ s power hungry bureaucrats.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--National Guard Deployed to Nursing Homes, as Senator Housley Suggested

Senator Karin Housley has been pushing for testing in nursing homes and on May 14 the National Guard was rolled out .
National Guard workers are currently assigned to help test people .
According to KNSI radio , the Guards are trained medics , and many of them work clinical jobs .
The Governors of Pennsylvania , Colorado , California , Maryland , Georgia , and Florida had all deployed the national guard by late April .
“ Weeks ago , I urged the governor and his administration to conduct universal testing at long-term care facilities , where approximately 81 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota .
I also urged the governor to deploy the Minnesota National Guard to help with testing and other urgent needs .
These facilities are home to thousands of elderly and vulnerable Minnesotans .
I am pleased to see the administration finally taking action to help those living in long-term care settings , ” said Senator Housley in a statement .
Senator Housley has asked Governor Walz to deploy the Minnesota National Guard and sent a letter to the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health .
Governor Walz has agreed to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that happening , she said “ … I do want to thank the Governor and Commissioner Malcolm for listening , we really need to save the lives of those in our long term care facilities .
Housley cited the significance of the staff of long-term care facilities , saying , “ The staff needs to be testing because that ’ s how the virus is spreading from building to building.
” As of May 14th , 82 % of people who have died from Covid-19 were 70 or above .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Minnesota Citizens Protest Shutdown Again Outside Govs’s Mansion

Hundreds of protestors congregated in front of Governor Tim Walz ’ s executive mansion , Thursday , to protest Minnesota ’ s thrice extended economic shutdowns .
The demonstration began around noon , as concerned citizens lined the street outside the governor ’ s mansion holding protest signs and flags as vehicles adorned with anti-shutdown messages drove slowly down Summit Avenue in St. Paul .
Those in attendance aimed to express their displeasure with how Walz has handled Minnesota ’ s COVID-19 response .
Walz ’ s original economic shutdown orders were only intended to last 10 days beginning March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor declared his second extension to his emergency orders , mandating that restaurants , bars , barbers and salons remain closed through July 1 instead of March 18 , the previous end date for the shutdowns .
This means that owners of such establishments and their employees will be without income for 77 days— over 20 % of the year .
As the crowds grew , Alpha News began a Facebook livestream , interviewing those in attendance about why they chose to rally .
Many Minnesotans interviewed on the live stream said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the frozen economy .
One retail worker said she ’ s been without income for about 6 weeks .
Several business owners said their enterprise ’ s path path to recovery is unclear .
This concern is shared by thousands of other entrepreneurs across the state .
Over half of Minnesota ’ s hospitality related industry is expected to close permanently , according to Hospitality Minnesota .
This could mean the destruction of over 145,500 jobs .
Alpha News also spoke with State Representative Jeremy Munson at the protest who said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ craft policy to the Legislature .
In addition to holding signs and discussing how shutdown orders have impacted the state , protestors also heard from speakers who raised concerns about the constitutionality of the governor ’ s actions and lead the crowd in singing the National Anthem .
Just before the demonstration subsided around 2:00PM , citizens penned their messages to Walz on beach balls and empty cardboard boxes before launching them over the fence that surrounds the executive mansion .
Thursday ’ s rally marks the fourth time Minnesotans have taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ coronavirus response .
Three of the previous demonstrations have occurred outside Walz ’ s mansion while another took place in front of the State Capitol .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Child Care Services in Ohio Can Reopen on May 31

Gov .
Mike DeWine announced on Thursday that child care services can reopen on May 31 .
Child care services in Ohio have been limited since March 26 when the state issued measures to combat the coronavirus .
For these places to resume , they must follow the state ’ s required safety protocols .
Some of these measures include having staff members and children wash their hands multiple times a day , taking kids ’ temperature daily , and having staff members work at reduced staff to child ratios .
These are the ratios child care services must follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care staff member per four infants with no more than six children in the room .
• One child care staff member per six toddlers with no more than six children in the room .
• One child care staff member per nine preschool children with no more than nine children in the room .
• One child care staff member per nine school-age children with no more than nine children in the room “ Our goal is to have the safest child care system in the nation – one that nurtures the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our children and one that protects the health and safety of our child care workers and teachers , ” DeWine said .
“ Moving forward , child care is going to look different for children , parents , and teachers .
But we must get this right , or we run the risk of exposing more people to COVID-19.
” Ohio will use more than $ 60 million the state received from the CARES Act to help reopen child care providers , according to the governor ’ s press release .
DeWine also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to examine best practices for controlling the spread of COVID-19 in child care settings , the governor ’ s press release explained .
In reaction to the news , Brenda Harris , the co-owner of Nanny ’ s Multi-level Learning Center in Cinncinatti , told WLWT that she “ was anxiously awaiting the announcement.
” “ Parents are anxious to go back to work and have child care , and we ’ re anxious as well , ” she said .
“ Really happy to be open , but unfortunately , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families away… We won ’ t be able to accommodate everybody.
” Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Tennesse Lifts Restaurants and Retail Capacity Restrictions

Gov .
Bill Lee announced Friday that Tennessee is lifting its capacity restrictions for restaurants and retail on May 22 .
“ Tennesseans have worked incredibly hard to do their part and help slow the spread of COVID-19 so that our state can begin to reopen .
Thanks to their continued efforts , we ’ re able to allow restaurants and retail businesses to operate at greater capacity and large attractions to open in a safe and thoughtful way , ” Lee said .
“ Our state continues to see downward trends in case growth and meets the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress has been hard-won , and we can build upon it by reopening while also maintaining common-sense safety measures like mask-wearing and good hygiene , ” he added .
“ By taking the Tennessee Pledge , our businesses can reopen in a way that protects the health of their customers and employees , and protects the livelihoods of hard-working Tennesseans.
” The decision does not apply to Shelby , Madison , Davidson , Hamilton , Knox and Sullivan because they are following their own county-specific reopening plans , the governor ’ s press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention towards making large attraction guidelines so these places can reopen on or after next Friday , according to Lee ’ s press release .
Large attractions guidelines apply to businesses that can “ effectively practice social distancing with strong measures to protect both employees and customers.
” The industries that fit the “ large attraction ” category are racetracks , amusement parks , waterparks , theaters and dinner theaters , auditoriums and large museums , according to the governor ’ s press release .
Even with Tennessee pulling restrictions on restaurants and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social gatherings to no more than 10 people .
As of Friday , Tennessee has 16,970 positive coronavirus cases along with 290 deaths , according to the Tennessee Department of Health numbers .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-16--Steve Bannon Presents ‘War Room: Pandemic’

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


thetennesseestar--2020-05-17--Tennessee Economist and Others Urge Donald Trump and Congress Not to Impose Price Controls to Fix Su

Tennessee Economist and Others Urge Donald Trump and Congress Not to Impose Price Controls to Fix Surprise Medical Billing Problem

Members of the Washington , D.C.-based Taxpayers Protection Alliance have released a letter ripping politicians ’ proposals to set price controls for health care coverage .
Several academics from around the country attached their names to the letter , including the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga economics professor Bruce Hutchinson .
These economists compose a group called the Coalition Against Rate Setting .
As The Tennessee Star has reported , many right-of-center groups oppose legislation that U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) has put forward to address surprise medical billing .
The TPA letter addresses President Donald Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The undersigned economists believe that ‘ surprise ’ medical bills , which patients sometimes receive after they are treated by a provider unknowingly outside of their insurance network are a real public policy concern that policymakers should work to address , ” according to the TPA letter .
“ However , we are opposed to the enactment of price controls that would peg provider reimbursement to a ‘ benchmark ’ rate picked by the federal government .
Such proposals represent a direct government intervention in health care that would hurt access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rural areas.
” The economists went on to say government price controls often result in shortages and market distortions .
“ These outcomes should be avoided , especially when dealing with important health care services like emergency room visits and physician care , ” the economists wrote .
“ As Congress and the Administration continue to work to address surprise medical bills , we respectfully urge you to reject federal price controls , including a benchmark rate.
” As The Tennessee Star reported in July , surprise medical billing happens when a patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowledge – either in an emergency or during a visit to an in-network facility .
Weeks later , insurance companies send bills demanding patients pay money for services they assumed insurance would cover .
Members of Americans for Prosperity , the Center for a Free Economy , FreedomWorks , Institute for Liberty , and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance , among others , oppose Alexander on this matter .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

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


thetennesseestar--2020-05-17--Biden Must Agree to ‘Independent And Nonpartisan Investigation’ Now That He Wants Voters to Assess T

Biden Must Agree to ‘Independent And Nonpartisan Investigation’ Now That He Wants Voters to Assess Tara Reade’s Accusation, Reade’s Attorney Says

2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden must agree to an “ independent and nonpartisan investigation ” now that he wants voters to assess Tara Reade ’ s allegations against him , her attorney told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Friday .
Attorney Douglas Wigdor renewed calls for an investigation the morning after Biden said that voters should choose between voting for him and believing Reade , who accused him of sexually assaulting her when she worked for him as a Senate staffer in 1993 .
Biden has repeatedly denied this allegation .
“ Well , I think they should vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe Tara Reade , they probably shouldn ’ t vote for me , ” Biden said Thursday on MSNBC .
“ I wouldn ’ t vote for me if I believed Tara Reade.
” Reade ’ s attorney told the DCNF on Friday morning that if Biden meant what he said , he should agree to an investigation .
“ If Biden believes that voters need to assess the credibility of Ms. Reade ’ s claims before deciding who to vote for , then he ought to also agree that a thorough , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Wigdor said .
This investigation should include testimony from the “ relevant witnesses including Biden himself as well as a review of all potentially relevant documents such as those that reside at the University of Delaware and the United States Senate , ” Reade ’ s attorney added .
The 2020 presidential candidate also said Friday that he does not even remember Reade working in his office from his time serving as a Delaware senator .
This is “ all the more reason ” that Biden should open up his University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Perhaps they will refresh his memory , which we know hasn ’ t been that sharp to begin with , ” Wigdor added .
Reade has said she filed a complaint describing harassment following the alleged assault .
It has been suggested that the complaint might be housed with Biden ’ s Senate records at the University of Delaware , in the National Archives or in the U.S. Senate .
The collection of the documents held at the University of Delaware alone fills 1,875 boxes and includes 415 gigabytes of electronic records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports , drafts of legislation and correspondence .
But the University of Delaware refused to provide the DCNF with even the agreement detailing why the school can not release Biden ’ s records , saying that the “ gift agreement signed when the papers were donated is not a public document.
” Reade originally told the DCNF that she believes the complaint would be housed with those records and called on Biden to release the documents in an exclusive interview with the DCNF on April 28 .
But Biden insisted during a previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if it exists , would not be included in his Senate documents at the university and that these documents “ could be taken out of context ” if fully released .
Biden ’ s campaign did not respond to a request for comment from the DCNF .
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Tara Reade ” by Megyn Kelly .