thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil McCabe Weighs in on the Navy’s Demand that Personnel Ceas

Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil McCabe Weighs in on the Navy’s Demand that Personnel Cease Attendance of Religious Services

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil McCabe to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , McCabe talked about the Navy ’ s recent call for military personnel to sign a waiver acknowledging that they will not attend indoor religious services .
He later discussed whether this was an infringement on the First Amendment rights and how COVID-19 is being used as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic religion .
Leahy : We have on the newsmaker line our good friend , Breitbart colleague for many years , and our Tennessee Star National Correspondent and the Star Newspaper group , Neil McCabe .
Good morning Neil .
McCabe : Michael , Crom , good to be with you today .
Leahy : We are adding to our pantheon of reporters here in The Tennessee Star and the Star News Group a fellow who has a master ’ s degree from Columbia School of Journalism and whose name is Patrick J.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ us next week and will be covering Ohio , Minnesota and Michigan .
We have formed a fighting Irish regime or law firm .
Leahy , McCabe , and McClusky .
What do you think ?
McCabe : Do you know what the Boston politicians say , Michael ?
Vote Gaelic , not garlic .
Leahy : ( Laughs ) You had a really interesting story for us and you are in the Army Reserve and a reporter in the Army Reserve .
You serve one weekend a month ?
McCabe : One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks in the summer .
But sometimes it ’ s three , sometimes it ’ s four .
It all depends on what schools they have going on .
It ’ s a significant commitment because there is also training and online courses you have to do .
It ’ s more than a part-time job but I don ’ t regret a minute of it .
Leahy : You keep yourself in great shape .
You run all the time .
You run a nine-minute mile typically ?
You run three or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have a four-mile course in the high nine low tens right now .
Leahy : I am preparing to run with you sometime .
I have this personal trainer that comes by twice a week .
I thought I might have had a hamstring little tweak but I ’ m ok.
I ’ m getting ready so we can have a run sometime later this summer and I ’ ll try and keep up with you .
McCabe : That would be fantastic .
Leahy : You had a fantastic story for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic Prelate : Navy ’ s Indoor Religious Ban ‘ Odious ’ .
Tell us about that story .
McCabe : I actually met the Arch Bishop Timothy Broglio in Iraq in 2009 .
I was there for Holy Thursday at Camp Victory when he was washing the feet of the soldiers as part of that mass .
So I ’ ve been sort of keeping my eye on him .
He ’ s the head of all the Catholic chaplains and programs .
There is the military Archdiocese for the Catholic church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a guy at that level to call out other people at a senior level .
And for him to come out and call what the Navy is doing “ odious ” was really outrageous because they came out with an order that basically said all Navy personnel are allowed to stay and have a party or events at their home with no limits to people .
They can use mass transit .
They can participate in public demonstrations or protests .
But there are certain things they can not do and one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Navy is actually making people sign paperwork that says that they acknowledge this order and will be held responsible under the uniform code of military justice for violating an order that they have acknowledged .
The Navy has gone further to say that Navy civilians are discouraged from going to indoor religious services and family members and dependents .
They even said off base .
The archbishop reached out to the chief of chaplains from the Navy and they wouldn ’ t work with him or talk to him .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Operations and then he doesn ’ t even acknowledge it .
It ’ s a very unusual situation because I ’ ve worked at headquarters units before .
I was in the Coast Guard before I joined the Army Reserve .
I ’ ve worked on admiral staff and general staff in the Army Reserve .
And at this level , everything seems to be very polite .
And everybody that ignores you they ignore you with a very nice letter .
( Leahy chuckles ) It ’ s very unusual for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a Catholic family but I don ’ t know if he ’ s Catholic now .
You would think that an archbishop gave him a holler that he would need to acknowledge it .
I think it speaks to a lot of concerns at least among religious conservatives that this COVID-19 is being manipulated for other purposes by people who are really upset by the influence of organized religion in our society .
And there is actually an Air Force Major who attended a Navy school and he ’ s asked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is representing him because these guys have been threatened with action under the uniform code of military justice .
Leahy : So let me take that order from the Navy and let me compare it to the First Amendment of the Constitution which reads , Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment or religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof .
That ’ s the beginning of it .
Leahy : Is this order prohibiting Navy personnel from attending religious indoor services , is that a violation of the First Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me a base of violation .
It ’ s a difficult thing because we are told these constitutional rights are not absolute .
Well , who says that ?
That sounds a little crazy to me .
You remember a case involving the Second Amendment where a state said that you couldn ’ t have a gun permit if you were blind .
And a blind man challenged it and the court said nowhere in the Bill of Rights or the Second Amendment does it say you have to be able to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But whether a blind man should have a gun or not .
But the Constitution says shall not be infringed .
And so I think that if we are going to be that extreme on something like that rightfully so , certainly I ’ ve been told that if we can have adult bookstores and porno channels and they can shovel whatever crap they want to shovel at my kids because of the First Amendment .
But the First Amendment is so sacristan but if I want to go to mass that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s what the issue is Mike .
Leahy : I want to bring Crom into the discussion .
Carmichael : Every aspect of the First Amendment is under attack .
And that ’ s not a coincidence .
The Left lusts for power and all of the money that comes with that power .
The First Amendment can not stand next to the kind of tactics that the Left is employing .
But I am really kind of surprised and I ’ d like for Trump to weigh in on this question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the commander in chief .
He could dictate that the military will not infringe on military personnel ’ s rights under the First Amendment in regards to religion and that would end the argument .
As you said , it ’ s prima facie that the military is infringing on your right to practice religion .
And so I ’ d like to see Trump do that because the military has no right to do that nor does the government at any level does it have the right to tell people they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well that would work if the president still had control of the Pentagon .
But the Pentagon is completely rogue .
We are seeing it .
The Pentagon has its own initiative and is causing all sorts of problems for the president .
I don ’ t think they are looking forward to solving any problems for the president right now .
I would expect active duties and generals to come out and start denouncing the president as we get closer to the election .
It ’ s a very tenuous situation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil McCabe to the newsmakers line.
During the third hour, McCabe talked about the Navy’s recent call for military personnel to sign a waiver acknowledging that they will not attend indoor religious services. He later discussed whether this was an infringement on the First Amendment rights and how COVID-19 is being used as a tool by those that oppose the Catholic religion.
Leahy: We have on the newsmaker line our good friend, Breitbart colleague for many years, and our Tennessee Star National Correspondent and the Star Newspaper group, Neil McCabe. Good morning Neil.
McCabe: Michael, Crom, good to be with you today.
Leahy: We are adding to our pantheon of reporters here in The Tennessee Star and the Star News Group a fellow who has a master’s degree from Columbia School of Journalism and whose name is Patrick J. McClusky. He’ll be joining us next week and will be covering Ohio, Minnesota and Michigan. We have formed a fighting Irish regime or law firm. Leahy, McCabe, and McClusky. What do you think?
McCabe: Do you know what the Boston politicians say, Michael? Vote Gaelic, not garlic.
Leahy: (Laughs) You had a really interesting story for us and you are in the Army Reserve and a reporter in the Army Reserve. You serve one weekend a month?
McCabe: One weekend a month and they say two weeks in the summer. But sometimes it’s three, sometimes it’s four. It all depends on what schools they have going on. It’s a significant commitment because there is also training and online courses you have to do. It’s more than a part-time job but I don’t regret a minute of it.
Leahy: You keep yourself in great shape. You run all the time. You run a nine-minute mile typically? You run three or four miles a day.
McCabe: I have a four-mile course in the high nine low tens right now.
Leahy: I am preparing to run with you sometime. I have this personal trainer that comes by twice a week. I thought I might have had a hamstring little tweak but I’m ok. I’m getting ready so we can have a run sometime later this summer and I’ll try and keep up with you.
McCabe: That would be fantastic.
Leahy: You had a fantastic story for us yesterday. Military’s Top Catholic Prelate: Navy’s Indoor Religious Ban ‘Odious’. Tell us about that story.
McCabe: I actually met the Arch Bishop Timothy Broglio in Iraq in 2009. I was there for Holy Thursday at Camp Victory when he was washing the feet of the soldiers as part of that mass. So I’ve been sort of keeping my eye on him. He’s the head of all the Catholic chaplains and programs. There is the military Archdiocese for the Catholic church.
It’s very unusual for a guy at that level to call out other people at a senior level. And for him to come out and call what the Navy is doing “odious” was really outrageous because they came out with an order that basically said all Navy personnel are allowed to stay and have a party or events at their home with no limits to people. They can use mass transit. They can participate in public demonstrations or protests.
But there are certain things they cannot do and one of them is to attend indoor religious services. The Navy is actually making people sign paperwork that says that they acknowledge this order and will be held responsible under the uniform code of military justice for violating an order that they have acknowledged. The Navy has gone further to say that Navy civilians are discouraged from going to indoor religious services and family members and dependents.
They even said off base. The archbishop reached out to the chief of chaplains from the Navy and they wouldn’t work with him or talk to him. Then he goes to the Chief of Naval Operations and then he doesn’t even acknowledge it. It’s a very unusual situation because I’ve worked at headquarters units before.
I was in the Coast Guard before I joined the Army Reserve. I’ve worked on admiral staff and general staff in the Army Reserve. And at this level, everything seems to be very polite. And everybody that ignores you they ignore you with a very nice letter. (Leahy chuckles) It’s very unusual for the Chief of Naval Operations who was raised in a Catholic family but I don’t know if he’s Catholic now. You would think that an archbishop gave him a holler that he would need to acknowledge it.
I think it speaks to a lot of concerns at least among religious conservatives that this COVID-19 is being manipulated for other purposes by people who are really upset by the influence of organized religion in our society. And there is actually an Air Force Major who attended a Navy school and he’s asked for a release from the First Freedom Institute who is representing him because these guys have been threatened with action under the uniform code of military justice.
Leahy: So let me take that order from the Navy and let me compare it to the First Amendment of the Constitution which reads, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment or religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. That’s the beginning of it.
McCabe: Yes.
Leahy: Is this order prohibiting Navy personnel from attending religious indoor services, is that a violation of the First Amendment?
McCabe: Well it seems to me a base of violation. It’s a difficult thing because we are told these constitutional rights are not absolute. Well, who says that? That sounds a little crazy to me. You remember a case involving the Second Amendment where a state said that you couldn’t have a gun permit if you were blind. And a blind man challenged it and the court said nowhere in the Bill of Rights or the Second Amendment does it say you have to be able to see. We can argue about that. But whether a blind man should have a gun or not.
But the Constitution says shall not be infringed. And so I think that if we are going to be that extreme on something like that rightfully so, certainly I’ve been told that if we can have adult bookstores and porno channels and they can shovel whatever crap they want to shovel at my kids because of the First Amendment. But the First Amendment is so sacristan but if I want to go to mass that’s a problem? I think that’s what the issue is Mike.
Leahy: I want to bring Crom into the discussion.
McCabe: OK.
Carmichael: Every aspect of the First Amendment is under attack. And that’s not a coincidence. The Left lusts for power and all of the money that comes with that power. The First Amendment cannot stand next to the kind of tactics that the Left is employing.
But I am really kind of surprised and I’d like for Trump to weigh in on this question with the military because he’s the commander in chief. He could dictate that the military will not infringe on military personnel’s rights under the First Amendment in regards to religion and that would end the argument.
As you said, it’s prima facie that the military is infringing on your right to practice religion. And so I’d like to see Trump do that because the military has no right to do that nor does the government at any level does it have the right to tell people they can’t practice religion.
Leahy: Final thoughts Neil?
McCabe: Well that would work if the president still had control of the Pentagon. But the Pentagon is completely rogue. We are seeing it. The Pentagon has its own initiative and is causing all sorts of problems for the president. I don’t think they are looking forward to solving any problems for the president right now. I would expect active duties and generals to come out and start denouncing the president as we get closer to the election. It’s a very tenuous situation.
Leahy: A very tenuous situation.
Listen to the third hour here:

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


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--United Will Warn 36,000 Workers They Could be Laid Off

United Airlines is warning 36,000 employees – nearly half its U.S. staff – they could be furloughed in October , the clearest signal yet of how deeply the virus pandemic is hurting the airline industry .
The outlook for a recovery in air travel has dimmed in just the past two weeks , as infection rates rise in much of the U.S. and some states impose new quarantine requirements on travelers .
United officials said Wednesday that they still hope to limit the number of layoffs by offering early retirement benefits , and that 36,000 is a worst-case scenario .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are meant to comply with a 60-day warning ahead of mass job cuts .
The furloughs could include up to 15,000 flight attendants , 11,000 customer service and gate agents , 5,500 maintenance workers and 2,250 pilots .
“ The United Airlines projected furlough numbers are a gut punch , but they are also the most honest assessment we ’ ve seen on the state of the industry , ” said Sara Nelson , president of the Association of Flight Attendants .
“ This crisis dwarfs all others in aviation history , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” If United carries through on the notices , furloughs would take effect on or shortly after Oct. 1 .
United can ’ t lay off workers before then as a condition of the $ 5 billion it got as its share of $ 25 billion in federal aid to help airlines cover payroll costs .
The flight attendants ’ union and other airline labor groups are lobbying Congress for another $ 25 billion to protect jobs through next March .
But a senior United executive expressed doubt that Congress would approve the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already cut capital spending by $ 2.5 billion and convinced thousands of employees to take unpaid leave .
It has hoarded cash after raising billions in new borrowing – including mortgaging its MileagePlus frequent-flyer program .
But with ticket sales sagging again , the Chicago-based airline is still losing about $ 40 million a day , executives said .
Layoffs are “ the last option left to protect the long-term interests of the company , ” said the senior United official , who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity .
Executives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the airline ’ s U.S. staff , most of whom are represented by unions .
They would have reinstatement rights if United ’ s fortunes improve .
Another 1,300 management and support staff will be laid off Oct. 1 , the company said .
Including international employees , United has a work force of about 95,000 .
Air travel in the U.S. plunged about 95 % from March 1 until mid-April , then began a slow recovery .
The number of U.S. air travelers around the July 4 weekend was the highest since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 % from a year ago .
In recent weeks , the number of new reported cases of COVID-19 has roughly doubled to about 50,000 a day .
New York , New Jersey , Connecticut and Chicago have announced that people arriving from states with high infection rates will have to quarantine , throwing up a new roadblock to travel .
United ’ s traffic at its hub in Newark , New Jersey , has slumped more deeply than the rest of its network since those quarantine rules were announced .
Executives of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be much smaller , with fewer employees , in October .
Delta Air Lines recently told employees that it will send layoff notices to more than 2,500 of its 14,000 pilots .
Germany ’ s Lufthansa has warned that it might cut 22,000 jobs , and Air France last week announced plans to eliminate 7,500 jobs .
David Koeing is a reporter for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : In this April 24 , 2020 file photo , empty United Airlines ticket machines are shown at the Tampa International Airport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will send layoff warnings to 36,000 employees – nearly half its U.S. staff – in the clearest signal yet of how deeply the virus outbreak is hurting the airline industry .
United officials said Wednesday , July 8 that they still hope to limit the number of layoffs by offering early retirement , but they have to send notices this month to comply with a law requiring that workers get 60 days ’ notice ahead of mass job cuts .
( AP Photo/Chris O ’ Meara , File )

United Airlines is warning 36,000 employees – nearly half its U.S. staff – they could be furloughed in October, the clearest signal yet of how deeply the virus pandemic is hurting the airline industry.
The outlook for a recovery in air travel has dimmed in just the past two weeks, as infection rates rise in much of the U.S. and some states impose new quarantine requirements on travelers.
United officials said Wednesday that they still hope to limit the number of layoffs by offering early retirement benefits, and that 36,000 is a worst-case scenario. The notices going to employees this month are meant to comply with a 60-day warning ahead of mass job cuts.
The furloughs could include up to 15,000 flight attendants, 11,000 customer service and gate agents, 5,500 maintenance workers and 2,250 pilots.
“The United Airlines projected furlough numbers are a gut punch, but they are also the most honest assessment we’ve seen on the state of the industry,” said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants. “This crisis dwarfs all others in aviation history, and there’s no end in sight.”
If United carries through on the notices, furloughs would take effect on or shortly after Oct. 1. United can’t lay off workers before then as a condition of the $5 billion it got as its share of $25 billion in federal aid to help airlines cover payroll costs.
The flight attendants’ union and other airline labor groups are lobbying Congress for another $25 billion to protect jobs through next March. But a senior United executive expressed doubt that Congress would approve the spending in an election year.
United has already cut capital spending by $2.5 billion and convinced thousands of employees to take unpaid leave. It has hoarded cash after raising billions in new borrowing – including mortgaging its MileagePlus frequent-flyer program.
But with ticket sales sagging again, the Chicago-based airline is still losing about $40 million a day, executives said.
Layoffs are “the last option left to protect the long-term interests of the company,” said the senior United official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity.
Executives said the notices covered 45% of the airline’s U.S. staff, most of whom are represented by unions. They would have reinstatement rights if United’s fortunes improve. Another 1,300 management and support staff will be laid off Oct. 1, the company said. Including international employees, United has a work force of about 95,000.
Air travel in the U.S. plunged about 95% from March 1 until mid-April, then began a slow recovery. The number of U.S. air travelers around the July 4 weekend was the highest since mid-March, but was still down about 70% from a year ago.
In recent weeks, the number of new reported cases of COVID-19 has roughly doubled to about 50,000 a day. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Chicago have announced that people arriving from states with high infection rates will have to quarantine, throwing up a new roadblock to travel.
United’s traffic at its hub in Newark, New Jersey, has slumped more deeply than the rest of its network since those quarantine rules were announced.
Executives of other airlines have predicted their companies will be much smaller, with fewer employees, in October.
Delta Air Lines recently told employees that it will send layoff notices to more than 2,500 of its 14,000 pilots. Germany’s Lufthansa has warned that it might cut 22,000 jobs, and Air France last week announced plans to eliminate 7,500 jobs.
– – –
David Koeing is a reporter for The Associated Press.
About the Headline Photo: In this April 24, 2020 file photo, empty United Airlines ticket machines are shown at the Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Fla. United United Airlines will send layoff warnings to 36,000 employees – nearly half its U.S. staff – in the clearest signal yet of how deeply the virus outbreak is hurting the airline industry. United officials said Wednesday, July 8 that they still hope to limit the number of layoffs by offering early retirement, but they have to send notices this month to comply with a law requiring that workers get 60 days’ notice ahead of mass job cuts. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Three Sexual Assaults Reported at Minneapolis Homeless Encampment in Public Park

Police are investigating a string of sexual assaults at a homeless encampment in a Minneapolis park , according to various news reports .
Since June 26 , Minneapolis Park Police have received three reports of sexual assault in Powderhorn Park , where more than 850 people have set up a 560-tent encampment , according to KARE 11 .
Two of the assaults involved juvenile victims .
The first assault occurred in the early morning hours of June 26 when a juvenile victim was assaulted and taken to Abbott Northwestern Hospital .
As of Wednesday afternoon , no arrest had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident took place on the morning of June 28 .
Minneapolis Park Police received a report of an adult female being assaulted at the park .
Officers with the Minneapolis Police Department located and arrested the male suspect , FOX 9 reports .
A third assault took place on July 4 and was reported to Minneapolis police the following day .
The case involved a female minor being assaulted by an adult male .
The victim required hospitalization and the suspect is in custody .
All three assaults occurred after the Minneapolis Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 allowing the city ’ s homeless population to seek “ refuge ” in public parks .
The resolution “ allows those currently experiencing homelessness to seek refuge on Minneapolis parkland , ” and requests assistance from federal and state agencies in finding a permanent housing solution .
An executive order issued by Gov .
Tim Walz states that homeless encampments “ should not be subject to sweeps or disbandment by state or local governments ” for the duration of his COVID-19 peacetime emergency declaration .
However , if an encampment reaches a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documented threat to health , safety , or security of residents , state or local governments may restrict , limit , or close encampment spaces , ” the order says .
In ordinary circumstances , people can ’ t stay in Minneapolis parks overnight and need a permit to set up a tent .
“ We realize that this is not a permanent solution , so we are asking the City of Minneapolis , Hennepin County and State of Minnesota to step up and find a sustainable , dignified housing solution for folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the meantime , we are not going to push people out of public spaces when they have nowhere else to go , ” Park Board President Jono Cowgill said after the resolution was passed .
According to KARE 11 , 15 911 incidents occurred in Powderhorn Park during the first half of June , compared to 45 incidents during the second half .
In a more recent statement , Cowgill said the encampments “ will need to be reduced.
” “ The size and scope is not sustainable , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be embedded in the strong community at Powderhorn .
Neighbors and campers alike can and should help lead the way to dignified solutions.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Powderhorn Park ” by City of Minneapolis Archives .
CC BY 2.0 .

Police are investigating a string of sexual assaults at a homeless encampment in a Minneapolis park, according to various news reports.
Since June 26, Minneapolis Park Police have received three reports of sexual assault in Powderhorn Park, where more than 850 people have set up a 560-tent encampment, according to KARE 11. Two of the assaults involved juvenile victims.
The first assault occurred in the early morning hours of June 26 when a juvenile victim was assaulted and taken to Abbott Northwestern Hospital. As of Wednesday afternoon, no arrest had been made in the case.
The second incident took place on the morning of June 28. Minneapolis Park Police received a report of an adult female being assaulted at the park. Officers with the Minneapolis Police Department located and arrested the male suspect, FOX 9 reports.
A third assault took place on July 4 and was reported to Minneapolis police the following day. The case involved a female minor being assaulted by an adult male. The victim required hospitalization and the suspect is in custody.
All three assaults occurred after the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board passed a resolution June 17 allowing the city’s homeless population to seek “refuge” in public parks.
The resolution “allows those currently experiencing homelessness to seek refuge on Minneapolis parkland,” and requests assistance from federal and state agencies in finding a permanent housing solution.
An executive order issued by Gov. Tim Walz states that homeless encampments “should not be subject to sweeps or disbandment by state or local governments” for the duration of his COVID-19 peacetime emergency declaration.
However, if an encampment reaches a “size or status that is a documented threat to health, safety, or security of residents, state or local governments may restrict, limit, or close encampment spaces,” the order says.
In ordinary circumstances, people can’t stay in Minneapolis parks overnight and need a permit to set up a tent.
“We realize that this is not a permanent solution, so we are asking the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County and State of Minnesota to step up and find a sustainable, dignified housing solution for folks who are experiencing homelessness right now. In the meantime, we are not going to push people out of public spaces when they have nowhere else to go,” Park Board President Jono Cowgill said after the resolution was passed.
According to KARE 11, 15 911 incidents occurred in Powderhorn Park during the first half of June, compared to 45 incidents during the second half.
In a more recent statement, Cowgill said the encampments “will need to be reduced.”
“The size and scope is not sustainable,” he said. “Any of those moves need to be embedded in the strong community at Powderhorn. Neighbors and campers alike can and should help lead the way to dignified solutions.”
Certainly the encampments will need to be reduced. The size and scope is not sustainable. Any of those moves need to be embedded in the strong community at Powderhorn. Neighbors and campers alike can and should help lead the way to dignified solutions. — Jono Cowgill (@JonoCowgill) June 25, 2020
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Powderhorn Park” by City of Minneapolis Archives. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Michigan Rising Action Director Pushes Back on Coronavirus Task Force Timeline

Executive Director of Michigan Rising Action Tori Sachs criticized the timeline of the state ’ s coronavirus task force on Wednesday .
The Michigan Nursing Home COVID-19 Preparedness Task Force — which includes 13 members , several leaders from state health and regulatory departments , and state legislators — has until August 31 to present a plan to Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer for “ any future wave of COVID-19 cases by developing an action plan based on timely and high-quality data , ” according to the executive order that created the task force in June .
Whitmer announced her assignments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sachs said that Michigan residents deserve answers about how the state plans to handle coronavirus in nursing homes now .
“ Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have been ground zero for deadly outbreaks of COVID-19 since the virus first appeared in Washington State months ago , ” Sachs said in an emailed statement to The Michigan Star .
“ Michiganders deserve a plan to keep our seniors safe from deadly COVID-19 outbreaks today , not two months from now.
” Sachs has been one of many pushing back on the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities in Michigan .
In June , she accused Whitmer of using the pandemic to “ elevate her national profile.
” “ We ’ ve known from the beginning that elderly were the most susceptible , ” Sachs said at the time .
The state began publishing data on coronavirus cases in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes in mid-June , shortly before the Michigan House of Representatives passed a resolution criticizing policies that kept people who had confirmed cases of the coronavirus in long-term care facilities .
As of Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus among residents of long-term care facilities , resulting in 1,977 deaths , according to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services .
More than 5,600 of those cases have recovered or are currently recovering .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ] Photo “ Texas National Guard Nursing Home Cleaning ” by National Guard .
CC BY 2.0 .

Executive Director of Michigan Rising Action Tori Sachs criticized the timeline of the state’s coronavirus task force on Wednesday.
The Michigan Nursing Home COVID-19 Preparedness Task Force — which includes 13 members, several leaders from state health and regulatory departments, and state legislators — has until August 31 to present a plan to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for “any future wave of COVID-19 cases by developing an action plan based on timely and high-quality data,” according to the executive order that created the task force in June.
Whitmer announced her assignments to the task force on Tuesday.
Sachs said that Michigan residents deserve answers about how the state plans to handle coronavirus in nursing homes now.
“Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have been ground zero for deadly outbreaks of COVID-19 since the virus first appeared in Washington State months ago,” Sachs said in an emailed statement to The Michigan Star. “Michiganders deserve a plan to keep our seniors safe from deadly COVID-19 outbreaks today, not two months from now.”
Sachs has been one of many pushing back on the state’s policies concerning coronavirus and long-term care facilities in Michigan. In June, she accused Whitmer of using the pandemic to “elevate her national profile.”
“We’ve known from the beginning that elderly were the most susceptible,” Sachs said at the time.
The state began publishing data on coronavirus cases in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes in mid-June, shortly before the Michigan House of Representatives passed a resolution criticizing policies that kept people who had confirmed cases of the coronavirus in long-term care facilities.
As of Wednesday, there are more than 7,300 confirmed cases of the coronavirus among residents of long-term care facilities, resulting in 1,977 deaths, according to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. More than 5,600 of those cases have recovered or are currently recovering.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected]
Photo “Texas National Guard Nursing Home Cleaning” by National Guard. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Gov. DeWine Determines Seven Ohio Counties Must Wear Face Coverings in Public

Gov .
Mike DeWine announced this week seven counties in Ohio will start wearing face coverings in public as the coronavirus cases continue to surge in the state .
Counties that need to follow this mandate are currently in Red Alert Level 3 Public Health Emergency , according to DeWine ’ s press release .
The counties that meet this criterion are Butler County , Cuyahoga County , Franklin County , Hamilton County , Huron County , Montgomery County and Trumbull County .
This order will impact more than 4.5 million Ohioans , which is around 40 percent of Ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health measure went into effect on Wednesday .
No county is at the highest level Purple Alert Level 4 , but Franklin County is closely approaching .
“ In addition to social distancing and reducing unnecessary interactions with others , we know that wearing a mask helps protect others in the community .
It has been , and remains , a very strong recommendation that I urge all Ohioans to continue doing even if you are not in a red-alert county , ” said Governor DeWine .
“ In red-alert and purple-alert counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help protect citizens because the risk of spread is increasing even more.
” People who live in counties in Level 3 or Level 4 must wear face coverings under these guidelines : • In any indoor location that is not a residence ; • When outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a distance of six feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household ; or • While waiting for , riding , driving , or operating public transportation , a taxi , a private car service , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not have to follow these rules .
The Ohio Department of Health ( ODH ) will update these rankings every Thursday to determine if counties can move in and out of these face coverings rules .
When a county leaves Level 3 for Level 2 , it no longer has to follow these measures .
As to if face coverings do work , a study done by healthaffairs.org showed that state-mandated face covering measures had little effect .
State policies mandating public or community use of face masks or covers in mitigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are hotly contested .
This study provides evidence from a natural experiment on effects of state government mandates in the US for face mask use in public issued by 15 states plus DC between April 8 and May 15 .
The research design is an event study examining changes in the daily county-level COVID-19 growth rates between March 31 , 2020 and May 22 , 2020 .
Mandating face mask use in public is associated with a decline in the daily COVID-19 growth rate by 0.9 , 1.1 , 1.4 , 1.7 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 11–15 , 16–20 , and 21+ days after signing , respectively .
Estimates suggest as many as 230,000–450,000 COVID-19 cases possibly averted By May 22 , 2020 by these mandates .
The findings suggest that requiring face mask use in public might help in mitigating COVID-19 spread .
On Wednesday , Ohio had a total of 56,384 cases and 2,991 deaths , according to ODH data .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Gov. Mike DeWine announced this week seven counties in Ohio will start wearing face coverings in public as the coronavirus cases continue to surge in the state.
Counties that need to follow this mandate are currently in Red Alert Level 3 Public Health Emergency, according to DeWine’s press release.
The counties that meet this criterion are Butler County, Cuyahoga County, Franklin County, Hamilton County, Huron County, Montgomery County and Trumbull County. This order will impact more than 4.5 million Ohioans, which is around 40 percent of Ohio’s population.
DeWine’s health measure went into effect on Wednesday.
No county is at the highest level Purple Alert Level 4, but Franklin County is closely approaching.
“In addition to social distancing and reducing unnecessary interactions with others, we know that wearing a mask helps protect others in the community. It has been, and remains, a very strong recommendation that I urge all Ohioans to continue doing even if you are not in a red-alert county,” said Governor DeWine. “In red-alert and purple-alert counties, however, we must do more to help protect citizens because the risk of spread is increasing even more.”
People who live in counties in Level 3 or Level 4 must wear face coverings under these guidelines:
In any indoor location that is not a residence;
When outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a distance of six feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household; or
While waiting for, riding, driving, or operating public transportation, a taxi, a private car service, or a ride-sharing vehicle.
Children under 10 do not have to follow these rules.
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) will update these rankings every Thursday to determine if counties can move in and out of these face coverings rules. When a county leaves Level 3 for Level 2, it no longer has to follow these measures.
As to if face coverings do work, a study done by healthaffairs.org showed that state-mandated face covering measures had some impact on preventing coronavirus cases.
State policies mandating public or community use of face masks or covers in mitigating novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread are hotly contested. This study provides evidence from a natural experiment on effects of state government mandates in the US for face mask use in public issued by 15 states plus DC between April 8 and May 15. The research design is an event study examining changes in the daily county-level COVID-19 growth rates between March 31, 2020 and May 22, 2020. Mandating face mask use in public is associated with a decline in the daily COVID-19 growth rate by 0.9, 1.1, 1.4, 1.7, and 2.0 percentage-points in 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, 16–20, and 21+ days after signing, respectively. Estimates suggest as many as 230,000–450,000 COVID-19 cases possibly averted By May 22, 2020 by these mandates. The findings suggest that requiring face mask use in public might help in mitigating COVID-19 spread.
On Wednesday, Ohio had a total of 56,384 cases and 2,991 deaths, according to ODH data.
– – –
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media. If you have any tips, email Zachery at [email protected] Follow Zachery on Twitter @zacheryschmidt2.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Republican Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Sell Minnesota’s $6.9 Million COVID-19 Morgue

A Republican lawmaker has drafted a bill that would require Minnesota to sell a facility it purchased for the storage of deceased COVID-19 patients .
Due to a projected surge in COVID-19 fatalities , the state of Minnesota spent $ 6.9 million in May to acquire a warehouse for the “ temporary storage of human remains.
” As of early June , however , the facility had yet to be used .
“ No bodies have been stored to date .
This facility is to serve as backup in case it is needed .
Based on the experience we saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure that the bodies of Minnesotans would be able to be handled with dignity and respect , ” Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm told Sen. Karin Housley ( R-St. Mary ’ s Point ) in a letter .
The facility is located in Ramsey County and was a Bix Produce warehouse before it was converted into a morgue .
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners expressed its “ alarm and concern ” with the purchase in a letter to Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Joe Kelly .
The area surrounding the facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowest per-capita incomes anywhere in Minnesota , ” the board said .
The commissioners warned Kelly that converting the facility into a morgue could have “ severe implications for the commercial viability of this site and of broader redevelopment in the area.
” Rep. Mary Franson ( R-Alexandria ) said she has heard from constituents who are frustrated with the state ’ s decision to use tax dollars to purchase “ a mega morgue when it will never be needed.
” Franson drafted a bill that would , if passed , require the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The commissioner of administration shall sell at private sale , public auction , or other means , for fair market value , the facility recently purchased from Ramsey County that is located at 1415 L ’ Orient Avenue in the city of St. Paul and was to be used for temporary storage of the remains of persons who have died from COVID-19 , ” Franson ’ s proposed bill states .
The bill could be considered during a special session that is expected to begin next week .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Background Photo “ Minnesota House Chamber ” by Chris Gaukel .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .

A Republican lawmaker has drafted a bill that would require Minnesota to sell a facility it purchased for the storage of deceased COVID-19 patients.
Due to a projected surge in COVID-19 fatalities, the state of Minnesota spent $6.9 million in May to acquire a warehouse for the “temporary storage of human remains.” As of early June, however, the facility had yet to be used.
“No bodies have been stored to date. This facility is to serve as backup in case it is needed. Based on the experience we saw from other states, we wanted to make sure that the bodies of Minnesotans would be able to be handled with dignity and respect,” Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm told Sen. Karin Housley (R-St. Mary’s Point) in a letter.
The facility is located in Ramsey County and was a Bix Produce warehouse before it was converted into a morgue.
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners expressed its “alarm and concern” with the purchase in a letter to Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Joe Kelly. The area surrounding the facility is home to “some of the lowest per-capita incomes anywhere in Minnesota,” the board said.
The commissioners warned Kelly that converting the facility into a morgue could have “severe implications for the commercial viability of this site and of broader redevelopment in the area.”
Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) said she has heard from constituents who are frustrated with the state’s decision to use tax dollars to purchase “a mega morgue when it will never be needed.”
Franson drafted a bill that would, if passed, require the state to sell the facility.
“The commissioner of administration shall sell at private sale, public auction, or other means, for fair market value, the facility recently purchased from Ramsey County that is located at 1415 L’Orient Avenue in the city of St. Paul and was to be used for temporary storage of the remains of persons who have died from COVID-19,” Franson’s proposed bill states.
The bill could be considered during a special session that is expected to begin next week.
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Minnesota House Chamber” by Chris Gaukel. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Nessel and Four States Sue DeVos over Federal School Aid Rule

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the attorneys general of four other states are suing U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos over a July 1 rule that requires sharing funds from the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act between private and public schools .
Nessel called DeVos ’ rule “ a flagrant violation of the plain language of the [ CARES ] Act.
” “ We can not and will not sit on the sidelines while critical funding specifically allocated based on low-income status is allowed to be reallocated by counting students that have privileges and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nessel said .
The six-count complaint , filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California , asks the court to declare DeVos ’ s rule and guidance as unlawful .
Nessel said DeVos ’ s rule misinterprets the CARES Act ’ s language and would “ siphon ” about $ 16 million in total from public schools to private schools .
The disagreement hinges on the amount of federal CARES Act money public school districts must share with nearby private schools .
Nessel ’ s office says The CARES @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mostly related to COVID-19 .
State agencies receive CARES money and give it to local education agencies , which pass funds to individual schools .
One spending purpose is to aid low-income students , but the groups disagree on the allocation process .
“ Title I ’ s formula for private school services requires districts to allocate money based on the number of low-income students in private schools , ” Nessels ’ office said in a news release .
But Nessel ’ s office says that COVID-19 relief money can be distributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private schools under the DeVos rule .
Nessel said that under the DeVos rule , The Detroit Public Schools Community District and Grand Rapids School District would each receive $ 2.6 million less in funding .
“ This is a concern for all our school districts , and because of the anticipated financial challenges that face our state in the months and years ahead , we must fight for every single dollar available for education , ” Nessel said .
State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice said that DeVos rule “ manufactured ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divert $ 16.5 million from public schools to nonpublic schools .
“ The CARES Act is a special appropriation to combat the effects of the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) .
The pandemic has harmed all our Nation ’ s students by disrupting their education , ” the DOE wrote in the latest rules .
“ Nothing in the CARES Act suggests Congress intended to differentiate between students based upon the public or non-public nature of their school with respect to eligibility for relief.
” Great Lakes Education Project Executive Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to private-school children .
“ The coronavirus did not discriminate based on the kind of schools Michigan kids attend , and neither did the Governor ’ s executive order shuttering every school building in the state.
, ” DeShone said in a statement .
“ GLEP strongly opposes today ’ s attempt by Governor Whitmer , Attorney General Nessel , and Superintendent Rice to discriminate against and strip emergency funding from kids in the midst of a global pandemic , based simply on the schools their parents have chosen.
” Scott McClallen is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .
Previously , he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi .

by Scott McClallen
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the attorneys general of four other states are suing U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos over a July 1 rule that requires sharing funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act between private and public schools.
Nessel called DeVos’ rule “a flagrant violation of the plain language of the [CARES] Act.”
“We cannot and will not sit on the sidelines while critical funding specifically allocated based on low-income status is allowed to be reallocated by counting students that have privileges and resources already available to them,” Nessel said.
The six-count complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, asks the court to declare DeVos’s rule and guidance as unlawful.
Nessel said DeVos’s rule misinterprets the CARES Act’s language and would “siphon” about $16 million in total from public schools to private schools.
The disagreement hinges on the amount of federal CARES Act money public school districts must share with nearby private schools.
Nessel’s office says The CARES Act grants money for 12 spending purposes, mostly related to COVID-19.
State agencies receive CARES money and give it to local education agencies, which pass funds to individual schools.
One spending purpose is to aid low-income students, but the groups disagree on the allocation process.
“Title I’s formula for private school services requires districts to allocate money based on the number of low-income students in private schools,” Nessels’ office said in a news release.
But Nessel’s office says that COVID-19 relief money can be distributed by the total number of students in private schools under the DeVos rule.
Nessel said that under the DeVos rule, The Detroit Public Schools Community District and Grand Rapids School District would each receive $2.6 million less in funding.
“This is a concern for all our school districts, and because of the anticipated financial challenges that face our state in the months and years ahead, we must fight for every single dollar available for education,” Nessel said.
State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice said that DeVos rule “manufactured” the formula choice, which he said would divert $16.5 million from public schools to nonpublic schools.
“The CARES Act is a special appropriation to combat the effects of the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The pandemic has harmed all our Nation’s students by disrupting their education,” the DOE wrote in the latest rules. “Nothing in the CARES Act suggests Congress intended to differentiate between students based upon the public or non-public nature of their school with respect to eligibility for relief.”
Great Lakes Education Project Executive Director Beth DeShone noted the lawsuit is unfair to private-school children.
“The coronavirus did not discriminate based on the kind of schools Michigan kids attend, and neither did the Governor’s executive order shuttering every school building in the state.,” DeShone said in a statement.
“GLEP strongly opposes today’s attempt by Governor Whitmer, Attorney General Nessel, and Superintendent Rice to discriminate against and strip emergency funding from kids in the midst of a global pandemic, based simply on the schools their parents have chosen.”
– – –
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square. A graduate of Hillsdale College, his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org. Previously, he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Sen. Blackburn Says Rep. Ilhan Omar Should Resign After Calling for Dismantling of U.S. Economic, Po

Sen. Blackburn Says Rep. Ilhan Omar Should Resign After Calling for Dismantling of U.S. Economic, Political Systems

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) said U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-MN ) should resign after the representative called for the “ dismantling ” of the U.S. “ economy and political systems.
” Omar made the remark during a speech Tuesday to the Minnesota People of Color and Indigenous Caucus , The Daily Wire reported .
“ As long as our economy and political systems prioritize profit without considering who is profiting , who is being shut out , we will perpetuate this inequality .
We can not stop at criminal justice system .
We must begin the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oppression wherever we find it.
” The GOP War Room posted video of Omar ’ s speech here .
In response , Blackburn tweeted , “ Ilhan Omar took an oath to defend and protect the Constitution , not shred it .
Omar and her Marxist comrades are a threat to our Democracy .
Omar should resign.
” Last month , Omar demanded dismantling the police force in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd , CBN News reported .
“ You can ’ t really reform a department that is rotten to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
“ What you can do is rebuild , and so this is our opportunity.
” Omar was unable to say what would happen if the police department was dismantled , The Tennessee Star reported .
On Tuesday , Blackburn said she signed on as a co-sponsor of the Ending Taxpayer Funding of Anarchy Act to restrict federal funding of jurisdictions that abdicate their constitutional duty to their citizens to uphold the rule of law and provide police , fire or emergency medical services .
“ Anarchist jurisdictions – like sanctuary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the expense of law-abiding citizens , ” Blackburn said .
“ Cities that do not act to quell the anarchy we are seeing in places like Seattle ’ s CHAZ should not receive the same federal funding as cooperative cities that abide by the rule of law.
” Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) should resign after the representative called for the “dismantling” of the U.S. “economy and political systems.”
Omar made the remark during a speech Tuesday to the Minnesota People of Color and Indigenous Caucus, The Daily Wire reported.
“As long as our economy and political systems prioritize profit without considering who is profiting, who is being shut out, we will perpetuate this inequality. We cannot stop at criminal justice system. We must begin the work of dismantling the whole system of oppression wherever we find it.”
The GOP War Room posted video of Omar’s speech here.
In response, Blackburn tweeted, “Ilhan Omar took an oath to defend and protect the Constitution, not shred it. Omar and her Marxist comrades are a threat to our Democracy. Omar should resign.”
Ilhan Omar took an oath to defend and protect the Constitution, not shred it. Omar and her Marxist comrades are a threat to our Democracy. Omar should resign.https://t.co/ujBGxbWXtR — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) July 7, 2020
Last month, Omar demanded dismantling the police force in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd, CBN News reported.
“You can’t really reform a department that is rotten to the root,” she said at the time. “What you can do is rebuild, and so this is our opportunity.”
Omar was unable to say what would happen if the police department was dismantled, The Tennessee Star reported.
“What takes its place?” CNN host Jake Tapper asked the congresswoman. “Who investigates crimes? Who arrests criminals? What happens?” “Yeah, so, Minneapolis unanimously just voted on a resolution that will engage the community on a one-year process of what happens as we go through the process of dismantling the department and starting anew,” Omar replied.
On Tuesday, Blackburn said she signed on as a co-sponsor of the Ending Taxpayer Funding of Anarchy Act to restrict federal funding of jurisdictions that abdicate their constitutional duty to their citizens to uphold the rule of law and provide police, fire or emergency medical services.
“Anarchist jurisdictions – like sanctuary cities – encourage lawlessness and mob rule at the expense of law-abiding citizens,” Blackburn said. “Cities that do not act to quell the anarchy we are seeing in places like Seattle’s CHAZ should not receive the same federal funding as cooperative cities that abide by the rule of law.”
– – –
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--Weekly Jobless Claims Lower Than Expected at 1.3 Million

Jobless claims for the past week were lower than economists had predicted as workers begin returning to their jobs , according to data from the Labor Department shows .
The total number for jobless claims for the week ending in July 4 was 1.3 million , according to the Labor Department data , which is 99,000 fewer claims than the previous week .
Economists surveyed by Down Jones had predicted 1.39 million jobless claims , according to CNBC .
Continuing claims dropped 698,000 from a week ago to 18 million after the previous week ’ s 530,000 drop , CNBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labor market reflected the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed in March and April due to the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) pandemic and efforts to contain it , ” the Thursday report said .
“ In June , employment in leisure and hospitality rose sharply .
Notable job gains also occurred in retail trade , education and health services , other services , manufacturing , and professional and business services.
” The week ending in July 4 marked the 15th consecutive week that initial claims were above 1 million , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program claims increased by 42,000 from a week ago , totaling at 1.039 million .
Despite the better than expected numbers , this marked the 15th consecutive week that initial claims totaled more than 1 million .
Claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program also totaled 1.039 million , an increase of nearly 42,000 from a week ago .
News of the weekly jobless claims follows June jobs report numbers showing that the U.S. added 4.8 million jobs in June , while the unemployment declined to 11.1 % .
These numbers mark the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropping unemployment since the country lost a record 20.5 million jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic closures .
May ’ s unemployment rate had declined by 1.4 percentage points from April ’ s 14.7 % , which was the largest over-the-month increase and highest unemployment rate since at least 1948 .
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Mary Margaret Olohan
Jobless claims for the past week were lower than economists had predicted as workers begin returning to their jobs, according to data from the Labor Department shows.
The total number for jobless claims for the week ending in July 4 was 1.3 million, according to the Labor Department data, which is 99,000 fewer claims than the previous week. Economists surveyed by Down Jones had predicted 1.39 million jobless claims, according to CNBC.
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Initial claims were 1,314,000 for the week ending 7/4 (-99,000). Insured unemployment was 18,062,000 for the week ending 6/27 (-698,000).https://t.co/ys7Eg5LKAW — US Labor Department (@USDOL) July 9, 2020
Continuing claims dropped 698,000 from a week ago to 18 million after the previous week’s 530,000 drop, CNBC reports.
“These improvements in the labor market reflected the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed in March and April due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it,” the Thursday report said. “In June, employment in leisure and hospitality rose sharply. Notable job gains also occurred in retail trade, education and health services, other services, manufacturing, and professional and business services.”
The week ending in July 4 marked the 15th consecutive week that initial claims were above 1 million, CNBC reported, and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program claims increased by 42,000 from a week ago, totaling at 1.039 million.
Despite the better than expected numbers, this marked the 15th consecutive week that initial claims totaled more than 1 million. Claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program also totaled 1.039 million, an increase of nearly 42,000 from a week ago.
News of the weekly jobless claims follows June jobs report numbers showing that the U.S. added 4.8 million jobs in June, while the unemployment declined to 11.1%.
These numbers mark the second month of both increasing jobs and dropping unemployment since the country lost a record 20.5 million jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic closures.
May’s unemployment rate had declined by 1.4 percentage points from April’s 14.7%, which was the largest over-the-month increase and highest unemployment rate since at least 1948.
– – –
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-09--In a 7-2 Decision, Supreme Court Says Congress Can’t Get Trump Records – For Now

The Supreme Court on Thursday kept a hold on President Donald Trump ’ s financial records that Congress has been seeking for more than a year .
The ruling returns the case to lower courts , with no clear prospect for when the case might ultimately be resolved .
The 7-2 outcome is at least a short-term victory for Trump , who has strenuously sought to keep his financial records private .
The decision came after the court upheld a prosecutor ’ s demand for Trump ’ s tax returns as part of a criminal investigation that includes hush-money payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Trump .
The court ruled 7-2 in a case in which it heard arguments by telephone in May because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The records are held by Trump ’ s longtime accounting firm , Mazars USA , which has said it would comply with a court order .
It probably will be at least several weeks before the court issues a formal judgment that would trigger the turnover of the records .
The court rejected arguments by Trump ’ s lawyers and the Justice Department that the president is immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a prosecutor must show a greater need than normal to obtain the records .
Trump ’ s two high court appointees , Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , joined the majority .
Mark Sherman is a reporter at The Associated Press .

by Mark Sherman
The Supreme Court on Thursday kept a hold on President Donald Trump’s financial records that Congress has been seeking for more than a year. The ruling returns the case to lower courts, with no clear prospect for when the case might ultimately be resolved.
The 7-2 outcome is at least a short-term victory for Trump, who has strenuously sought to keep his financial records private.
The decision came after the court upheld a prosecutor’s demand for Trump’s tax returns as part of a criminal investigation that includes hush-money payments to women who claim they had affairs with Trump.
The court ruled 7-2 in a case in which it heard arguments by telephone in May because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The records are held by Trump’s longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, which has said it would comply with a court order.
It probably will be at least several weeks before the court issues a formal judgment that would trigger the turnover of the records.
The court rejected arguments by Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Department that the president is immune from investigation while he holds office or that a prosecutor must show a greater need than normal to obtain the records.
Trump’s two high court appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, joined the majority.
– – –
Mark Sherman is a reporter at The Associated Press.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-10--Lamar Alexander Criticizes Trump’s Decision to Leave WHO

Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) said he disagrees with President Donald Trump ’ s decision to terminate the United States ’ membership in the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .
The Trump administration formally notified the United Nations this week of its decision to leave WHO , The New York Times reported .
“ The United States ’ notice of withdrawal , effective July 6 , 2021 , has been submitted to the U.N. secretary general , who is the depository for the WHO , ” a senior administration official told the outlet .
Trump first announced his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with WHO in late May .
“ We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engaged with them directly but they have refused to act , ” the president said .
“ Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms , we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs.
” Trump said the “ world needs answers from China on the virus ” and criticized WHO ’ s defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Alexander said he disagrees with the president ’ s decision because it could interfere with clinical trials for developing vaccines .
“ I disagree with the president ’ s decision .
Certainly there needs to be a good , hard look at mistakes the World Health Organization might have made in connection with coronavirus , but the time to do that is after the crisis has been dealt with , not in the middle of it , ” the Republican senator said in a press release .
“ Withdrawing U.S. membership could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinical trials that are essential to the development of vaccines , which citizens of the United States as well as others in the world need .
And withdrawing could make it harder to work with other countries to stop viruses before they get to the United States , ” he added .
WHO receives between $ 400 and $ 500 million in annual funding from the United States .
“ If the administration has specific recommendations for reforms of the WHO , it should submit those recommendations to Congress , and we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Alexander , who chairs the U.S. Senate ’ s health committee .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Background Photo “ World Health Organization Building ” by Yann Forget .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .

A 17-year-old student allegedly opened fire Friday at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas, killing 10 people and wounding another 10, authorities said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said police found explosive devices, including a Molotov cocktail, at the suspected shooter’s home and a vehicle, as well as around the Santa Fe High School where the shooting took place.
Law enforcement officials said the suspect, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a junior at the school, was being held without bond on a capital murder charge.
Abbott said the suspect originally intended to commit suicide following the shooting but told law enforcement officials after he was arrested that he didn’t have the courage to go through with killing himself.
The governor said two guns were used in the attack — a shotgun and a .38-caliber revolver. He said the suspect’s father legally owned both guns.It was not clear whether the father knew his son had taken the weapons.
Abbott said there were “one or two” other people of interest being interviewed about the shooting.
Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset said, “Injured students and staff have been transported to local hospitals.” He also said an officer from the Santa Fe Independent School District was among those shot.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the shooting as an “absolutely horrific attack,” one of many that have “been going on too long in this country.” Trump told the victims and their families that “we’re with you in this tragic hour and we will be with you forever.” He vowed to get guns “out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others.”
An unidentified male student described fleeing the school during an interview with KHOU-TV in Houston. He said that after he heard three shots, “we all took off in the back, and I tried to get into the trees. I didn’t want to be in sight. I heard four more shots, and then we jumped the fence to somebody’s house.”
An unidentified female student said tearfully on cable channel CNN, “Nobody should have to go through this. Nobody should have to feel that pain.”
Facebook post
Pagourtzis had posted an image on Facebook of himself wearing a “Born to Kill” shirt, but the motive for Friday’s attack wasn’t known.
Abbott saidthat unlike previous school shootings, “there were not those types of warning signs” about the Santa Fe suspect. The governor saidthe early investigation had found no prior criminal history for Pagourtzis.
“The red-flag warnings were either nonexistent or very imperceptible,” Abbott said, though he acknowledged Pagourtzis’ posting of the photo on Facebook.
That same Facebook profile described Pagourtzis as planning to enter the U.S. Marine Corps next year, but the Marine Corps told The Associated Press it had reviewed its records and had found no one by that name as either a recruit or a person in their delayed entry pool.
Classmates described Pagourtzis as quiet and an avid video game player who routinely wore a black trench coat and black boots to class. He had played football on the school’s junior varsity squad and danced as part of a church group. Those who know him expressed shock he might be involved in the killings.
Calls for action
The latest incident came about three months after a shooter with a semiautomatic rifle killed 17 students and school staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was the third-deadliest school shooting in American history.
The Democratic leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said urgent action was needed to prevent gun violence.
“Congress must show as much courage as they have, and act now to ensure that no other community or family must endure the unthinkable horror of gun violence. Our children deserve real leadership: a vote to prevent gun violence now.”
Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said Congress must implement reforms that lawmakers recently passed “to make schools safer and keep deadly weapons away from those who should not have them.”
“Our hearts are filled with grief over this horrific loss of life,” he added.
Santa Fe is located in southeastern Texas between the cities of Houston and Galveston.
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Some information for this report came from Associated Press.
VOA News


thetennesseestar--2020-07-10--Commentary: Taxpayers Need to Hold Public Schools Accountable

School districts around the country have been announcing reopening possibilities for the upcoming school year .
The options often include full-time virtual learning , two or three in-person days at school , or a combination of the two .
In a few districts , I ’ ve seen four or five suggestions .
Public schools in Fairfax County , Virginia , one of the wealthiest counties in the country , announced that regardless of officials ’ final decision , kids will have only a four-day school week .
The fifth day would be reserved for teachers .
This is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important for taxpayers to observe their school district ’ s decisions , ask questions , and generally attempt to hold public schools accountable for providing the education our children deserve .
Although some school districts handled stay-at-home orders and virtual learning with relative ease and success , many struggled to provide even basic required information .
In Washington , D.C. , the public schools provided some online learning assignments , but didn ’ t keep track of whether students completed them .
In Wichita , Kansas , the school district ’ s material @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have learned on a weekly basis .
In Fairfax County—again , one of the wealthier counties in the country—school officials provided access to resources but failed to provide day-to-day instruction .
In Tarrant County , Texas , where I live , students did have day-to-day instruction and materials , but it was not streamlined for several weeks .
Students learned little to no new information .
In May , Lindsey Burke , director of The Heritage Foundation ’ s Center for Education Policy , went so far as to suggest parents get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drew in taxpayer dollars but failed to hold up their end of the bargain by providing adequate education .
If a restaurant fails to produce the meal you requested , you demand either a new entree or a refund , don ’ t you ?
Why aren ’ t we as demanding of public schools ?
Often , parents say or do little because of the difficulty of trying to create change within a school district , which often feels like a giant bureaucracy .
It ’ s vital to remember that public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and state taxes , along with a small share from the federal government .
Keep in mind , however , all of these revenue sources are taxpayers .
Nationally , average per-pupil spending is now nearly $ 15,000 per year—the bulk of which is financed via property taxes .
So this isn ’ t just about the fact that your child can ’ t access his public school—this is something you ’ re paying for , too .
How can taxpaying parents keep public schools accountable ?
At a minimum , parents should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For many working- and middle-class parents , having their children physically back in school will be an integral part of regaining job security and recreating economic stability .
Virtual learning can work well , but it isn ’ t the right fit for every child .
Because children seem to be nearly immune from COVID-19—and evidence suggests it ’ s rarely fatal if they do contract it—schools should reopen five days a week , both in-person and virtually .
This would give parents the option to choose which scenario they feel most comfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While giving recommendations on reopening schools , Burke suggests , “ Congress should provide spending flexibility with existing education dollars ” via the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act passed in April .
She goes on to explain : Although COVID-19 has challenged our nation ’ s school systems , they need to get back to work , and do so well , for children who rely on public school education .
Families who homeschool or send children to private school also have an interest at stake , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that often is deemed too large to change .
Since children missed one-third of their in-school education in the past school year , the upcoming school year is too important to mess up .
Parents must try to hold public schools accountable .
Nicole Russell is a contributor to The Daily Signal .
Her work has appeared in The Atlantic , The New York Times , National Review , Politico , The Washington Times , The American Spectator , and Parents Magazine .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-10--The Supreme Court Keeps Trump Taxes Private for Now

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — Rejecting President Donald Trump ’ s complaints that he ’ s being harassed , the Supreme Court ruled Thursday in favor of a New York prosecutor ’ s demands for the billionaire president ’ s tax records .
But in good political news for Trump , his taxes and other financial records almost certainly will be kept out of the public eye at least until after the November election .
In a separate case , the justices kept a hold on banking and other documents about Trump , family members and his businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a year .
The court said that while Congress has significant power to demand the president ’ s personal information , it is not limitless .
The court turned away the broadest arguments by Trump ’ s lawyers and the Justice Department that the president is immune from investigation while he holds office or that a prosecutor must show a greater need than normal to obtain the tax records .
But it is unclear when a lower court judge might order the Manhattan district attorney ’ s subpoena to be enforced .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to make his tax returns public , since the practice was started in the late 1960s by Michigan ’ s then-governor George Romney as a gambit to gain support from the Republican primary voters in a bid for the presidential nomination in 1967-68 .
President Trump didn ’ t embrace Thursday ’ s outcome as a victory even though it is likely to prevent his opponents in Congress from obtaining personal and business records ahead of Election Day .
The rejection of Trump ’ s claims of presidential immunity marked the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power has been rejected .
Trump ’ s two high court appointees , Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , joined the majority in both cases along with Chief Justice John Roberts and the four liberal justices .
Roberts wrote both opinions .
“ Congressional subpoenas for information from the President , however , implicate special concerns regarding the separation of powers .
The courts below did not take adequate account of those concerns , ” Roberts wrote in the congressional case .
But Roberts also wrote that Trump was asking for too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President and the Solicitor General—if applied outside the context of privileged information—would risk seriously impeding Congress in carrying out its responsibilities , ” the chief justice wrote .
The ruling returns the congressional case to lower courts , with no clear prospect for when it might ultimately be resolved .
Promising to keep pressing the case in the lower courts , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday ’ s decision “ is not good news for President Trump.
” “ The Court has reaffirmed the Congress ’ s authority to conduct oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Pelosi said in a statement .
The tax returns case also is headed back to a lower court .
Mazars USA , Trump ’ s accounting firm , holds the tax returns and has indicated it would comply with a court order .
Because the grand jury process is confidential , Trump ’ s taxes normally would not be made public .
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said his investigation , on hold while the court fight played out , will now resume .
“ This is a tremendous victory for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its founding principle that no one — not even a president — is above the law , ” Vance said said .
Even with his broadest arguments rejected , Jay Sekulow , Trump ’ s personal lawyer , said he was pleased that the “ Supreme Court has temporarily blocked both Congress and New York prosecutors from obtaining the President ’ s financial records .
We will now proceed to raise additional Constitutional and legal issues in the lower courts.
” Justice Samuel Alito , who dissented with Justice Clarence Thomas in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would suffer because of the decision about Trump ’ s taxes .
“ While the decision will of course have a direct effect on President Trump , what the Court holds today will also affect all future Presidents—which is to say , it will affect the Presidency , and that is a matter of great and lasting importance to the Nation , ” Alito wrote .
The case was argued by telephone in May because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The fight over the congressional subpoenas has significant implications regarding a president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Congress .
In a separate fight at the federal appeals court in Washington , D.C. , over a congressional demand for the testimony of former White House counsel Don McGahn , the administration is making broad arguments that the president ’ s close advisers are “ absolutely immune ” from having to appear .
In two earlier cases over presidential power , the Supreme Court acted unanimously in requiring Richard Nixon to turn over White House tapes to the Watergate special prosecutor and in allowing a sexual harassment lawsuit against Bill Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , three Nixon appointees and two Clinton appointees , respectively , voted against the president who chose them for the high court .
A fourth Nixon appointee , William Rehnquist , sat out the tapes case because he had worked closely as a Justice Department official with some of the Watergate conspirators whose upcoming trial spurred the subpoena for the Oval Office recordings .
The subpoenas are not directed at Trump himself .
Instead , House committees want records from Deutsche Bank , Capital One and Mazars .
Appellate courts in Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s arguments in decisions that focused on the fact that the subpoenas were addressed to third parties asking for records of his business and financial dealings as a private citizen , not as president .
Two congressional committees subpoenaed the bank documents as part of their investigations into Trump and his businesses .
Deutsche Bank has been one of the few banks willing to lend to Trump after a series of corporate bankruptcies and defaults starting in the early 1990s .
Vance and the House Oversight and Reform Committee sought records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on payments that Trump ’ s former personal lawyer , Michael Cohen , arranged to keep two women from airing their claims of decade-old extramarital affairs with Trump during the 2016 presidential race .
Mark Sherman is a reporter for The Associated Press .
AP writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : Bill Christeson holds up a sign that reads “ Follow the Money ” outside the Supreme Court , Thursday , July 9 , 2020 , in Washington .
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax returns while not allowing Congress to get Trump tax and financial records , for now , returning the case to lower courts .
( AP Photo/Andrew Harnik )


thetennesseestar--2020-07-10--Commentary: Big Philanthropy and the Battle Against ‘Systemic Racism’

Who would have thought the Gates Foundation would endorse tearing down statues of Christopher Columbus , Ulysses S. Grant , George Washington , and other dead white men ?
Sure , you won ’ t find “ mob violence , ” “ vandalism , ” or “ destruction of public property ” in any grant applications , but the paroxysms of rage racking our country and the desire to rip racism from America by root and branch is the end-product of Big Philanthropy ’ s governing ideology .
To understand why , you have to know the difference between charity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hungry widow and her toddler daughter , it buys food and gives it to them .
Save-a-Soul Mission would offer a sermon with the soup but that was pretty much the end of it .
When a philanthropy sees a hungry widow and child , it pays 1,800 overeducated , post-graduate credentialed , deracinated , privileged children of the elites to study crop yields , food distribution patterns , income inequality , demographic trends , and to design and implement a comprehensive 600-page program using the most sophisticated computer models to predict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminate poverty .
In the meantime , it will place the widow ’ s child with foster parents of better means and provide a micro loan to develop the mother ’ s entrepreneurial superpower .
Where charity seeks to feed the hungry , scientific philanthropy seeks to eliminate the causes of hunger .
The charitable impulse says if you save one person you have saved the world .
The philanthropic impulse says system-wide change will be the salvation of humanity .
Asked why it hadn ’ t given to the homeless camped in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation spokesperson said , “ We ’ re trying to move upstream to a systems-level to either prevent family homelessness before it happens or to end it as soon as possible after it happens.
” This impulse “ to identify an underlying cause ” has become a reflex among our governing classes .
This explains why some look at a nine-minute video and see incontrovertible evidence of “ systemic racism ” —something that requires the wholesale transformation of society—rather than evidence of one incident of wrongdoing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the horrific spectacle that needs to be fixed at the “ systems-level.
” We saw the upstream tropism at work when the Obama State Department declared “ we need to go after the root causes that lead people to join ” ISIS , “ whether it ’ s lack of opportunity for jobs ” or poor governance .
“ We can not kill our way out of this war , ” they believed , as if only an unsophisticated simpleton would consider winning a war by killing the enemy .
Big Philanthropy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Progressives and the mindset of scientific philanthropy has much in common with Progressive ideology .
They share a belief that technology , centralization , and rationalism can be deployed by specially trained technocrats to guide the world to perfection .
Sociologist James C. Scott describes it as , “ a supreme self-confidence about .
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increasing control over nature ( including human nature ) commensurate with scientific understanding.
” Big Philanthropy works in partnership with Big Government .
The nonprofit sector provides a proving ground for programs the state then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest nonprofit of them all .
The Progressives ’ and philanthropy ’ s belief in technocratic solutions—the notion that the principles of efficient industrial engineering can be applied to society—gave rise to numerous social engineering experiments .
To save children of indigent Catholics from poverty , reformers would remove children from their parents and send them to be raised by Protestant families in the Midwest .
The child-saving zealots moved on from Catholic families to the native inhabitants of the United States , Canada , and Australia .
It was hubris and condescension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those earlier reformers ’ readiness to tear apart families has an analog in today ’ s Maoist activists who announce their intent to “ disrupt ” the nuclear family .
We can ’ t let something as backward and primal as human instincts get in the way of a new and improved social order .
The millennialist mindset of Big Philanthropy and its fellow travelers leaves one susceptible to any world-saving scheme that comes down the pike , whether it be socialism , eugenics ( another favorite of the early Progressives and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eliminating systemic racism , including the elimination of the American nation and the nuclear family as we know it , is the latest in a long line of irrational projects Americans have signed on to in the name of scientific and technological rationality .
But it makes sense that liberal reformers would see America is irredeemably flawed , though not for the reasons they say .
It has nothing to do with racism , be it systemic , entrenched , unconscious or otherwise .
The political philosophy governing America is Leave-me-alone-ism , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antithetical to busybody reformers who want to get in everyone ’ s business with grandiose schemes to remake the world .
Curtis Ellis is policy director with America First Policies .
He was also a senior policy advisor with the Donald J. Trump presidential campaign in 2016 .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-10--US Sanctions Chinese Officials Over Repression of Minorities

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on three senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party , including a member of the ruling Politburo , for alleged human rights abuses targeting ethnic and religious minorities that China has detained in the western part of the country .
The decision to bar these senior officials from entering the U.S. is the latest of a series of actions the Trump administration has taken against China as relations deteriorate over the coronavirus pandemic , human rights , Hong Kong and trade .
Just a day earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against officials deemed responsible for barring foreigners ’ access to Tibet .
Thursday ’ s step , however , hits a more senior level of leadership and is likely to draw a harsh response from Beijing .
“ The United States will not stand idly by as the Chinese Communist Party carries out human rights abuses targeting Uighurs , ethnic Kazakhs and members of other minority groups in Xinjiang , to include forced labor , arbitrary mass detention , and forced population control , and attempts to erase their culture and Muslim faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
Pompeo ’ s statement , accompanied by a similar announcement from the Treasury Department , said additional visa restrictions are being placed on other Chinese Communist Party officials believed to be responsible for , or complicit in , the unjust detention or abuse of Uighurs , ethnic Kazakhs and members of other minority groups .
The measures imposed against senior Chinese officials come as President Donald Trump has increasingly sought to blame China for the spread of COVID-19 in the United States and beyond and accuse his presumptive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Vice President Joe Biden , of being soft on China .
The three officials targeted by name were : Chen Quanguo , the party secretary of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in northwest China and a member of the Politburo ; Zhu Hailun , party secretary of the Xinjiang political and legal committee ; and Wang Mingshan , party secretary of the Xinjiang public security bureau .
They and their immediate family members are banned from entering the United States .
Pompeo also announced that he was placing additional visa restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be responsible for or complicit in “ unjust detention or abuse ” of Uighurs , ethnic Kazakhs and members of other minority groups in Xinjiang .
Their family members also are subject to the travel restrictions .
In recent years , the Chinese government has detained an estimated 1 million or more ethnic Turkic minorities .
The ethnic minorities are held in internment camps and prisons where they are subjected to ideological discipline , forced to denounce their religion and language and physically abused .
China has long suspected the Uighurs , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tendencies because of their distinct culture , language and religion .
China ’ s officially atheist Communist government at first denied the existence of the internment camps in Xinjiang , but now says they are vocational training facilities aimed at countering Muslim radicalism and separatist tendencies .
China says Xinjiang has long been its territory and claims it is bringing prosperity and development to the vast , resource-rich region .
Many among Xinjiang ’ s native ethnic groups say they are being denied economic options in favor of migrants from elsewhere in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culture and language are being gradually eradicated .
Last December , Xinjiang authorities announced that the camps had closed and all the detainees had “ graduated , ” a claim difficult to corroborate independently given tight surveillance and restrictions on reporting in the region .
Some Uighurs and Kazakhs have told the AP that their relatives have been released , but many others say their loved ones remain in detention , were sentenced to prison or transferred to forced labor in factories .
In October 2019 , the United States imposed visa restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for , or complicit in ” the detention of Muslims in Xinjiang .
It also blacklisted more than two dozen Chinese companies and agencies linked to abuses in the region — including surveillance technology manufacturers and Xinjiang ’ s public security bureau — effectively blocking them from buying U.S. products .
Last month , Trump signed legislation , passed with overwhelming support from Congress , mandating that individuals , including Chen , face sanctions for oppressing Uighurs .
The law also requires that U.S. businesses and individuals selling products to or operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t contribute to human rights violations , including the use of forced labor .
Deb Riechmann is a reporter for The Associated Press .
AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a news conference at the State Department in Washington , Wednesday , July 8 , 2020 .
( Tom Brenner/Pool via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-07-10--Nashville Mayor John Cooper Says Dramatic Tax Increases on Struggling Businesses Are Necessary

Because of COVID-19 , Nashville business owners will likely have their worst year ever , but Mayor John Cooper said at Thursday ’ s press conference that they and others in the city must still pay dramatically higher property taxes .
As The Tennessee Star reported last month , Nashville Metro Council members voted to impose a 34 percent property tax hike upon city residents .
“ As I have said many times before , it is terrible .
It is awful .
It ’ s necessary , ” Cooper said at Thursday ’ s press conference .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locality is going to deal with the same problem .
The loss of sales tax revenue , of which local government is often built on , requires the shift in revenue , frankly .
Otherwise you are going to have massive furloughing of the whole city government.
” Cooper went on to say that Nashville ’ s new tax rate is below what it was three years ago .
“ This is not some spike that is afflicting our local businesses .
This is unfortunately having to pull back what was the lowest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lowest-taxed city in America .
It ’ s terrible , and it couldn ’ t be worse timing for us to do it , but any other course would jeopardize our ability to be in business as a city .
One of the things that happened on July 1 is we are open for business as a city .
Otherwise we would have run out of cash .
We would not be able to pay our employees .
We would not be able to pay public health or police or teachers or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work , ” Cooper said .
“ I get it .
You are able to say it ’ s the worst possible time .
Of course it is .
But the history of Nashville budget practices really had put us already in a hole and then the COVID put us into an additional hole .
We had to walk back , frankly , an abnormally low tax rate to what is still below our historic rate and below what it was even three years ago.
” As The Star reported last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to the second of its four-phased rollout to reopen the city after COVID-19 hit the United States .
Many socially-driven businesses and activities that opened in Phase Three had to temporarily close , including event and entertainment venues .
Nashville ’ s limit on gathering size is now 25 .
Restaurants moved back from 75 percent capacity to 50 percent capacity .
Cooper said he and Metro Council members had to show leadership on the matter .
“ And that is leadership on wearing masks and walking us through the phases to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
For every business that is having the worst year that they ’ ve had in years , that is your motivation for asking people to do the right thing in public health , ” Cooper said .
“ It is in your interests to get us back to work.
” Metro Coronavirus Task Force Chair Alex Jahangir said at Thursday ’ s conference that Nashville had its worst day of confirmed COVID-19 cases , a tally of 688 .
The city also had eight confirmed deaths related to the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s always possible Nashville could revert further back , all the way to Phase One , to further flatten the curve .
“ I think all options are on the table , frankly , ” Jahangir said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ John Cooper ” by John Cooper .