thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--Early Vote Count Passes 2016 Total with 11 Days Until the Election

Over 50 million Americans have voted early with 11 days remaining until Election Day , far surpassing the 47 million early ballots cast in 2016 .
While nearly every state has begun early voting , Texas , California and Florida lead the way , with 6.3 million , 5.8 million and 4.2 million ballots cast in each state , according to the U.S .
Elections Project .
Early ballots have also overwhelmingly come from Democratic voters who have said that they are much more likely to vote early either by mail or in person than Republican voters , the data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report party registration data , over 50 % of ballots have come from registered Democrats , while 26.6 % have come from registered Republicans , according to the U.S .
Elections Project data .
The record vote totals reflect a remarkably energized electorate which is expected to shatter overall turnout records , forecasters say .
Of the over 50 million ballots cast , at least 23 million have come from the battleground states that are likely to decide the election , the data shows .
In Arizona , Georgia and North Carolina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tossup Senate races , the early vote totals amount to 44 percent , 56 percent and 57 percent of each state ’ s entire 2016 vote count , according to the project .
In states where ballots can be matched to an individual ’ s voter file , approximately 20 percent of the ballots cast came from someone who did not cast a ballot in their state four years ago , according to The Washington Post .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ I Voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--Crom Carmichael Dissects the LLC’s, Company’s, and Emails Associated with Hunter Biden Leading to Hi

Crom Carmichael Dissects the LLC’s, Company’s, and Emails Associated with Hunter Biden Leading to His Father

Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
During the third hour , Carmichael and Leahy discuss the LLC ’ s , company ’ s , and emails leaving money trails from Hunter Biden to Joe Biden .
Carmichael added that he felt that sorry for Hunter Biden as he interpreted the actions of a father taking advantage of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Senator Lindsey Graham .
He himself chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in who is in a very tight race in South Carolina .
Looks like it ’ s going to be the closest race in his career .
The other race of course the big race the presidential race had the debate last night .
Most analysts say that Donald Trump except for the mainstream media guys who apparently were watching some other debate , Carmichael : I think they were sitting with Jeffrey Toobin .
Carmichael : Maybe they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s very good .
( Laughter ) That was funny .
So here is the big question .
We have 11 days before the election .
We know that Donald Trump will be out campaigning three or four times a day in rallies in the key battleground States , Pennsylvania , Florida , Michigan , North Carolina , Wisconsin , Minnesota .
He ’ ll probably see a hundred thousand people a day at these rallies .
Carmichael : Yeah .
Who will be enthusiastic and go back and talk to many many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clips from a rally a couple of days ago in Gastonia , North Carolina .
Huge enthusiasm there .
Great crowds .
In contrast , the Obama ‘ Biden rally ’ in Philadelphia was like an empty drive-in theater .
Leahy : You know , it ’ s interesting Obama himself looks very frail .
He looks like he ’ s lost .
Three inches in height .
I mean when he dresses up in and just a shirt without a jacket , he looks almost emaciated .
Biden looked frail .
Fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : He didn ’ t look like he could lead the country .
and my guess is the next 11 days .
How many days will he be in his basement ?
Carmichael : Well , let ’ s remember it took him five days of rest to be able to stand up for an hour and a half .
Leahy : And he didn ’ t do that well energy-wise .
Carmichael : And it ’ ll probably take him five days to recover from having stood up for an hour and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some to get to the podium and back .
That may take two more days of recovery .
And so I think that the other problem that Biden has is if he does come out of his basement , they ’ ll ask him how much money the right the Chinese gave them .
Because they ’ ll be more they ’ ll be more facts .
They ’ ll be more actual evidence .
Irrefutable evidence that Hunter Biden did receive five million dollars from the Chinese .
And that that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a different entity to .
Leahy : To Signo Hawk Limited that this guy Bobilinski was the CEO .
Carmichael : Which was supposed to be a legitimate company .
can argue whether or not it ’ s legitimate or it ’ s a good public policy or whether or not there are problems with it for national security reasons .
But this is even different than this .
This is a crime .
Leahy : If you follow that money .
This was the testimony and the statement of who Belinsky .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sino Hawk ?
Yes , Sino for Chinese .
Yes , talk because that was the late Beau Biden ’ s favorite animal .
Yes , that ’ s what he said was the name of it .
his testimony was that Hunter Biden had five million dollars sent from this Chinese company wire transferred in August and it went to a separate Delaware-based limited liability company called Hunt West Three .
From there over the course of a year four point eight million dollars was transferred to an Awasco PC .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based in IA 2900 K Street , Washington , DC .
It ’ s in the Georgetown area .
It says apartment 507 .
And there is one person listed in the corporate accounts as the executive director and on the board .
His name is Robert Hunter Biden .
Well , it ’ s basically the lobbying entity that he used to move money .
Carmichael : And let me say this .
I ’ ve actually come to feel sorry for Hunter Biden .
His father is abusing him .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden and using his children and relatives to do it .
Carmichael : As a bag man .
I ’ m yeah and that ’ s what I believe drove him to drugs .
I believe that Joe Biden has destroyed Hunter Biden ’ s life all because Joe Biden needs to have more money .
Did you see the text where Hunter Biden was complaining that eight hundred fifty thousand dollars a year is not enough .
He needs more .
Well , the reason for that is that his dad gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are so Hunter got stuck with having to pay the income taxes .
And and and Joe Biden is one who gets the money under the table .
Leahy : That ’ s a very interesting angle .
That would be fraud , wouldn ’ t it ?
Carmichael : Of course , of course ?
Yeah .
I mean , it ’ s worse than just fraud .
It truly is a national security issue .
And the fact that Biden has lied about it and I ’ m talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he ’ s now lied about it beans that means that his presidency If he if somehow or another they were able to steal the election because I now do not think it ’ s conceivable that they can win it honestly .
It won ’ t be Russia Russia Russia .
It ’ ll be it ’ ll be China .
Leahy : China , China , China .
And they ’ ll be lots of documents to prove it .
Did you see the feeble effort to claim that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump just swatted that one down .
Carmichael : He had a bank account with his own money in it from 2013 to 2015 and close the account before he even ran for office .
Yeah , but there ’ s no allegation that the Chinese put money in that account .
And so so it ’ s just at me and there and the media ran with that story by the way , which they what you A did any research in they ’ d know it was a completely bogus story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here is the Smoking Gun .
Four-point eight billion dollars went from basically a Chinese company into into the bank account .
Carmichael : Which is very important .
Leahy : into the bank account of Awasco PC offices on K Street and Washington the sole officer and signature on the account apparently is Hunter Biden .
Where did that four point eight million dollars go ?
Carmichael : Well , even if it weren ’ t a Hunter Biden in the question is where did he go from Hunter Biden ?
Carmichael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think records would show that either large amounts of cash were taken out of the account by Hunter Biden and then he probably gave the cash to Daddy-o because we now see documents where Daddy-o gets half of everything .
Carmichael : These are emails so so you and I are not just sitting here pontificating on what we think might have happened .
There ’ s documentation to show it .
Leahy : So the FBI and the U.S. attorney can subpoena the bank records of Awasco PC .
And they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went .
Was it with big cash withdrawals ?
Where was it transfer ?
And how is that connected to Joe Biden ?
Carmichael : Yeah that may have been why he looks so feeble last night .
Well , look , he said categorically I never got any foreign money , right ?
What does that mean ?
If Awasco PC took that 4.8 million dollars the company controlled with Hunter Biden as its authorized signature on that account .
If a Wasco PC paid another company that Joe Biden has some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t Chinese money ?
Give me a break .
That ’ s money laundering 101 .
Carmichael : That ’ s right .
Now you get into money laundering because it ’ s what was the original source of the money ?
And the original source of the money apparently is that is the energy company that ’ s controlled by the Communist Chinese Party .
And by the way , there was that other email or Whatsapp or what it was that showed that they weren ’ t interested in ROI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : Well clearly they were .
Carmichael : We can say clearly they were and pontificate on it , but there ’ s actually evidence from the party saying they don ’ t care about whether or not they ’ re making money on this .
They just want the influence .
Leahy : And interestingly enough according to the reports by Peter Schweizer .
An excellent guy by the way .
He ’ s head of the Government Accountability Institute .
That 5 million that went first to the cutout Hunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an interest-free loan .
Hmm .
That puts huge pressure on Biden Hunter Biden and Joe Biden to do what the Chinese want if it ’ s a loan .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Hunter Biden ” by Burisma .
Background Photo “ Joe Biden Ukraine ” by U.S. Embassy Kyiv .

The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office now lists 24 individuals as collecting petitions in the campaign for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
There are 16 Republicans, four Democrats, and four Independents collecting qualifying petitions for the TN-5 race.
Candidates of all parties have until noon on April 7 to turn in their qualifying petitions, a deadline which is fast approaching. Candidates must collect 25 valid signatures from registered voters in the district. Those seeking the Republican nomination must be verified as bona fide Republicans by the Tennessee Republican Party in order to appear on the GOP primary ballot.
Challenges have been filed against the bona fide Republican statuses of the three carpetbaggers in the race, Morgan Ortagus, David Vitalli, and Robby Starbuck. Action will occur on those challenges after the April 7 filing deadline.
On the Republican side, Morgan Ortagus, former Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell of Nashville, businessman Baxter Lee of Nashville, Robby Starbuck of Franklin (listed as Robert Starbuck Newsom), Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks of Nashville, Timothy Bruce Lee of Nashville, Annabelle Lee of Madison, Alan Clement Sharp of Nashville, David Vitalli of Brentwood, Stewart Parks of Nashville, Richie Lee of Nashville, General Kurt Winstead of Franklin, Tres Wittum of Nashville, Jeff Beierlein of Nashville, and Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles are listed as collecting petitions.
Former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada of Franklin is still listed as collecting petitions but he dropped out of the race and endorsed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in the GOP primary.
On the Democrat side, Clay Faircloth, Richard H. Harris, Justicia Rizzo, and Joel Michael Hurbert, all from Nashville, are collecting petitions.
Derrick Brantley of Nashville, Patrick O. Halfacre of Hohenwald, Daniel J. Cooper of Spring Hill, and Richard A. Shannon of Franklin are the independents collecting petitions.
The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office has been updating its list on a weekly basis. This list is current as of Friday, April 1.
Reports are expected to be available for the January 1 through March 31, 2022 Federal Election Commission campaign finance first-quarter period in the coming days. Those reports are expected to shed significant light on which candidates are considered viable. The bulk of the field entered the race after the December 31, 2021 reporting deadline.
The primaries are scheduled for August 4, 2022.
The newly-redrawn 5th Congressional District consists of parts of Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson counties, as well as all of Maury, Marshall, and Lewis counties.
– – –
Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected] Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, and Parler.
Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Andrew Can Huss.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--Bill Giving AG Increased Authority to Investigate Patterns of Misconduct by Police Signed into Law

Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill into law on Wednesday that gives the state attorney general additional powers to investigate unlawful patterns or practices by law enforcement officers and file civil action to stop the misconduct .
Introduced by Sen. Louise Lucas ( D-Portsmouth ) , Senate Bill ( SB ) 5024 was one of several bills approved by the governor this week .
In a statement published online , Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring said : “ Enabling the Office of the Attorney general to conduct ‘ pattern and practice ’ investigations will give my office the ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police misconduct and other unconstitutional policing practices.
” The Department of Justice ( DOJ ) normally handles these types of investigations , but Herring argued it ’ s important the state be allowed to do so because the DOJ has stopped performing those duties under President Trump .
Lucas said now that the bill has been adopted “ communities around Virginia will finally get the due process that they deserve.
” Specifically , the bill states that the attorney general can take action when he has reasonable cause to believe law enforcement officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deprives a person of their rights , privileges and immunities protected under state and federal law .
SB 5024 is just one of the bills the Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed during its lengthy special session dealing with police reforms .
Other pieces of legislation include : making it easier to decertify officers involved in wrongdoing , establishing minimum statewide training standards for law enforcement agencies , officers must intervene if they witness a colleague using excessive force , prohibiting roadside stops for smell of marijuana and other traffic offenses , banning the use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain situations and giving localities the option to create law enforcement civilian review boards .
These bills and other criminal justice measures have received a mix of positive and negative opinions from law enforcement agencies and associations .
“ [ The General Assembly ] tried to do a lot more than the session really allowed to happen because we didn ’ t get a chance to really take the time to make sure the [ different ] legislation doesn ’ t have any problems , ” Dana Schrad , Virginia Association of Chiefs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ We ’ re still finding problems with several of the bills .
“ We ’ re hoping to get some of these bills in a more appropriate position , that they are safe for the public , safe for law enforcement.
” Schrad said the VACP supports many of the issues police reform bills aim to solve such as decertification for officers engaged in misconduct , enhancing hiring standards , accreditation for all agencies and others .
She also mentioned lingering concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limiting traffic stops and the other having to do with the Senate ’ s omnibus reform bill .
“ The remaining area that needs to be fixed deals with no-knock search warrants because in an attempt to make the search warrant law more stringent , [ legislators ] have made it more dangerous for both officers and third parties , ” Schrad said .
Earlier this week , a group of Republican state senators discussed some of the policing reform bills on the John Fredericks Radio Show , largely repeating what conservative lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the special session .
“ I think with all of these law enforcement bills , these criminal justice reform bills that were passing and the messaging that we ’ re sending to our law enforcement , especially right now , we ’ ve seen what ’ s happened to them this summer , ” Sen. Jen Kiggans ( R-Virginia Beach ) said .
“ We relied on those guys ; those are the people we call .
They ’ re not the best-paid profession out there , but they do so much .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep our families safe , they keep our neighborhoods safe.
” The three state senators specifically harped on the civilian oversight body legislation .
“ It was a horrible bill , ” Sen. Bill DeSteph ( R-Virginia Beach ) said .
“ We have a police review board now in Virginia Beach that makes a recommendation to the chief of police .
What you ’ re doing is usurping the authority of the chief of police .
Not a smart thing .
You have a chief of police for a reason.
” Jacob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Background Photo “ Virginia Capitol ” by Martin Falbisoner .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--Steve Bannon Weighs in on Presidential Debate and the Tony Bobulinski Press Conference Ignored by th

Steve Bannon Weighs in on Presidential Debate and the Tony Bobulinski Press Conference Ignored by the Fake News Media

Live from Virginia Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed political strategist Steve Bannon to the show Fredericks : We are joined by Stephen K. Bannon who is the host of the most emphatic popular burgeoning exploding radio show in the history of radio all over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to tune him in on The John Frederick ’ s Radio Network 10 to noon Monday through Saturday .
It ’ s the hottest thing out there Steve Bannon great to have you .
Bannon : Hey , John .
Thanks for having me .
Fredericks : So Mr. Bob Bobulinski shows up at the debate last night , and I ’ m thinking to myself hmm .
This has Steve Bannon ’ s fingerprints all over it based on what you did in 2016 .
I remember getting a call from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clock at night .
So it ’ s like three or four to three years before the debate .
She calls me up and she says I know you I trust you .
Hey these guys at the campaign .
This guy Bannon calls me up .
He wants me to go to the debate I think was in Vegas or something .
I want to go to the debate and what should I do ?
Just go have fun .
So I kind of thought you might be behind that now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s say yeah , it ’ s complete hat tip to Jason Miller the former War Room Posse .
That ’ s at the campaign .
Jason Miller Greg and Steve Cortes .
Full hat tip to them .
I thought was absolutely brilliant and I thought the press conference beforehand was terrific .
I got a little different take on last night .
I would have liked President Trump to be a little tougher right ?
I thought that what he did last night was fantastic .
I do think Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have pressed him .
He took another attack which I think was fine .
And that looks like it turned out fine .
Now you get what we got 11 days .
You have to close hard .
You have to run hard .
You have to run like you ’ re behind .
It ’ s going to come down to it looks like five or six dtates .
They ’ re all within the margin of error .
So if you look at the real polling and you know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on with it .
No , I just think I would of liked the president to have been a little more aggressive last night because I think Biden gave him plenty of opportunities .
I thought Biden was absolutely terrible .
The President was more statesmanlike .
I just like it when the president is more aggressive .
Not being rude or cutting the guy off it just but just going in for the attack .
I think you got to press the corruption more and some other areas because that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some of the stuff he said was just crazy .
Like you know Hitler .
We were close to Hitler before .
Fredericks : Yeah , what was that about ?
We cut diplomatic ties .
Bannon : All during the 1930s , this is insane .
This is my point .
Biden is not fully with the program , right ?
He fades in and out .
you know he ’ ll cut the oil industry off .
The statements he makes have no basis in reality .
The one thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explaining what he ’ s done on the CCP virus .
But I think this comes down to basically lock down the country just like Fauci said .
If you vote for Biden on November third , the country still going to be locked down next September third .
And if you look at the disaster in New Jersey and New York in the tri-state areas .
We can ’ t do that .
New York is a ghost town .
Washington D.C. ’ s virtually a ghost town .
You can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to have a smart , you know targeted interventions .
I think the President , I would have liked to have seen him press more on the contrast between mitigating risk .
In an understanding of the virus and having therapeutics and vaccines and all that and opening the country like you have to .
To get on with life for as bad as this is .
As this thing is versus just you know , Biden ’ s listening to Fauci and is going to keep the country locked down .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ drives enough Independent voters or enough voters to say can ’ t even take this lockdown any more .
Because I ’ ve argued from the beginning his handling of the COVID virus I think is a positive .
And should be presented as a positive when you when looking at the alternative .
It ’ s a very imperfect world .
The other thing is that I wish you ’ d talked about is holding China accountable .
When you say it ’ s the China plague .
Okay , I got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do about it ?
He wasn ’ t overbearing and you know , he came across I think very reasoned .
You know , the one thing I don ’ t like when all the talking heads of CNN and MSNBC saying nice things about Trump that ’ s normally a sign that it is not working .
I wanted a knockout punch .
We didn ’ t get it .
But now this thing ’ s very set forward .
Biden will go back in his hole .
And this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason fighting ’ s not out there in these five critical days .
And think about it ever since the second stage of the revelations came out last Friday with The New York Post story on what ?
China .
Joe Biden ’ s virtually canceled his entire campaign .
He had one .
He had one viewing when he went out and took you to know , the other granddaughter that ’ s not you know associated with these allegations to go get a milkshake .
And of course , the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did you get ?
They weren ’ t you know throwing questions at him .
So this , you know the scandals of Biden and the financial scandals of which remember , he didn ’ t refute him .
He just says it ’ s Russian disinformation .
That ’ s simply a stone-cold lie .
And will open the show with this .
Jake Tapper went to a complete meltdown right about how negative Bannon is and you know how Bannon out of his townhouse is starting all this up and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s absolutely no evidence .
Well , we would like to have Jake Tapper look at the evidence and then say that .
So I think the reality here is you have to drive Biden ’ s negatives up .
You up you just have to .
and you ’ ve got 12 days to do it .
I think it ’ s quite easy to drive Biden ’ s negatives up since nobody ’ s ever focused on them .
I think you can drive Biden ’ s negatives up and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I think you drove up and states that matter .
This is going to come down to a lot of focus on Pennsylvania , Florida , Arizona , and North Carolina .
I think those would be the four that are most in people ’ s minds .
If we lock in what we did in 2016 and get Pennsylvania across the line he ’ ll get a second term .
Fredericks : Well Steve , let me ask you this and I want to get to the Bobulinski press conference yesterday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Says he ’ s authenticating the emails .
He has no ax to grind .
The only donations he ever gave was to Democrats .
The guy is a war veteran .
Has a news conference .
ABC , NBC , MSNBC .
Nobody covers it but Fox .
Nobody car3es .
Not a question about it last night .
Not a single fake news person asking this guy anything .
Nothing .
Like it didn ’ t exist .
How big is this ?
This is a guy that basically said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s his laptop .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--GOP Challenger Claims Omar Has Repeatedly Canceled Debates

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar ’ s Republican challenger claimed that the first-term congresswoman has repeatedly backed out of forums and debates , making her one of the only incumbents who hasn ’ t participated in a debate .
Republican Lacy Johnson called on Omar to agree to a debate before the Nov. 3 election in a statement issued this week .
“ Representative Omar ’ s entire time spent in Congress , in addition to her candidacy , has been plagued with scandal .
Recently questions have been raised surrounding her campaign engaging in criminal ballot harvesting operations , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s consulting firm , ” said Johnson .
“ The people of the Fifth District deserve a Representative who will show up to answer difficult questions about how we can improve the quality of life for our constituents , but Ilhan Omar refuses to show up when it matters most , ” he added .
The incumbents in every other congressional district have debated their opponents , with the exception of Rep. Betty McCollum , who has represented the Fourth District since 2001 .
Omar is the only first-term incumbent who hasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her general election challenger .
Sen. Tina Smith and Republican Senate candidate Jason Lewis have debated several times .
Johnson said Omar has “ failed to answer ” and “ purposefully ignored ” concerned voters in her district .
“ Congresswoman Omar , seemingly at every turn , has found ways to circumvent and take advantage of the imperfections of our judicial and electoral system , ” he said .
“ The congresswoman has made it clear that serving and answering to the people of our district is not a priority for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal gain and celebrity status .
I hope that members of the media will join me in asking Congresswoman Omar to show up for a debate to discuss the issues and priorities for the Fifth District.
” Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News .
He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform , and reported for The Daily Caller .
Photo “ Lacy Johnson ” by Lacy Johnson Facebook .
Background Photo “ U.S .
Capitol ” by Ron Cogswell CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--Virginia COVID Insights for October 23

Virginia COVID Insights for October 23

The Virginia Department of Health ( VDH ) reported Friday the following COVID numbers on their Daily Dashboard : Cases reported are different from cases listed by onset date – “ reported ” cases represent cases that can be gathered over an expansive time horizon – reaching back months .
Cases by onset date peaked on May 28 at 1,337 , then that climax was eclipsed on August 24 when the state logged 1,346 cases .
Total tests administered is 2,662,896 , of which 5.7 % have returned positive .
Total polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) tests given equals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test rate .
PCR tests are hailed as the gold standard in testing although their sensitivity has made them susceptible to picking up non-viable COVID fragments ( meaning the patient is neither infected , nor infectious ) .
Antigen tests , such as the BinaxNOW kit the federal government is supplying to states under an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA .
These tests can detect non-viable COVID as well as bacterial infections and other viruses .
The FDA requires the tests to be administered within seven days of onset , for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of collection and for accompaniment to go along with the test .
The current Virginia hospital capacity is as follows : Current ICU utilization in Virginia is 233 beds .
Across the state , 47 % of total ICU capacity remains – including surge units .
Hospital utilization for both confirmed cases ( 707 ) and pending cases ( 310 ) is 1,102 beds out of a total of 18,087 licensed hospital beds in the state – COVID utilization of 5.6 % .
The state has 2,728 ventilators and 616 of them are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statewide capacity remains .
COVID patients currently use 4.1 % of the available machines .
Hospitalizations peaked back in May when the seven-day average hit 1,573 .
Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at The Virginia Star and at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--Whitmer Signs Bills Protecting Workers, Giving Businesses COVID-19 Liability Protection, Changing Nu

Whitmer Signs Bills Protecting Workers, Giving Businesses COVID-19 Liability Protection, Changing Nursing Home Policy

Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer signed a packages of bipartisan bills into law Thursday .
In part , the bills aim to protect Michigan workers from COVID-19 and surprise medical billing for any treatment , as well as protect businesses from COVID-19 related lawsuits .
“ No Michigander should have to worry about going into work when they ’ re sick , especially during a global pandemic , ” Whitmer said in a statement .
“ These bipartisan bills ensure crucial protections for our workers and businesses who do their part to protect our families and frontline workers from the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more collaboration with the legislature where we can find common ground.
” HB 6030 creates a new law that establishes minimum requirements for COVID-19 exposure tort claims against businesses and protects businesses that follow federal , state and local COVID-19 safety precautions from COVID-19 liability lawsuits .
The bill also protects people from civil claims who designed or distributed personal protective equipment in response to COVID-19 .
HB 6031 amends the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act to remove COVID-19 liability from employers who adhere to all federal , state , and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at work .
HB 6032 prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who stays home because of COVID-19 exposure or symptoms .
The bill requires an employee exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms to stay home until various conditions are met .
HBs 4459–4460 and 4990–4991 protect consumers against surprise medical billing .
If a consumer is stuck with a bill for receiving care at an in-network hospital but sees an out-of-network doctor , that person ’ s insurance company will pay the doctor according to a specified formula .
“ Across our state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ academic facilities and the medical community have invested resources , time and energy in complying with public health requirements and operating in a safe manner , ” Wendy Block , vice president of business advocacy and member engagement for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce , said in a statement .
“ This legislation is good news for entities that have made these investments , and that continue to follow COVID-19 laws and regulations , allowing them to proceed with confidence and certainty , ” Block continued .
“ We applaud the governor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a controversial issue.
” The bills also provide for certain good-faith cost estimate disclosures in non-emergency situations , and limit an out-of-network provider ’ s ability to bill a patient directly for certain emergency costs .
Instead , the provider and the insurer will settle the disputed charge .
Other bills signed into law by the governor and related to the pandemic include : HB 6159 codifies protections for medical providers and facilities .
The bill will apply retroactively on or after March 29 , 2020 and before July 14 , 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ permits , licenses , and registrations issued by the Secretary of State until Dec. 11 .
SB 1094 requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services ( MDHHS ) and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs ( LARA ) to evaluate nursing homes ’ performance statewide during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The bill also orders DHHS and LARA to provide a statewide visitation policy for COVID-19 testing ; bars nursing homes from caring for COVID-19 patients unless the building cares for those patients in “ a designated area ; ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery facilities before Nov. 15 , 2020 .
Scott McClallen is a reporter for The Center Square .
Photo “ Gretchen Whitmer ” by Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy University of Michigan CC BY-ND 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--Henrico Parents Demand Kids Go Back to School

After polling parents and holding a public forum , the Henrico County School Board voted 4-1 Thursday for an optional plan to allow in-person learning .
The phased approach will allow Pre-K through 2nd grade students to return to school four days a week starting November 30 .
Grades 3-5 would return on December 7 , and older students will return in February .
At the forum Tuesday , Hungary Creek Middle School student Liam Sheldon said , “ In every year up to 8th grade , which is this year for me , my final grade on my report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My worst grade in any marking period was a ‘ B ’ .
I ’ m also in all advanced classes and am two levels above my grade level in math .
Does anyone want to guess what my math grade is now ?
If you guessed , ‘ A ’ or ‘ B ’ you ’ re wrong .
It ’ s an ‘ F ’ .
” “ It ’ s almost impossible to get good grades in virtual school , especially on quizzes or tests .
I find virtual school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours in front of a screen , ” Sheldon added .
In the survey , sent out between October 5-11 , parents responded to three models : one would offer in-person education four days a week , leaving Wednesday for deep cleaning ; the second would increase in-person learning to five days a week with shorter schedules , and the third would increase in-person learning to two days a week , with students being assigned either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday .
Model three was the most popular , with 49.6 percent of parents saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classes under the model .
Model one got 42.9 percent support from parents , and model two got 40.3 percent support from parents .
Teachers at the forum and in a separate survey expressed concerns about being forced to return to in-person classes .
School board member Kristi Kinsella was the only one to vote against the adoption of the expanded plan .
Kinsella said that the end of November and beginning of December was too soon to put elementary students back in schools .
Before voting in favor of the plan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she felt some conflict between her own idea of the best decision and the input of parents from her district .
“ I believe that what we are offering virtually is superior for most students to what we can offer in the building with the necessary health mitigation strategy .
However , I know that this is not true of all students , and I know it doesn ’ t reflect the majority of my constituents , ” she added .
Shea said that parents who opt to send their children to in-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behaves to mitigate risk of community spread of COVID-19 .
“ We know some of our students need to be in the building for instruction .
But as I ’ ve heard in my district this week , even the ones that are clamoring for parent choice are also the ones clamoring for teachers choice .
The only way that ’ s going to happen in a meaningful way is if parents consider for themselves , ‘ Is returning to the building a want or a need for my child ? '
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice to make as well.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--Virginia’s Second District Candidate Scott Taylor Talks Debate with Opponent Luria and Her Backfirin

Virginia’s Second District Candidate Scott Taylor Talks Debate with Opponent Luria and Her Backfiring Smear Ads

Live from Virginia Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Virginia House of Delegates member Scott Taylor to the show to discuss his debate against opponent and incumbent Elaine Luria Thursday night .
Fredericks : The John Fredericks Radio Network , good to have you with us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beach here in Virginia Beach .
We ’ re going to be leading a Trump rally tomorrow .
It ’ s going to start at 9:30 a.m at Virginia Beach Republican party headquarters on Virginia Beach Boulevard .
Scott Taylor will be there .
Kirk Cox will be there .
Please come out and support the president and the Republicans .
We need as many rallies as we can to get people fired up .
Joining me now live at the oceanfront Marriott is Scott Taylor who is running for Congress in Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanks for staying for another segment .
Taylor : John great to be with you .
You have a fantastic view .
I could see you setting up office here quite often .
Fredericks : Yeah you like it ?
Yeah it worked out , didn ’ t it ?
Yeah , because you know you get the off-season rate you know .
This is pretty good .
Got to spend a couple of days down here .
All right Scott Taylor we ’ re going to get the polls and all that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your debate yesterday the chamber of commerce debate that Anne and I came down .
My wife is a big fan of yours and I came down to see you .
So the first thing is I forgot to say this to everybody .
Chris Saxman was the moderator .
I thought Saxon did a fabulous job .
Taylor : I thought he did .
I thought he was tough and fair .
And he cut me off a couple of times , but he should have because I was I mean , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I thought he did a good job .
Fredericks : I thought you annihilated Elaine Luria in that debate .
I mean it was a combination of you were really good you had all the issues .
She was dreadful and she had no answers .
It was all like political double talk it .
There was one thing you pointed out she kept saying all these bills that she did .
And you ’ re like these are the same bills that go through every single .
Fredericks : The same language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it like you know 428 other people .
Taylor : Yeah sure .
Look I think you know she has a history now of claiming credit for things and embellishing and claiming credit that she didn ’ t do personally .
She was talking about the COLA allowance for VA disability which would be an example .
And she ’ s like oh well this is my bill I fought for it and wrote for it .
It is the exact same bill that passed twice each year when I was in Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill !
It ’ s the same thing .
She just put her name on it .
That is not the same thing as finding a problem and from inception writing a bill solving a problem getting things done as I ’ ve done with the Ashanti Alert Act or VA Accountability .
I think yesterday showed it was crystal clear why Elaine Luria tried to not debate at all .
And the only reason why she debated was that we had tremendous community pressure on her .
And then she tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closest to election day as possible .
Because she doesn ’ t have a lot of substance on the issues .
It ’ s a lot of rhetoric .
There ’ s no reality there .
There ’ s no accomplishment .
She ’ s absent .
And then of course you know she got called out for investing in China .
Think about this for second listeners out there .
A U.S. congresswoman invested in Chinese manufacturing .
Especially right now .
It ’ s insane .
Like she bet on China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that she finally admitted it , I mean we were all over of course the right to work she admits that she wants to repeal the right to work law in Virginia which is the cornerstone of our competitive business climate .
And furthermore , if you ’ re out there listening and you ’ re a worker , what that means is what it means is she would force you to give up the hard-earned money that you make to a union whether you agree with the union , with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her that send out nasty ads or not .
So not giving you the choice to join a union if you so choose .
Which I support .
But forcing you in a union and forcing you to give your money to a union whether you want to or not , to me that ’ s theft .
And trying to mandate it from the federal level it ’ s crazy .
Crazy .
Fredericks : Well that was her position and so you know repealing the right to work in Virginia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurts everything and it hurts our ability to attract new business and new jobs that come in .
When you pressed her on China you pressed her three times she had no answer .
Finally , her only rebuttal was well if you want to talk about finance .
Taylor : She ’ s like , you have a bankruptcy .
That is a lie and that ’ s verifiable .
I don ’ t have any bankruptcy at all .
Fredericks : You never claimed bankruptcy .
Never .
Not one time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know I mean Elaine Luria has this whole campaign and has just straight up lied about stuff and just attacked and had a nasty smear campaign in Virginia .
There ’ s a reason for that .
It ’ s because she ’ s ineffective .
She ’ s absent .
She ’ s unaccountable .
She doesn ’ t want to talk about her record or lack thereof .
So they just smear .
Period .
So my sister wrote something on Facebook .
Of course , my family is way more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People who care about you .
And she ’ s I mean my sister ’ s she ’ s a very sweet lady but she ’ s super tough .
Trust me I ’ ve seen her in action before .
And she ’ s like how can she just sit there and lie about you ?
How can how is she able to just do that ?
And you know the reality is and I ’ ve said this to a lot of people who ask the same question to me .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ like she does about me to a private citizen they would sue her for millions of dollars .
Millions of dollars .
But as you know John if you ’ re a public figure it ’ s a higher burden you can say whatever the hell you want you know ?
Fredericks : Right but I think some of the negative ads she has her backfiring .
And I was talking about it to somebody the other day who reminded me of this that she said it .
She was a female she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me of the last eight days of the Randy Forbes campaign .
Fredericks : Where you know they got a polling number they were in trouble so LaCivita launched this barrage of just negative ads .
And you know they had all the money to spend obviously and you ’ re now spent 15 to one .
And the person said the reason Taylor they won their highest by 10 instead of three or four is because they backfired .
It gets to the point of diminishing returns .
And she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had COVID and then you ’ re at a fundraiser and a couple of people don ’ t have masks on .
And you know I saw that and I ’ m like oh I don ’ t want to be with that guy .
I want to be by Taylor ’ s people that are having fun .
( Taylor laughs ) Taylor : They are all smiling and that guy is like whining .
Fredericks : That girl is smiling and that guy is whining and I ’ m like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Taylor : Totally .
And by the way that party you know that was when we won a lecture that was when we won the primary election like that ’ s you know what they ’ re talking about .
And everyone ’ s sitting at a table in a restaurant adhering to the governor ’ s executive order at the time which was in June .
So there ’ s like nothing that ’ s wrong there either .
And as you said like the video .
And this is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luria has done very poorly over this whole race with their negative ads is , a lot of times when you do a negative ad you like you make somebody look terrible .
But like the footage is actually good .
It makes us look good .
And that guy ’ s just sitting there whining .
Like who wants to hang out with that guy whining ?
( Fredericks laughs ) you know I mean the reality is and furthermore I ’ m the one who helped bring 200 tons of PPE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital .
So the same guy that ’ s whining in that video so that he didn ’ t give COVID to the first responders , they were wearing PPE that I helped supply .
( Laughs ) You know ?
Listen to the full show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--Overview of Virginia’s Highly Competitive 5th Congressional District Race

Two first time candidates Bob Good ( R ) and Cameron Webb ( D ) are hoping to fill the empty House of Representatives seat of Virginia ’ s 5th Congressional District , in what projects to be an extremely close and competitive race .
Good , who served on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors from 2015 to 2019 , became the Republican nominee after beating freshman U.S. Representative Denver Riggleman ( R-VA-05 ) in a GOP convention this past June , collecting almost 60 percent of votes .
Webb , who served as a White House fellow for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , became the Democratic nominee after handily beating three other newcomers in a primary election , receiving roughly 67 percent of votes .
Good has been endorsed by Trump , while Webb has been endorsed by Obama .
With 10 days remaining until Election Day , The Virginia Star caught up with both campaigns to discuss how the race has gone so far and other relevant topics .
As one might expect to hear in a tight election , the campaigns said the race has gone well up to this point .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tremendous job , he has done a great job , ” Chris Shores , general consultant for the Good campaign , said in an interview with The Star .
“ I think we have run a pretty good campaign , obviously you could always look back and say I wish I would have tweaked this or done that a little differently .
But , overall , I feel like we laid out a strong campaign plan and executed our strategy well.
” A Webb campaign spokesperson , who requested not to be named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The campaign has done really well , we have been hitting our targets and continuing on our path to victory .
This race was considered a likely Republican seat in the Spring , then a lean Republican seat in the summer and now it ’ s a toss-up.
” Despite the race being widely considered as extremely close , Webb has a clear advantage in terms of campaign finance having raised significantly more money than Good so far .
According to data from the Federal Election Commission ( FEC ) , Good has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s $ 4,661,020 .
Furthermore , the two candidates have received the vast majority of their election money from disbursements , according to the FEC .
When asked how confident the candidates and their campaigns were about winning the quickly-approaching election , the responses were similar .
“ I feel very good about [ our chances of winning ] .
I know what things are looking like on the ground .
The momentum is moving our way , [ but ] we ’ re clearly in a dog fight , ” Shores said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every vote.
” Webb ’ s campaign spokesperson said they are “ really confident ” in their ability to win and that not one single vote can be taken for granted in a race this close .
Currently , the Cook Political Report 2020 House race ratings considers Virginia ’ s 5th District as a Republican toss-up .
A poll published by the Global Strategy Group earlier this month gave Webb a two-point advantage over Good .
The poll surveyed 400 likely voters in the 5th District between October 4 and October 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ +/- 4.9 percent .
Virginia ’ s 5th District is the largest of the state , spanning from the southern border all the way to the Washington D.C. metro area and encompasses 18 counties .
Until November 3 when the winner will ultimately be decided , however , both Webb and Good will be continuing their efforts to secure votes , traveling throughout the district holding events and speaking with groups of citizens .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected ] Photo “ Bob Good ” by Bob Good .
Photo “ Cameron Webb ” by Cameron Webb .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--Staunton City Schools Latest to Follow Growing Trend of Creating ‘Equity Committees’

Staunton City Schools ( SCS ) is developing an equity committee to solve achievement and opportunity disparities between students .
The twenty members of the committee will focus on “ ensuring equitable practices ” within curriculum , teaching , student and parent experiences , school policies , and hiring .
Half of the committee will be comprised of individuals involved in the schools , with the other half from the surrounding communities .
Ruth Jones Turner ( pictured above ) , director of Strategic Planning & Partnerships , explained to The Virginia Star that the committee members wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objectives differ from affirmative action , Turner stated they didn ’ t overlap at all .
“ Not related .
Equity means providing every student with support and opportunities to be successful , based on each individual ’ s characteristics and needs .
Specifically , equity in education means working to remove barriers to educational success , particularly overcoming a historical legacy of discrimination , marginalization and lack of investment in students based on race , ethnicity , disability and socioeconomic status.
” Turner also explained that the SCS equity committee is strictly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superintendent .
“ Under the guidance of our expert partner , the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities , the committee will develop an equity plan that will be submitted to the superintendent for review .
He ’ ll then submit it to the school board for its review and approval.
” The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities initially formed in 1935 in response to anti-religious attitudes forming in the country .
Since then , the organization has expanded to prioritize racial , gender , and sexual equity .
Included in their resources is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Southern Poverty Law Center .
Applications for the committee close November 6th .
Selected members serve a term for one year , at which point they may be considered for reappointment by the school board .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Ruth Jones Turner ” by Ruth Jones Turner , “ Staunton Students ” by Staunton City Schools , and “ Staunton City Schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City Schools .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-24--TRUMPDATE: Latest from the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 24

Welcome to the Saturday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update !
We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 ( and after…if need be ! )
.
It ’ s officially 10 days until the election on November 3 – and seven days until early voting in Virginia closes .
President Trump met Democrat nominee Joe Biden on the debate stage at Belmont University in Nashville on Thursday night .
With new rules in place attempting to keep the debate moving and to attempt to limit interruption by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get quite as testy on stage between the two candidates , and moderator Kristen Welker did her job in keeping both Trump and Biden on topic and on time .
Aside from their brief greetings to one another just before the debate began , you hadn ’ t seen much in terms of civility between the two .
Obviously with the two major parties represented on the stage , they ’ re not going to agree on absolutely everything .
But one of the interesting moments that showed Trump and Biden somewhat together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus response was being discussed .
When talking about this topic , Trump did not blame Biden or himself for the coronavirus , but rather China .
It was a moment that stood out in a way , because there has been so much bickering and back and forth from both sides of the aisle about who ’ s ultimately responsible for what some view as the country ’ s poor response to the pandemic .
Some going as far as to blame Trump for the virus ’ arrival on American soil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed interactions as memorable moments from the final presidential debate , there hadn ’ t been much or any common ground found between Trump and Biden .
Clearly , both men want the COVID-19 pandemic to end and for people to return to their lives like they ’ ve known previously , but other than that neither men have been on the same page about what the best path forward for America is .
With just over a week until the polls close , the president remains on the campaign trail , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday to speak to leaders from Israel and Sudan to add the predominantly-Muslim African country to what is known as the Abraham Accord .
Trump will be in battleground states this weekend , speaking to thousands at MAGA rallies .
Trump will make remarks at an event in North Carolina today before speaking at rallies in Ohio and Wisconsin .
Air Force One will touch down on the tarmac at an airport in New Hampshire on Sunday , where the president will address another rally of supporters in another key battleground state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dickinson , candidate for Richmond City Council will be leading a Trump train parade from just outside the city , into Dickinson ’ s district .
Participants are asked to gather in the parking lot of Mission BBQ ( 5432 Glenside Drive , Richmond , VA 23228 ) .
The parade will begin at 1 p.m. Those participating are obviously encouraged to decorate their vehicles with Trump flags , American flags , and to make signs as the convoy will eventually end up in the city of Richmond in Dickinson ’ s district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there will be a get out the vote rally at the Virginia Beach GOP office ( 2955 Virginia Beach Blvd .
Suite 105 Virginia Beach , VA 23452 ) .
Those in attendance will hear from Republican candidate Scott Taylor , former speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Kirk Cox , and John Fredericks , chairman of the Trump Virginia delegation .
On Sunday at 3 p.m. , the Team Trump bus will arrive at a get out the vote event in Chesterfield .
Fredericks will be there , and voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rich Anderson , chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia , and from U.S .
Senator Rand Paul .
Check back every day for more Trump Virginia campaign updates !
If you want to join the volunteer team or if you need signs email Fredericks or Justin Rice .
To Donate to our Virginia campaign click here .
For more information , or to sign up to become a volunteer , click here .
The Trump Campaign in Virginia Needs Poll Watchers !
Don ’ t let them steal the election !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star .
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Memphis Bounty Hunter Felon Convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

A federal court in Memphis this week pronounced that an already-convicted felon , who is a bounty hunter , was guilty of possessing a firearm .
Per federal law , convicted felons may not have firearms .
This , according to a press release that officials with the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Western District of Tennessee published on their website .
U.S. attorneys announced the news about that man , Jeremy Fields , 35 , this week .
This was the second post-COVID-19 federal trial Memphis has held , the press release said .
“ According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 , 2019 , U.S .
Probation and Parole Officers conducted a home inspection at the residence of Jeremy Fields , a convicted felon , who was on supervised release for possessing a firearm and body armor in conjunction with his duties as a bounty hunter .
During the search , officers observed suspicious items in the home that led them to believe Fields was still engaged in the bounty hunting business .
They discovered a handgun in a case containing Fields ’ bounty hunter ID and badge , handcuffs , and two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Fields ’ bedroom , ” according to the press release .
“ Fields explained to the officers that the gun must belong to his brother ( friend ) Julian Williams , 36 .
When Williams arrived , he initially told officers nothing in the home belonged to him .
After some time on the scene , Williams mentioned he stayed with Fields previously and might have left a gun there some time ago .
At trial , Williams took the stand and told the jury that he did not know Fields was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left his gun under Fields ’ bed in the case without telling Fields it was there .
The jury rejected that defense , and found Fields guilty as charged in the indictment.
” Federal officials have scheduled Fields ’ sentencing for December 18 before U.S. District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays , where Fields faces a possible sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison followed by up to three years of supervised release .
There is no parole in the federal system , the press release said .
U.S. Attorney D. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that convicted felons who possess firearms “ are an inherent danger to the community.
” “ In this case , this offender stubbornly continued to possess a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history and his supervised probation status , ” Dunavant said .
“ Fields has demonstrated his refusal to accept responsibility for his criminal conduct , and , as a result of this guilty verdict , he will now face a significant consequence for his brazen recidivism.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email protected ]

One of the principles asserted by Governor Haslam in support of his IMPROVE Act and its proposed increase of 7 cents per gallon in the gas tax is that “users” of roads should pay for road construction.
The gas tax is proper, he argues, because people who purchase gas to fuel their cars are the users of roads, and the gas tax is the best mechanism to charge them for that usage.
For at least a decade, however, revenue sources originally designed to fund highway construction have been intermingled, and that “user” fee principle has not strictly been applied to the funding of road construction. The IMPROVE Act does not fully address the co-mingling of funds.
The Highway Fund receives road construction “user fee” revenues from gasoline tax, motor fuel tax, gasoline inspection tax, motor vehicle registration tax and the motor vehicle title fees. At least 25 percent of those road construction “user fees” go to the General Fund, Education and Debt Service.
Though the majority of these “user fee” revenues have been allocated to the Highway Fund, between 25 percent and 29 percent of those fees -ranging from $177 million to $196 million annually– have been diverted away from the Highway Fund between FY 2011-12 and FY 2017-18, as Table 1 below illustrates.
Table 1
Highway Fund ‘User Fees’ Allocated to Funds Other than the Highway Fund
FY 2011-12 to FY 2017-18
Fiscal Year Highway Fund”User Fees ” Directed to General Fund, Education & Debt Svc. As % of Highway Fund Total Sales & Use Tax Revenues Sales Tax $ to Highway Fund % Sales Tax to Highway Fund Data Source (Link to Document) Page of Data Source 2017-18 $187,100,000 26.2% $8,861,100,000 $22,600,000 0.26% Estimated 99 of 558 2016-17 $195,200,000 26.5% $8,564,100,000 $22,600,000 0.26% Revised Est. 98 of 558 2015-16 $189,572,000 26.2% $8,267,224,400 $22,625,400 0.27% Actual 97 of 558 2014-15 $177,611,900 25.1% $7,706,018,700 $38,165,000 0.50% Actual 97 of 550 2013-14 $196,234,300 28.9% $7,286,164,500 $53,797,600 0.74% Actual 97 of 542 2012-13 $194,365,000 28.4% $7,012,028,700 $60,902,800 0.87% Actual 97 of 545 2011-12 $193,243,800 28.2% $6,899,944,000 $64,574,000 0.94% Actual 111 of 656
The state of Tennessee budget documents detail the revenue sources and the basis of apportionment for those revenues. For every one of the “user fee” revenues, the Tennessee Code Annotated that directs funds away from the Highway Fund is cited.
There are also allocations to the Highway Fund, such as Gross Receipts Tax-Other and Beer Tax, that would otherwise be considered General Fund revenues, as the majority of those revenues are allocated to the General Fund. However, the increase of 25 to 29 percent to the Highway Fund is net the General Fund dollars.
In the upcoming 2017-18 budget year, the redistribution of “user fees” strictly to the Highway Fund would increase the Highway Fund by $187 million, and combined with the past six years would have added a total of $1.3 billion to the Highway Fund, all without a gas tax increase.
The co-mingling of funds goes both ways.
“Sales and Use Tax” revenues have been and continue to be allocated to the Highway Fund.
During Gov. Haslam’s administration, the percentage of state sales tax revenues allocated to the Highway Fund ranged between 0.26 and 0.94 percent. Essentially, the alternate “Hawk Plan,” named for Rep. David Hawk of Greenville, which allocates 0.25 percent of the sales tax revenues to the Highway Fund has been in effect for years to an even greater extent.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Commentary: Three Big Reasons Trump Will Be Reelected

There are lots of reasons President Trump is likely to be reelected – some are purely technical political campaign reasons and others are matters of policy preference for the majority of the electorate , but in our view the top three reasons Trump will be elected are centered on how Trump has branded the Democrats and how the Democrats have branded themselves .
And the third of those top three is that Democrats have branded themselves as opponents of American Exceptionalism and haters of the country they aspire to govern .
In 2014 Joe Biden told a Harvard class : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being an American.
” “ We ’ re not going to make America great again .
It was never that great , ” said leading Democrat , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo , and that sums up the attitude of most Democrats toward the country they aspire to govern .
If Democrats believe that then little wonder they want to fundamentally change or erase the traditions , laws , constitution and culture that built the greatest civilization the world has ever known .
And Joe Biden and Gov .
Cuomo are not alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , one of the leaders of the new generation of Far Left House Democrats declared the state of America is “ garbage.
” She later said in an Instagram video that “ the United States is running concentration camps on our southern border.
” Rep. Ilhan Omar , another member of Rep. Ocasio-Cortez ’ s “ squad ” of Anti-American Democrats claimed America was responsible for genocide , “ A true acknowledgment of historical crimes against humanity must include both the heinous genocides of the 20th century , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slave trade and Native American genocide , which took the lives of hundreds of millions of indigenous people in this country , ” Omar said .
Omar has also drawn a moral equivalence between the United States and Al Qaeda .
And of course there ’ s Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont who once told a group of ninth graders that the U.S. committed acts in Vietnam “ almost as bad as what Hitler did… ” None of this is lost on Americans outside the Washington Beltway and professional political class who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so good can be so mad at the country in which they live ?
As Republican Rep. Tom Emmer put it , “ My grandfather ’ s Democratic Party is officially dead… The socialist Democrats who now control the House have made it clear they are here to destroy the free America that we love.
” And this Anti-American message was heavily reinforced by the Democratic Party ’ s National Convention that was a four-day long recitation of grievances against America .
As the Washington Examiner ’ s Eddie Scarry observed , Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an entire political culture that worships grievance and victimhood above anything else .
The energy of the modern Democratic Party is mostly concentrated in the Black Lives Matter movement , said Mr. Scarry , a faction that is nothing if not a mass of people linked by grievance against America .
And it ’ s the same for every other special-interest group cobbled together to make up the party ’ s base , such as the transgender rights lobby , the # MeToo feminists , and on and on .
Radio talk show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted Democratic Party leaders push the narrative that blacks , Hispanics , gays , etc .
are victims , whether due “ inequality ” or “ sexism ” or “ racism ” or “ otherism.
” However , “ wokeism ” and grievance isn ’ t selling , even to Democrats .
Even though self-described Democrats who identify as liberal have doubled over the past dozen years , Gallup found last year that 54 percent of Democrats support a party that is “ more moderate ” while just 41 percent want one that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll after poll indicates that Americans are opposed to the kind of enforced political correctness that comes with the Democrats ’ politics of grievance – an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found fifty-two percent of Americans , including a majority of independents , said they are against the country becoming more politically correct and are upset that there are too many things people can ’ t say anymore .
And more importantly , a recent Hill-HarrisX poll found that 47 percent of Americans believe that speaking out against the U.S. is unpatriotic , while 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way of showing patriotism .
About a quarter — 24 percent — said they weren ’ t sure .
The bottom line : There are a lot of voters , very likely the winning margin of voters , who may not be in love with Donald Trump ’ s tweets , but they are in love with their country .
And when asked to choose whether America will remain America or become a grievance-driven socialist state , they are going to vote for Donald Trump to Keep American Great .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Trump Takes the Lead in Arizona in New Poll

Donald Trump took a small lead in Arizona according to a new survey by Susquehanna Polling and Research for the Center for American Greatness .
The phone survey of 500 likely voters conducted October 19-22 showed Trump with 46.6 percent and Biden with 46.2 percent support , with a 4.3 percent margin of error .
The poll also showed that Biden ’ s negatives in the states popped up to 49 percent .
In the same poll at the end of September they stood at 44 percent while his favorable rating declined to 39 percent .
There are others danger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When asked who they think will win the election regardless of who they prefer , just 37 % of respondents thought Biden would win and only 19 % think their neighbors are voting for Biden .
The other big news in the poll is that Senator Martha McSally took the lead over challenger Mark Kelly 50-47 .
McSally has struggled against Kelly this year and she has been widely seen as one of the most vulnerable Republican senators , owing more to her low energy campaign than to changes in Arizona voters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly 48-45 in late September .
Poll results can be seen here .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Student Sues After School Suspended Her for Wearing Pro-Trump Clothing

A Pennsylvania high school student who claims she was sent home for wearing pro-Trump clothing filed a lawsuit against her school district in Federal court on Tuesday , accusing the district of violating her free speech rights , PennLive reported .
On October 1 , the school district issued a new policy on clothing which banned students from wearing anything that contained political messaging .
The 15-year-old student , Morgan Earnest , who attends Mifflin County High School in Lewistown , claimed the policy violated her rights to free speech and due process of law under the Constitution .
Earnest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face covering and a ‘ Trump the Sequel Make Liberals Cry Again ’ t-shirt on October 12 when School administrators asked her to turn her mask and shirt inside out for the rest of the day .
When she refused , she was suspended and sent home , according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania .
“ The district ’ s representatives further communicated that she would be sent home if she ever wore a mask or T-shirt expressing a political viewpoint again , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s policy also banned clothing depicting Confederate flags , Black Lives Matter logos , and swastikas .
“ Starting Monday October 5 , 2020 , no masks , articles of clothing or other items may be worn or otherwise brought to Mifflin County School District property , which contain political speech or symbolize a particular political viewpoint , including but not limited to confederate flags and swastikas , as well as BLM logos or phrases associated with that movement , ” the policy read .
The sophomore claimed she wore the pro-Trump clothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasions this year .
Earnest is seeking unspecified damages , as well as a judge to nullify her suspension and prohibit district officials from enforcing the policy , PennLive.com reported .
Mifflin County School District Superintendent Jim Estep defended the school ’ s actions and disagreed with Earnest ’ s claims when reached for comment Thursday .
“ We strongly disagree with the allegations in the complaint , including the veracity of those allegations , ” Estep told the New York Post .
“ We stand by our decision , which was made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure students ’ educational environment would not continue to be disrupted.
” It ’ s not the first time a high school student has been disciplined for wearing pro-Trump clothing .
An Oregon high school student also sued his school district but wound up settling with his school , the Associated Press reported .
Under the settlement , his school district had to pay $ 25,000 in attorney ’ s fees and the principal had to write an apology to the student .
Catherine Smith reports for American Greatness .
Photo “ MAGA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Nigeria Says 51 Civilians, 18 Security Forces Dead in Unrest

LAGOS , Nigeria ( AP ) — At least 51 civilians have been killed in Nigeria ’ s unrest following days of peaceful protests over police abuses , the president said Friday , blaming “ hooliganism ” for the violence while asserting that security forces have used “ extreme restraint.
” President Muhammadu Buhari ’ s comments are expected to further inflame tensions in Africa ’ s most populous country after Amnesty International reported that soldiers shot and killed at least 12 demonstrators Tuesday night as a large crowd sang the national anthem .
The deaths sparked international condemnation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 policemen and seven soldiers had been killed by “ rioters ” as of Thursday , and “ the mayhem has not stopped.
” He said another 37 civilians were injured in some of Nigeria ’ s worst turmoil in years .
The president said the well-intentioned protests were hijacked by thugs .
But many Nigerians are upset by what the president hasn ’ t said .
Buhari in a national address Thursday night didn ’ t mention the shootings , instead warning protesters against “ undermining national security and law and order.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ will not fold its arms and allow miscreants and criminals continue to perpetrate acts of hooliganism.
” Resentment lingered with the smell of charred tires Friday in Nigeria ’ s relatively calm streets .
Soldiers remained in parts of Lagos , Nigeria ’ s largest city , as a 24-hour curfew remained in place .
A witness of Tuesday night ’ s shooting , 33-year-old Isaiah Abor , ventured out anyway to visit the scene where solders had opened fire .
He managed to escape the chaos .
“ When ( the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flag is not bulletproof , that ’ s when I knew this was going to go out of hand , ” Abor said .
Empty ammunition shells still littered the ground .
The president ’ s speech annoyed him .
“ The blood that stained a whole Nigerian flag , those youths were not even mentioned , ” Abor said .
He added : “ We are not cowards .
We will always come to this ground , and we will always feel for those that are gone.
” Another protester , Olatunde @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The speech killed our spirit.
” The president ’ s comments , “ devoid of sympathy , ” were worrying , said Okechukwu Nwanguma with the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Center .
Shielding those behind the shootings will only lead to abuses by the police and military , he said : “ If those who carried out the killings did so and nothing happens , it will encourage them and others to do the same thing next time.
” But citing the president ’ s comments , one influential group behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urged youth to stay at home , saying that “ we need to stay alive to pursue our dreams to build the future.
” Others disagreed .
If the protests have been hijacked , then Nigerian youth should not give up the struggle and instead should “ go back and re-strategize , ” said Seriki Muritala with the National Youth Parliament .
This week ’ s scenes have touched a chord with Black Lives Matter supporters in the United States , while the U.S. government has strongly condemned the “ use of excessive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unarmed demonstrators in Lagos , causing death and injury.
” The protests turned violent Wednesday after the military ’ s shooting as mobs vandalized and burned police stations , courthouses , TV stations and a hotel .
Police battled angry crowds with tear gas and gunfire .
The looting and gunfire continued Thursday .
The demonstrations began early this month with calls for Nigeria ’ s government to shut down the Special Anti-Robbery Squad , a police unit known as SARS .
The squad was launched to fight crime , but it carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amnesty International .
The # EndSARS campaign spread across the country and Buhari ’ s government announced that it would disband the SARS unit .
The protest persisted with demonstrators calling for more widespread reforms of the police and an end to corruption .
In one attempt at calming tensions , the Lagos state government on Friday shared a list of ongoing prosecution against police officers accused of human rights abuses .
“ Today seems like a good day to get on to the work of rebuilding Lagos and ending police brutality , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But an angry crowd shouted at him over the unrest as officials toured burned-out vehicles and the sacked palace of a Lagos ceremonial leader .
The leader , or oba , isn ’ t popular with some Nigerians who see him as a product of the country ’ s often corrupt politics .
Opulence and grinding poverty are in close contact in Lagos , a city of some 20 million , and the inequality sharpens Nigerians ’ grievances .
After touring the battered city , the governor told reporters he was “ very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in several parts of the city.
” He didn ’ t give details .
“ Enough is enough , ” he said .
“ We need to heal ourselves.
” He said the curfew would begin easing Saturday morning and a panel looking into the unrest would begin receiving petitions on Monday .
And yet nerves were frayed .
Near the scene of Tuesday ’ s shooting , police shouted , then fired into the air , to stop a convoy carrying the body of a Muslim who had died overnight ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After questioning by police , the mourners were allowed to continue , to go on and bury the dead .
Sam Olukoya and Lekan Oyekanmi are reporters for The Associated Press .
Bashir Adigun in Abuja , Nigeria contributed .
About the Headline Photo : Police officers stop and search a bus carrying passengers around Lekki toll gate in Lagos Friday , Oct. 23 , 2020 .
Resentment lingered with the smell of charred tires Friday as Nigeria ’ s streets were relatively calm after days of protests over police abuses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the military killing at least 12 peaceful demonstrators earlier this week .
( AP Photo/Sunday Alamba )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--Trio of Cities Take Trump to Court Over ‘Anarchist Jurisdictions’ Designation

Seattle , Portland , and New York City are suing President Donald Trump and his administration over legal actions that have put future federal funds on the line .
The joint lawsuit is in response to a memo issued by the Trump administration last month requesting U.S. Attorney General William Barr review a list of cities that could be considered hotbeds for civil unrest .
Seattle , Portland , and New York City were all finalists for what the U.S. Department of Justice ( DOJ ) dubbed a list of “ anarchist jurisdictions ” which Trump has suggested should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration specifically cited the creation of the former Capitol Hill Organized Protest Zone this summer as reason for Seattle ’ s place on the list of cities .
The zone saw several deadly shootings , one of which resulted in an ongoing $ 3 billion wrongful death suit from the father of a Seattle teen killed there .
The lawsuit claims that the DOJ ’ s “ oxymoronic ” designation is based on arbitrary factors with zero precedent in American jurisprudence .
The plaintiffs allege that the Trump administration ’ s actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers by revoking the “ power of the purse ” from Congress to fund local governments .
“ Our Constitution is also built on the principle of federalism , enshrined in the Tenth Amendment , reserving to the states and their localities the power to police their own streets , make their own public safety policy choices , and make determinations about the allocation of their public resources , ” the plaintiffs wrote in the lawsuit .
Local municipalities , the lawsuit continues , were given no “ reasonable and clear notice ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration prior to the DOJ ’ s investigation nor was there adequate due process .
Trump and Barr are named as defendants in the lawsuit along with Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and Federal Transit Administration Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams .
The cities further defended their policing efforts in the lawsuit , citing their initial round of curfews over the summer and heavy-handed crowd control tactics that have drawn criticism by activists and civil rights groups .
About 14 % of Seattle ’ s 2020 transportation budget is federally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its Human Services Department , according to city reports .
Seattle was awarded $ 177 million through a federal grant to manage its COVID-19 response .
About $ 19 million of that money goes to food assistance .
An August report from the King County Public Health Department found that at least 12 % of King County adults insufficient access to food in a state with one of the highest sales taxes in the country .
“ On top of the bungled federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic , the administration is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which could be used to help our residents during the pandemic in many important ways , ” Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes said in a written statement .
“ This lawsuit was necessary to protect our City ’ s interests , and we expect the president ’ s actions to be declared unlawful , as have his similar past attempts to remove federal funding.
” Portland and Oakland , California recently sued the DOJ and DHS last week for deploying federal agents to police protests this year .
The joint lawsuit comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are debating next year ’ s budget amid a deepening national recession and mounting calls to defund police forces .
Tim Gruver is a politics and public policy reporter .
He is a University of Washington alum and the recipient of the 2017 Pioneer News Award for Reporting .
His work has appeared in Politico , the Kitsap Daily News , and the Northwest Asian Weekly .
Gruver is a staff reporter for The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-25--California Utility May Cut Power to One Million People

SAN FRANCISCO , California ( AP ) — Pacific Gas & Electric may cut power to over 1 million people on Sunday to prevent the chance of sparking wildfires as extreme fire weather returns to the region , the utility announced Friday .
The nation ’ s largest utility said it could black out customers in 38 counties — including most of the San Francisco Bay Area — as weather forecasts called for a return of bone-dry , gusty weather that carries the threat of downing or fouling power lines or other equipment that in recent years have been blamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central and Northern California .
The safety shutoffs were expected to begin as early as Sunday morning and last into Tuesday , affecting 466,000 homes and businesses , or more than 1 million residents assuming between two and three people per home or business customer .
Cuts are predicted to encompass parts of the Sacramento Valley , the northern and central Sierra Nevada , upper elevations of the San Francisco Bay Area , the Santa Cruz Mountains , the Central Coast and portions of southern Kern County .
The projected shutoffs included 19,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where a 2018 blaze ignited by PG & E equipment destroyed much of the town of Paradise and killed 85 people .
Forecasts call for the “ the driest humidity levels and the strongest winds of the wildfire season thus far , ” a PG & E statement said .
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for many areas , predicting winds of 35 mph ( 56 kph ) or higher in San Francisco and lower elevations and up to 70 mph ( 113 kph ) in some mountains .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blown into flames sweeping through tinder-dry brush and forestland .
“ On a scale of 1 to 10 , this event is a 9 , ” Craig Clements , director of San Jose State University ’ s Fire Weather Lab , told the Bay Area News Group .
“ Historically our biggest fires are in October .
We are in a critical period.
” The National Weather Service said the conditions could equal those during devastating fires in California ’ s wind country in 2017 and last year ’ s Kincade Fire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines sparked that Sonoma County fire last October , which destroyed hundreds of homes and caused nearly 100,000 people to flee .
The public safety power shutoff , or PSPS , would be the fifth this year , including one that began Wednesday and was scheduled to end late Friday .
The upcoming weather forecast will be even more dangerous , said Scott Strenfel , the utility ’ s chief meteorologist .
“ We ’ re seeing four extremes in the weather for this potential PSPS event : extremely high winds , extremely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the hottest average temperatures over the last six months according to records that go back 126 years , and extreme drought across the territory given lack of rainfall , ” he said in a statement .
Southern California , meanwhile , continued to cool down with patchy drizzle .
Forecasters said light rain was expected Saturday night through early Monday , with light mountain snow possible Sunday night , followed by Santa Ana winds .
Eight of the 10 deadliest fires in California history have occurred in October or November .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August of this year .
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , known as Cal Fire , said 5,500 firefighters were working Friday to fully contain 19 wildfires .
Two-dozen new fires were contained Thursday despite red flag conditions .
Numerous studies have linked bigger wildfires in America to climate change from the burning of coal , oil and gas .
Scientists say climate change has made California much drier , meaning trees and other plants are more flammable .
More 8,600 wildfires have scorched well over 6,400 square miles ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9,200 buildings in California this year .
There have been 31 deaths .
All of the huge fires have been fully or significantly contained , but more than 6,000 firefighters remain committed to 19 blazes , including a dozen major incidents , Cal Fire said .
Many of this year ’ s devastating fires were started by thousands of dry lightning strikes .
But some of the fires remain under investigation for potential electrical causes .
About the Headline Photo : In this April 16 , 2020 , file photo , a Pacific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the exterior of a PG & E building in San Francisco .
Pacific Gas & Electric will cut power to over 1 million people on Sunday to prevent the chance of sparking wildfires as extreme fire weather returns to the region , the utility announced Friday , Oct. 23 , 2020 .
( AP Photo/Jeff Chiu , File )