thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Commentary: The Unintended Consequences of COVID-19 Lockdowns

The costs of the government responses to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic have been severe .
New evidence suggests they could be even worse than we imagined .
An ABC affiliate in California reports that doctors at John Muir Medical Center tell them they have seen more deaths by suicide than COVID-19 during the quarantine .
“ The numbers are unprecedented , ” said Dr. Michael deBoisblanc , referring to the spike in suicides .
“ We ’ ve never seen numbers like this , in such a short period of time , ” deBoisblanc added .
“ I mean we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth of suicide attempts in the last four weeks.
” Kacey Hansen , a trauma nurse who has spent 33 years at the hospital , said she has never witnessed self-inflicted attacks on such a scale .
“ What I have seen recently , I have never seen before , ” Hansen said .
“ I have never seen so much intentional injury.
” To date , there is little evidence that lockdowns have reduced the spread of COVID-19 .
But even if there were compelling evidence that lockdowns were saving lives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the manifold unintended consequences of stay-at-home orders .
As economist Antony Davies and political scientist James Harrigan explain , “ every human action has both intended and unintended consequences .
Human beings react to every rule , regulation , and order governments impose , and their reactions result in outcomes that can be quite different than the outcomes lawmakers intended.
” The problem with negative unintended consequences is two-fold .
First , as Ludwig von Mises , observed , every government intervention in markets creates unintended consequences , which often lead to more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unintended consequences , and so on .
Second , as Frédéric Bastiat pointed out , we tend to focus our attention more on the intended consequences than the unintended ones .
( Think of government assistance and the poverty trap . )
The unintended consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have been severe .
Most of the attention , however , has been focused on the economic consequences .
Forty million US jobs lost .
A looming recession .
Hundreds of thousands of businesses wiped out and retirements destroyed .
The psychological and physiological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less attention .
Media have been largely transfixed on COVID-19 , reporting daily death tolls and rising case numbers in states easing lockdown restrictions ( while failing to note that COVID cases are rising because of expanded testing ) .
To be sure , measuring the impact on mental health is trickier than measuring COVID-19 fatalities or job losses .
But that is no reason to discount the psychological and physical impact of lockdowns , especially when evidence suggests the toll is severe .
A recent Wall Street Journal report shows a surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for anxiety and insomnia , prompting physicians to warn about the long-term risks of increased prescriptions , which include drug addiction and abuse .
Stay-at-home orders may seem relatively benign , but they are not .
Science shows that human beings struggle mightily in isolation from one another .
As The New York Times reported in 2016 , social isolation isn ’ t just harmful , it ’ s quite deadly : A wave of new research suggests social separation is bad for us .
Individuals with less social connection have disrupted sleep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflammation and higher levels of stress hormones .
One recent study found that isolation increases the risk of heart disease by 29 percent and stroke by 32 percent .
Another analysis that pooled data from 70 studies and 3.4 million people found that socially isolated individuals had a 30 percent higher risk of dying in the next seven years , and that this effect was largest in middle age .
Loneliness can accelerate cognitive decline in older adults , and isolated individuals are twice as likely to die prematurely as those with more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early : Socially isolated children have significantly poorer health 20 years later , even after controlling for other factors .
All told , loneliness is as important a risk factor for early death as obesity and smoking .
Anecdotal evidence , like the testimony of doctors at John Muir Medical Center and reported surges in calls to suicide hotlines around the country , suggest the mental toll of lockdowns could be as great as the material costs .
( Indeed , they likely go hand-in-hand . )
We ’ ll have months if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were effective or the right thing to do .
What ’ s important to remember is the stay-at-home orders come with a host of unintended consequences that we have not yet even begun to measure or understand .
For his part , Dr. DeBoisblanc has seen enough to convince him that it ’ s time to lift stay-at-home orders and let people return to their communities .
“ Personally , I think it ’ s time , ” he said .
“ I think , originally , this was put in place to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals have the resources to take care of COVID patients .
We have the current resources to do that , and our other community health is suffering.
” Jonathan Miltimore is the Managing Editor of FEE.org .
His writing/reporting has been the subject of articles in TIME magazine , The Wall Street Journal , CNN , Forbes , Fox News , and the Star Tribune .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Commentary: Key Questions Former DAG Rod Rosenstein Should Be Asked at Senate Oversight Hearing

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) has called up former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to testify in the first of a series of hearings examining the Obama administration ’ s the Trump-Russia investigations and misuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act .
Graham announced the June 3 hearing in a press release on Wednesday .
Rosenstein responded in a statement that he was “ grateful ” for the opportunity to explain himself .
“ I am grateful to Chairman Graham for the opportunity to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee about information that has come to light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the FBI ’ s counterintelligence decision-making , as a result of completed inquiries by Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz and ongoing reviews by U.S .
Attorneys John Durham and Jeff Jensen , ” Rosenstein wrote .
“ During my three decades of service in law enforcement , I learned firsthand that most local , state , and federal law enforcement officers deserve the high confidence people place in them , but that even the best law enforcement officers sometimes make mistakes and that some engage in willful misconduct.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidence if we correct mistakes , hold wrongdoers accountable , and adopt policies to prevent problems from recurring , ” the former DAG added in his statement .
Rosenstein oversaw the Russia investigation at the DOJ after Sessions recused himself from anything related to the investigation .
Republicans will want him to explain a number of documents from that time period that were unearthed by Judicial Watch , last Fall .
The watchdog released 145 pages of Rosenstein ’ s communications , including a one-line email from Rosenstein to Robert Mueller stating “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know about our discussions.
” That email came just five days before Rosenstein appointed Mueller to take over the FBI ’ s Russia investigation as special counsel , roiling Trump ’ s presidency .
The damning communications also include “ off the record ” emails with major media outlets around the date of Mueller ’ s appointment .
On May 17 , he appointed Special Counsel Robert Mueller to conduct the investigation into “ any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from that investigation .
Some time between May 8 and May 17 , according to then-acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe ’ s notes , Rosenstein met with McCabe and other senior Justice Department and FBI officials to discuss wearing a wire into the oval office to spy on Trump , as well as invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the president .
When McCabe ’ s claim was made public , Rosenstein denied the charge , calling it “ inaccurate and factually incorrect.
” However , McCabe ’ s notes about the meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tell a different story : “ The DAG proposed that he could potentially wear a recording device into the Oval Office to collect additional evidence on the President ’ s true intentions , ” McCabe wrote .
“ He said he thought this might be possible because he was not searched when he entered the White House .
I told him that I would discuss the opportunity with my investigative team and get back to him.
” In February of 2019 , Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe insisted that Rosenstein was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wire and further claimed that Rosenstein discussed with Justice Department officials a plan to recruit members of President Trump ’ s Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office .
The Justice Department firmly denied McCabe ’ s stunning claims , saying Rosenstein did not believe there were any grounds to remove Trump from office via the 25th Amendment .
Rosenstein will undoubtedly also be asked to explain why he signed the June 2017 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) warrant application to renew surveillance of former Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was based heavily on the now discredited Steele dossier .
Last December , Inspector General Michael Horowitz found that the FBI had made “ at least 17 significant errors or omissions in the Carter Page FISA applications and many errors in the Woods Procedures ” during its Crossfire Hurricane investigation .
By signing the fatally flawed application , he had assured the FISA court that the information collected by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele was credible and “ verified.
” He will likely be asked to explain why the application he signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , a month earlier , Steele admitted that his information was “ unverified.
” In truth , Steele ’ s anti-Trump dossier was cobbled together using Russian disinformation at the behest of the sleazy oppo research firm Fusion GPS .
The effort was funded by Hillary Clinton ’ s presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee through the Dem-friendly Perkins Coie law firm .
Recently declassified footnotes revealed that the FBI was aware that Steele may have been fed Russian disinformation yet used his dossier anyway .
Senators Grassley and Graham noticed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in January of 2018 , and referred him to the Justice Department for criminal investigation .
In their memorandum on the topic dated January 4 , 2018 , they wrote that “ FBI and DOJ officials misrepresented Steele ’ s credibility to the FISA Court in order to make Steele appear more credible than the facts would justify.
” Was Rosenstein kept in the dark about all of this ?
If so , why would he sign off on a surveillance warrant he knows nothing about ?
The former DAG is also likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ scope memos ” to Special Counsel Robert Mueller .
The first Mueller scope memo was part of Mueller ’ s appointment order by Rosenstein on May 17 , 2017 , just over a week after Trump fired Comey .
Rosenstein authorized Mueller to investigate “ any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump.
” The second Mueller scope memo , written by Rosenstein in August 2017 , authorized Mueller to investigate allegations against Page , Flynn , former Trump campaign foreign policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign manager Paul Manafort .
The allegations against Page in the memo echoed claims made against him in Steele ’ s unverified anti-Trump dossier , and the claims leveled against Flynn reference the possibility that Flynn broke the law under the Logan Act during his discussions with Russia ’ s ambassador , which were picked up in a U.S. surveillance operation .
The third Mueller scope memo , authored by Rosenstein in Oct. 2017 , has not been declassified yet .
However , it was described in Mueller ’ s report , released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians interfered in the 2016 election in a “ sweeping and systematic fashion , ” but that investigators “ did not establish ” any criminal conspiracy between Trump ’ s campaign and Russia .
Mueller ’ s report laid out 10 possible instances of obstruction of justice .
Barr and Rosenstein said they examined the evidence and concluded that it did not rise to the level of obstruction of justice , but Democrats still saw it as a road map for impeachment .
Republicans will also want to ask Rosenstein why he steadfastly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special counsel to investigate the Obama administration ’ s surveillance abuses .
He resigned from his post as second-in-command at the Justice Department in April of 2019 , shortly after Barr took over as attorney general .
A few days before he submitted his resignation , Rosenstein spoke at an event in New York City where he opened up about the special counsel ’ s Russia investigation , and threw shade on critics , politicians , the media , and members of the Obama administration , including James Comey .
“ The FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional hearing that there was a counterintelligence investigation that might result in criminal charges .
Then the former FBI director alleged that the president pressured him to close the investigation , and the president denied that the conversation occurred , ” he said .
Rosenstein added that “ the FBI disclosed classified evidence about the investigation to ranking legislators and their staffs , lawmakers and their staffers , ” and then “ someone selectively leaked details to the news media.
” He also defended his boss , Attorney General William Barr in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left : “ He ’ s being as forthcoming as he can , and so this notion that he ’ s trying to mislead people , I think is just completely bizarre , ” Rosenstein said .
In January of this year , investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson filed a lawsuit against Rosenstein , claiming that he led the task force that spied on her computers .
While his relationship with Trump was rocky at times , he left office on good terms with the president .
In his resignation letter , Rosenstein told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you for the opportunity to serve ; for the courtesy and humor you often display in our personal conversations ; and for the goals you set in your inaugural address : patriotism , unity , safety , education and prosperity , because ‘ a nation exists to serve its citizens .
’ ”

by Scott McClallen
First, COVID-19 disrupted classes in 2020, and now it’s teachers keeping kids out of class in 2022.
More than 29,000 Minneapolis students couldn’t attend class Monday as a teachers’ union strike entered its 10th school day.
The striking teachers are seeking a “living wage,” smaller class sizes, and “safe and stable schools.”
The strike began March 8 with the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) and Education Support Professionals (ESP) saying the groups were demanding “a living wage” for ESPs, smaller class sizes, and “safe and stable schools,” the union posted on Facebook.
In a video posted on Facebook page Sunday, union officials said they want ESPs to have a minimum $35,000 annual salary.
Teacher Chapter President Greta Callahan said parties have been negotiating.
“This contract needs to get settled,” Callahan said. “We want kids back in school and it feels like we are the only ones acting like that right now.”
Average teacher salaries in St. Paul are $85,000, compared to the average Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) teacher salary of $71,535.
World Population Review says the average Minnesota teacher makes $59,221.
The Sahan Journal reported that despite the high teacher salary, raises for the Minneapolis district have lagged in recent years.
MPS said it shared its “last, best, and final” offer on Sunday that includes: 2% cost of living increases, with up to 12% raises for new teachers, in year one of the contract and 2% increases for all in the second year.
Increase starting wages for 85% of current ESPs to $23 per hour or more, bringing most full-time ESPs close to $35,000 annually.
Increase wages over two years between 8.2% and 34.6% (depending on job classification), with an average increase of 15.6%.
Move the lowest-paid ESPs from $15.45 per hour to $18 per hour.
Pay ESPs $6,000 in bonuses ($3,000 in each of the next 2 years).
$3.5 million to additional hours for ESPs.
Four additional paid duty days for professional development.
“We know that our students want to be back in school with their teachers and ESPs and our staff desperately want to see our students,” Minneapolis School Board Chair Kim Ellison said in a video. “We believe this is the fastest way possible to get our students back to school.”
The proposal would cost $9.3 million in the first year and $13.4 million in the second.
“MPS is reaching beyond its financial means on behalf of our ESPs and will need to make more than $10 million in reductions for the next school year as a result,” the MPS website says.
“We’ll be back out on the line tomorrow fighting for safe and stable schools!” the MFT tweeted Sunday.
The state’s education funding formula is based on enrollment, which has declined at MPS from 32,732 in 2019 to in 2022, 29,100.
The school doesn’t have data on where the roughly 3,632 kids who left went, MPS media coordinator Crystina Lugo-Beach told The Center Square in an email.
MPS said all pre-K through 12th classes would be canceled “for the duration of the strike.” Axios reported that the district is facing a a $21.5 million budget deficit for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
– – –
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.
Photo “Minneapolis Public Schools” by Minneapolis Public Schools.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Bill Hagerty Announces Veterans for Hagerty Coalition

Following the release of a detailed plan to support Tennessee ’ s veterans and ensure they receive quality care in a timely manner , Bill Hagerty Thursday announced the Veterans for Hagerty coalition .
The coalition includes more than 1,200 Tennessee veterans from all branches of the military who strongly support Hagerty for U.S. Senate .
Hagerty is running to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) .
“ Our nation ’ s veterans have sacrificed so much to guarantee our freedoms , and it is critical that they are fully supported , ” Hagerty said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s website .
“ As your next Senator , I will continue to work alongside President Trump to ensure our veterans are equipped with the tools they need to transition successfully into civilian life .
This coalition represents some of Tennessee ’ s best , who have fought bravely for our freedoms , and I am honored to have them on Team Hagerty.
” State Rep. Curtis Johnson , R-Clarksville , said in the press release that he was proud to join other Tennessee veterans in supporting Hagerty for the U.S. Senate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support our veterans and make sure they have access to quality health care and job opportunities , ” Johnson said in the press release .
“ The transition into civilian life can be difficult , especially when they are denied proper assistance and care .
Together , Bill and President Trump , who has endorsed him for the U.S. Senate , will work together to fix our broken VA system and support our veterans.
” As The Tennessee Star reported this week , Lara Trump told Tennesseans during a tele-town hall with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump by a significant margin come November .
During the call , Hagerty asked Lara to comment on what he described as “ the dramatically unfair treatment that Trump , his family and Republicans get in the media and how that will factor into the 2020 election ?
” “ People see what ’ s going on .
They see how the mainstream media consistently misconstrues things that Donald Trump says .
They go out of their way to attack him .
They make up stories .
That has happened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You think to yourself that it can ’ t be that bad .
They don ’ t actually do these things .
But , yes , they actually do these things , ” Lara told Hagerty .
“ If the mainstream media covered Donald Trump fairly then they would lose a lot of money .
People would stop tuning in .
They are constantly looking for new ways to hit this president because it puts money in their pockets , and that is absolutely disgusting , ” she said .
“ The press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accurately give the facts to help the people make up their own minds , and , in fact , they do the opposite .
They try to implement their opinion and twist things so that it fits their narrative and it ’ s absolutely disgusting.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Principal Rachael Bradley Explains Saxon Math and How it is Used at Thales Academy-Franklin

Live from Music Row Thursday 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 was joined on the newsmakers line by all-star panelist and Thales Academy-Franklin ’ s Principal Rachael Bradley .
Leahy and Bradley discuss upcoming Thales Academy Franklin events and the concept of Saxon math .
Leahy : We have good news today .
We want to talk to our good friend and all-star panelist Rachael Bradley .
Rachael is the principal of the Thales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bradley : Hey , good morning Mike .
How are you ?
Leahy : I ’ m delighted to have you on here .
You are the principal of Thales Academy-Franklin .
The new high-quality affordable school opening up in July in Franklin at 3835 Carothers Parkway .
How have the past few days been going there ?
Have people been coming by and talking to you to learn about Thales ?
Bradley : Yes .
Absolutely .
I have been meeting with families one on one which has worked out really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a different schedule these days .
I ’ m happy to do that .
It ’ s been great connecting with people and talking about education and the future of that and how Thales Academy fits into all that here in Franklin .
Leahy : You ’ ve given me a new job .
( Laughter ) Once a month you hold a parent information meeting at Thales Academy-Franklin at the former Gate Community Church which is now Thales Academy-Franklin on Carothers Parkway .
I call myself the greeter at these events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But I ’ m a nice bouncer .
Leahy : I make sure everybody is following social distancing which they all are .
The next one is what ?
June 9 ?
Bradley : June 9 !
Yes !
But if anybody doesn ’ t want to wait , they can email me at [ email protected ] .
and I will be happy to meet with families individually .
Leahy : One of the things that have really bugged me about modern education and all the public schools have adopted this common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totally ruined the teaching of mathematics .
I asked you to come on today and talk a little bit about how you do this differently at Thales Academy .
It ’ s not common core bologna that parents can ’ t understand .
It ’ s more common sense .
You use Saxon math ?
Tell us what that is like .
Bradley : Saxon math is a phenomenal math program .
Essentially it ’ s a teaching method for incremental learning of math .
And it involves teaching a new mathematical concept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concepts .
So what I love about it is in my experience in public schools we might teach math such that we taught a concept for two weeks .
Or maybe we taught fractions for seven to ten days and then we were done with it for the rest of the school year which is hugely problematic when it comes to retention .
Children need to continually be practicing these skills in order for them to be fully retained .
So with Saxon , it ’ s cumulative and cyclical .
Essentially , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 and then again on lesson 24 and then again on lesson 36 and so on and so forth .
The other thing I love about it is is that it is straight forward math the way we all learned math .
We do carry the one .
We do memorize our basic facts so that we have that automaticity when it comes to higher-level problem-solving instead of just drawing hundreds of dots and circles and craziness apparently common core is .
Leahy : Yes .
That ’ s really interesting that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of parents will come and tell me , hey , I can ’ t help my second grader with math because I don ’ t understand how they get to the answer .
It seems to me that this common core approach tries to make it as obscure and hard to understand as possible .
Bradley : I completely agree .
I will have to say that I have never had to teach common core in my teaching experience and I ’ m thankful for that because everything I hear about it sounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t make a lot of sense for students or families .
Listen to the full second hour : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Rachael Bradley ” and Background Photo “ Thales Academy School ” by Thales Academy .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Senator Marsha Blackburn Talks About Her Newly Proposed Open Technology Fund Authorization Act

Live from Music Row Thursday 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 Sen. Marsha Blackburn to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Blackburn explained her bill called the Open Technology Fund Authorization Act which would provide safeguards as more Americans move online with their work and transactions .
She added that it was important to protect what she calls our “ virtual view ” while China shows increased proof of global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now by our good friend , United States Senator Marsha Blackburn .
Good morning Senator Blackburn .
Blackburn : Good morning !
How are you doing ?
Leahy : Great .
Every time I have you on my adult daughter says I remember meeting her at the Thompson ’ s Station Firehouse when she ran for the state Senate back in 1998 .
I went to vote there Marsha and there was one person at a little fold-up table sitting there talking to voters .
Guess who it was ?
It was you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I ’ ve always felt that staying in constant contact with Tennesseans and with our constituents is just as important and we work diligently to do that every single day .
Leahy : My daughter was just a young child then and just starting elementary school .
She ’ s an adult now and she says , “ I remember that.
” It leaves an impression on children about what representative democracy is about .
Blackburn : You are exactly right about that .
And every single day , every single day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are responding to constituents .
We are listening to them .
We are paying close attention to what they are telling us .
That is the only way to be sure that taking those ideas and thoughts and we get great ideas that come from Tennesseans .
Great ideas that come from them every single day .
Leahy : You have a new bill out there introduced last week to fight digital authoritarianism in China and Russia .
Tell us about that .
Blackburn : One of the things that we know is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transactional life has moved online what you see happening is as Big Tech and China takes more control of ownership of the virtual view as I call it .
Pushing back on this as you know this is an issue that I have been on for years .
It ’ s looking at Big Tech and their coziness with China .
We are looking at how China is using technology to literally build a database of you and your life and your images .
Every single day we are fighting them on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be the one that owns your virtual .
Now as China tries to move forward with their Beijing road initiative with great competition and global domination , which is their choice and their goal .
We have to say is , “ Ok how do we fight this ?
And the way we fight it is to make certain that much of that supply chain we bring back and interfaces with other countries and that we are protecting Americans ’ privacy.
” We will continue to do this .
This push that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now and for accountability for the American online consumer is really to protect privacy and to make certain that individuals are not harmed by some of that activity that takes place online by outside groups .
Leahy : So your bill is called the Open Technology Fund Authorization Act .
And as you often do , you have co-sponsors on the Democratic side and on the Republican side .
Leahy : Senator Rick Scott of Florida a Republican .
Senator Ron Widen of Oregon and Bob Menendez co-sponsored the bill would establish 55 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that would develop and maintain technologies to circumvent authoritarian governments to restrict internet freedom .
Who ’ s not for that ?
Blackburn : We think that everyone should be for that .
This is a bi-partisan initiative not only in the Senate but also in the House .
And you have bi-partisan co-sponsors of this in the House .
So we are looking forward to pushing this .
We think its a national security issue .
Our friends in the House also view it as a national security issue .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the two primary sponsors in the House .
But here again , we have to put up the guardrails and make certain that we are not going to be exposing our presence online .
Our virtual view as I said .
And exposing that to bad actors .
Leahy : So the chances that the Open Technology Fund Authorization Act that you ’ ve sponsored gets passed this session , it seems to me look pretty good .
Blackburn : Yes .
We think it looks pretty good .
And bear in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the series of things that I am doing when it comes to technology and the online space .
Senator Markey and I have some things and Senator Menendez and I have some things .
And pushing these forward to make certain that we protect our companies and their intellectual property is protected .
That we bring supply chains back here .
That our consumers are protected in the online space .
And that we are hardening our defenses against this intellectual property theft .
These privacy intrusions and things of that nature .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I see every single day is more and more companies are having their employees working from home .
More companies are going to allow certain employees to continue to work from home .
And you ’ ve got a reshaping of the American workplace at this point in time and as we broaden the use of technology , look at what you ’ re dealing with telehealth .
I have tried to get passed for three years was included in the CARES Act and we are hearing such a great response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care delivery systems .
And those that are dealing with homebound individuals and with elderly individuals , telehealth is going to be a luxury and it turned out to be a safety item .
So we are going to continue to try to shore up the hardening of our systems so that we protect consumers and companies .
Leahy : If you could give us a brief comment about the breaking news about Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Hong Kong is no longer an independent entity and that the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s big news and an indication that China wants to control everything including Hong Kong .
Blackburn : You got it .
That ’ s exactly right .
They are looking for global domination .
They look at this as a 100-year marathon .
And they have talked much in terms of the China dream .
And what they were willing to do to achieve that global domination .
That is their goal they continue to push forward to this .
And what we are going to have to do is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push into the South China Sea with roughly done with their deepwater Navy and taking those islands and establishing their ports .
They have tried to push into every economic sector that we have whether there is the consumer of technology or pharmaceuticals .
They have tried to increase their grasp .
And they own over a trillion dollars of our debt .
That is what they hold in our debt .
Leahy : When I look at China Senator Blackburn and I ’ m reminded of the old saying by Nikita Khrushchev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , ” What ’ s mine is mine and what ’ s yours is negotiable.
” That ’ s what Chinese seems like to me .
Blackburn : You are precisely right on that .
That is where their stance is .
They feel as if they are the manufacturers then they should be the ones in charge of the intellectual property .
Leahy : Senator Marsha Blackburn , thank you so much for joining us here on The Tennessee Star Report .
Listen to the full third hour here : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Tennessee Officials Plan for Double-Digit Budget Cuts Because of COVID-19

Because of the lingering effects of COVID-19 , Tennessee Commissioner of Finance and Administration Butch Eley this week asked all of the state ’ s agency heads and budget officers to plan to reduce their budgets by 12 percent .
This , according to an email Eley sent Tuesday to state officials .
No one in Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee ’ s office returned The Tennessee Star ’ s request for comment on the matter Thursday .
“ The financial challenges which have evolved over the past two months are unprecedented in recent times .
Although the state is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a longstanding and rich partnership with the legislature and years of bipartisan commitment to financial stability , the impact of COVID-19 on our economy and our state revenues is projected to be unparalleled in terms of both its suddenness and magnitude .
While revenues are expected to drop by such a large degree that experts predict it could take years to recover , we will always uphold our constitutional duty to balance our budget , ” Eley said .
“ In order to adapt quickly to the new economic environments we face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heightened level of fiscal prudence , invest state funds in more targeted policies that show greater returns , operate more efficiently by continuing to provide our vital services with fewer resources , all while remaining stalwart supporters of our customers : Tennesseans.
” This economic situation , Eley went on to say , came on quickly and will now require a multi-year approach of restraint and reductions .
“ While the plans to address this crisis are multifaceted , the Governor is asking that we immediately begin the process of identifying where budgetary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As a result , I am asking all agencies to identify and plan to implement reductions totaling 12 percent of their general fund state appropriation budget.
” In his email , Eley said that , as plans develop , agencies should consider the following guidelines : • Agencies should prepare to implement all reductions identified in their plan by July 1 .
• State officials should evaluate all programs for reduction/elimination .
• Revenue Offsets – Adjustments that propose to offset a reduction of state appropriations with a corresponding increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not represent a significant portion of the reduction plan .
Because the impact of COVID-19 on departmental revenues is not clear , agencies should not necessarily expect prior year collection trends to indicate future collections , Eley said .
• Assume all programs and associated funding reduced or eliminated through this exercise will not get added back in any future budget .
• All Internal service funded agencies and programs are expected to participate and should develop plans to begin Fiscal Year 2021 with a reduced billing rate of 6 percent .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Budget by June 30 , Eley said .
“ We will provide more specific instructions in a later communication regarding the exact reduction amount for your agency as well as the submission format and process , ” Eley said in the email .
“ As the Governor has said , everything is on the table and we have an obligation to be good stewards of taxpayer funds .
I encourage each of you to think critically and creatively about ways we can achieve our goals of financial stability and outstanding service to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Executive Order Takes Aim at Leftist Tech Giants’ Censorship of Conservatives

After years of warning , President Donald Trump took action Thursday in the form of an Executive Order to remove a key protection companies like Twitter , Facebook , and Google enjoy that shields the tech giants from lawsuits by individuals and other entities with claiming bias , censorship , and otherwise unfair treatment .
The Order , titled “ Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship ” comes two days after Twitter added a controversial “ fact-check ” of two of his tweets about fraud and absentee ballots , NPR reported .
The executive order is available in its entirety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today to defend free speech from one of the gravest dangers it has faced in American history , frankly , and you know as well as anybody what ’ s going on .
It ’ s not good , ” President Trump said .
Full video is available from C-SPAN here .
Washington Times reporter Thomas Howell served as a pool reporter for the press .
In a live email feed to The Tennessee Star , he reported from The Oval Office : Trump is at his desk in Oval for EO signing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re here today to defend free speech from one of the greatest dangers , ” referring to tech ‘ monopoly ’ Says “ They ’ ve had unchecked power ” to censor and restrict human interaction “ We can ’ t allow that to happen ” He says these tech companies have “ points of view “ Sees bipartisanship , says Democrats are saying ‘ this is about time something is done ’ Says Twitter is acting as an editor ‘ with a viewpoint ’ Says tech platforms have more reach than newspapers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get liability shield based on neutral platform Trump predicted there would be a lawsuit , Howell reported .
“ We ’ re fed up with it , ” the president said .
Trump was asked about deleting his account .
“ The news is fake , ” he said .
“ If we had a fair press in this country I would do that in a heartbeat.
” Attorney General Bill Barr said tech companies are acting as publishers after amassing huge power .
He will draft legislation for Congress .
Howell reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media giants like Twitter receive an unprecedented liability shield based on the theory that they ’ re a neutral platform , which they ’ re not.
” “ My executive order calls for new regulations under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to make it that social media companies that engage in censoring or any political conduct will not be able to keep their liability shield , that ’ s a big deal.
” “ They have a shield , they ’ re not gon na have a shield.
” Also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press briefing that included information on the executive order .
The transcript is available here .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Mayor Frey Says George Floyd Would Be Alive ‘If He Were White,’ Calls Incident Murder

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he thinks George Floyd was murdered and claimed Floyd “ would be alive today if he were white.
” Video from the tragic Monday night incident shows a Minneapolis police officer pressing his knee into the neck of a handcuffed Floyd , who repeatedly said he couldn ’ t breathe .
Floyd was pronounced dead shortly after he was taken into custody .
In an interview aired Thursday morning , Frey told CBS that the arresting officer , Derek Chauvin , “ killed someone.
” “ I do , ” Frey said in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murdered .
“ I ’ m not a prosecutor , but let me be clear : the arresting officer killed someone.
” “ He ’ d be alive today if he were white , ” he added .
“ The facts that I ’ ve seen , which are minimal , certainly lead me down the path that race was involved.
” During a Wednesday press conference , Mayor Frey called on the Hennepin County Attorney ’ s Office to pursue charges against Chauvin , who was fired Tuesday along with the three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident .
“ I ’ ve wrestled with , more than anything else over the last 36 hours , one fundamental question : Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail ?
” Frey said .
“ If you had done it , or I had done it , we would be behind bars right now.
” “ I can not come up with a good answer to that question , and so I ’ m calling on Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to act on the evidence before him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to charge the arresting officer in this case , ” he added .
Frey asked Gov .
Tim Walz to send in the National Guard late Wednesday after rioters looted stores and burned down buildings in a night of destruction that left south Minneapolis in ruins .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Jacob Frey ” by CBS This Morning .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Addresses Trump Fact-Check, Asks Media to ‘Leave Our Employees Out Of This’

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey took sole responsibility Wednesday night after his company applied a fact-check on a tweet from President Donald Trump suggesting California ’ s mail-in ballot move is “ fraudulent.
” Trump ’ s tweet Tuesday suggesting mail-in ballot votes are fraudulent could mislead people into believing they don ’ t have to register to get a ballot , Dorsey wrote on Twitter .
He also asked people to lay off his employees .
“ [ T ] here is someone ultimately accountable for our actions as a company , and that ’ s me , ” Dorsey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave our employees out of this .
We ’ ll continue to point out incorrect or disputed information about elections globally .
And we will admit to and own any mistakes we make.
” He added : “ Our intention is to connect the dots of conflicting statements and show the information in dispute so people can judge for themselves.
” The move to slap a fact-check on the president ’ s tweet doesn ’ t make the company “ an ‘ arbiter of truth , ’ ” Dorsey noted before linking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy , ” which tells users not to use the platform to interfere in the civic process .
Dorsey ’ s tweet came shortly after White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced the president ’ s decision to sign an executive order targeting social media companies .
Trump has a long history of lashing out at Silicon Valley companies for supposedly discriminating against conservatives .
News of an executive order also came as Republican lawmakers began work on legislation Wednesday to strip Twitter of protections internet companies receive from liability of publishing false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not forthcoming , but The Washington Post reported late Wednesday night that it will include three provisions : direct the Commerce Department to request that the Federal Communications Commission reexamines the scope of Section 230 , a decades-old law protecting internet companies from certain lawsuits ; send concerns about political bias to the Federal Trade Commission ; and mandate that federal agencies examine spending on social media ads .
Trump is expected to sign the order Thursday .
Dorsey ’ s tweets came after reports highlighted the work of Yoel Roth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is responsible for heading the company ’ s fight against election-related misinformation .
Roth derided the president after the 2016 election , calling Trump the “ wretched orange man , ” and acknowledging that he donated to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 campaign .
Chris White is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Jack Dorsey ” by cellanr .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--‘Wretched Orange Man’: Twitter Official Overseeing Misinformation Efforts Is Anti-Trump Partisan Who

‘Wretched Orange Man’: Twitter Official Overseeing Misinformation Efforts Is Anti-Trump Partisan Who Donated to Planned Parenthood

The Twitter official overseeing the tech company ’ s efforts to combat misinformation is a left-wing partisan who in the past has derided President Donald Trump as a “ wretched orange man ” and said he donated to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 presidential campaign .
Yoel Roth , Twitter ’ s head of site security , is the man in charge of the platform ’ s fight against election-related misinformation .
Some of Roth ’ s past political comments from 2016 and 2017 began making the rounds in conservative circles Tuesday after Twitter fact-checked a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would result in widespread fraud .
Roth announced in September 2016 that he was donating $ 100 to Clinton ’ s campaign , writing : “ We can ’ t fuck around anymore.
” In another post-election tweet , Roth sneered at so-called “ flyover states , ” writing : “ I ’ m just saying , we fly over those states that voted for a racist tangerine for a reason.
” The day after the 2016 election , he tweeted a receipt showing what he said was the beginning of monthly donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Lambda Legal and the Southern Poverty Law Center .
In one January 2017 tweet , Roth derided Trump ’ s voter base as a “ lunatic base of online trolls.
” He ’ s previously likened White House employees , including White House counselor Kellyanne Conway , to Nazis .
Roth worked at Twitter during the time he made all of the above statements , according to his LinkedIn page .
After Twitter fact-checked his tweet on Tuesday , Trump accused the social media company of “ interfering in the 2020 Presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement on Mail-In Ballots , which will lead to massive corruption and fraud , is incorrect , based on fact-checking by Fake News CNN and the Amazon Washington Post , ” the president tweeted .
“ Twitter is completely stifling FREE SPEECH , and I , as President , will not allow it to happen !
” Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Yoel Roth ” by Yoel Roth .
Background Photo “ President Donald Trump Twitter Account ” by President Donald Trump .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--AG Barr Appoints Federal Prosecutor to Review Obama Admin ‘Unmasking’ of Trump Associates

Attorney General William Barr appointed a federal prosecutor to review so-called “ unmasking ” requests that Obama administration officials submitted against Trump associates , a spokeswoman for the Justice Department said Wednesday .
Kerri Kupec , the Justice Department spokeswoman , said on Fox News that Barr appointed John Bash , the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas , to conduct the review .
Bash will carry out the probe in coordination with U.S. attorneys John Durham and Jeff Jensen , who are looking into various aspects of the Trump-Russia investigation .
“ The attorney general determined that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reviewed separately as a support to John Durham ’ s investigation , ” Kupec told Fox News ’ Sean Hannity .
On May 13 , Republican senators released a list of 39 Obama-era government officials who submitted requests for intelligence reports during the presidential transition period that identified Flynn , the incoming national security adviser .
The documents showed that former Vice President Joe Biden , former FBI Director James Comey , former CIA Director John Brennan and other officials in the Obama administration submitted requests for information regarding Flynn .
Kupec said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not “ inherently ” wrong , Barr is analyzing whether Obama officials had political motives in submitting requests for reports that identified Flynn .
“ The motivation and the reasoning behind unmasking can be problematic , ” she said .
“ When you are looking at unmasking as part of a broader investigation like John Durham ’ s investigation , looking specifically at who was unmasking whom can add a lot to our understanding about motivation and big picture events.
” Kupec said that Bash will be “ looking specifically at episodes both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The frequency , who was unmasking whom , all of the circumstances and events can shed light and give us a better understanding of what happened with respect to President [ Donald ] Trump , ” Kupec said .
On May 20 , Sens .
Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson requested records for unmasking requests submitted for any Trump associates from between January 2016 and January 2017 .
The Republicans said in a letter to Richard Grenell , the now-former acting director of national intelligence , that they were “ increasingly concerned ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associates before the bureau officially launched its counterintelligence investigation against Trump ’ s campaign on July 31 , 2016 .
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Background Photo “ DOJ Building ” by Coolcaesar .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Wisconsin to Mail Absentee Ballot Applications to 2.7 Million Voters

The Hill reports , the Wisconsin Elections Commission agreed to mail out 2.7 million absentee ballot applications to most voters in the state this fall ahead of November ’ s presidential election .
The vote came just a week after the six-person panel split 3-3 along partisan lines on whether to mail the forms to nearly all registered voters , even if they hadn ’ t requested one .
The bipartisan commission on Wednesday unanimously passed the plan .
The plan could face obstacles next month if Democrats and Republicans can ’ t agree on the wording of the mailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to draft the letter to avoid partisan gridlock .
“ We ’ re going to wind up in a situation where we ’ re going to be parsing individual words on a letter and [ having ] 3-3 votes on whether we ’ re going to say ‘ shall ’ or ‘ can , ’ or ‘ could ’ or ‘ would ’ or ‘ should.
’ And it does none of us any good , ” Democratic Commissioner Ann Jacobs told the Journal Sentinel .
Republican Commissioner Bob Spindell accused Democrats on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recipients of other ways to vote than by absentee .
“ The Republicans are better at voting on election day than are the Democrats and the Democrats are better at using mail absentee votes than the Republicans are , ” he contended .
“ Are you afraid to put in this letter that there are a couple of other ways of voting in this thing ?
I don ’ t see any problem whatsoever on this letter as long as those topics are covered appropriately.
” According to the Journal , the mailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million and would be funded using part of a $ 7.3 million grant that Congress gave Wisconsin to deal with higher election costs during the pandemic .
Mail voting surged to nearly 1 million in the April election for state Supreme Court as people tried to stay at home as much as possible during the coronavirus outbreak .
Mail voting this fall is expected to surpass the record set in April , according to the Journal .
The commission ’ s vote comes after President Trump on Tuesday warned in a tweet that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being stolen and forged , prompting Twitter to append a “ get the facts ” link to his tweet that said his claims were unsubstantiated .
That label led Trump to accuse Twitter of interfering in the presidential election .
According to The Hill , polling has shown former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee , slightly ahead of Trump in the battleground state , which Trump won by a narrow margin in 2016 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Carol Swain Helps NoTax4Nash.com and 4GoodGovernment.com in Nashville to Stop the 32 Percent Propert

Carol Swain Helps NoTax4Nash.com and 4GoodGovernment.com in Nashville to Stop the 32 Percent Property Tax Increase

Live from Music Row Thursday 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 Dr. Carol Swain to the studio .
At the top of the second hour , Swain described two local grassroots groups she is working with that hope to offer budgetary alternatives in order to avoid Mayor John Cooper ’ s proposed 32 % property tax increase .
She urged people to get involved and make their voices heard by going to NoTax4Nash.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city council members .
Leahy : We are joined in studio by our good friend and all-star panelist former Vanderbilt professor and mayoral candidate Carol Swain .
Good morning Carol .
Leahy : So I saw yesterday that Bob Mendes put forward an alternative budget .
It was kind of had to figure out .
The only thing I could tell is that it looks like to me he also wants to increase the budget with property taxes by 32 % .
He doesn ’ t want to cut spending .
He just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Swain : Well , that ’ s a typical democrat .
They tax and spend and then turn a blind eye to crime .
Leahy : Yes .
Exactly .
So you are involved in a group .
Tell us a little bit about what you are doing to push back against this proposed property tax increase .
Swain : I ’ m working with two groups .
One group is No Tax 4 Nash .
Swain : Yes .
And there , people can sign up to get on a pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re trying to raise money .
We need close to 30,000 to put on a campaign where we have TV ads , radio , as well as billboards in every district .
And so we need that .
That ’ s one group .
Then the other group is 4 Good Government .
And that ’ s Jim Roberts .
He started that .
That is a taxpayer protection act that would prevent the city council from doing something like this again along with bringing more transparency and accountability to Nashville .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ signatures for that particular organization .
So NoTax4Nash.com , we are trying to stop the 32 % tax increase and we will be presenting the mayor with a budget or a list of places where we believe that he could make cuts now that would make the tax increase this year unnecessary .
We realize that in the future there may be a need for a tax increase but not this year when so many people are suffering because of the COVID-19 shutdowns , which he was a part of by keeping the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m on that website right now .
Jim Roberts is an attorney and is doing good work on the fairgrounds case .
The proposed act is the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act .
And you can sign that petition and if that petition gets in there there will be a referendum on this .
Swain : Yes .
I ’ m helping these two groups .
Leahy : Do we see any proposal that would say either no increase an alternative to the mayor ’ s budget ?
The mayor has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council .
Swain : Let me tell you this , our group the NoTax4Nash which is a handful of people I named them last week , we met with Mayor Cooper and we got him to agree that if we presented him with our plan that he would take it very seriously .
He did admit that he can amend his budget .
And so it ’ s possible that Mayor Cooper himself will back away from the 32 % tax increase .
It ’ s very important for the listeners out there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
You can help us get the 4,500 signatures for the Taxpayer Protection Act .
But right now you need to contact your council member and the four at-large members and the mayor .
This is the time to assert pressure now .
Let your voices be heard now !
Leahy : This is democracy in action .
Grassroots activism .
There was a poll by the way by Nashville Smart .
Lonnie Spivak ’ s group put out that showed by almost a two to one margin , more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 32 % tax increase .
Swain : Of course the Vanderbilt poll says that they want it .
Tax me !
Tax me !
Tax me more !
( Laughs ) Leahy : Now people can understand why you left Vanderbilt .
It ’ s funny when you look at this and these major institutions are clearly guided by the facts .
The Vanderbilt poll is such a joke by anybody who understands polling .
They ’ ve been wrong .
If you want to know… Swain : Some like the COVID-19 death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes .
Yes .
And of course , we talk about this so often about how bad the Vanderbilt poll is by violating every principle of polling .
The poll that Nashville Smart did by a two to one margin , more than two to one , Nashville voters of al kinds opposed the 32 % property tax increase .
That poll was conducted over two days with 762 registered voters .
Swain : When was it released ?
I haven ’ t seen this .
Leahy : Monday night , Tuesday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead story at tennesseestar.com .
The Vanderbilt poll , they took 30 days to complete it and of course they framed the questions in a way that the only way you can get to it is by their answer .
Swain : I know by being in the political science department that sometimes the people who were putting together the polls met with the government officials that they pretty much helped draft the questions and paid for the questions .
Leahy : How do you want this question asked so it will give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies ?
Swain : This is the world .
This is academia .
It ’ s not neutral , it ’ s not fair , and this is America .
Leahy : We have the worst political class and academic class in American history here .
Swain : I wish we had more Conservatives and stronger ones in government .
Listen to the full second hour : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Tennessee Capitol ” by Ichabod .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Reports: Largest Concentrations of ‘at-Risk’ Coronavirus Patients Are in States with Best Health Inf

Reports: Largest Concentrations of ‘at-Risk’ Coronavirus Patients Are in States with Best Health Infrastructures

Many individuals considered to be the most at-risk for coronavirus live in states that had the best health infrastructures in place before state restrictions began in March , according to two recent analyses .
Residents of West Virginia , Louisiana , Mississippi , Arkansas , Alabama , Kentucky , Florida , Tennessee , South Carolina and Georgia were found to be the most vulnerable , according to personal-finance website WalletHub ’ s analysis of States with the Most Vulnerable Populations to Coronavirus .
Whereas states with the best health care infrastructures already in place were North Dakota , West Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kentucky , Alaska , Kansas , and Arkansas , according to another WalletHub report .
Individuals with medical vulnerability , housing vulnerability and financial vulnerability living in Arkansas , Kentucky , West Virginia , Mississippi , and Tennessee reside in states with the best health infrastructures in place before the coronavirus shutdown , according to the reports .
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control , nearly 75 percent of patients hospitalized for the coronavirus are over 50 years old , and 90 percent have pre-existing conditions .
The shutdown of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strengths and weaknesses in the U.S. health care system , ranging from the level of supplies , to staffing , to bed counts , WalletHub says .
During the coronavirus shutdown , “ the news often focuses on the medically vulnerable – people who risk the most serious symptoms if they contract the disease , such as the elderly or people with pre-existing medical conditions , ” WalletHub financial writer Adam McCann said .
“ However , two other at-risk populations are just as crucial to protect – those who lack adequate living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to weather the pandemic.
” To identify which states have the highest concentration of vulnerable people , WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 key metrics in three overall categories : medical vulnerability , housing vulnerability and financial vulnerability .
The data set ranges from the share of the population aged 65 and older to the share of the homeless population that is unsheltered and the share of the entire population living in poverty .
To identify which states have the best health infrastructure , WalletHub compared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The data set ranges from the state ’ s Public Health Emergency Preparedness funding per capita to the share of the population that is uninsured and the number of hospital beds per capita .
States with the least vulnerable populations , according to the analysis , are Wisconsin , Wyoming , Connecticut , Iowa , Montana , Vermont , Massachusetts , Minnesota , Colorado and Utah .
States with the worst health care infrastructure are Indiana , New Jersey , Rhode Island , New Hampshire , Arizona , Michigan , New York , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the findings , California has the highest share of the homeless population that is unsheltered ( 71 percent ) , about 33 times greater than those living in North Dakota , which has the lowest share of homeless at 2 percent .
Texas has the highest share of the population that is uninsured at 17 percent , which is six times higher than the uninsured rate in Massachusetts , the lowest in the U.S. of 2.8 percent .
North Carolina has the lowest unemployment recipiency rate of 9 percent , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s , which has the highest in the U.S. of 57 percent .
New York has the lowest Public Health Emergency Preparedness funding per capita of 95 cents .
Vermont has the highest public hospital system quality , whereas New Jersey has the lowest , according to the reports .
Alaska has the highest public healthcare spending per capita of $ 281 per person , compared to Nevada , which has the lowest spending per capita of $ 46 per person .
Bethany Blankley is a contributor to The Center Square .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by the National Guard .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Emily Hackett Releases Heartfelt ‘Handle’

NASHVILLE , Tennessee – I first interviewed Emily Hackett in October 2018 when she was featured in my Music Spotlight column .
There has been a lot of shifts in the music world since then and we were able to talk about how that is affecting her/the industry .
As mentioned in my column , in 2018 Hackett released her EP By the Sun , and in 2019 she released its counterpart By the Moon which landed her as one of CMT Next Women of Country for 2019 .
I wanted to know about the challenges of being a singer/songwriter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ I ’ ve always had a tough time writing when I am not too inspired .
I pull my inspiration from things going on in my life .
It felt like my well had gone a little bit dry .
So even when it is on the calendar and I have to push myself to write I often come out thinking , ‘ Thank God I did that.
’ Writing songs is very therapeutic.
” However , the way people get their music today has changed drastically in the past few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ device seems archaic compared to the now popular streaming .
The genre-blending songstress explained , “ It certainly makes it more challenging to be heard , but what is beautiful about it is people who thought they maybe could have never gotten their music out can fulfill their dreams .
If you have the time and work ethic to figure out how to make a track sound good , why shouldn ’ t you be able to put out a song next to someone who recorded in a studio/had a record label behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CD ’ s and records , making money in the modern music industry can be tricky .
Hackett said she has been fortunate enough to have a handful of songs to do well enough to provide for herself and funnel money back into creating new music .
Her single “ Easy ” is currently in rotation at Nashville ’ s Lightning 100 , which is a huge accomplishment given the ongoing struggle for women in country music to receive radio play .
The singer said genres are a thing of the past because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ types of music “ I really listen to all of it , ” she said .
“ It affects my music and what I create .
It makes me a versatile writer and comfortable with putting out whatever I want without being worried about whether not it fits into a box .
I just want my songs to be heard.
” Earlier this year , Hackett released , “ My Version of a Love Song ” with a video comprised of home footage and photos of the artist and her husband to describe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yet even more personal than that is her newest release , “ Handle.
” The song was inspired after a night with her husband where she admits she “ lost it.
” His reaction was no reaction which was the best way to diffuse the situation .
It was then that Hackett realized she had an apology to make .
How he treated her was “ very humbling , ” she said .
“ I can be hard to handle .
This song was that kind of magic that happens in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart and needed to come out , plain & simple .
I wanted to keep it soft and gentle in and the moment , ” the Cleveland-native said .
“ It ’ s the best apology I ’ ve ever made.
” The lyrics of both songs are reminiscent of the raw honesty often found in a Taylor Swift song .
But vocal sensibility and the spirit of life found within the words make Hackett our modern-day Emmylou Harris .
And we need so much more of that in our world right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Youtube , Facebook , Twitter , Spotify , and Apple Music .
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer .
You can follow her blog , Bethany Writes , Instagram and Twitter .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Genealogy Detective: Michael Patrick Leahy Digs Deep into the Ancestry of Dr. Carol M. Swain

Live from Music Row Thursday 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 former Vanderbilt professor Dr. Carol Swain to the studio .
During this segment , Leahy puts on his genealogy hat and looks into Swain ’ s family tree .
Leahy : When you were here last time Carol we had an interesting conversation .
As you know I ’ m a genealogy buff and I have an offer for you .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segment .
Leahy : So Carol , we ’ re going to talk a little bit about your family .
And you ’ ve mentioned that there is a family legend that you are a descendant of possibly… Swain : Well , let me clarify .
Swain : On one side of my family there is an ancestor who is Thomas Jefferson .
And on that side of the family , there is a rumor that we might be related to Thomas Jefferson .
Leahy : To thee Thomas Jefferson .
So putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relaxation other people do puzzles , I do genealogy .
Go figure .
But I find it very interesting .
So you were the very first person on our program that I ’ ve offered this little detective work to .
Swain : I ’ d like to say to the listeners that I did not give Michael Patrick Leahy any information and he was able to dig up a lot of facts .
Leahy : Yes .
A lot of facts .
This is basically out there .
All I do is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to apply certain rules of logic and do a little research .
Swain : I didn ’ t give you my maiden name .
Leahy : You did not .
I found out what that is .
( Swain chuckles ) It ’ s out there in public records .
And so we found your maiden name .
So we ’ ll take this story to your great great grandmother .
We know that you descend from a woman by the name of Edith Dicey Jefferson who was born in 1836 and died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Virginia .
That ’ s in the western part of it right on the border with West Virginia .
And then she died in Rockbridge County which is just south of it .
Swain : That ’ s where my grandmother was born .
Leahy : Yes .
Exactly .
And here ’ s where the story begins .
So we know her name Edith Dicey Jefferson was her maiden name .
We know from census records she was born in 1836 .
We know from the records from the Bureau of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1866 document that she married in 1864 your great-great-grandfather Harry Green Kier .
So we know that happened .
We know she was born in Bath County .
Leahy : They pronounced it Kye-Er .
Thank you .
But we know she was born in Bath County .
Now Bath County today has about 4,000 people .
In 1840 when she would have appeared in a census on the slave schedule it had about 4,000 people .
So very small .
Very small .
So here ’ s the rest of the story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now was she a slave because on that side of the family… Leahy : She was a slave .
And we ’ ll tell you a little bit about that .
And we know that because she appears in the Bureau of Freedmen ’ s records .
Swain : Already the old history is wrong because on that side of the family they say that they hail from a long line of free blacks .
Leahy : They may have been on one of the other sides of your family .
But this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedman record .
There ’ s a record of 1866 of your great-great-grandmother and great great grandfather .
But here , is the rest of the story as they say .
When she died in 1921 in Rockbridge County they list the name of the father and the mother .
Her mother ’ s name was Harriot Jefferson from Bath County and her father ’ s name was Thomas Jefferson .
But we both looked at this record and we were trying to figure out where was this place .
And we realized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know .
So they don ’ t know where Thomas Jefferson came from .
But here ’ s the rest of the story .
Bath County , this is where the detective stuff comes in .
Bath County , very small .
In 1850 in the census there was a census of slaves .
So that would say who the owner is .
Then the gender and age of the slaves that they owned .
So ok , we know that Edith Dicey Jefferson was born in Bath County as well as Harry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great grandparents .
They got married .
Well , they were in Bath County and they were slaves .
We know that .
So there are only 12 pages and about 50 families in the 1850 census of slave schedules .
And if you look in that we can find out and I can pretty much tell you where I think your great-great-grandfather Harry Green Kier and his father and mother were .
Where they were slaves .
Because you look at the ages .
And so we know that his father was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1810 .
Moses and Sally .
Harry was born in 1839 and had a brother who was born in either 1840 or 1838 .
And another set of twins born in 1845 .
So if you go to Bath County and you look at the 50 families that owned slaves you will see there is one family that owned a male slave age 45 .
A female slave age 40 .
And then male slaves ages 10 and 11 .
And then two male slaves age five .
Dr. Thomas Goode .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ great great grandfather .
And he was a proprietor of what was called Virginia Hot Springs which today is known as…The Homestead .
Leahy : So how about that .
His descendants sold it to JP Morgan in the 1880s .
And now it ’ s a big big resort owned by Omni .
Now , what we don ’ t know , who was the Thomas Jefferson who was the father of your great great grandmother , Edith Dicey Jefferson ?
There are a couple of options .
Could be the nephew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a younger brother who had a son named Thomas who lived in Charlottesville .
That ’ s one .
It could be a white guy .
It could be possible that there is a Thomas born to some records was born on Montecillo born to Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings a slave according to some records .
But not really backed by a lot .
Could have been that person .
Not even sure that a person existed .
Or it could have been a slave that worked at Monticello or elsewhere in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jefferson .
Swain : Now , why do you say you ’ re not sure that person existed ?
Leahy : Because if you look at the records , some records say that there was a Thomas son of Sally and Thomas Jefferson .
Many records say not .
We have to do more research on it .
But there you go .
We know for a fact Carol , by documentary evidence that you are a descendent of a Thomas Jefferson .
( Swain laughs ) Leahy : So there you go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of that segment again here .
Leahy : So anyways Carol that ’ s our first episode of that and it will be a regular feature .
As time goes on .
Swain : I like it better than the Bless Your Heart series .
Leahy : Do you ?
Well , we ’ re trying to make it funny .
Swain : Maybe because this one is about me .
( Laughs ) Leahy : It ’ s about me .
It ’ s about you .
Leahy : No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re going to resurrect the Bless Your Heart segment .
It got kind of sidetracked from this coronavirus stuff .
What about you ?
Swain : I am too .
And when it goes back to blacks and slaves , all of us in America pretty much have Caucasian ancestors .
My grandfather could pass for white .
Leahy : That ’ s interesting .
Way back I have one ancestor who was my only French-Huguenot ancestor in 1790 Captain Andres Bavier owned one black slave in New York back in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one I kind find in my heritage .
Swain : He was probably a household slave .
Listen to the second 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--2020-05-29--Bill Prohibiting the Governor from Using Law Enforcement to Enforce Unconstitutional Executive Order

Bill Prohibiting the Governor from Using Law Enforcement to Enforce Unconstitutional Executive Orders Advances in Tennessee House

A bill that would prohibit a governor of Tennessee from using law enforcement to enforce executive orders that violate constitutional rights advanced in the House State Committee Wednesday .
While the bill will serve to address elements of fascism that could be used in conjunction with executive orders such as those issued for the sake of containing the spread of COVID-19 , the eloquent and passionate presentation of the bill by its sponsor Bud Hulsey ( R-Kingsport ) also serves as a straightforward explanation of what happened over the past two months as well as a lesson in constitutional principles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjournment on March 19 until June , Hulsey ’ s HB2291 would have amended a portion of the Tennessee Code dealing with the investigations of police officers .
Returning to committee meetings the week of May 25 in preparation for session the week of June 1 , Hulsey offered a different amendment to deal with the more contemporary issues related to the handling of COVID-19 .
Before explaining the specifics of the amendment that makes the bill , Hulsey said he would have to preface it with some remarks about his perspective on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last two and a half months in the state .
“ I think we have put our Governor in a terrible , terrible , terrible position because the legislature who defined these rails , ” said Hulsey as he demonstrated the rails with both his hands , “ and set up the system for the governor to operate in.
” Hulsey ’ s assessment of that system , “ I think we ’ ve done him wrong.
” Using a familiar reference to create a picture for the committee , Hulsey told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the governor , ‘ We in the legislative branch , governor , this is what you ’ re going to do and this is how you do it .
All you ’ ve got to do is say the word emergency three times and click your heels together and we here in the legislature are going to take a magic wand and we ’ re going to wave it over your head and we ’ re going to endow you with the power to make law.
’ ” Making matters worse , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said to the governor , “ And , if you need the judicial branch to back you up , that ’ s okay , we don ’ t mind.
’ ” Hulsey summarized those scenarios , “ Now you ’ ve got the two branches of government that ’ s not supposed to be making law , making law.
’ ” Further elaborating , Hulsey went on to offer a description of events in his straightforward way .
Then we said to the governor , ‘ This is what we want you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segregate all the people and the businesses in this state into two piles .
One pile we ’ ll call useful people with useful businesses the other pile are for useless people and useless businesses .
Now , dear Lord , don ’ t call it that , governor .
Use a benign word like essential and non-essential .
And , then when you get them separated governor , this is what you what you need to do next .
You need to ensure that the useful people with useful businesses maintain most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can go about the way they need to go and do what they want to do and go to work and make a living .
If they have a useful business that ’ s big enough , you can peacefully assemble a hundred , two hundred , three hundred people in there at one time .
It ’ s no problem .
But , the useless folks with the useless business , we want you to suspend their constitutional protection and that way you can say to them , you shut your door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you stay there until we tell you [ that ] you can come out .
And the only time we ’ re going to tell you to come out is if you want to go do business and spend your money at a useful business .
The rest of the time , you stay at the house.
’ About those useless people without a useful job and needed assistance , Hulsey said , “ Draw your check.
” In light of the much-publicized delays the state Department of Labor has had in responding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hulsey added , “ Oh , that check thing , it may be two or three months .
The computer system is really backed up .
Suck it up .
It ’ s for your own good.
” For the useful folks and useful businesses , Hulsey says their constitutional protections were retained so “ We can ’ t harass them with the police.
” On the other hand , if the useless business and useless people get out of line – using the example of 11 showing up at a prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police come to the door and say , “ You conform and do what you ’ re told , or you ’ ll go to jail for 11 months and 29 days.
” He then asked , rhetorically , “ How the heck did we get here ?
” In a teaching moment as a retired law enforcement officer , Hulsey then said to his fellow House State Committee members while wagging his finger , “ Now , listen , any time you use police power to enforce an executive fiat or decree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this constitution does not recognize and it does not tolerate.
” After a brief but dramatic pause , Hulsey explained that his amendment “ doesn ’ t fix all this mess that we created for the governor , ” but admitted that it does need to be fixed so that the governor is never put in “ that mess ” again .
What the amendment does do , advised Hulsey , “ It strips out the fascism out of the three most egregious constitutional areas.
” Very simply , the bill states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive officer of a local government shall not require a law enforcement agency or an officer thereof to enforce a provision of an executive order : ( 1 ) Requiring a private business entity to close ; ( 2 ) Restricting the freedom to assemble peaceably ; or ( 3 ) Restricting the freedom to travel.
” Hulsey explained the bill this way : “ It says you can not use law enforcement to enforce an edict out of the executive branch that denies people the ability to assemble peaceably , that gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and earn a living and allows them to move around this state freely without the government infringing on them.
” When Nashville Democrat Representative Harold Love , Jr. questioned Hulsey as to who would enforce executive orders , the bill sponsor responded , “ There ’ s four hurdles you have to get over if you say we have to suspend the constitution because we have a virus.
” Representative Hulsey went on to explain , Here ’ s the first one .
You can ’ t tell Tennessee people , look folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Tennessee ’ s Constitution is the law of the land … well kind of .
Until you have a virus and somebody dies .
You can ’ t say that .
Here ’ s the second huge hurdle that you need to get over and that says I don ’ t think it ’ s constitutionally legal for the legislative branch in the state of Tennessee to cede to the governor the power to make law .
I don ’ t think we have a right constitutionally to do it .
Clarence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The third big huge hurdle is what all the framers said and they believe .
If you go read what they said , my , the men who signed the declaration did not say we pledge our lives , our fortunes and our sacred honor … for public health .
They never said that .
They said for liberty .
Patrick Henry didn ’ t jump up and say give me health or give me death .
The Revolutionary War wasn ’ t fought over King George depriving us of health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is all bound up in liberty and freedom .
So you have to get over that hurdle .
And , I ’ m getting to your question , but I have to preface it with this .
The fourth hurdle that you ’ ve got to get over is if you say we ’ ve got to suspend the constitution but we have a virus and people die .
Then , you have to say the greatest American value , the greatest American virtue is health and safety .
That ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the greatest American value is what it ’ s always been , and that ’ s liberty and freedom .
To more directly answer Love ’ s question , Hulsey said that Tennessee people are not stupid and that if they were told that they could die from the virus and there were certain things they should do if they don ’ t want to die , they will do it .
“ I don ’ t think you have to violate the constitution and suspend constitutional principles to get Tennesseans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Representatives Bill Beck and Jason Powell , also Nashville Democrats , expressed concerns about the inability of the governor to issue executive orders and use police powers to limit the movement of Tennesseans for things like curfews .
Nashville/Davidson County is one of six that have their own health department and operated under different executive orders than that of the other 89 in the state .
Nashville ’ s restrictions were greater than the rest of the state and also started the reopening process later .
While there was a back-and-forth dialogue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these issues , he mainly maintained his position that police can not be used relative to enforcement of the three constitutional issues .
Representative Johnny Shaw ( D-Bolivar ) offered a perspective about the religious community , because of the example of a Wednesday night prayer service .
He made the point that church is totally separate and different from government , and that people don ’ t “ go to church , ” because church is within an individual .
Rather , pointed out Shaw , people go to a house of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Shaw made it clear that his congregation didn ’ t stay home because of anything the governor said or what the legislative body did , but because 65 percent of the congregation have underlying issues .
He concluded , “ They have nothing whatsoever to do with the church.
” Majority Assistant Floor Leader Chris Todd ( R-Madison County ) applauded Hulsey for the bill and the clarity with which he brought it .
He said he had the same concern that too much had been put on the shoulders of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoulders of the legislature .
Todd said that he doesn ’ t believe it ’ s in the constitution that the governor bear this alone and that it ’ s not on law enforcement to start interpreting what the constitution says versus the laws that are on the books .
Saying he wouldn ’ t be nearly as eloquent , Representative Justin Lafferty ( R-Knoxville ) told Hulsey he would “ give it a ride ” as he applauded what the bill sponsor is working toward .
“ Our country was founded on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are dangers inherent in freedom and liberty .
We decided very long ago to make that trade .
We will take our chances , as long as we can live our lives and be free and control our own destiny our own futures.
” Lafferty says that things have expanded beyond the current issue .
“ It ’ s becoming a bigger issue in our society as a whole as we continue to cede more and more power to more and more agencies , more and more groups , more and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressing appreciation for Hulsey setting the stage for him to make his comments , Lafferty reflected , “ Perhaps in a hundred years , we might look back and see that this is a question of our age that we had to address.
” On a voice vote , HB2291 advanced to the House Calendar & Rules Committee to be scheduled for a floor vote .
The companion Senate bill , SB2368 is sponsored by Senator Mark Pody ( R-Lebanon ) and has been placed on the calendar of the Senate Judiciary Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m .
However , SB2368 appears on Calendar 2 of the Senate Judiciary Committee , as opposed to the calendar for “ COVID-19 , Time Sensitive or Budget Related ” bills .
The video of the House State Committee can be viewed here .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .
Background Photo “ Tennessee House Floor ” by Ichabod .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Justice Department Says George Floyd Investigation ‘Top Priority,’ Trump Briefed

The U.S. Department of Justice promised a “ robust criminal investigation ” into the death of George Floyd in a statement released Thursday .
A joint statement from the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the District of Minnesota , the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division , and the FBI ’ s Minneapolis Field Office said the investigation into the fatal Monday night incident is “ a top priority.
” “ The Department of Justice has made the investigation a top priority and has assigned experienced prosecutors and FBI criminal investigators to the matter , ” said the statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the actions by the involved former Minneapolis Police Department officers violated federal law .
It is a violation of federal law for an individual acting under color of law to willfully deprive another person of any right protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States , ” it continued .
If it is determined that there has been a violation of federal law , criminal charges will be sought , the statement noted .
President Donald Trump was briefed on the matter Thursday by Attorney General Bill Barr and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction left portions of Minneapolis in ruins .
“ At my request , the FBI and the Department of Justice are already well into an investigation as to the very sad and tragic death in Minnesota of George Floyd , ” the president said on Twitter Wednesday .
“ I have asked for this investigation to be expedited and greatly appreciate all of the work done by local law enforcement.
” “ My heart goes out to George ’ s family and friends .
Justice will be served !
” Trump added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News Thursday that the president “ was very upset by that tape , ” referring to video of a Minneapolis police officer pressing his knee into the neck of a handcuffed Floyd .
“ That was an egregious , egregious thing to watch .
It was hard to watch , ” she said .
“ He ’ s directed the FBI to get to the bottom of this because we should never , ever , ever have to watch a tape like that again .
It was appalling.
” Anthony Gockowski is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ George Floyd ” by Fibonacci Blue .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Minnesota Sees Another 28,615 People File for Unemployment

Minnesota ’ s unemployment numbers continue to tick slightly upward , according to U.S. Department of Labor numbers released Thursday morning .
The state added another 28,615 to its unemployment ranks in the week ending May 23 , down only 278 claims from the previous week ’ s 28,893 claims .
The total number of claims reported last week is 443,254 , up 5,564 from the prior week ’ s reported 427,690 unemployment claims .
States are gradually restarting their economies by letting some businesses – from gyms , retail shops and restaurants to hair and nail salons – reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these employers , including automakers , have recalled a portion of their laid-off employees , the number of people receiving unemployment benefits has fallen .
Nationally , another 2 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits , bringing the total for the past 10 weeks to more than 40 million .
Virginia had the biggest spike in claims with a 31 percent jump , and Washington state had the steepest drop with a 61 percent decline .
California , as is the norm for the most populous state , had the most claims at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Trump administration has predicted that the nation ’ s unemployment rate will top 20 percent when numbers are released June 5 , according to Politico .
After June , the expectation is that unemployment rates will begin to trend back toward historic norms as the economy begins to recover , Kevin Hassett told CNN .
Whether the U.S. economy will rebound quickly once restrictions are fully lifted remains to be seen .
“ The U.S. unemployment crisis will not stand in the way of a near-term economic recovery but is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Goldman Sachs wrote Tuesday .
“ Although the uncertainty is unusually large , we still see the U.S. unemployment rate around 8 % in late 2021 , well above the levels in most other advanced economies.
” Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ’ s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom News .
Photo “ Unemployment Office ” by Burt Lum .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Jason Lewis Calls for Curfew Amid Minneapolis Riots, Slams City Leaders for ‘Incompetence’

U.S. Senate candidate Jason Lewis called on Minneapolis leaders to institute a curfew in response to the ongoing riots that have left portions of the city in ruins .
“ For many decades now , with only a rare exception or two , Minneapolis and St. Paul have been governed by liberal Democrats .
The promise of a new day or the ‘ good life ’ has animated their political ascendancy but the reality is things have deteriorated to the breaking point we are now witnessing , ” Lewis said in a statement .
The former Republican congressman called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that must be corrected.
” “ Turning the local Auto Zone into a war zone does nothing to relieve the grief of George Floyd ’ s family .
Just the opposite , the best thing we can do to honor Mr. Floyd ’ s memory is an immediate return to order and a long-term commitment to restoring opportunity for everyone in our cities , ” said Lewis .
“ In the meantime , we can not allow our neighborhoods and their businesses to perish .
How sadly ironic that these elected officials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intent on a ‘ peacetime ’ stay-at-home curfew when now is the time they should be calling for one , ” he continued .
Gov .
Tim Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard Thursday afternoon as the chaos and destruction showed no signs of slowing down .
“ Race relations are worse than ever along with the crime rate .
Housing is out of reach , taxes are at record levels , and a substandard education , despite spending increases , is the norm for too many inner-city children , ” Lewis concluded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is politicizing a tragedy – check your own post on Twitter .
Besides , that happened long ago from leftist politicians , who should be running their cities , but instead have been blaming every conservative under the sun for decades of incompetence.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Minnesota Protester Talking Interacting With Police Officers ” by Fibonacci Blue .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Hennepin County Commissioners Call for ‘Immediate Arrest’ of All Officers in George Floyd Case

Two members of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners asked the county attorney Thursday to “ immediately arrest and press charges against the officers involved in the murder of George Floyd.
” All four officers involved in the tragic Monday night incident have been fired from the Minneapolis Police Department , including Derek Chauvin , the officer who was recorded pressing his knee into the neck of a handcuffed Floyd .
After a night of riots and destruction , Hennepin County Commissioners Angela Conley and Irene Fernando called for the immediate “ arrest ” of all four officers .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mr. Floyd ’ s final minutes and it is clear he was killed by Minneapolis police , ” the two said in a letter sent Thursday to Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Freeman .
“ The community response we are experiencing is directed both at the outrage of this specific killing and the oppressive systems that allowed it to happen.
” The commissioners went on to call “ policing in America ” a “ militarized and white-supremacist enterprise.
” “ We call on you , County Attorney Freeman , to set a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and respond to the needs of our shared constituents .
There were four officers involved in the murder of a black man on Memorial Day .
We expect you to charge them to the fullest extent of the law and to spare no efforts in obtaining guilty verdicts , ” the letter concludes .
The Hennepin County Attorney ’ s Office said in a statement that both the FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating the case .
“ At the end of the investigation , the findings will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecution .
We promise a thorough , expedited review consistent with our on-going commitment to justice .
Every person is entitled to fairness ; no person stands above the law , ” said the statement .
“ Our office will have no further comment until we announce our decision on prosecution.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Angela Conley and Irene Fernando ” by Irene Fernando .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Target Announces Temporary Closure of 24 Stores in Response to Minneapolis Riots

Target Corporation announced Thursday that it will temporarily close 24 stores throughout the Metro area in the wake of mass looting and rioting in Minneapolis .
Wednesday night ’ s riots in response to the death of George Floyd left one Target store in south Minneapolis completely demolished .
Rioters then made their way to a Target in St. Paul Thursday afternoon , smashing the windows of several police vehicles forming a barricade around the store .
With the help of state troopers , law enforcement officers were able to successfully prevent the instigators from ransacking another store .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd and the pain it is causing our community .
At this time , we have made the decision to close a number of our stores until further notice , ” Target said in a statement .
“ Our focus will remain on our team members ’ safety and helping our community heal.
” Stores that are currently closed include : Gov .
Tim Walz announced Thursday that he has activated the Minnesota National Guard to help respond to the evolving situation .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Target Destruction ” by Lorie Shaull .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-29--Whitmer Requests Extension to Continue Using National Guard for Coronavirus Response

Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer has submitted a letter Wednesday to President Trump requesting the authority to continue using the Michigan National Guard to help in coronavirus response and recovery through the end of July .
Whitmer originally asked the National Guard to assist with the state ’ s coronavirus response on March 18 .
Trump approved her request on March 30 .
The Michigan National Guard members have assisted the Federal Emergency Management Agency with taking inventory of equipment and supplies , distributed food and helped keep public spaces clean .
They also helped with mobile screening facilities for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorized for use through June 24 .
Whitmer is requesting to extend the authority to use the Michigan National Guard under a Title 32 status , which allows her to fully utilize the Michigan National Guard .
“ The Michigan National Guard has been instrumental in flattening the COVID-19 curve in Michigan by performing testing throughout the state , distributing Personal Protective Equipment , food , and medical supplies , providing warehousing support , disinfecting public spaces , and assisting the Department of Health and Human Services with testing , ” Whitmer said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m requesting an extension to continue utilizing the Michigan National Guard so we can safely reopen our economy while putting the health and well-being of all Michiganders first.
” Title 32 also allow Guard members to receive federal retirement and education benefits under the GI Bill .
Guards will not be able to receive benefits if the order expires on June 24 .
“ The Michigan National Guard is a crucial part of our emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic , and will remain vital to our ongoing recovery , ” Whitmer said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brave men and women serving in the National Guard receive the benefits they ’ re entitled to and have earned.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ]