thetennesseestar--2020-05-05--Dozen Members of DeWine, Husted’s Ohio Economic Advisory Board Are Campaign Donors

Up until now , you mostly had to be connected to big business — and to Gov .
Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov Jon Husted — to have a say in how businesses of all sizes are considered in Ohio ’ s snails-pace reopening .
On Friday , DeWine said the state would begin a phased reopening from the Chinese coronavirus shutdown , The Ohio Star reported .
The governor said he is forming a pair of advisory groups tasked with developing best practices for reopening dine-in restaurants , barbershops and salons .
The predecessor of those groups , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board .
On April 2 , DeWine named his dream team of business leaders , many of whom enriched him and Husted by at least $ 750,000 with campaign contributions .
More information about donations by them , their companies and family members is in a file with this story based on filings with the Secretary of State .
• Patrick Bowe , President and CEO , The Andersons , Inc. Of all the economic advisory board members , they , their families or companies/employees gave a combined $ 720,000 to DeWine and/or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the search goes , so this does not consider donations when Husted was speaker of the Ohio House .
Twelve of the 18 board members ( or companies ) are direct donors .
Board Chairman Frank Sullivan , his company and family gave over $ 150,000 .
Those who did not donate are : Cosgrove ; Moore ; Mester ; Pritchard ; Smith ; and Whiting .
Of all the board members , one has small-business chops — Kelly Moore , owner of an auto parts store in Zanesville and recipient of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Small Business Champion award in 2017 .
Consider several other group members or their large companies : • Mark Smucker of J.M .
Smucker : A conglomerate with $ 7.8 billion in net sales last year .
• Frank Sullivan , RPM : He is a frequent donor to DeWine and Lt. Gov .
Jon Husted , having donated $ 42,500 to them since 2014 .
• According to the RPM website , the company employs nearly 15,000 people worldwide and operates 156 manufacturing facilities in 26 countries .
Its products are sold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fiscal 2019 consolidated sales were $ 5.6 billion .
• Cincinnati Financial Corporation ranks itself as among the top 25 property casualty insurers in the nation .
• The Andersons had 2018 revenue of $ 8.1 billion .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .

Up until now, you mostly had to be connected to big business — and to Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov Jon Husted — to have a say in how businesses of all sizes are considered in Ohio’s snails-pace reopening.
On Friday, DeWine said the state would begin a phased reopening from the Chinese coronavirus shutdown, The Ohio Star reported. The governor said he is forming a pair of advisory groups tasked with developing best practices for reopening dine-in restaurants, barbershops and salons.
The predecessor of those groups, however, was known as the economic advisory board. On April 2, DeWine named his dream team of business leaders, many of whom enriched him and Husted by at least $750,000 with campaign contributions.
More information about donations by them, their companies and family members is in a file with this story based on filings with the Secretary of State.
The board members are:
Patrick Bowe, President and CEO, The Andersons, Inc.
Mike Brooks, Chairman, Rocky Boots
Brian Burgett, President, Kokosing Construction Company
Toby Cosgrove, Executive Advisor, Cleveland Clinic
Sam Covelli, Chief Executive Officer, Covelli Enterprises
Paul Dolan, Owner, Cleveland Indians
Jacqueline Gamblin, Founder and CEO, JYG Innovations
Mike Hennigan, President and CEO, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Steven Johnston, President and CEO, Cincinnati Financial Corporation
Cameron Mitchell, Founder and CEO, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
Kelly Moore, Owner, GKP Auto Parts
Loretta Mester, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Dan Pritchard, President and CEO, A.J. Rose Manufacturing Company
Dwight Smith, Chairman and CEO, Sophisticated Systems
Frank Sullivan, Chairman and CEO, RPM International
Mark Smucker, President and CEO, The J.M. Smucker Company
David Taylor, Chairman, President and CEO, Procter and Gamble
Vanessa Whiting, President, A.E.S. Management Group
Of all the economic advisory board members, they, their families or companies/employees gave a combined $720,000 to DeWine and/or Husted since 2014, the furthest back the search goes, so this does not consider donations when Husted was speaker of the Ohio House. Twelve of the 18 board members (or companies) are direct donors.
Board Chairman Frank Sullivan, his company and family gave over $150,000.
Those who did not donate are: Cosgrove; Moore; Mester; Pritchard; Smith; and Whiting.
Of all the board members, one has small-business chops — Kelly Moore, owner of an auto parts store in Zanesville and recipient of the National Federation of Independent Business/Ohio’s Small Business Champion award in 2017.
Consider several other group members or their large companies:
Mark Smucker of J.M. Smucker: A conglomerate with $7.8 billion in net sales last year.
Frank Sullivan, RPM: He is a frequent donor to DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, having donated $42,500 to them since 2014.
According to the RPM website, the company employs nearly 15,000 people worldwide and operates 156 manufacturing facilities in 26 countries. Its products are sold in approximately 170 countries and territories. Fiscal 2019 consolidated sales were $5.6 billion.
Cincinnati Financial Corporation ranks itself as among the top 25 property casualty insurers in the nation.
The Andersons had 2018 revenue of $8.1 billion.
Read the full PDF:

– – –
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-05--Whitmer Creates COVID-19 Spending Oversight Office, Approves $150 Million in Coronavirus Spending

Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer created the Michigan COVID-19 Office of Accountability on Monday to provide a check over spending during the coronavirus pandemic .
The office , which resides in the State Budget Office , provides oversight to all spending to fight the coronavirus and will report to the governor and the state budget director .
The Department of Technology , Management and Budget will designate a chief for the office .
“ Protecting the people of Michigan and lowering the chance of a second wave has demanded flexibility and decisiveness , and has also required funds from the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government , ” said Whitmer in a statement .
The governor signed two supplemental budget bills that will secure $ 150 million in funding to fight the pandemic , axing an $ 80 million in other , previously planned budget items .
Whitmer also suspended state hiring and all discretionary spending in state department and agencies , according to MLive .
“ Residents across the great state of Michigan need to know that the Executive and Legislative branches of state government are working together to do whatever is necessary to ensure an effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a joint statement with other legislators announcing the bills .
Cut spending included $ 15 million for the Pure Michigan program , as well as small appropriations for local communities for libraries , event centers , museums and downtowns , MLive said .
Michigan has spent more than $ 130 million on 20 million masks , more than 2,00 ventilators , nearly 9 million ounces of hand sanitizer , more than 255,000 boxes of gloves , 2.4 million gowns , more than 2,000 beds , 210,000 testing supplies , 3,000 thermometers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinfecting wipes , among other supplies .
“ Michiganders have the right to expect that state government will be responsible stewards of their resources , especially in a time of crisis , ” Whitmer said .
“ I will continue to work around the clock to ensure these resources are spent wisely , in compliance with the law , and in a transparent and accountable manner.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ]

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer created the Michigan COVID-19 Office of Accountability on Monday to provide a check over spending during the coronavirus pandemic.
The office, which resides in the State Budget Office, provides oversight to all spending to fight the coronavirus and will report to the governor and the state budget director.
The Department of Technology, Management and Budget will designate a chief for the office.
“Protecting the people of Michigan and lowering the chance of a second wave has demanded flexibility and decisiveness, and has also required funds from the state treasury, philanthropic sources and the federal government,” said Whitmer in a statement.
The governor signed two supplemental budget bills that will secure $150 million in funding to fight the pandemic, axing an $80 million in other, previously planned budget items. Whitmer also suspended state hiring and all discretionary spending in state department and agencies, according to MLive.
“Residents across the great state of Michigan need to know that the Executive and Legislative branches of state government are working together to do whatever is necessary to ensure an effective response to COVID-19,” Whitmer said in a joint statement with other legislators announcing the bills.
Cut spending included $15 million for the Pure Michigan program, as well as small appropriations for local communities for libraries, event centers, museums and downtowns, MLive said.
Michigan has spent more than $130 million on 20 million masks, more than 2,00 ventilators, nearly 9 million ounces of hand sanitizer, more than 255,000 boxes of gloves, 2.4 million gowns, more than 2,000 beds, 210,000 testing supplies, 3,000 thermometers, 185,000 face shields and 22,000 cartons of disinfecting wipes, among other supplies.
“Michiganders have the right to expect that state government will be responsible stewards of their resources, especially in a time of crisis,” Whitmer said. “I will continue to work around the clock to ensure these resources are spent wisely, in compliance with the law, and in a transparent and accountable manner.”
—
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-05--Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services Asks Employers To Report Employees Who Refuse to Come to

Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services Asks Employers To Report Employees Who Refuse to Come to Work

The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services has set up a page on their website where employers can report employees who refuse to return to work as businesses set to reopen in the state .
Under the latest “ Stay Safe Ohio ” order , medical care such as a dentist or doctor visit that does not require an overnight stay reopened on May 1 .
Manufacturing , construction and distribution , as well as “ general office environments , ” reopened on May 4 .
Retail and service businesses are set to reopen on May 12 , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prohibits individuals from receiving unemployment benefits if they refuse to accept offers of suitable work , or quit work , without good cause , ” according to an email sent to employers by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and obtained by Cleveland.com .
“ If you have employees who refuse to return to work or quit work , it ’ s important that you let the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services know so we can make accurate eligibility determinations , ” the email said .
The ODJFS said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who turned down suitable work .
“ If you refuse suitable work , your benefits may be suspended , unless your reason for refusing is one permitted by Ohio law , ” the department said in a guide to unemployment compensation .
“ For example , your benefits may continue if you can not accept the work because you are not qualified.
” The form asks employers if their business was deemed essential during the pandemic or when it reopened .
It also asks if the employee quit or refused to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it was pre-pandemic , and if the employer maintained safety standards required by the governor ’ s office .
The form is found under the Office of Unemployment Insurance Operations tab .
Employers must be transparent about how they are protecting their employees , Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Kimberly Hall told Cleveland.com on Monday .
There is an administrative review process to determine if a worker who refuses to return to work is still eligible for unemployment benefits .
“ We ’ ve always had an administrative review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It basically hinges on whether there ’ s a good-cause reason for that refusal to return to work.
” See the form on the ODJFS website here .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ]

The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services has set up a page on their website where employers can report employees who refuse to return to work as businesses set to reopen in the state.
Under the latest “Stay Safe Ohio” order, medical care such as a dentist or doctor visit that does not require an overnight stay reopened on May 1. Manufacturing, construction and distribution, as well as “general office environments,” reopened on May 4. Retail and service businesses are set to reopen on May 12, with social distancing practices.
Ohio law “prohibits individuals from receiving unemployment benefits if they refuse to accept offers of suitable work, or quit work, without good cause,” according to an email sent to employers by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and obtained by Cleveland.com.
“If you have employees who refuse to return to work or quit work, it’s important that you let the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services know so we can make accurate eligibility determinations,” the email said.
The ODJFS said it may not distribute unemployment benefits to people who turned down suitable work.
“If you refuse suitable work, your benefits may be suspended, unless your reason for refusing is one permitted by Ohio law,” the department said in a guide to unemployment compensation. “For example, your benefits may continue if you cannot accept the work because you are not qualified.”
The form asks employers if their business was deemed essential during the pandemic or when it reopened. It also asks if the employee quit or refused to return, if the work was the same as it was pre-pandemic, and if the employer maintained safety standards required by the governor’s office. The form is found under the Office of Unemployment Insurance Operations tab.
Employers must be transparent about how they are protecting their employees, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Kimberly Hall told Cleveland.com on Monday. There is an administrative review process to determine if a worker who refuses to return to work is still eligible for unemployment benefits.
“We’ve always had an administrative review process,” Hall said. “It basically hinges on whether there’s a good-cause reason for that refusal to return to work.”
See the form on the ODJFS website here.
—
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-05--Nursing Homes Continue to Account for 80 Percent of Minnesota’s COVID-19 Deaths

Long-term care facilities continue to account for 80 percent of all COVID-19 deaths reported in Minnesota .
The Minnesota Department of Health reported nine new deaths Monday , bringing the total number of deaths in the state to 428 .
Of those 428 fatalities , 345 ( 80 percent ) were people who resided in long-term care or assisted living facilities .
As of Sunday , Minnesota had 419 total deaths , 338 of which originated in long-term care facilities , meaning the number of COVID-19 deaths connected to nursing homes has remained at 80 percent for at least the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 49 ( 86 percent ) of the 57 new deaths reported in Minnesota were in long-term care facilities .
For comparison , just 133 ( or 39 percent ) of Wisconsin ’ s 340 total deaths were among residents of long-term care facilities as of Monday .
“ We sometimes get questions about Minnesota ’ s numbers in this area compared to other states .
We ’ re not in a position to fully analyze what is happening nationally or in 49 other states , but there are a variety of approaches being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ track COVID deaths in long-term care facilities .
Here in Minnesota , we are being very aggressive about monitoring for them , ” she said .
For instance , not all states are conducting postmortem testing for COVID-19 like Minnesota is , she noted .
“ Differences among states make it very difficult to draw conclusions about the numbers we ’ re seeing .
We do think it ’ s very unlikely that there ’ s anything different about how the virus is behaving in Minnesota , or that there are any significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care residents or how our long-term care facilities are responding compared to those in other states , ” Ehresmann added .
State health officials said last week that 99.24 percent of Minnesota ’ s COVID-19 deaths were among people either living in long-term care facilities or with an underlying health condition .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .

Long-term care facilities continue to account for 80 percent of all COVID-19 deaths reported in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Health reported nine new deaths Monday, bringing the total number of deaths in the state to 428. Of those 428 fatalities, 345 (80 percent) were people who resided in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
As of Sunday, Minnesota had 419 total deaths, 338 of which originated in long-term care facilities, meaning the number of COVID-19 deaths connected to nursing homes has remained at 80 percent for at least the past few days.
Since Saturday, 49 (86 percent) of the 57 new deaths reported in Minnesota were in long-term care facilities.
For comparison, just 133 (or 39 percent) of Wisconsin’s 340 total deaths were among residents of long-term care facilities as of Monday.
Infectious Disease Division Director Kris Ehresmann addressed this disparity during a Friday press briefing.
“We sometimes get questions about Minnesota’s numbers in this area compared to other states. We’re not in a position to fully analyze what is happening nationally or in 49 other states, but there are a variety of approaches being used in other states to elevate and track COVID deaths in long-term care facilities. Here in Minnesota, we are being very aggressive about monitoring for them,” she said.
For instance, not all states are conducting postmortem testing for COVID-19 like Minnesota is, she noted.
“Differences among states make it very difficult to draw conclusions about the numbers we’re seeing. We do think it’s very unlikely that there’s anything different about how the virus is behaving in Minnesota, or that there are any significant differences in the vulnerability of our long-term care residents or how our long-term care facilities are responding compared to those in other states,” Ehresmann added.
State health officials said last week that 99.24 percent of Minnesota’s COVID-19 deaths were among people either living in long-term care facilities or with an underlying health condition.
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].


thetennesseestar--2020-05-05--Commentary: The Tyrannical Soul of Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer

When Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation he was criticized by abolitionists for not issuing a more sweeping order .
He refused to do so , asking “ If I take the step , must I not do so .
.
.
without any argument , except the one that I think the measure politically expedient , and morally right ?
Would I not thus give up all footing upon constitution or law ?
Would I not thus be in the boundless field of absolutism ?
Could this pass unnoticed , or unresisted ?
” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stepped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of April .
The legislature refused to extend her emergency powers as required by the Emergency Management Act of 1976 , so she granted herself the extension the legislature refused .
She declared a new , separate state of emergency under a dubious interpretation of the Emergency Powers to the Governor Act of 1945 , and granted herself the extension the legislature refused .
Sound statutory construction dictates that when two statutes cover exactly the same ground , the more recent statute governs , and the more recent statute limits the governor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the legislature .
Even if both laws are still fully operative , they must be read in a way that is not nonsensical .
Whitmer ’ s construction of the two acts effectively reads , “ The governor ’ s emergency power shall extend no longer than 28 days , unless extended by the legislature , unless the governor , according to her own unfettered will , shall choose to extend her own power , in which case it shall last as long as she pleases it to last.
” The 1976 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duration of the governor ’ s emergency powers , and she has simply ignored that .
The state of Michigan will be governed by Whitmer ’ s unlimited , arbitrary will until she deigns to allow the rule of law to resume .
In usurping power , Whitmer merely is revealing her nature , and it is far from unique in our history .
In the antebellum American South , slaveowners and their apologists frequently asserted the relationship of master and slave was a paternal one , and that slaves were perpetual children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own benefit .
The difficulty is that adults can not be ruled like children , for the simple reason that they are not children .
Adults can be ruled only politically , as equals , or despotically , as inferiors .
Paternal rule , unlimited power exercised by one over another , when applied to adults , under whatever guise , is simply despotic rule – it is tyranny .
Whitmer ’ s official biography reads “ the most important title she boasts is MOM , ” and in keeping with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of Michigan like children .
When protesters arrived in Lansing , she responded by stating that their continued misbehavior may result in extended lockdowns .
Translation : “ I ’ m going to continue to punish you until you behave , and it ’ s for your own good.
” She refuses to be bound by law or constitution .
She refuses to negotiate .
She threatens , she digs in her heels , she makes arbitrary pronouncements .
When these America ’ s slaveholding oligarchs once upon a time went to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Self-government requires that people treat each other as equals ; this is essential to negotiation and deliberation , to accepting adverse decisions as legitimate , and to the notion that the majority ought to respect the rights of the minority .
The slaveholding oligarchy could not do this .
Bred to be an elite class , they were accustomed in their home states to commanding and to being obeyed by everyone who was not also of their social class .
In Congress , however , they had to work with northerners with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to them , and thus these elites did not know what to do .
Frequently angered by what they saw as “ impudence , ” they often resorted to threats of violence , and occasionally to actual violence , in order to cow their opponents into submission—the same tactics , in other words , that they used against their slaves .
Whitmer , likewise , flatly rebuffed offers from the Republican-controlled legislature to negotiate .
She ’ s done this before .
Her primary campaign promise was to “ fix the damn roads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state gasoline tax to do it .
When the legislature balked she dug in her heels , refused to negotiate , and attempted to browbeat legislators into giving her exactly what she wanted—though mercifully she failed .
When the budget reached her desk , out of sheer pettiness she used her line-item veto power to strike additional funding for charter schools .
For Whitmer , it ’ s her way or no way .
Frederick Douglass , having lived under the heel of tyranny for the first 20 years of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the soul of the tyrant better than most .
When the slaveholders rebelled after Lincoln ’ s election , it came as no surprise to him .
As tyrants , he said , “ they know no law , and will respect no law but the law of force.
” We would do well to recognize the type , as this crisis has revealed that it is appallingly common in our government at all levels .
Whitmer has already defied the legislature and ignored the law .
What reason is there to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supreme court decision ?
She has a tyrannical soul , and a tyrannical soul will yield to nothing but superior force .
Somehow Whitmer , and others like her , will have to be compelled to respect the rule of law and the rights of the people .

by Kevin Portteus
When Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation he was criticized by abolitionists for not issuing a more sweeping order. He refused to do so, asking “If I take the step, must I not do so . . . without any argument, except the one that I think the measure politically expedient, and morally right? Would I not thus give up all footing upon constitution or law? Would I not thus be in the boundless field of absolutism? Could this pass unnoticed, or unresisted?”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stepped into this boundless field at the end of April. The legislature refused to extend her emergency powers as required by the Emergency Management Act of 1976, so she granted herself the extension the legislature refused. She declared a new, separate state of emergency under a dubious interpretation of the Emergency Powers to the Governor Act of 1945, and granted herself the extension the legislature refused. Sound statutory construction dictates that when two statutes cover exactly the same ground, the more recent statute governs, and the more recent statute limits the governor’s power to 28 days unless extended by the legislature.
Even if both laws are still fully operative, they must be read in a way that is not nonsensical. Whitmer’s construction of the two acts effectively reads, “The governor’s emergency power shall extend no longer than 28 days, unless extended by the legislature, unless the governor, according to her own unfettered will, shall choose to extend her own power, in which case it shall last as long as she pleases it to last.”
The 1976 statute obviously was intended to limit the duration of the governor’s emergency powers, and she has simply ignored that. The state of Michigan will be governed by Whitmer’s unlimited, arbitrary will until she deigns to allow the rule of law to resume.
In usurping power, Whitmer merely is revealing her nature, and it is far from unique in our history. In the antebellum American South, slaveowners and their apologists frequently asserted the relationship of master and slave was a paternal one, and that slaves were perpetual children who needed to be ruled absolutely for their own benefit. The difficulty is that adults cannot be ruled like children, for the simple reason that they are not children.
Adults can be ruled only politically, as equals, or despotically, as inferiors. Paternal rule, unlimited power exercised by one over another, when applied to adults, under whatever guise, is simply despotic rule – it is tyranny.
Whitmer’s official biography reads “the most important title she boasts is MOM,” and in keeping with that, one supposes, she treats the people of Michigan like children. When protesters arrived in Lansing, she responded by stating that their continued misbehavior may result in extended lockdowns. Translation: “I’m going to continue to punish you until you behave, and it’s for your own good.” She refuses to be bound by law or constitution. She refuses to negotiate. She threatens, she digs in her heels, she makes arbitrary pronouncements.
When these America’s slaveholding oligarchs once upon a time went to Congress, they found life there confusing. Self-government requires that people treat each other as equals; this is essential to negotiation and deliberation, to accepting adverse decisions as legitimate, and to the notion that the majority ought to respect the rights of the minority. The slaveholding oligarchy could not do this.
Bred to be an elite class, they were accustomed in their home states to commanding and to being obeyed by everyone who was not also of their social class. In Congress, however, they had to work with northerners with different opinions and who did not defer to them, and thus these elites did not know what to do. Frequently angered by what they saw as “impudence,” they often resorted to threats of violence, and occasionally to actual violence, in order to cow their opponents into submission—the same tactics, in other words, that they used against their slaves.
Whitmer, likewise, flatly rebuffed offers from the Republican-controlled legislature to negotiate. She’s done this before. Her primary campaign promise was to “fix the damn roads” and she wanted a 45-cent-per-gallon increase in the state gasoline tax to do it. When the legislature balked she dug in her heels, refused to negotiate, and attempted to browbeat legislators into giving her exactly what she wanted—though mercifully she failed. When the budget reached her desk, out of sheer pettiness she used her line-item veto power to strike additional funding for charter schools. For Whitmer, it’s her way or no way.
Frederick Douglass, having lived under the heel of tyranny for the first 20 years of his life, understood the nature of it and the soul of the tyrant better than most. When the slaveholders rebelled after Lincoln’s election, it came as no surprise to him. As tyrants, he said, “they know no law, and will respect no law but the law of force.”
We would do well to recognize the type, as this crisis has revealed that it is appallingly common in our government at all levels. Whitmer has already defied the legislature and ignored the law. What reason is there to believe she would yield to a state supreme court decision? She has a tyrannical soul, and a tyrannical soul will yield to nothing but superior force. Somehow Whitmer, and others like her, will have to be compelled to respect the rule of law and the rights of the people.
– – –
Kevin Portteus is a contributor to American Greatness.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-05--Minnesota Business Owners Call for Reopening Economy During Press Conference at the Capitol

Several small business owners called for reopening the economy during a Monday press conference at the Minnesota Capitol .
“ We desire to honor our God , and our government and governor .
We think we can do both .
But we have no idea how to get a plan approved , to whom to submit it , or if anyone needs to or will consider it .
The church needs to gather , we are more the church when we gather than at any other time .
Please , Gov .
Walz , help us by providing clear ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to meet , ” said Rory Martin , pastor of the Liberty Baptist Church in Eden Prairie .
The press conference was orchestrated by leaders of the Senate Republican caucus , which announced the formation of a new COVID-19 Economic Recovery Taskforce .
The new taskforce will focus on plans to safely and efficiently reopen the economy and will be chaired by Minnesota businessman Mike Vekich .
“ People are scared , frustrated , anxious , impatient , tired , stressed , and hopeless .
They are counting on us to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Paul Gazelka ( R-East Gull Lake ) .
“ I want everyone to understand their efforts at social distancing have pushed the peak out .
We have enough PPE for our front-line workers , we have enough ICU beds to handle the surge , and we have the daily testing capacity to handle hotspots .
We ’ re ready.
” Ray Herrington , the owner of several restaurants and a live theater in St .
Cloud , said the state has flattened the curve as planned so now “ it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a lot of unemployed musicians scratching their heads , ” he said .
“ There ’ s a good chance that if we ’ re doing something wrong , we ’ ll hear about it , not just from government , but from customers.
” One salon owner said his businesses can safely reopen since stylists are “ trained and licensed in infection control and receive ongoing instruction in infection control.
” “ A pandemic was not part of our business plan .
Our employees are our family and I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them at risk .
I keep hearing salons can ’ t be a controlled environment and I don ’ t believe it , ” said Andrew Hulse , owner of the 18/8 Men ’ s Salons in Maple Grove and Wayzata .
State Sen. Eric Pratt ( R-Prior Lake ) , who chairs the Senate Committee on Jobs and Economic Growth , said most small businesses can open “ in a manner that is probably safer than many big box stores are doing right now.
” “ All of us can empathize with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been allowed to open .
But empathy is not enough .
Taking out government loans that need to be repaid is not enough .
Extended unemployment benefits are not enough , ” he said .
“ We owe it to these entrepreneurs to show us how they can safely and slowly reopen , and work with them to get it right.
” House Republicans announced over the weekend that they plan to block a major public infrastructure bill from being passed until Gov .
Tim Walz relinquishes his emergency powers .
Senate Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t support the plan , but the bonding bill must originate in the House regardless .
“ The virus is real , and should not be taken lightly , but the damage to our livelihood is also real and must not be taken lightly either , ” Gazelka added .
“ We have to have the courage to safely open more businesses and our places of worship as we continue to be vigilant against this virus.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email protected ] .

Several small business owners called for reopening the economy during a Monday press conference at the Minnesota Capitol.
“We desire to honor our God, and our government and governor. We think we can do both. But we have no idea how to get a plan approved, to whom to submit it, or if anyone needs to or will consider it. The church needs to gather, we are more the church when we gather than at any other time. Please, Gov. Walz, help us by providing clear ways for plans to be approved and for us to meet,” said Rory Martin, pastor of the Liberty Baptist Church in Eden Prairie.
The press conference was orchestrated by leaders of the Senate Republican caucus, which announced the formation of a new COVID-19 Economic Recovery Taskforce. The new taskforce will focus on plans to safely and efficiently reopen the economy and will be chaired by Minnesota businessman Mike Vekich.
“People are scared, frustrated, anxious, impatient, tired, stressed, and hopeless. They are counting on us to get this right,” said Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake). “I want everyone to understand their efforts at social distancing have pushed the peak out. We have enough PPE for our front-line workers, we have enough ICU beds to handle the surge, and we have the daily testing capacity to handle hotspots. We’re ready.”
Ray Herrington, the owner of several restaurants and a live theater in St. Cloud, said the state has flattened the curve as planned so now “it’s time we move on.”
“There are a lot of unemployed musicians scratching their heads,” he said. “There’s a good chance that if we’re doing something wrong, we’ll hear about it, not just from government, but from customers.”
One salon owner said his businesses can safely reopen since stylists are “trained and licensed in infection control and receive ongoing instruction in infection control.”
“A pandemic was not part of our business plan. Our employees are our family and I’m not going to do anything to put them at risk. I keep hearing salons can’t be a controlled environment and I don’t believe it,” said Andrew Hulse, owner of the 18/8 Men’s Salons in Maple Grove and Wayzata.
State Sen. Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake), who chairs the Senate Committee on Jobs and Economic Growth, said most small businesses can open “in a manner that is probably safer than many big box stores are doing right now.”
“All of us can empathize with the businesses that still haven’t been allowed to open. But empathy is not enough. Taking out government loans that need to be repaid is not enough. Extended unemployment benefits are not enough,” he said. “We owe it to these entrepreneurs to show us how they can safely and slowly reopen, and work with them to get it right.”
House Republicans announced over the weekend that they plan to block a major public infrastructure bill from being passed until Gov. Tim Walz relinquishes his emergency powers. Senate Leader Gazelka said Monday that he doesn’t support the plan, but the bonding bill must originate in the House regardless.
“The virus is real, and should not be taken lightly, but the damage to our livelihood is also real and must not be taken lightly either,” Gazelka added. “We have to have the courage to safely open more businesses and our places of worship as we continue to be vigilant against this virus.”
Watch the full press conference below:
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].


thetennesseestar--2020-05-05--Eight GOP County Chairs Want State Legislators to Come Back to Check Bill Lee’s Powers During COVID-

Eight GOP County Chairs Want State Legislators to Come Back to Check Bill Lee’s Powers During COVID-19 Pandemic

GOP officials from eight Tennessee counties sent a letter to Gov .
Bill Lee Monday pleading with him to repeal all restrictions on businesses and gatherings of any kind after the COVID-19 pandemic .
According to the letter , they also asked Lee to end the state legislature ’ s current recess .
Coffee County GOP Chair Richard Brooks , one of the eight co-signers , told The Tennessee Star Monday that state legislators , once they return , will “ do the work of the people.
” “ Yes , [ if legislators come back ] they will talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also , it ’ s a check on the governor ’ s power and authority during this emergency proclamation that he ’ s made , ” Brooks said .
“ Our system of government is set up so that no one person has ultimate power and authority .
So , at this point , the governor ’ s authority during a declared state of emergency just gives some kind of carte blanche rulership over the state .
What we want is to go in the direction of ‘ open the state back up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let the legislators do their job being a separate body of government.
’ ” Lee ’ s staff members did not return a request for comment Monday .
Maury County GOP Chair Jason Whatley , meanwhile , said Tennessee ’ s rural counties deserve to have a voice in how state officials respond to COVID-19 .
“ We are of the opinion that the people are smart enough to make these decisions on our own and that we have missed the boat when it comes to everything about the shutdowns .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being the final word as if they have a lock on all knowledge , ” Whatley told The Star .
“ When did we as Americans exit off the ramp of liberty and believe that is just the way it is ?
Especially when you are talking about governmental policies that curtail or completely dismantle your basic civil liberties ?
” In their letter , the eight co-signers told Lee that they believe he has done the best he could during this emergency .
“ It ’ s fair to say that no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in terms of their state ’ s response to this issue , ” the GOP officials told the governor .
“ Having said that , the leadership of these Republican County parties believes strongly that the State of Tennessee needs to take the lead , unique from all other states , in putting this matter behind us for good.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

GOP officials from eight Tennessee counties sent a letter to Gov. Bill Lee Monday pleading with him to repeal all restrictions on businesses and gatherings of any kind after the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the letter, they also asked Lee to end the state legislature’s current recess.
Coffee County GOP Chair Richard Brooks, one of the eight co-signers, told The Tennessee Star Monday that state legislators, once they return, will “do the work of the people.”
“Yes, [if legislators come back] they will talk about making more laws, but, also, it’s a check on the governor’s power and authority during this emergency proclamation that he’s made,” Brooks said.
“Our system of government is set up so that no one person has ultimate power and authority. So, at this point, the governor’s authority during a declared state of emergency just gives some kind of carte blanche rulership over the state. What we want is to go in the direction of ‘open the state back up, lead from the front, and let the legislators do their job being a separate body of government.’”
Lee’s staff members did not return a request for comment Monday.
Maury County GOP Chair Jason Whatley, meanwhile, said Tennessee’s rural counties deserve to have a voice in how state officials respond to COVID-19.
“We are of the opinion that the people are smart enough to make these decisions on our own and that we have missed the boat when it comes to everything about the shutdowns. We are accepting the word of the government as being the final word as if they have a lock on all knowledge,” Whatley told The Star.
“When did we as Americans exit off the ramp of liberty and believe that is just the way it is? Especially when you are talking about governmental policies that curtail or completely dismantle your basic civil liberties?”
In their letter, the eight co-signers told Lee that they believe he has done the best he could during this emergency.
“It’s fair to say that no governor enjoys the full support of his/her people in terms of their state’s response to this issue,” the GOP officials told the governor.
“Having said that, the leadership of these Republican County parties believes strongly that the State of Tennessee needs to take the lead, unique from all other states, in putting this matter behind us for good.”
Read the letter:
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-06--Beacon Center Disagrees With Court Ruling That Decreed Education Savings Accounts are Unconstitution

Beacon Center Disagrees With Court Ruling That Decreed Education Savings Accounts are Unconstitutional

A judge ruled that the Tennessee Education Savings Account ( ESA ) Pilot Program is unconstitutional , and a nonpartisan think tank says that could harm children .
Davidson County Chancellor Anne C. Martin on Monday ruled that the ESA Act was in violation of the Home Rule Amendment in the Tennessee constitution , WSMV said .
The pilot applies only to Davidson and Shelby counties .
Gov .
Bill Lee signed it into law last year .
The program , ( school voucher ) , sends some tax dollars to private education .
Families would receive $ 7,300 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their child ’ s private school tuition .
The Beacon Center of Tennessee said Monday in a statement that it “ respectfully disagrees with today ’ s ruling from the Davidson County Chancellory Court that the ESA program is unconstitutional.
” This decision harms children in Davidson and Shelby County who are looking for a lifeline to receive a quality education starting this upcoming fall .
Educational choice has consistently been deemed constitutional by courts across the country ; this program does not unconstitutionally single out or even apply to specific cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school districts .
For this reason , Beacon believes this program will ultimately be upheld by the courts despite today ’ s setback .
Beacon CEO Justin Owen stated , “ While we are disappointed about today ’ s ruling , the fight is far from over .
Beacon will continue to do everything we can to fight on behalf of families all the way to the state Supreme Court to ensure that they are able to participate in this program this fall and beyond , just as Gov .
Lee and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 6 in the Chancery Court for Davidson County had asked to halt the implementation of the ESA Program , The Tennessee Star reported at the time .
The motion was filed by the ACLU of Tennessee and the Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of parents and community members in Shelby and Davidson County who filed a lawsuit against the program .
The motion asked for a temporary injunction to “ stop the implementation of the law ” because it would “ illegally siphon much-needed taxpayer funds away from ” public schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Anne C. Martin ” by Tennessee Courts .

A judge ruled that the Tennessee Education Savings Account (ESA) Pilot Program is unconstitutional, and a nonpartisan think tank says that could harm children.
Davidson County Chancellor Anne C. Martin on Monday ruled that the ESA Act was in violation of the Home Rule Amendment in the Tennessee constitution, WSMV said. The pilot applies only to Davidson and Shelby counties. Gov. Bill Lee signed it into law last year.
The program, (school voucher), sends some tax dollars to private education. Families would receive $7,300 in state money every school year to pay for their child’s private school tuition.
The Beacon Center of Tennessee said Monday in a statement that it “respectfully disagrees with today’s ruling from the Davidson County Chancellory Court that the ESA program is unconstitutional.”
This decision harms children in Davidson and Shelby County who are looking for a lifeline to receive a quality education starting this upcoming fall. Educational choice has consistently been deemed constitutional by courts across the country; this program does not unconstitutionally single out or even apply to specific cities or counties, it applies to underperforming school districts. For this reason, Beacon believes this program will ultimately be upheld by the courts despite today’s setback. Beacon CEO Justin Owen stated, “While we are disappointed about today’s ruling, the fight is far from over. Beacon will continue to do everything we can to fight on behalf of families all the way to the state Supreme Court to ensure that they are able to participate in this program this fall and beyond, just as Gov. Lee and the legislature intended.”
A legal motion filed April 6 in the Chancery Court for Davidson County had asked to halt the implementation of the ESA Program, The Tennessee Star reported at the time.
The motion was filed by the ACLU of Tennessee and the Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of parents and community members in Shelby and Davidson County who filed a lawsuit against the program. The motion asked for a temporary injunction to “stop the implementation of the law” because it would “illegally siphon much-needed taxpayer funds away from” public schools.
– – –
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “Anne C. Martin ” by Tennessee Courts.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-06--Commentary: Educators Should Learn from Homeschoolers, Not Antagonize Them

The editors at Harvard Review must be surprised at the reaction they provoked with their magazine ’ s recent article , “ The Risks of Homeschooling.
” For an issue that concerns “ roughly 3 percent to 4 percent of school-age children , ” the great profusion of responses from every corner of the internet would convince a person that it is really 96 percent to 97 percent who are homeschoolers—which might currently be the case since nearly every school has closed down for the year to prevent the spread of the Wuhan virus .
What did the article say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who work in education or have familiarity with this issue , the criticism was fairly typical .
Writer Erin O ’ Donnell quotes Harvard law professor Elizabeth Bartholet , who claims that homeschooling should be outlawed because it harms kids in numerous ways : they learn less , socialize less , have less contact with public life , and are subject to all kinds of physical , emotional , and psychological abuse .
As the writer and Bartholet put it , homeschooling “ not only violates children ’ s right to a ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be protected from potential child abuse , but may keep them from contributing positively to a democratic society.
” Naturally , Bartholet does not bother to back up her claim with much evidence—if she had tried , she would have discovered that the research actually supports the opposite conclusion .
Nor does she even offer anecdotal evidence about actual homeschooling to at least illustrate her argument and make it plausible , whereas people like National Review writer Katherine Timpf and Harvard grad Alex Harris both offer powerful testimonies of homeschooling ’ s benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on hypotheticals , which make bigoted assumptions about Christians and their supposed desire to tyrannize their own children .
Worse still is the great irony of Bartholet ’ s point that it is somehow “ authoritarian ” for parents to have the freedom to educate the children they love while it is not authoritarian in the slightest for the state to force parents to relinquish their children to state-approved schools .
In her mind , she assumes the very best of public schools , ignoring the growing radicalism in its curriculum and thought-killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of homeschoolers , citing the memoir Educated which documents parental neglect and child abuse .
Kenneth Pike , writing a comprehensive rebuttal to the Harvard Review article , sums up Bartholet ’ s position succinctly : “ government actors good , parents bad.
” And yet , despite the superior evidence and logic that Bartholet ’ s critics bring to the debate , most Americans will still probably side with the Harvard professor .
What most people miss about the case against homeschooling is what really lies at its core : it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and those who agree with her are not seriously concerned about educational outcomes or children ’ s welfare .
If they were , they would take more care to collect and study data on the matter .
Rather they are more baffled at the parents who have decided , against all conventional wisdom and universal practice , to teach their own children .
From Bartholet ’ s perspective—and probably also from the perspective of a good number of Americans—homeschooling parents lack the proper training and resources needed for the adequate education of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would take on this work .
Would these parents also try to do the work of a doctor and perform their own surgery ?
Would these parents also grow and harvest their own food to feed their family ?
Americans in the 21st century have come to depend on experts , usually those from the government , so much so that they can not even fathom any individual doing something on his own .
They have outsourced every important activity , even much of their own thinking , to other people or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they observe a mother who decides not to outsource education to officially trained pedagogues , they immediately assume it must be because she has a paranoid fear of the world and an obsessive desire to shelter her kids from reality—in other words , she must be crazy .
For her part , the homeschooling mother will gladly provide evidence to the contrary , showing that public and private schools fall short constantly , that homeschooling can and usually does produce good students , and that expertise in teaching is not comparable to expertise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today ’ s society has been conditioned not to look at these arguments ; they will immediately look at the person making them .
They will look at a Harvard professor sounding off on something she knows nothing about alongside some unknown person making a reasoned defense , and they will go with the former every time .
The Wuhan virus has shown just how far most people have come in their trust of experts .
Even if an expert has been frequently wrong , continues to be wrong , and makes outrageous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust him over the writers who have researched the topic and actually make sense .
The level of deference shown to experts from politicians and their constituents has reached frightening new heights these past two months : instead of simply listening to the experts and evaluating what they say against other perspectives , everyone must let those experts determine reality itself .
To question or oppose indefinite lockdowns and grossly inaccurate doomsday models is now equated with dangerous misinformation and being anti-science .
This figures into the homeschooling debate because it features the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side that follows the experts without really thinking about it , and the other side that follows the arguments and thinks for themselves .
The discussion quickly becomes moot as neither side understands the other and assumes the worst .
More often than not , education experts assume that parents who homeschool are illiterate bumpkins who brainwash their children with religious nonsense , and homeschool parents assume that professional educators are soulless agents of a tyrannical state who brainwash students with socialism and identity politics .
Instead of each side preaching to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to move past this dead end .
The experts can stop relying on their presumed authority and start making better arguments to further the cause of educating Americans and discussing ways to improve educational outcomes .
And homeschooling parents can focus on the many positives of homeschooling and help enlighten parents about how they can play a greater role in their children ’ s learning .
Discussing the merits and drawbacks of homeschooling does not have to be this adversarial .
Done right , both sides can contribute to improving the education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself , I would love to have more parents involved in their children ’ s learning , even if it means that some children might stay home altogether .
And I think most homeschooling parents would welcome advice and support from educators who do this work for a living .
Although the impulse to rely on experts and dismiss those who do things for themselves is strong , it should be resisted .
People should have the freedom to teach their own children and understand the joys and struggles that this great work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Bartholet want to perpetuate outdated stereotypes and argue from authority , everyone else should reclaim learning for themselves and learn how to become their own authorities .
– – – Auguste Meyrat is an English teacher in the Dallas area .
He holds an M.A .
in Humanities and an M.Ed in Educational Leadership .
He is the senior editor of The Everyman and has written for The Federalist , The American Thinker , and The American Conservative as well as the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture .
Follow him on @ @ @ @

by Auguste Meyrat
The editors at Harvard Review must be surprised at the reaction they provoked with their magazine’s recent article, “The Risks of Homeschooling.” For an issue that concerns “roughly 3 percent to 4 percent of school-age children,” the great profusion of responses from every corner of the internet would convince a person that it is really 96 percent to 97 percent who are homeschoolers—which might currently be the case since nearly every school has closed down for the year to prevent the spread of the Wuhan virus.
What did the article say that produced this reaction? For those who work in education or have familiarity with this issue, the criticism was fairly typical. Writer Erin O’Donnell quotes Harvard law professor Elizabeth Bartholet, who claims that homeschooling should be outlawed because it harms kids in numerous ways: they learn less, socialize less, have less contact with public life, and are subject to all kinds of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse.
As the writer and Bartholet put it, homeschooling “not only violates children’s right to a ‘meaningful education’ and their right to be protected from potential child abuse, but may keep them from contributing positively to a democratic society.”
Naturally, Bartholet does not bother to back up her claim with much evidence—if she had tried, she would have discovered that the research actually supports the opposite conclusion.
Nor does she even offer anecdotal evidence about actual homeschooling to at least illustrate her argument and make it plausible, whereas people like National Review writer Katherine Timpf and Harvard grad Alex Harris both offer powerful testimonies of homeschooling’s benefits.
Bartholet’s whole case rests on hypotheticals, which make bigoted assumptions about Christians and their supposed desire to tyrannize their own children.
Worse still is the great irony of Bartholet’s point that it is somehow “authoritarian” for parents to have the freedom to educate the children they love while it is not authoritarian in the slightest for the state to force parents to relinquish their children to state-approved schools. In her mind, she assumes the very best of public schools, ignoring the growing radicalism in its curriculum and thought-killing indoctrination, and assumes the very worst of homeschoolers, citing the memoir Educated which documents parental neglect and child abuse.
Kenneth Pike, writing a comprehensive rebuttal to the Harvard Review article, sums up Bartholet’s position succinctly: “government actors good, parents bad.”
And yet, despite the superior evidence and logic that Bartholet’s critics bring to the debate, most Americans will still probably side with the Harvard professor.
What most people miss about the case against homeschooling is what really lies at its core: it is all about experts and expertise.
Bartholet and those who agree with her are not seriously concerned about educational outcomes or children’s welfare. If they were, they would take more care to collect and study data on the matter. Rather they are more baffled at the parents who have decided, against all conventional wisdom and universal practice, to teach their own children.
From Bartholet’s perspective—and probably also from the perspective of a good number of Americans—homeschooling parents lack the proper training and resources needed for the adequate education of their children. It makes no sense that they would take on this work. Would these parents also try to do the work of a doctor and perform their own surgery? Would these parents also grow and harvest their own food to feed their family?
Americans in the 21st century have come to depend on experts, usually those from the government, so much so that they cannot even fathom any individual doing something on his own. They have outsourced every important activity, even much of their own thinking, to other people or to computer algorithms. Consequently, when they observe a mother who decides not to outsource education to officially trained pedagogues, they immediately assume it must be because she has a paranoid fear of the world and an obsessive desire to shelter her kids from reality—in other words, she must be crazy.
For her part, the homeschooling mother will gladly provide evidence to the contrary, showing that public and private schools fall short constantly, that homeschooling can and usually does produce good students, and that expertise in teaching is not comparable to expertise in medicine or agriculture.
Unfortunately, today’s society has been conditioned not to look at these arguments; they will immediately look at the person making them. They will look at a Harvard professor sounding off on something she knows nothing about alongside some unknown person making a reasoned defense, and they will go with the former every time.
The Wuhan virus has shown just how far most people have come in their trust of experts. Even if an expert has been frequently wrong, continues to be wrong, and makes outrageous and incoherent predictions, people will still trust him over the writers who have researched the topic and actually make sense.
The level of deference shown to experts from politicians and their constituents has reached frightening new heights these past two months: instead of simply listening to the experts and evaluating what they say against other perspectives, everyone must let those experts determine reality itself. To question or oppose indefinite lockdowns and grossly inaccurate doomsday models is now equated with dangerous misinformation and being anti-science.
This figures into the homeschooling debate because it features the same two caricatured sides: the one side that follows the experts without really thinking about it, and the other side that follows the arguments and thinks for themselves. The discussion quickly becomes moot as neither side understands the other and assumes the worst. More often than not, education experts assume that parents who homeschool are illiterate bumpkins who brainwash their children with religious nonsense, and homeschool parents assume that professional educators are soulless agents of a tyrannical state who brainwash students with socialism and identity politics.
Instead of each side preaching to its own choir, there is a better way to move past this dead end. The experts can stop relying on their presumed authority and start making better arguments to further the cause of educating Americans and discussing ways to improve educational outcomes. And homeschooling parents can focus on the many positives of homeschooling and help enlighten parents about how they can play a greater role in their children’s learning.
Discussing the merits and drawbacks of homeschooling does not have to be this adversarial. Done right, both sides can contribute to improving the education of all Americans. As a teacher myself, I would love to have more parents involved in their children’s learning, even if it means that some children might stay home altogether. And I think most homeschooling parents would welcome advice and support from educators who do this work for a living.
Although the impulse to rely on experts and dismiss those who do things for themselves is strong, it should be resisted. People should have the freedom to teach their own children and understand the joys and struggles that this great work brings. While out-of-touch public intellectuals like Dr. Bartholet want to perpetuate outdated stereotypes and argue from authority, everyone else should reclaim learning for themselves and learn how to become their own authorities.
– – –
Auguste Meyrat is an English teacher in the Dallas area. He holds an M.A. in Humanities and an M.Ed in Educational Leadership. He is the senior editor of The Everyman and has written for The Federalist, The American Thinker, and The American Conservative as well as the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. Follow him on Twitter: @MeyratAuguste


thetennesseestar--2020-05-06--Tennessee Department of Health Data Proves Nashville Officials Misled the Public on COVID-19 Claims

Nashville officials told local residents last Friday that surrounding counties had suddenly surpassed the city in its COVID-19 count , but they could only claim that because prisoners two counties away contracted the virus .
On Tuesday The Tennessee Department of Health provided The Tennessee Star with raw data to demonstrate how Nashville officials mischaracterized the situation .
As reported , those prisoners , 1,299 inmates and 50 staff members at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in Hartsville , tested positive for the virus .
Those cases were all asymptomatic .
Nashville officials likely claimed this to make the case that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should continue to remain at home .
This , after members of Nashville Mayor John Cooper ’ s office , the Metro Department of Health , and the Tennessee Department of Health did not directly answer our one pressing question : “ Can you please break down the confirmed COVID-19 numbers for each of the counties in the Mid Cumberland Region for last Thursday and Friday of last week ( April 30 and May 1 ) ?
” As reported , counties in the Mid Cumberland Region , which surround Davidson , include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davidson County .
But TDH officials gave us the raw data , and we calculated the answers ourselves .
According to that data , on Thursday , April 30 all of the Mid Cumberland Region counties had a combined total of 2,318 confirmed COVID-19 cases .
Davidson County , which , again , is not formally a part of the Mid Cumberland Region , had 2,612 confirmed cases .
So , on this date , Davidson County still had higher virus numbers than all of the Mid Cumberland counties combined .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trousdale County increased from 123 on Thursday to 1,020 on Friday , May 1 .
The number of cases in Trousdale dramatically increased as prison officials announced the numbers at their facility .
Take the Trousdale County numbers into account , and there were 3,277 confirmed COVID-19 cases for the Mid Cumberland Region counties on Friday and 2,652 confirmed cases for Davidson County .
At this point the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mid Cumberland Region counties exceeded those in Davidson County .
The Mid Cumberland Region numbers do not precisely match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force Chair Alex Jahangir delivered at a press conference Friday .
Nor do they precisely match the 2,832 number he delivered for Davidson County that day .
Regardless , without the asymptomatic rise in numbers at the Trousdale prison , Davidson County would still exceed surrounding counties in its number of confirmed COVID-19 cases .
Nashville officials still have not said whether it ’ s fair or accurate to cite numbers from a prison under these circumstances .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] Photo “ Nashville Mayor John Cooper ” by the City of Nashville .

Nashville officials told local residents last Friday that surrounding counties had suddenly surpassed the city in its COVID-19 count, but they could only claim that because prisoners two counties away contracted the virus.
On Tuesday The Tennessee Department of Health provided The Tennessee Star with raw data to demonstrate how Nashville officials mischaracterized the situation.
As reported, those prisoners, 1,299 inmates and 50 staff members at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in Hartsville, tested positive for the virus.
Those cases were all asymptomatic.
Nashville officials likely claimed this to make the case that local businesses should remain closed and residents should continue to remain at home.
This, after members of Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s office, the Metro Department of Health, and the Tennessee Department of Health did not directly answer our one pressing question:
“Can you please break down the confirmed COVID-19 numbers for each of the counties in the Mid Cumberland Region for last Thursday and Friday of last week (April 30 and May 1)?”
As reported, counties in the Mid Cumberland Region, which surround Davidson, include Trousdale. Trousdale County does not border Davidson County.
But TDH officials gave us the raw data, and we calculated the answers ourselves.
According to that data, on Thursday, April 30 all of the Mid Cumberland Region counties had a combined total of 2,318 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Davidson County, which, again, is not formally a part of the Mid Cumberland Region, had 2,612 confirmed cases. So, on this date, Davidson County still had higher virus numbers than all of the Mid Cumberland counties combined.
However, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Trousdale County increased from 123 on Thursday to 1,020 on Friday, May 1. The number of cases in Trousdale dramatically increased as prison officials announced the numbers at their facility.
Take the Trousdale County numbers into account, and there were 3,277 confirmed COVID-19 cases for the Mid Cumberland Region counties on Friday and 2,652 confirmed cases for Davidson County. At this point the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mid Cumberland Region counties exceeded those in Davidson County.
The Mid Cumberland Region numbers do not precisely match the 3,227 count that Metro Coronavirus Task Force Chair Alex Jahangir delivered at a press conference Friday. Nor do they precisely match the 2,832 number he delivered for Davidson County that day.
Regardless, without the asymptomatic rise in numbers at the Trousdale prison, Davidson County would still exceed surrounding counties in its number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Nashville officials still have not said whether it’s fair or accurate to cite numbers from a prison under these circumstances.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Nashville Mayor John Cooper” by the City of Nashville.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-06--Gov Gavin Newsom Sued Over $75 Million Stimulus for Illegal Aliens

A lawsuit seeks to stop Democratic California Gov .
Gavin Newsom from doling out roughly $ 75 million in taxpayer funds to foreign nationals living unlawfully in the country .
Judicial Watch , a conservative legal firm , filed a temporary restraining order against Newsom to keep him from spending about $ 75 million of state taxpayer funds on direct cash benefits to illegal aliens , the firm announced on Tuesday .
Judicial Watch is arguing that an emergency restraining order is necessary because Newsom ’ s administration will imminently begin distributing the cash benefits .
“ Judicial Watch ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restraining order because Governor Newsom plans to rush plainly illegal direct cash payments , using taxpayer dollars , to illegal aliens , ” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement .
He continued : “ The governor has no legal authority on his own to spend state taxpayer money for cash payments to illegal aliens , and coronavirus doesn ’ t give him or any other politician a pass to violate the law.
” Newsom in April announced that his administration would distribute $ 125 million in coronavirus-related assistance funds to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program is a public-private partnership initiative , with California taxpayers ponying up $ 75 million and another $ 50 million covered by philanthropic donations .
The relief program is intended for illegal aliens living in the state who don ’ t qualify for the stimulus package Congress passed in March .
Recipients can receive a one-time cash benefit of up to $ 500 and households can receive up to $ 1,000 to deal with the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Newsom ’ s administration anticipates to dole out cash to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when announcing the program , said 10 % of California ’ s workforce is undocumented .
Judicial Watch on Tuesday argued that the governor is overstepping his authority in trying to give taxpayer funds to illegal aliens , and took particular umbrage with the fact that Newsom launched the program without input from California ’ s state legislature .
“ These benefits are not to be provided to U.S. citizens or legal aliens residing in the state , according to an April 17 fact sheet issued by the California Department of Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Immigrants Fact Sheet , ’ which reiterates that only unlawfully present aliens are eligible for direct assistance , ” the legal firm stated .
Federal immigration law generally forbids illegal aliens from being eligible for state or local public benefits .
Only through laws enacted by a state legislature can a state government provide such benefits to undocumented aliens — something Newsom did not do .
Jason Hopkins is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Background Photo “ California State Capitol ” by Sylvia Rof .
CC BY-SA 4.0 @

by Jason Hopkins
A lawsuit seeks to stop Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom from doling out roughly $75 million in taxpayer funds to foreign nationals living unlawfully in the country.
Judicial Watch, a conservative legal firm, filed a temporary restraining order against Newsom to keep him from spending about $75 million of state taxpayer funds on direct cash benefits to illegal aliens, the firm announced on Tuesday. Judicial Watch is arguing that an emergency restraining order is necessary because Newsom’s administration will imminently begin distributing the cash benefits.
“Judicial Watch’s taxpayer clients asked for a temporary restraining order because Governor Newsom plans to rush plainly illegal direct cash payments, using taxpayer dollars, to illegal aliens,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement.
He continued: “The governor has no legal authority on his own to spend state taxpayer money for cash payments to illegal aliens, and coronavirus doesn’t give him or any other politician a pass to violate the law.”
Newsom in April announced that his administration would distribute $125 million in coronavirus-related assistance funds to illegal aliens. This disaster relief assistance program is a public-private partnership initiative, with California taxpayers ponying up $75 million and another $50 million covered by philanthropic donations.
The relief program is intended for illegal aliens living in the state who don’t qualify for the stimulus package Congress passed in March. Recipients can receive a one-time cash benefit of up to $500 and households can receive up to $1,000 to deal with the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Newsom’s administration anticipates to dole out cash to roughly 150,000 illegal alien adults. Newsom, when announcing the program, said 10% of California’s workforce is undocumented.
Judicial Watch on Tuesday argued that the governor is overstepping his authority in trying to give taxpayer funds to illegal aliens, and took particular umbrage with the fact that Newsom launched the program without input from California’s state legislature.
“These benefits are not to be provided to U.S. citizens or legal aliens residing in the state, according to an April 17 fact sheet issued by the California Department of Social Services, the ‘Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants Fact Sheet,’ which reiterates that only unlawfully present aliens are eligible for direct assistance,” the legal firm stated.
Federal immigration law generally forbids illegal aliens from being eligible for state or local public benefits. Only through laws enacted by a state legislature can a state government provide such benefits to undocumented aliens — something Newsom did not do.
– – –
Jason Hopkins is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Background Photo “California State Capitol” by Sylvia Rof. CC BY-SA 4.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-06--Rep. Jordan Calls on FBI Director to Explain Actions in Michael Flynn Counterintelligence Probe

Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan , the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee , wants FBI Director Christopher Wray to review the bureau ’ s investigation into whether former national security adviser Michael Flynn acted as a Russian agent .
Jordan and Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana , another Republican on the Judiciary panel , asked Wray in a Monday letter to produce all FBI documents that refer to “ Crossfire Razor , ” the FBI ’ s code name for Flynn .
“ We write to request that you immediately review the actions of the FBI in targeting LTG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wray .
They sent out the letter after revelations last week that the FBI determined by early 2017 that there was no evidence Flynn , a retired lieutenant general , worked as a Russian agent during President Donald Trump ’ s campaign .
The bureau kept the investigation open , however , at the request of Peter Strzok , the former deputy chief of FBI counterintelligence .
Other documents released last week show that top FBI officials strategized before a Jan. 24 , 2017 , interview with Flynn at the White House .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or to get him to lie so we can prosecute him or get him fired ?
” reads a handwritten memo from Bill Priestap , who served as the FBI ’ s chief of counterintelligence .
Strzok and Joseph Pienkta , an FBI agent , interviewed Flynn at the White House that same day regarding his phone calls in December 2016 with Sergey Kislyak , who was at that time the Russian ambassador to the U.S. Flynn pleaded guilty on Dec. 1 , 2017 , to making false statements during the interview regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has since sought to withdraw from the guilty plea , asserting that he does not believe he lied to Strzok and Pientka in the interview .
Priestap ’ s letter regarding the Flynn interview was revealed as part of a review led by Jeffrey B. Jensen , the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri .
Attorney General William Barr appointed Jensen to review the Flynn investigation for any irregularities .
The Priestap memo was never produced to Flynn ’ s attorneys .
Nor was a Jan. 4 , 2017 , FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be closed due to lack of evidence that he was a Russian agent .
“ The FBI is closing this investigation .
If new information is identified or reported to the FBI regarding the activities of CROSSFIRE RAZOR , the FBI will consider reopening the investigation if warranted , ” reads a report from the FBI ’ s Washington Field Office .
Strzok , the FBI ’ s deputy chief of counterintelligence , prevented the investigation from being closed , according to internal FBI messages unsealed last week .
“ Hey if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t do so yet , ” he wrote in a Jan. 4 , 2017 , message to a colleague .
Jordan and Johnson asserted in their letter to Wray that the FBI “ facilitated an incorrect public impression of alleged Trump campaign collusion with Russia.
” Jordan and Johnson asked Wray to facilitate interviews with Priestap , who retired from the FBI in 2018 , and Pientka , the FBI agent who took part in the Flynn interview along with Strzok .
They also asked the FBI chief to disclose when he first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disclosure of exculpatory information related to Flynn .
– – – Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Background Photo “ DOJ Building ” by I , Aude .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .

by Chuck Ross
Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, wants FBI Director Christopher Wray to review the bureau’s investigation into whether former national security adviser Michael Flynn acted as a Russian agent.
Jordan and Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, another Republican on the Judiciary panel, asked Wray in a Monday letter to produce all FBI documents that refer to “Crossfire Razor,” the FBI’s code name for Flynn.
“We write to request that you immediately review the actions of the FBI in targeting LTG Flynn,” the Republicans wrote to Wray.
They sent out the letter after revelations last week that the FBI determined by early 2017 that there was no evidence Flynn, a retired lieutenant general, worked as a Russian agent during President Donald Trump’s campaign. The bureau kept the investigation open, however, at the request of Peter Strzok, the former deputy chief of FBI counterintelligence.
Other documents released last week show that top FBI officials strategized before a Jan. 24, 2017, interview with Flynn at the White House.
“What is our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie so we can prosecute him or get him fired?” reads a handwritten memo from Bill Priestap, who served as the FBI’s chief of counterintelligence.
Strzok and Joseph Pienkta, an FBI agent, interviewed Flynn at the White House that same day regarding his phone calls in December 2016 with Sergey Kislyak, who was at that time the Russian ambassador to the U.S.
Flynn pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017, to making false statements during the interview regarding discussions about sanctions with Kislyak. He has since sought to withdraw from the guilty plea, asserting that he does not believe he lied to Strzok and Pientka in the interview.
Priestap’s letter regarding the Flynn interview was revealed as part of a review led by Jeffrey B. Jensen, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri. Attorney General William Barr appointed Jensen to review the Flynn investigation for any irregularities.
The Priestap memo was never produced to Flynn’s attorneys. Nor was a Jan. 4, 2017, FBI report recommending that the investigation of Flynn be closed due to lack of evidence that he was a Russian agent.
“The FBI is closing this investigation. If new information is identified or reported to the FBI regarding the activities of CROSSFIRE RAZOR, the FBI will consider reopening the investigation if warranted,” reads a report from the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Strzok, the FBI’s deputy chief of counterintelligence, prevented the investigation from being closed, according to internal FBI messages unsealed last week.
“Hey if you haven’t closed RAZOR don’t do so yet,” he wrote in a Jan. 4, 2017, message to a colleague.
Jordan and Johnson asserted in their letter to Wray that the FBI “facilitated an incorrect public impression of alleged Trump campaign collusion with Russia.”
Jordan and Johnson asked Wray to facilitate interviews with Priestap, who retired from the FBI in 2018, and Pientka, the FBI agent who took part in the Flynn interview along with Strzok. They also asked the FBI chief to disclose when he first learned that FBI officials might have delayed the disclosure of exculpatory information related to Flynn.
– – –
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Background Photo “DOJ Building” by I, Aude. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-06--Thales Academy-Franklin Hosting Food Truck and Parent Informational Meeting on May 12

Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcasting live from Music Row on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – Leahy was joined on the newsmakers line by all-star panelist and Thales Academy-Franklin Principal Rachael Bradley .
Leahy : We are joined now by our good friend Rachael Bradley .
All-star panelist and principal of the Thales Academy-Franklin K-12 school opening up in July .
The high quality affordable private school in Middle Tennessee .
Good morning Rachael .
How are you ?
Bradley : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How are you ?
Leahy : I ’ m looking forward to a week from today because a week from today May 12 at 6:30 p.m. you are holding a parent ’ s informational meeting .
As far as we know this is still correct ?
Bradley : It is .
Yes .
I ’ m gearing up .
I ’ m excited to get to talk about Thales and give people a safe opportunity to get out of the house for a little bit and learn about the high-quality education program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leahy : The interesting thing about this is I have a little bit of cabin fever .
I guess I call it studio fever .
By the way , we are now in phase one of studio freedom week which means that one of our all-star panelists Crom Carmichael is coming in .
We have a detailed safety protocol as an all-star panelist .
When we go to phase two if you feel comfortable with our safety protocol you too may be in the studio .
We have your hazmat suit here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Laughter ) Bradley : Absolutely .
Yes .
I will trust your protocol and be happy to also get out of the house for a few minutes .
Leahy : Really .
So yes , it ’ s important .
You talk about trusting protocols .
Again , to get out of the house as a parent and if you ’ re looking at what to do in the now because you ’ ve got an option here now for folks now .
But also in July , July 20 is when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Your beautiful building which is at 3835 Carothers Parkway in Franklin .
You can see the building as you ’ re driving in .
I was driving in this morning and looked to the right just before I got to the intersection of I-65 and 96 driving north .
It still says The Gate Community Church but pretty soon the sign is going to say Thales Academy , right ?
Bradley : It is .
We ’ re just waiting on the sign company to get our new signs up .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting redone from a wind storm a while back .
Not as bad as Monday night .
So yes , I ’ m just waiting on the permanent signage .
I ’ m working on a food truck to come out Tuesday night .
Because what draws people more than anything else ?
Food .
Bradley : Whoever doesn ’ t want to cook dinner on Tuesday .
Leahy : You can be in a safe social distancing situation right ?
Bradley : Yes .
Yes .
Hopefully , it will be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t wait to talk about Thales .
I heard something really interesting last week Mike which is that about 40 % of parents have not yet completed kindergarten registration for public schools .
And the deadline passed .
Now not they won ’ t extend that but it speaks to the fact that people are maybe contemplating other options ?
Sitting on the fence .
Here we are .
We would love to be that other option .
Leahy : It would be a great option too by the way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainty .
Leahy : One of the things that this in-person parent meeting that you ’ re going to hold all in compliance with existing social distancing regulations , right ?
Leahy : A week from Tuesday .
Go to 3835 Carothers Parkway in Franklin at The Gate Community Church which is now owned by Thales Academy .
Do we think there will be a food truck there right with great food ?
Leahy : I will be there .
What I ’ ll do is I ’ ll be there outside at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be waving to people .
I won ’ t go in because I want to make sure there ’ s enough room inside for parents .
And you ’ ve got a big facility there .
There will be plenty of room there for people to be six feet apart I think .
Bradley : Absolutely .
The sanctuary is really large .
There is a huge lobby and everything will be marked off .
We ’ ll have the chairs spread out accordingly .
I feel certain we could fit up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll just have somebody stationed at the door to make sure that the crowd meets all the safety recommendations .
Leahy : Yes and it may be the case that we even might do them in a sequenced way .
I think the official rule might be like crowds of 10 or more .
But we ’ ll get all that worked out .
If you want to go you can be there .
I think it will be great to get out .
It will be from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s enough to get a really good idea to reduce uncertainty if you are thinking about what am I going to do for my kids for school next year !
Bradley : Absolutely .
This is your opportunity to come to learn about our excellent program that we have .
High quality but affordable .
We ’ re utilizing a mastery-based program with direct instruction as our teaching methodology .
High time on task .
Every student engaged .
Leahy : And you ’ ve been doing this direct instruction yourself for well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been a leading practitioner of direct instruction in the country .
You have been with Thales Academy has been around since 2007 with eight schools and over 3,000 kids succeeding with very reasonable tuition in North Carolina .
Tell our listeners about what the tuition price will be for this great option .
Bradley : Well part of our mission is to offer affordable tuition because we want to be able to educate as many children as possible .
And we ’ ve ensured that we have the lowest possible tuition especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging for a lot of families that may have lost or reduced their income .
So our tuition in Williamson County at the Franklin campus is going to be $ 5,300 per year .
Leahy : That ’ s pretty reasonable when you consider most private schools in Williamson County are double , triple , or even quadruple that .
Leahy : It ’ s really great .
The founder of Thales Academy , a good guy named Bob Luddy who is a very successful businessman that has applied business skills to schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty well .
Bradley : That ’ s exactly right .
That ’ s what he ’ s done .
I get that question a lot .
That ’ s his area of expertise and that ’ s what he was able to bring to the table as the founder of Thales Academy .
We ’ re just really fortunate that Bob is a great guy and took such an interest in education and creating a better option for families .
Leahy : I almost forgot to mention this .
If you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you want to do online education you can do that with Thales Academy-Franklin .
Tell us a little bit about how that can happen .
Bradley : Again we saw a need .
Families are sitting at home and children are losing a lot of learning time and fortunately , at Thales Academy , we were reading to go with an online learning program on the first day of our fourth quarter .
And we rolled that out very successfully .
It ’ s gone wonderfully I ’ m saying that as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have an almost eight-year-old who turns eight next week and he is still doing reading , math , language arts , science , and social studies the whole ball game every day .
Leahy : And that ’ s available for free to Williamson County residents .
You ’ ve had about a dozen in Williamson County already sign up for that ?
Bradley : Yes .
We do .
So please , if you need an option we are offering that free of charge as a courtesy by trying to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tennesseestar.com and click on the blue Thales Academy ad and sign up and talk to Rachael .
Rachael , I look forward to talking to you again and seeing you in person a week from today at the Thales Academy parent informational meeting at 3835 Carothers Parkway in Franklin .
Thanks for being with us today .
Listen to the full third hour : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by Thales Academy .

Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcasting live from Music Row on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – Leahy was joined on the newsmakers line by all-star panelist and Thales Academy-Franklin Principal Rachael Bradley.
Leahy: We are joined now by our good friend Rachael Bradley. All-star panelist and principal of the Thales Academy-Franklin K-12 school opening up in July. The high quality affordable private school in Middle Tennessee. Good morning Rachael. How are you?
Bradley: Good morning. I’m wonderful. How are you?
Leahy: I’m looking forward to a week from today because a week from today May 12 at 6:30 p.m. you are holding a parent’s informational meeting. As far as we know this is still correct?
Bradley: It is. Yes. I’m gearing up. I’m excited to get to talk about Thales and give people a safe opportunity to get out of the house for a little bit and learn about the high-quality education program and a great option for their children.
Leahy: The interesting thing about this is I have a little bit of cabin fever. I guess I call it studio fever. By the way, we are now in phase one of studio freedom week which means that one of our all-star panelists Crom Carmichael is coming in. We have a detailed safety protocol as an all-star panelist. When we go to phase two if you feel comfortable with our safety protocol you too may be in the studio. We have your hazmat suit here in the studio ready to go. (Laughter)
Bradley: Absolutely. Yes. I will trust your protocol and be happy to also get out of the house for a few minutes.
Leahy: Really. So yes, it’s important. You talk about trusting protocols. Again, to get out of the house as a parent and if you’re looking at what to do in the now because you’ve got an option here now for folks now. But also in July, July 20 is when you open up at Thales Academy-Franklin.
Your beautiful building which is at 3835 Carothers Parkway in Franklin. You can see the building as you’re driving in. I was driving in this morning and looked to the right just before I got to the intersection of I-65 and 96 driving north. It still says The Gate Community Church but pretty soon the sign is going to say Thales Academy, right?
Bradley: It is. We’re just waiting on the sign company to get our new signs up. We have some nice new beautiful banners that are getting redone from a wind storm a while back. Not as bad as Monday night. So yes, I’m just waiting on the permanent signage. I’m working on a food truck to come out Tuesday night. Because what draws people more than anything else? Food.
Leahy: Ooh, a food truck.
Bradley: Whoever doesn’t want to cook dinner on Tuesday.
Leahy: You can be in a safe social distancing situation right?
Bradley: Yes. Yes. Hopefully, it will be a great opportunity. Again, I really can’t wait to talk about Thales. I heard something really interesting last week Mike which is that about 40% of parents have not yet completed kindergarten registration for public schools. And the deadline passed. Now not they won’t extend that but it speaks to the fact that people are maybe contemplating other options? Sitting on the fence. Here we are. We would love to be that other option.
Leahy: It would be a great option too by the way. I think a lot of it is uncertainty.
Bradley: It is.
Leahy: One of the things that this in-person parent meeting that you’re going to hold all in compliance with existing social distancing regulations, right?
Bradley: Yes. Absolutely.
Leahy: A week from Tuesday. Go to 3835 Carothers Parkway in Franklin at The Gate Community Church which is now owned by Thales Academy. Do we think there will be a food truck there right with great food?
Bradley: Yes.
Leahy: I will be there. What I’ll do is I’ll be there outside at the food truck so I’ll be waving to people. I won’t go in because I want to make sure there’s enough room inside for parents. And you’ve got a big facility there. There will be plenty of room there for people to be six feet apart I think.
Bradley: Absolutely. The sanctuary is really large. There is a huge lobby and everything will be marked off. We’ll have the chairs spread out accordingly. I feel certain we could fit up to 30 people or so safely and we’ll just have somebody stationed at the door to make sure that the crowd meets all the safety recommendations.
Leahy: Yes and it may be the case that we even might do them in a sequenced way. I think the official rule might be like crowds of 10 or more. But we’ll get all that worked out. If you want to go you can be there. I think it will be great to get out. It will be from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Bradley: Yes.
Leahy: I think that’s enough to get a really good idea to reduce uncertainty if you are thinking about what am I going to do for my kids for school next year!
Bradley: Absolutely. This is your opportunity to come to learn about our excellent program that we have. High quality but affordable. We’re utilizing a mastery-based program with direct instruction as our teaching methodology. High time on task. Every student engaged.
Leahy: And you’ve been doing this direct instruction yourself for well over a decade. You have personally have been a leading practitioner of direct instruction in the country. You have been with Thales Academy has been around since 2007 with eight schools and over 3,000 kids succeeding with very reasonable tuition in North Carolina. Tell our listeners about what the tuition price will be for this great option.
Bradley: Well part of our mission is to offer affordable tuition because we want to be able to educate as many children as possible. And we’ve ensured that we have the lowest possible tuition especially to meet this moment of uncertainty and challenging for a lot of families that may have lost or reduced their income. So our tuition in Williamson County at the Franklin campus is going to be $5,300 per year.
Leahy: That’s pretty reasonable when you consider most private schools in Williamson County are double, triple, or even quadruple that.
Bradley: It’s remarkable!
Leahy: It’s really great. The founder of Thales Academy, a good guy named Bob Luddy who is a very successful businessman that has applied business skills to schools. And it’s worked out pretty well.
Bradley: That’s exactly right. That’s what he’s done. I get that question a lot. That’s his area of expertise and that’s what he was able to bring to the table as the founder of Thales Academy. We’re just really fortunate that Bob is a great guy and took such an interest in education and creating a better option for families.
Leahy: I almost forgot to mention this. If you are a parent in Williamson County right now and you want to do online education you can do that with Thales Academy-Franklin. Tell us a little bit about how that can happen.
Bradley: Again we saw a need. Families are sitting at home and children are losing a lot of learning time and fortunately, at Thales Academy, we were reading to go with an online learning program on the first day of our fourth quarter. And we rolled that out very successfully. It’s gone wonderfully I’m saying that as an administrator and as a parent. I have an almost eight-year-old who turns eight next week and he is still doing reading, math, language arts, science, and social studies the whole ball game every day.
Leahy: And that’s available for free to Williamson County residents. You’ve had about a dozen in Williamson County already sign up for that?
Bradley: Yes. We do. So please, if you need an option we are offering that free of charge as a courtesy by trying to meet the moment.
Leahy: Go to the tennesseestar.com and click on the blue Thales Academy ad and sign up and talk to Rachael. Rachael, I look forward to talking to you again and seeing you in person a week from today at the Thales Academy parent informational meeting at 3835 Carothers Parkway in Franklin. Thanks for being with us today.
Bradley: Thank you.
Listen to the full third hour:

– – –
Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.
Photo “Thales Academy” by Thales Academy.