thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Steve Bannon Interviews Peter Navarro on War Room Pandemic About the Chinese Communist Party

Host Steve Bannon interviewed Peter Navarro at the Freedom Summit about America-China relations amid the coronavirus pandemic that was started by the Chinese .
Bannon : We are at the Freedom Summit here to talk about defending ourselves from all enemies foreign and domestic .
As you know if you listen to War Room Pandemic over the past couple of months we think we ’ ve identified the number existential threat to the United States and that is the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) .
My guest is for the opening and I only came off sea duty to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : How are you today commodore ?
Bannon : Thank you .
Good .
And I ’ m glad to be back ashore .
I want to thank Dave Brad .
Charlie Kirk .
Jerry Falwell , Jr. for everything they ’ ve done to stand up and to put this summit on under very trying conditions given the CCP virus and what it ’ s done to our country .
I want to start off with something today to reinforce the power that the Falkirk Center is having .
That this fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last couple of days , there are protests throughout the world by Chinese citizens that have defected and gone to the West .
We have a whole series that I want to open up before we turn to Peter Navarro .
Bannon : First off , how powerful does it feel to have the meme that you started ?
I don ’ t know if it was on Maria or Jake Tapper .
It was about a month ago .
You said the CCP lied and Americans died .
I tell you who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were expatriates and defected to the West because they understand that everything the Chinese Communist Party says is a lie .
How did you come up with it first and how do you now feel that it ’ s now going throughout the world .
Navarro : Steve , first of all , it ’ s great to be here .
And I want to say to you that it was the genius of you Raheem and Jack to figure out long before the World Health Organization would admit it that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communist Party .
Your show War Room Pandemic was named that long before this was officially declared .
Bannon : We would love to take credit but that was the citizens of China that told us hey when you shut down Hubei Province the size of France and Wuhan it ’ s something big .
Navarro : When I see people around the world carrying that sign CCP lied Americans died , French people died .
Whatever .
It grieves me that I don ’ t see these same signs in Portland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and New York and everywhere because Americans have died .
We ’ re approaching 140,000 deaths now from the virus .
This is not just a slogan .
Let me walk everybody through the history right now .
Bannon : You wrote a book and one of the ways we came to know you on the Trump campaign and really came to know you .
You ’ ve written a couple of books .
One is Crouching Tiger .
The one you wrote in 2006 .
The Coming China Wars .
And in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topics we are going to talk about .
You talk about pandemics because of your experience with SARS .
And you talk about flooding .
I want to go to the point of what you said in 2006 .
Did you understand the seriousness of this ?
You understand how this stuff can explode .
So walk us through that and how you got the idea of calling this the CCP virus .
Navarro : Page 150 in The Coming China Wars Steve doesn ’ t just talk about this possibility it says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communist Party runs that country there was a high likelihood , this is 2006 , there is a high likelihood that China would create a viral pandemic that could possibly kill millions .
2006 .
And the reason why I made that prediction was because of a close study of how China operates .
And back then the big concern there was the animal husbandry .
The way they did their fisheries .
The filthiness with which they created what I called a viral soup .
And this was a couple of years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said wow this is coming again .
The other thing is this Three Gorges Dam .
I don ’ t know if it ’ s going to collapse today , tomorrow , or next week but I do know that at some point and I said it in the book that Three Gorges Dam is a disaster waiting to happen .
The Chinese officials themselves have talked about the corruption in the construction of that dam that made it comprised of what they call tofu rather than concrete .
Bannon : I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think this is important for the Freedom Summit and important for the Falkirk Center and Liberty .
When this book came out in 2006 if you read it , it ’ s chilling because Navarro goes through in detail how a viral pandemic can start in China .
He also goes through how the Communist Party is weaponizing water coming from the Himalayas through all of Asia to have control of Asia .
He talks about the potential of all these dams breaking .
This book was not greeted with five-star reviews in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Rosemary Gibson and her IX and about the supply chains .
The Falkirk Center , Jerry Falwell , Jr. , Charlie Kirk , and all the people at Liberty University .
You are going to get the same blowback that President Trump ’ s got and the administration .
you were dismissed as a crank , right ?
The China wars were coming together .
China is getting more liberal .
The citizens are benefiting more from this and all the stuff about the pandemic and the dams .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of right-wing cooks tat are looking for bogeymen all the time .
Navarro : Don ’ t forget I was in a university environment out in California at the time .
Like many universities , my own was bringing in Chinese Communist Party money hand over fist to support it .
When you do a book like that pioneers are the ones with the arrows in their back .
That book reads today like a government report .
What we have in front of us is the greatest existential challenge of our lifetime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic its a lot of other things .
If I may , I ’ d love to talk through why CCP lied and Americans died is a sign that should be up in the hands of protesters in Seattle and Portland .
And elsewhere .
So lets if I may let me walk you through the timeline as I see it .
We had in November , the first confirmed cases of the China virus and the people involved in that were very close proximity to the infamous Wuhan wet market .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there that some have I can correctly call P4 Labs or perhaps P4 weapons labs .
If you take Occam ’ s razor approach to figure out where did this virus comes from and the simplest explanation is usually the correct one .
There ’ s a lot of evidence that points to that virus escaping from one of those two labs .
But even if that ’ s not true what transpired after that is a history of shame by the Chinese Communist Party because in December and January what the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world .
They used the World Health Organization as a shield to disguise human to human transmission and they almost certainty of a pandemic .
And during that time they did several things .
First , China is usually a net exporter of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
The masks , the gloves , the goggles .
All the things that our healthcare workers need on the front lines to fight the virus .
What China did during that time was vacuum up all of the PPE all around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when shortages popped up everywhere from Milan to New York and people got infected or died because of that that tracks right back to the CCP .
Bannon : How did you find that out ?
You actually could go back and watch as they were doing this because they have to do some reporting , correct ?
Navarro : Actually those statistics come right from a release by the Chinese Communist Party .
The data .
The data in China almost always lies but in this case , they let that one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was two billion masks .
After the break , I want to go on a talk about the other thing that happened which effectively guaranteed that Americans would die because the CCP lied .
Bannon : We know that the Taiwan CDC notified WHO on the 31st of December in 2019 that there was a SARS type outbreak in Hubei Province in Central China that had human transmission and community spread .
We know for a fact that they had this .
Navarro : You have the great firewall of China and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listening to everything that everybody says .
So let me see here .
I ’ m sitting at home and some pollster calls me and asks do you love the Chinese Communist Party ?
Hmm , what am I going to say ?
As for those seven percent they are in Shang Shing now making Nike ’ s .
Bannon : They are in prison somewhere .
You ’ ve seen these major Ivy League universities they are business partners with the Chinese Communist Party .
Navarro : And a lot of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of the Chinese trade delegation that came here on January 15 to sign that trade deal forgot to tell us there was a virus and he attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard .
During the critical December , January , February time when China was hiding the virus from the world Steve what they did was they shut down their own domestic travel .
They wouldn ’ t let people go anywhere .
You know why ?
Because they thought people would get infected and that it would spread throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they also did ?
They let international flights go around the world with hundreds and hundreds of thousands of Chinese nationals .
You know some of them were infected .
You know the Chinese Communist Party knew that there was a likelihood that some of them were infected .
What was the thinking there when they lock down their own country but sent that virus out throughout the world .
They didn ’ t have a strategy .
All I know now is we have a pandemic that came from China .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bannon : Now it ’ s catching throughout the world that the CCP lied and Americans died .
CCP lied , Canadians died .
I keep saying that even if it ’ s not from a bio-weapons plan or from the Wuhan lab and it inadvertently escaped on some sort of failed gain of function experiment that they should not have been doing .
If you go back , the chain of title of their decisions from at least mid-December of 2019 has now been documented .
Dr. Navarro , you said you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Seattle .
When you look at the protesters in Portland .
You never see a sign CCP lied , Americans died .
Bannon : I want to talk about the medical supply chains .
But in the timeline that you lay out , the Chinese came over here and signed a trade deal in mid-January .
I think it was the 15th .
They brought a whole contingent .
Which is kind of shocking looking back over it is we knew for a fact that they knew at the time they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central China .
It ’ s pretty stunning to people and the mainstream media never wants to talk about it because they really take kid gloves when it comes to the Chinese Communist Party .
Navarro : Several weeks earlier before that January 15 signing Xi Jinping actually had a high-level meeting with the Chinese Communist officials and basically warned them about the demon virus .
So we knew that those top officials new this .
You know the historical parallel .
Cordell Hull December 5 .
Two Japanse diplomats come to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of State Hull and ask for some more time so that they can negotiate a peaceful end .
And meanwhile , Admiral Yamamoto was carrying in place a strike group for that day of infamy .
And you tell me , Steve .
Bannon : What is so shocking about it is that the mainstream media never goes through the timeline and connects the dots .
Navarro : The worst part is they shook the president ’ s hand .
Navarro : They shook our hands and smiled .
They broke bread with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tell us that there was a China virus with human to human transmission raging through China .
They had to of known that .
Bannon : His title is actually General Secretary Xi .
We don ’ t refer to him as President Xi .
He ’ s general secretary of the Communist Party .
Just like Gorbachov was the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union .
Xi is the general secretary of the Communist Party .
I ’ m not sure he is the president because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimate regime .
I think its totally illegitimate .
We know from a fact because under pressure of how out of control it was getting in Wuhan and Hubei that he had a conversation in the first week of January and talked to a senior level cadre saying we got to get on top of this .
Navarro : Let me tell you something else that really should disturb the American people about this .
The January 15 phase one deal was about a lot of things .
But most of all what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had back in 2015 to stop stealing America ’ s intellectual property .
This is the seed corn of American prosperity .
The Chinese Communist Party steals up to half a million dollars of wealth from America every single year .
They promised again in this deal .
But you know what ?
After they spawned the virus , hid the virus , and sent it around the world what did they try to do next , Steve ?
Steal the virus .
They are actively hacking the computer systems of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine to protect the American people from the CCP virus .
You can ’ t make this stuff up Steve .
You can ’ t make it up .
Bannon : One of the reasons in Houston they shut down the consulate was because of the hacking .
Navarro : This is what bothers me about the protesters in places like in Seattle and Portland .
This is what bothers me every day about the so-called mainstream media on TV .
They refuse to acknowledge these truths we hold to be self-evident that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was directly responsible for what ’ s going on here in America .
It ’ s not just that we are approaching 140,000 Americans that have been killed .
We ’ ve put over 40 million people on the unemployment lines because of the CCP virus .
And we ’ ve spent literally trillions and trillions of dollars .
We ’ re doing a stress test in real time of our financial markets and our monetary system .
And this will not end well unless we have people who are competent to handle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it scares the hell out of me to think that this country could be turned over to Biden and company .
Bannon : I think it ’ s undisputed that no administration has ever stood up to the Chinese Communist Party like the Trump administration .
And President Trump I ’ ve said from the beginning has been very statesmanlike in this .
He has an advisor and people on the outside that are super or ultra hawks and he ’ s been tough .
Navarro : He ’ s been tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over backward to give the Chinese Communist Party the chance to do the right thing .
And they ’ ve exposed themselves now as not wanting to do that .
For me , the fact that they would try to steal the intellectual property behind the vaccine after they signed a deal in January to stop stealing our intellectual property .
For me , that ’ s full circle .
Bannon : Well , it doesn ’ t surprise me because I think what they want to do is come up therapeutically or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to kowtow .
This is all about kowtowing .
That ’ s all they understand .
They don ’ t understand win-win .
It ’ s always they win .
Remember the only reason they exist is because of Western technology that they ’ ve either stolen forced technology transfers .
And in some cases , we ’ ve sold it to them or given it to them .
And American capital .
And access to the American market .
Navarro : You ’ re the political guru or strategist .
Why hasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draw a straight line from all of the chaos and problems that we are experiencing now straight to the CCP ?
Bannon : Because I think now and that ’ s one of the reasons that the Falkirk Center and others are in an education process .
I don ’ t even think this is about politics .
If you look at the Pew Center study the American people understand that the rise of the CCP is not for the benefit of the world or the Chinese people .
That ’ s why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because we ’ ve been able to understand or target what the problem is .
The problem is not China .
The problem is not the country of China .
You look throughout the world where the Chinese people have rule of law .
They have democracy .
They have freedom of speech .
Freedom of assembly .
Whether it ’ s in Taiwan or Hong Kong .
Throughout the world .
They are thriving active great members of society and the countries .
So we know that there are lies about , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep a firm hand on China it would devolve into warlordism and chaos and anarchy is a bold face lie .
And the reason that the media doesn ’ t do it is that they are in business with them .
Hollywood is in business with them .
The major media companies are in business with them .
The other day they had an editorial in The Washington Post .
The Jeff Bezos Washington Post .
Not an op-ed and editorial page and what they said after Pompeo ’ s speech is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dangerous path .
If you see what O ’ Brien said and FBI Director Wray .
Bill Barr ’ s magnificent speech in Michigan and then capped by Pompeo ’ s at the Nixon Library .
This is a dangerous path of confrontation , right ?
What the business community and capital markets want is that they ’ ve always wanted to kowtow to China .
And here ’ s the reason .
The party of Davos ’ business model is predicated upon slave labor in China and serfs and workers throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serfs .
That ’ s the business model .
They are relentless .
This administration is the first to stand up and say hey look we can ’ t do this .
We have to have an organized approach to integrate you into the American economy .
That is why the Lighthizer , Navarro , Trump deal that the Chinese walked away from after 18 months of negotiation was the deal that would have integrated them into the world ’ s economy with fairness , equality and allowed the Chinese people environmental protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Navarro : Let me say briefly some of the experiences that I ’ ve had and why I think ultimately we are going to win economically .
Today for example I ’ m heading down with the president to North Carolina .
What we are going to do is visit a company FUJIFILM Diosynth .
It ’ s a subcontractor to NovaVax .
Now NovaVax is one of five companies that ’ s developing a vaccine in half or a third of the time that it normally takes .
But what FUJI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is actually produce that vaccine to help us produce it in the hundreds of millions of doses by January 2021 .
If it works .
Now here ’ s the difference .
In the past when you do vaccines you do them in stages , right ?
You try to find out what works and then the next stage is phase one , two three trials .
You do safety and efficacy .
Then at the end of that only if you got something then you can get the investment to make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genius of President Trump is no-no-no .
We ’ ve got to be ready .
So instead of having this sequential process , we ’ re going to do it simultaneously .
Navarro : So FUJI as we speak is getting ready to mass up the manufacturing along with a lot of other companies around the world .
I ’ ve seen that .
Working with the president we stood up a ventilator factory Steve in 17 days using the Defense Production Act .
17 days and within three more days we had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Chicago , Illinois .
We are re-purposing our factories .
We are learning to do this .
Navarro : And the CCP is teaching us under duress how beautiful the American manufacturing machine can be .
And tomorrow we ’ re going to be making another major announcement about bringing some of our pharmaceuticals back onshore .
We were able to stand up N95 respirators in Arizona and Rhode Island in five weeks .
It usually takes at least nine months to build that .
My point is Steve .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
We are engaged in the most rapid industrial mobilization of our time .
And the president is using the Defense Production Act to do miraculous things in therapeutics , vaccines , PPE as the China virus attacks us .
Bannon : Your entire time you came on the campaign .
The entire reason that you kind of rose to prominence was your focus on this thing called supply chains .
Seventy thousand factories are left .
It really shocked people because you are the first guy to go relentlessly day after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party with Wall Street and corporate America have taken the manufacturing base of the country over to China with the slave labor there .
You also argued that hey , a fourth industrial revolution is a-coming .
We have to be at the vanguard of that .
We pay for the research .
We have high tech companies .
Walk us through .
Where do we stand today as being at the tip of the spear of the fourth industrial revolution and not just as the research center but bringing back those high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , let me talk to you about why we lost our pharmaceutical supply chain .
We were dangerously dependent on the rest of the world for our essential medicines .
And guess what ?
Over 75 countries around the world during this pandemic have issued restrictions on what they export to us in order to help Americans deal with this deadly CCP virus .
But what ’ s really going on here is the standard reason Steve of why we lost our manufacturing , to begin with to China in all our factories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pharmaceutical production .
You have what ’ s called the key starter materials .
The advanced pharmaceutical ingredients .
And from those you the finished dosage form pills and injectables .
And the problem we have with the key starter materials is its environmentally intensive heavy chemical kind of thing .
So what we ’ ve done is we ’ ve offshored those materials to places like China and India where they have lax environmental regulation rather and they basically throw everything into their rivers and streams rather than treat it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the advanced pharmaceutical ingredients .
The problem there is it ’ s very labor-intensive to make so you have the sweatshops of Asia and take those over .
Then the finished dosage form interestingly enough is partly a tax haven problem .
Places like Ireland which is about the size of Rhode Island or Delaware .
A very small place and because of the tax system there we buy a tremendous amount of finished doses from pharmaceuticals .
What we ’ ve learned from this crisis is we have to bring those pharmaceuticals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical equipment back like ventilators which we ’ ve done .
And we have to bring our medical supplies like face masks , goggles , and the like .
In the Trump administration , there is a full-scale effort and whole government effort to do that .
Every day we are issuing new contracts and we ’ ve revived the textile industry in this country to make some of our masks and gowns and things like that .
And Steve this is the focus that we have to have if we are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as creating the kind of good manufacturing jobs that we ’ re going to need in a post-pandemic world .
Because of this China virus , this CCP virus is a direct attack on some of the key sectors of our economy .
Airlines , hospitality , leisure , and sports .
There ’ s going to be fundamental structural changes that we ’ re going to have to deal with .
We ’ re going to have service sector refugees from our major metropolitan areas .
And the only way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an economy .
And President Trump is leading the way on this is by creating more and more manufacturing jobs and that requires on shoring our supply chains .
Bannon : You are going to North Carolina with the president today and why is this important ?
Navarro : The end goal Steve is to have a vaccine and to have the time normally done .
We are hoping by January 2021 that we ’ ll have at least 300 million doses of the vaccine .
Bannon : Phase three has already started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s the Manhattan Project .
Navarro : It ’ s called Operation Warpspeed .
Rember the genius of Donald Trump who is the greatest jobs president in history has turned the whole CDC , HHS paradigm on its head .
In the old days , it was stages .
Sequence .
Discovery .
Clinical trials .
Manufacture .
Two years .
Three years .
Four years .
What the president has let to be done is that we do this simultaneously while we are developing our vaccines and developing the manufacturing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but for the pipe heads and the needles and everything we need .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Ohio’s Largest School District Will Start the School Year Online

Columbus City Schools ( CCS ) Superintendent/CEO Dr. Talisa Dixon announced Tuesday that Ohio ’ s largest school district will start the 2020-2021 school year virtually .
CCS will be online for the first quarter for the next school year .
The first quarter of the school year will start September 8 and end October 27 .
In a letter sent to the CCS community , Dixon said the school district hoped to start the school year with in-person classes , but the risk of returning 50,000 students and 9,000 employees to its buildings was “ far too great.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to examine the public health conditions before deciding when CCS will resume in-person classes .
“ I understand that this news of starting back in the fall with a fully virtual learning model will please many parents and families .
I also know that many will not be pleased with the decision , ” Dixon said .
“ However , ultimately , safety and health concerns led to a final decision that would keep all of us safe as we work collectively to lower the rate of COVID-19 infections.
” When virtual classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different from the ones that happened when the school permanently closed in April .
The school district has broken its virtual learning plan down into three categories : pre-K students , Kindergarten through 8th grade and high school students .
For pre-K students , when the school district returns to in-person classes , these students will attend “ a blended model with both in-person and virtual instruction.
” CCS students who are in Kindergarten through 8th grade and high school can choose between the school district ’ s curriculum or the CCS Digital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to participate in a self-paced curriculum .
When the school district does return to classes , students using the school district ’ s curriculum will use a blended model as the academy students will remain virtual for the rest of the school year .
High school students who use the CCS curriculum can decide to remain virtual even when in-person classes resume .
Even though the CCS students have the option of going online for the 2020-2021 school year , not every student in the district has access to quality internet .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of student households don ’ t have a home computer and almost a quarter of student households don ’ t have broadband internet service access .
To end her letter , Dixon asked that the CCS community work together to make this school the best possible for all its students .
“ I believe all our teachers and staff , along with our community partners , are committed to achieving positive outcomes for all our children , ” the superintendent said .
“ I ask that every family make the commitment to working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible until we can all return to the classroom safely.
” Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] .
Follow Zachery on Twitter @ zacheryschmidt2 .
Photo “ Talisa Dixon ” by the City of Columbus .

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--2020-07-29--Minneapolis Communities Form Watch Groups, Build Barricades to Fight Crime Surge

Communities in Minneapolis have established community watch groups , some consisting of armed individuals , to protect residents with one community even erecting barricades in response to increasing crime levels , according to The Wall Street Journal .
The city has seen a major surge in violent crime since the death of George Floyd , according to the Star Tribune , who died on May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck , video of the incident shows .
The Minneapolis city council in June voted to allow the police department to be dismantled following Floyd ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reduce the department ’ s budget .
“ I am hesitant to call the police , ” said Minneapolis resident Kadence Hampton , according to The Wall Street Journal .
“ They are not proactively preventing any type of harm .
When they do show up , they escalate things .
I am not convinced calling the police is the safest thing to do.
” In the midst of riots and widespread looting in June , the Minnesota Freedom Fighters , a group which advocates for black gun ownership patrolled a district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week , ensuring that the locals were kept safe , The Journal reported .
The group worked alongside law enforcement , according to Jamil Jackson , one of the group ’ s leaders .
“ We played a role alongside law enforcement and helped our community be safe , ” Jackson said , according to The Journal .
At least 275 people have been shot in Minneapolis to date in 2020 , compared to the 269 that were shot in all of 2019 , according to police data , the Star Tribune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city , which is twice the amount in the same period last year .
Several neighborhoods have established watch groups as crime has spiked , according to The Journal .
Residents also formed a watch group and constructed a makeshift barrier with the approval of the police in one community near the police department ’ s abandoned 3rd precinct building that was burned down .
“ It was being done deliberately out in the open .
Drive-through drug dealing , drive-through prostitution , everything from gunshots to assaults to sex out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want your neighborhood to look like , ” Tania Rivera said , according to The Journal .
Tania Rivera ’ s mother , Maria Gali added : “ Neighbors are armed , and some of them are veterans .
They are very determined to defend their families , properties and the street.
” The Minneapolis Police Department said it supports community watch groups , but insisted that individuals must follow laws and can not expect to be a substitute for the police in a statement , according to The Journal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Sen. Peters Asks FEMA to Help Fund Michigan Coronavirus School Response

Sen. Gary Peters ( D-MI ) sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Monday asking the agency to help fund schools in Michigan as they prepare to open during the coronavirus .
In the letter , Peters pushed FEMA to allow schools in Michigan and nationwide to access to funding from the Disaster Relief Fund to help pay for public safety trainings , adapting classrooms and acquiring personal protective equipment for students and staff .
“ Schools across the country currently face an unsustainable situation – drastic increases in costs to implement protective measures against COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from state and local governments , ” Peters wrote .
“ Experts predict that state budget shortfalls will total about $ 555 billion over the next two years.
” Peters said that the impact of the coronavirus will cost schools roughly $ 1.8 million .
Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer announced in June that schools will reopen for in-person classes in the fall .
She had originally closed schools on March 1 to slow the spread of the pandemic and extended the closure to the end of the school year in April .
Peters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Education and Treasury to clearly lay out for schools what expenses are allowable for reimbursement .
“ Schools need to know which expenditures will or will not be reimbursed by FEMA , so there is no duplication of benefits from other COVID-19 supplemental funding sources that could be the cause for denials of reimbursement at a later date , ” Peters wrote .
“ The federal government needs to proactively support schools from the start , to minimize confusion and facilitate effective planning for cost reimbursements.
” Peters asked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
“ We are all in agreement that our students deserve to have access to a safe , quality education this fall , even in the midst of a global pandemic , ” Peters said .
“ FEMA has the opportunity and the duty to play a role in supporting our nation ’ s schools in this effort .
I urge you to undertake the suggestions I have outlined , and look forward to working with you to support our nation ’ s schools.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter at The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Ohio Will Host First 2020 Presidential Debate in September

The first 2020 presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden will occur in Ohio on September 29 .
Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic will be co-hosting the event at their shared health campus .
The debate was originally slated to be held at the University of Notre Dame , however , the university was forced to withdraw from hosting the event citing coronavirus concerns .
CEO and President of the Cleveland Clinic Tom Mihaljevic and Case Western Reserve President Barbara Snyder put out a joint statement that said , “ This pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and scientific discovery in unprecedented ways .
To have the presidential candidates discuss these issues in our innovative learning space represents a tremendous opportunity for both institutions – and our entire region.
” This presidential debate will be the first major debate scheduled since April .
The Cleveland Clinic will be advising the Commission for Presidential Debates on health concerns , implementing safety measures such as the use of disinfectants , social distancing and crowd size controls should the debate be open to the public .
The move to the Cleveland location comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state in November .
Ohio is widely considered a “ must-win state ” because almost every presidential election victory since 1860 has won The Buckeye State .
Ohio has had a mixed voting record of late with it supporting President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 .
Then in 2016 , Ohioans voted for President Donald Trump .
The 90-minute debate will run from 9:00 – 10:30 p.m .
ET , have no commercial breaks and be broadcast by the White House pool networks .
Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ] Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .
Background Photo “ Debate Stage ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Minnesotans Divided Over ‘Safe Return’ to Schools

This week , educators and parents wait with bated breath on Governor Tim Walz ’ s upcoming decision on a safe return to schools .
On the Facebook group , “ Minnesota for a Safe Return to Campus , ” who ’ s privacy is now marked as “ private , ” the greatest concerns were mainly posted by educators .
Death , unrealistic demands , a future lack of interest in teaching as a profession , and the inability to be with elderly loved ones were all consistent issues listed throughout the page .
Nearly all comments included the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , # OnlyWhenItsSafe , # MNSafeReturntoCampus , # 14DaysofDecline .
Few , if any , posts or comments addressed the physical , emotional , and mental needs of the children – which even the Center for Disease Control ( CDC ) recognized this past week as a critical factor in children ’ s development and overall well-being .
Recently , the Minnesota Department of Education and Minnesota Department of Health conducted a survey assessing families ’ experiences with distance learning this past spring .
According to the survey , slightly more than 52 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of distance learning as a negative one .
64.3 % of the 130,000 respondents felt comfortable with sending their children back to school in the fall ( 11.4 % were uncomfortable and 24.3 % were unsure ) .
Of those comfortable , 94.4 % voted for a full-time return to in-person schooling .
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka ( R-MN-09 ) shared the results in a Facebook post in June , writing : “ Based on the survey from the MN Department of Education , it ’ s pretty obvious parents want their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ # mnleg ” Comments to Gazelka ’ s post varied greatly : some applauded elected officials ’ decision to respect the majority of parental wishes , while others viewed sharing the data as a cheap political move ignoring the recent spike in coronavirus cases .
Gazelka tweeted a day later , “ How can people think that school is not essential for our children ?
If a teacher or student is at risk , they can be a part of distance learning .
Let school districts decide the best way to do this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their kids in the classroom , they have other options.
” Unlike his Facebook post , Gazelka ’ s tweet was met with only criticism in the comments thread .
Users asked where the funding source would be to back parents ’ decisions to keep children home , and were aggravated with Gazelka ’ s implication that a desire to keep children home equivocated a view of school as “ nonessential ” .
There was a pervasive desire to know the Governor ’ s plan for reopening schools .
Just last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020-21 planning guide for schools statewide .
The guide directs school and district administrators to develop three contingency plans : an in-person learning plan , a hybrid learning plan ( including limited capacity and social distancing ) , and a distant learning-only plan .
The guide also requires schools with any in-person learning model to have a COVID-19 program coordinator , arranged social distancing in classrooms and transportation systems , face coverings , certain cleaning materials and standards , and regular COVID-19 screenings .
Schools ’ educational models may be subject to change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on COVID-19 ’ s spread in the state .
According to Minnesota Department of Education spokesperson Wendy Hatch , all schools that have some variation of in-person learning will offer distance learning so concerned parents may make the best choice for their family .
Hatch also mentioned that fall sports can practice , but season play remains up in the air .
A handful of school systems are planning to rely on a variation of a distance learning model , such as the Minneapolis Public Schools .
Others , like the St. Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with biweekly in-person classes combined with a full-time distance learning option – all contingent on impending guidelines from the state ’ s education leaders .
Minnesotans opposed to opening schools with new coronavirus cases occurring aren ’ t alone .
“ Refuse to Return ” is a growing national movement of teachers who simply won ’ t show up to teach in-person until their counties have 14 consecutive days of 0 reports of COVID-19 .
Its proponents hope to continue the same or improved versions of distance learning protocols established in the spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held with more frequency nationwide as fall nears .
This past Friday , over 1.2k people responded to a “ Rally , March , and Caravan for Safe Schools ” event in St. Paul hosted by the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers .
Attendants advocated for the implementation of “ anti-racism ” policies in addition to public health and safety measures against COVID-19 spread for in-person learning .
This past Saturday , Governor Tim Walz issued a mask mandate that would apply to all students and school staff if campuses are scheduled to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have yet to announce their official decision on schools reopening , they are scheduled to speak on the matter this Thursday .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Rep. Jordan Opens AG Barr Hearing with Brutal Video Highlighting Antifa Violence, Looting and Riotin

Rep. Jordan Opens AG Barr Hearing with Brutal Video Highlighting Antifa Violence, Looting and Rioting

During a House Judiciary Committee hearing with Attorney General William Barr Tuesday morning , Rep. Jim Jordan ( R-Ohio ) @ @ @ @ @ House Judiciary Committee , went over the heads of the corporate media to show a @ @ @ @ @ and mayhem of the Black Lives Matter and antifa mobs .
Rep. Jordan opened his @ @ @ @ @ all of the evidence that proves the Obama administration spied on the opposition party and @ @ @ @ @ the 2016 election .
Jordan then played the nearly eight minute video , which starts @ @ @ @ @ media and Democrat politicians describing the riots as “ peaceful protests.
” The video goes @ @ @ @ @ and the media don ’ t want the American people to see—the horrific violence on @ @ @ @ @ perpetrated by their domestic terrorist allies .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Rep. Steve Cohen Tries to Blame Jeffery Epstein Death on AG William Barr

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen ( D-TN-09 ) on Tuesday held U.S. Attorney General William Barr accountable for the death of Jeffrey Epstein .
Cohen accused Barr of neglect in Epstein ’ s death at a House Judiciary Committee hearing .
“ You ’ ve gone through the Fifth Amendment and Due Process and just negated it .
And the 10th Amendment , which leaves general policing to the law enforcement , to the states , has been forgotten , ” Cohen said .
“ Maybe what happened with your secret police were [ they were ] poorly trained .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were poorly trained and allowed the most notorious inmate in our nation ’ s last several years , Jeffrey Epstein , to conveniently commit suicide .
Sad.
” Afterwards , Cohen retweeted a Daily Edge post that described Epstein as “ Trump ’ s pedophile rape-party pal.
” The Daily Edge post that Cohen retweeted went on to say that Barr allowed Epstein to die “ before he could reveal what he knew.
” The Daily Edge posted no evidence to show that Trump or Barr were complicit in Epstein ’ s alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee Star reported last year , one of Epstein ’ s accusers alleged she saw Prince Andrew and former U.S. President Bill Clinton on Epstein ’ s property in the Virgin Islands .
Epstein sexually abused young women there , the woman alleged .
As reported last year , authorities found Epstein dead in jail as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in lower Manhattan .
They said he died of suicide by hanging .
The well-connected money manager pleaded not guilty to federal charges of sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young as 14 .
At the time , Barr ordered the removal of the warden at the jail .
Barr also criticized “ serious irregularities ” at the facility .
In May of last year , as The Tennessee Star reported , Cohen mocked Barr at a House Judiciary Committee hearing reviewing Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s report showing no collusion with Russia or obstruction of justice .
Cohen feasted on Kentucky Fried Chicken as a prop to prove Barr was…chicken .
Cohen ’ s stunt at the time backfired — with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referred to “ that fool Steve Cohen who carries a porcelain chicken into Congress ’ hallowed halls .
Cohen further disgraced his elected role and the Congressional body by stuffing his idiot face with fried chicken right there in a Congressional chamber.
” According to Deadline.com , John Oliver of Last Week Tonight called Cohen ’ s stunt “ pathetic ” and “ tragic.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Steve Cohen ” @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-07-30--GOP Senate Candidate Dr. Manny Sethi Received Grants from Anti-Gun Rights Foundation for Violence Pr

GOP Senate Candidate Dr. Manny Sethi Received Grants from Anti-Gun Rights Foundation for Violence Prevention and Conflict Resolution Programs

Dr. Manny Sethi has ties with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ( RWJF ) , an organization that does not support gun rights .
But , the NRA considers the GOP Senate candidate to be pro-gun and he has made statements against gun control .
Sethi and former Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty are competing for the Republican nomination to succeed retiring Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) in the U.S. Senate .
Election day is next Thursday , August 6 .
RWJF promotes analyses and research findings showing gun violence as an alleged public health problem .
A list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Sethi received two grants from RWJF totaling $ 60,000 , one for $ 20,000 ( along with Dr. Alex Jahangir ) in 2012 and another for $ 40,000 in 2013 .
Sethi and Dr. Alex Jahangir in fall 2012 used a $ 20,000 RWJF grant to conduct a pilot program on violence prevention for 150 sixth-graders at Cameron College Prep middle school in Nashville , according to a story published by Vanderbilt University Medical Center in January 2013 .
Jahangir serves on the board of nonprofit Healthy Tennessee that Sethi founded but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate , as The Tennessee Star recently reported .
Jahangir , along with fellow Healthy Tennessee board member Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld , signed an attack ad against Marsha Blackburn in her 2018 Senate race that was paid for by the Tennessee Democratic Party .
Jahangir serves as the director of Nashville Mayor John Cooper ’ s COVID-19 task force .
Prior to their pilot program at Cameron College Prep , Sethi and Jahangir had conducted research based on their observations at Vanderbilt ’ s emergency department showing that Black males between 18-25 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be shot .
Sethi and Ehrenfeld were among the co-authors of research about minorities and gunshot wound cases in emergency rooms that was published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine .
Sethi and Jahangir were also health policy associates at Meharry Medical College ’ s Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy .
The RWJF grant program aimed to improve minority health “ and/or the elimination of health disparities , ” Vanderbilt ’ s story said .
Sethi received another $ 40,000 grant from RWJF in 2013 to run his conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Meharry Medical College said .
Sethi and Jahangir ’ s pilot program used the “ Aggressors , Victims , and Bystanders ” ( AVB ) curriculum .
That curriculum is by Dr. Ronald G. Slaby .
The New York Times in August 1993 reported on violence prevention efforts aimed at youths .
In it , Slaby called for gun control measures .
The Star emailed these questions to Sethi campaign manager Forrest Barnwell-Hagemeyer : • Can you discuss Sethi ’ s work with Jahangir on developing an anti-violence program with Metro Nashville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ techniques did it advocate for handling conflict ?
• The pilot used Dr. Richard Slaby ’ s “ Aggressors , Victims , and Bystanders ” ( AVB ) curriculum .
Dr. Slaby has advocated for stricter gun controls like a firearm safety test and gun buyers be of voting age .
Does Sethi support such measures ?
• RWJF advocates for gun control .
Is Sethi currently affiliated with RWJF , or if not , when did he end his affiliation ?
Barnwell-Hagemeyer said , “ Bill Hagerty ’ s lying again : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a concealed weapon , has always opposed universal background checks and red flag laws .
Healthy Tennessee worked on a conflict resolution program for kids , partially through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation aimed at getting teens in violent neighborhoods to solve their problems without shooting each other .
In fact , in the press release accepting the grant , Manny is quoted saying , “ guns don ’ t hurt people , instead people hurt people.
” The NRA Political Victory Fund considers both Sethi and Bill Hagerty to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee ’ s U.S. Senate candidates is here .
Both Sethi and Hagerty have a score of “ AQ , ” meaning they are “ a pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate ’ s responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues.
” The Star asked the NRA for a copy of the candidates ’ responses , but the organization said candidate answers are private .
The RWJF statement that Barnwell-Hagemeyer referenced is available here .
USA Today in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sethi , whose findings showed that gun injuries and deaths cost billions of dollars a year but all of whom did not advocate gun control in lieu of finding other solutions .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Manny Sethi ” by Manny Sethi .

by Eric Lendrum
The United States Capitol Police (USCP) announced on Thursday that the department is currently investigating 29 officers, and has suspended six, for their actions during the protests at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, according to CNN.
A department spokesman said that “Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman has directed that any member of her department whose behavior is not keeping in line with the Department’s Rules of Conduct will face appropriate discipline.” The six who were suspended will still be receiving pay, and the 29 total officers under investigation is nearly three times the amount of officers who were previously announced as being under investigation back in January.
Pittman said that, as part of the ongoing investigations, the USCP was “reviewing video and other open source materials of some USCP officers and officials that appear to be in violation of Department regulations and practices.” Some Democrats, including Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), have claimed, without evidence, that some officers openly supported the protesters, allowed them inside, and even guided them around the interior of the building.
During the mostly peaceful protests, Trump supporters entered the Capitol out of protest of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, as the questionable electoral college results were being formally tabulated by Congress. One Trump supporter, Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, was shot in the neck by a plainclothes police officer at close range; the officer who killed her will not be facing any charges for her death.
Several other people died that same day due to sudden medical conditions that had nothing to do with the protests, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick; Sicknick has been confirmed to have died of a stroke after it was erroneously reported that he had been beaten to death by protesters with a fire extinguisher.
– – –
Eric Lendrum reports for American Greatness.
Photo “Capitol Police” by Elvert Barnes. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-30--Former GOP Presidential Candidate Herman Cain Dies at 74

ATLANTA , Georgia ( AP ) — Herman Cain , former Republican presidential candidate and former CEO of a major pizza chain who went on to become an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump , has died of complications from the coronavirus .
He was 74 .
A post on Cain ’ s Twitter account on Thursday announced the death .
Cain had been ill with the virus for several weeks .
It ’ s not clear when or where he was infected , but he was hospitalized less than two weeks after attending Trump ’ s campaign rally in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cain had been co-chair of Black Voices for Trump .
“ We knew when he was first hospitalized with COVID-19 that this was going to be a rough fight , ” read an article posted on the Twitter account .
“ He had trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital by ambulance .
We all prayed that the initial meds they gave him would get his breathing back to normal , but it became clear pretty quickly that he was in for a battle.
” Cain , who had hoped to become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nomination , was initially considered a long-shot candidate .
His bid was propelled forward in September 2011 when he won a straw poll vote in Florida , instantly becoming an alternative candidate for Republican voters concerned that former Massachusetts Gov .
Mitt Romney was not conservative enough .
But he struggled to respond to accusations that he had sexually harassed several women and — in a video that went viral on the Internet — rambled uncomfortably when asked whether he supported or opposed President Barack Obama ’ s policies in Libya .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that led Cain ’ s critics to question whether he was ready for the White House .
The centerpiece of Cain ’ s campaign was his 9-9-9 plan , which would have replaced the current tax code with a 9 % tax on personal and corporate income and a 9 % national sales tax .
Cain said the plan ’ s simplicity would stimulate the economy by giving investors certainty .
A Baptist preacher who made money giving motivational speeches , Cain had a talent for selling his ideas to conservative audiences with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % is good enough for God , 9 % ought to be good enough for the federal government , ” he told crowds .
About the Headline Photo : In this May 31 , 2014 file photo , Herman Cain addresses the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans , La .
Cain has died after battling the coronavirus .
A post on Cain ’ s Twitter account on Thursday , July 30 , 2020 announced the death .
( AP Photo/Bill Haber , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-07-30--Feds Charge Tennessee State Sen. Katrina Robinson with Theft and Embezzlement

Federal authorities on Wednesday charged Tennessee state Sen. Katrina Robinson ( D-Memphis ) with theft and embezzlement involving government programs and wire fraud .
This , according to a press release that members of the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Western District of Tennessee published on its website .
Robinson directs the Memphis-based Healthcare Institute ( THI ) , which trains and educates people in the healthcare field .
“ Between 2015 and 2019 , The Healthcare Institute received over $ 2.2 million in federal grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration ( HRSA ) , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Human Services .
During that same time period , Robinson stole in excess of $ 600,000 from THI by compensating herself in excess of what was allowed under the terms of the HRSA grant and by using Institute funds for payments and purchases for her own personal benefit and that of her immediate family , ” according to the press release .
“ Payments and purchases included a vehicle for her daughter ; clothing , accessories , and hair and beauty products ; expenses related to her wedding and honeymoon , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; payments on her personal debts , including credit cards , store charge cards , student loans , and other personal loans ; travel and entertainment for herself and her family ; improvements to her personal residence ; expenses related to a body aesthetics business she owned and a snow cone business operated by her children ; and an event for her State Senate campaign.
” A member of Robinson ’ s staff told The Tennessee Star Wednesday that a member of her legal team would contact us .
No one did .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook page Wednesday .
There , an unidentified woman said Robinson was cooperating with authorities and is eager to share her side of the story .
The THI website , meanwhile , said the school launched in July 2015 .
“ The program garnered the support of the US Department of Health and Human services , securing $ 1.6M for the funding of its Educate to Empower program – a dual focus program to educate more Certified Nursing Assistants for entry into the geriatric workforce and to provide community education to the geriatric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the website said .
The website also said Robinson secured this federal grant “ with no formal training or education in grant writing.
” This funding , the website went on to say , also offers scholarships .
Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General investigated Robinson , the press release said .
“ If convicted , Robinson faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison , 3 years supervised release , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parole in the federal system , ” according to the press release .
“ The case will be presented to a federal grand jury at a later date to consider an indictment against the defendant.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Katrina Robinson ” by Katrina Robinson .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-30--Commentary: Silicon Valley Ramps up Censorship of Conservatives

Silicon Valley ’ s pre-election censorship of conservatives is rapidly increasing , with anything that questions the imposition of a new level of COVID-19 lockdown misery and economic devastation a top target .
The latest example of this pre-election censorship occurred yesterday , when Facebook , Twitter and Google removed a press conference video by frontline doctors featuring U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman ( R-S.C. ) and organized by Tea Party Patriots .
Breitbart ’ s Allum Bokhari reported the livestream had accumulated over 17 million views by the time of its censorship by Facebook .
Over 185,000 viewers were concurrently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday afternoon .
The event , featuring doctors from the organization America ’ s Frontline Doctors , a group founded by Dr. Simone Gold , a board-certified physician and attorney , and made up of medical doctors , came together to address what the group calls a “ massive disinformation campaign ” about the coronavirus .
Rep. Norman also spoke at the event .
Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning blasted the social media and search engine giants , saying , “ Facebook , Twitter and Google ( through YouTube ) have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors about studies and their clinical experiences which show that the medicine Hydroxychloroquine when used with zinc and arithromycin may be helpful when it is used either prophylactically or in the early stages of the Chinese-originated COVID-19 virus .
The efficacy of HCQ is not a surprise to those who have been paying attention as more doctors around the world who treat the virus have ranked it as the most effective treatment than any other medicine , and very recent , honest study from Henry Ford Health Systems showed that the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID patient users ‘ significantly.
’ “ So the question is simple .
Why would the three social media giants collude to ban doctors from discussing scientific studies as well as their own clinical experiences from the public ?
And the only conclusion is that they have decided that they don ’ t want alternative experiences to be discussed on their platforms even when it comes to scientific debate and public inquiry over treatments for the COVID virus .
There can no longer be any doubt that these three platforms are effectively joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concert in actions counter to our nation ’ s antitrust laws .
It is time to break up big tech , before it breaks America.
” But the censorship has gotten worse by the hour .
Since America ’ s Frontline Doctors conducted their press conference their website has been taken down by the host , as you can see by clicking here .
According to Tracy Beanz , Editor-in-Chief of @ UncoverDC and UncoverDC.com , America ’ s Frontline Doctors has been completely deplatformed .
Fortunately , you can watch the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As far as we can tell the reason America ’ s Frontline Doctors were deplatformed is they praised hydroxychloroquine plus zinc sulfate and azithromycin as a coronavirus treatment .
And that apparently violates the rules imposed upon free speech and scientific inquiry by Facebook , Google and YouTube .
But what is most interesting , and frightening , is that Facebook is pushing users who accessed the America ’ s Frontline Doctors content to visit the World Health Organization website for factual information on COVID-19 .
Never mind that the World Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 still up on its Twitter feed : Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel # coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) identified in # Wuhan , # ChinaFlag of China .
Even more interestingly , scientific evidence continues to pour in that hydroxychloroquine plus zinc sulfate and azithromycin can be effective against COVID-19 .
As Vijay Jarayaj reported in an article for The American Thinker , reposted on Lifesite News , on July 9 , 2020 , Asia ’ s biggest and densest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one new positive COVID-19 case despite being a cluster and hotspot .
Dharavi is no ordinary slum .
It is one of the densest in the world , housing more than a million people .
India feared the worst when a cluster outbreak of COVID-19 was reported in Dharavi .
It could have become the biggest COVID-19 disaster zone in the world .
But by using proactive measures , Dharavi contained the virus .
Reports credit the huge turnaround to various factors .
Most focused on Dharavi ’ s use of widespread testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of an anti-malarial drug .
But they ignored the policy most responsible .
Indian doctors used hydroxychloroquine ( HCQ ) for prophylaxis ( preventive ) treatment — the same drug the American media have politicized , and American social media companies are deplatforming America ’ s Frontline Doctors for even discussing .
We all know that America ’ s Frontline Doctors weren ’ t deplatformed and censored for providing misleading information about COVID-19 , they were deplatformed and censored for providing information that demonstrates President Trump was right , and that contradicts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramp up the misery to help them defeat Trump in the 2020 election .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-30--VP Mike Pence and Secretary of Education Visit Thales Academy to Highlight an Example of How Schools

VP Mike Pence and Secretary of Education Visit Thales Academy to Highlight an Example of How Schools Can Open During COVID Times

Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos visited Thales Academy on Wednesday in Apex , North Carolina .
This visit by the members of the Trump administration comes as most school districts across the country are announcing schools with limit attendance to virtual and online classes to start the upcoming school year .
Thales Academy , as a school , has bucked the virtual class trend and decided that its students will be attending in-person classes this upcoming school year .
“ We ’ ve got to get our kids back to school .
We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Pence said at Thales Academy , according to WRAL .
“ It ’ s best for our kids .
It ’ s best for working families .
It ’ s best for North Carolina and best for all of America.
” While Pence was at the Thales Academy , he chatted with fourth-grade students .
Fourth-grade teacher Allison Combs , the teacher of the class Pence visited , said that she is happy to be in class teaching again even with additional health measurements , according to WRAL .
“ Virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work because that ’ s what we had to do , ” Combs said .
“ But losing that interaction with students made the work even harder .
… Just having those interactions and building those relationships , it ’ s a lot easier when you ’ re here in person.
” After visiting fourth-graders , the vice president participated in a roundtable discussion on reopening schools .
“ But we ’ re here today because to open up America , we ’ ve got open up America schools , the vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And Thales Academy is literally in the forefront , with your outstanding leadership here , your administrators , and your classroom teachers in doing just that.
” Pence noted that Thales Academy is at the “ forefront ” of how to properly reopen schools in America .
The vice president made it very clear that he thinks schools should be open .
“ And let ’ s be very clear : The one thing that we know , studying the data from around America and around the world , is the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very low , ” he said .
And we believe that with the right measures in place , we can safely operate our schools , just as you ’ re doing here at this great private school in North Carolina.
” At the end of the round table , Pence thanked Thales Academy Founder Bob Luddy for having him at his school .
“ So let me thank you , Bob Luddy , and the great team here at Thales Academy .
Thank you again for the hospitality .
Thank you for your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thank you for proving that even through all the days through which we passed and the sacrifices that all of us have made , that we can continue to open up North Carolina again and also open up North Carolina ’ s schools in a safe and responsible way.
” Today was an incredible day for Thales Academy !
Vice President of the United States Mike Pence came to visit Mrs. Comb ’ s 4th Grade class at Thales Academy Apex K-5 .
He was then joined by US Secretary of Education Betsy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard Hudson , Congressman David Rouzer , and State Senator Deanna Ballard , along with Mr. Luddy and several of our teachers and administrators for a roundtable discussion about reopening schools in America and the example that Thales Academy has provided for other schools .
It was a very great honor to host our Vice President and other distinguished guests , and our students enjoyed the opportunity to meet with him .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter @ zacheryschmidt2 .
Photo “ Mike Pence and Bob Luddy ” by Thales Academy .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-30--Crom Carmichael Discusses Voters in Violent Democratic Cities and Changes in the Presidential Debate

Crom Carmichael Discusses Voters in Violent Democratic Cities and Changes in the Presidential Debate Locations

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
At the end of the second hour , Carmichael discussed the rioting going on in Democratic-run cities and speculated how the voters are going to vote in those areas as violence moves into their neighborhoods .
Later on , he reviewed the status of the upcoming presidential debates and some recent changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ location .
Leahy : So that ’ s Joe Biden presumptive Democratic nominee .
Trying to explain why Donald Trump has got it wrong he says by sending the DHS law enforcement officials to defend courthouses that the Democrat mayors in all these cities won ’ t defend .
Carmichael : Right .
They are being set on fire .
They are being vandalized .
People inside them fear for their lives .
There are all kinds of injuries going on of the local police who are trying to defend it .
Neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Oregon will send in their own National Guard .
And they ’ ve essentially told the police to stand down .
So exactly how Biden what he says is just factually inaccurate .
Leahy : They were able to defend federal property without sending DHS in he says .
Carmichael : He said he was able to but when ?
It certainly wouldn ’ t be Ferguson .
It certainly wouldn ’ t be Baltimore .
Leahy : You get no disagreement from me .
Carmichael : Those were the two riots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those were just horrific .
But not as horrific as the ones in Portland .
And these in Portland , by the way , these are not Black people .
Almost all the rioters are White people .
Leahy : Yep .
And it is an insurrection .
There ’ s no question about that in my mind .
Carmichael : Yes .
And Minneapolis , Minnesota had the same thing .
It ’ s going to be interesting to see how the voters in those areas vote .
Because it won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move to their neighborhoods .
Leahy : As they did in St. Louis where this couple has been prosecuted for exercising their Second Amendment right .
Carmichael : Indicted .
Isn ’ t there a difference between being indicted ?
Leahy : I guess indicted means the charges are there and prosecuted means you are actually in court .
An attorney out there could tell us .
Carmichael : And the attorney general of the state is stepping in .
And to me , I don ’ t know why the attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indict the local attorney general for breaking the state law .
Carmichael : Abuse of power .
Yes .
Exactly .
Leahy : Well speaking of abuses of the political process .
There have been some people who speculated Dana Perino on FOX News has speculated that three presidential debates have been scheduled and she ’ s speculated that Joe Biden will try to dodge all these debates because he ’ s really not all there .
You have some news related to the presidential debates .
Carmichael : Yes .
Notre Dame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news that Notre Dame had withdrawn or sponsoring the presidential debate .
The first one to be held at Notre Dame .
At first , I was sad .
I was a little angry at Notre Dame because there isn ’ t any risk .
They are going to play football games and they are going to have classes .
And I don ’ t know why three reporters and two presidential candidates couldn ’ t come on to the campus and do the debate in an empty auditorium .
They could do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 feet .
( Leahy laughs ) They could do that .
But Notre Dame non the less they chose to withdraw .
Then I found out that the debate is going to be held now at Case Western Reserve University and the medical institution Cleveland Clinic .
And now I ’ m actually happy because I ’ m a compassionate person and if Joe Biden actually can ’ t remember where he is again then I think they have a memory ward at the Cleveland Clinic .
And they can immediately take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Because he gave another speech and he welcomed everybody to a venue that was not the venue .
Then he freezes and he goes , oh wait a minute .
I don ’ t know where I am .
( Leahy laughs ) He said that .
Then he proceeds to go on with blubbering around .
So Cleveland Clinic , have your memory experts ready .
Have them close by .
( Laughs ) And also as Cuomo would say , have all your ventilators in case Biden just falls over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crom once again that you truly are a passionate conservative .
Carmichael : I ’ m glad that the debate will be at a clinic .
( Laughter ) Leahy : The third debate is scheduled here in Nashville at Belmont .
Carmichael : Which is very close to Vanderbilt Hospital and so .
( Giggles ) Leahy : Do we want to have the ambulance there waiting and ready for Joe Biden ?
Carmichael : Actually I ’ m sure there will be one there .
Leahy : Oh , probably two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said uh oh , Dana Perino is right and now I see they ’ ve now picked a clinic at Case Western Reserve University and the medical institution of the Cleveland Clinic .
Which by the way the Cleveland Clinic is a fine medical institution .
And I understand they have wonderful memory people there .
Leahy : Perhaps I wonder if they will actually conduct the debate inside the clinic so that they won ’ t need the ambulance .
( Laughs ) Carmichael : There you go .
They could .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ OR .
( Laughter ) Carmichael : I don ’ t feel sorry for him .
As you know of all the people in Washington he is the one that I believe is the most despicable because of what he knowingly did as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee to Clarence Thomas .
As far as I am concerned Joe Biden is scum .
He is just terrible .
Leahy : And if he remembers I doubt he remembers .
Leahy : I get that .
And he is an empty vessel .
Carmichael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than an empty vessel because Michael , he is a bad person .
He ’ s an even worse person if its possible than Hillary Clinton .
He is a very very bad person .
Leahy : I don ’ t know if that ’ s possible to be a worse person than Hillary Clinton .
I will give you the benefit of the doubt .
Carmicheal : I ’ m not saying that that makes Hillary Clinton anything else .
She ’ s a very very bad person .
But I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington .
He ’ s enriched his family members .
He ’ s hurt businesses .
He is a bad person .
Leahy : And he ’ s cozying up to China big time .
Listen to the full 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 .
Photo “ George Floyd Protests Portland ” by Tedder .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-30--Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil McCabe Sees Republicans Taking Back the House of Represen

Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil McCabe Sees Republicans Taking Back the House of Representatives in 2020

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil McCabe to the newsmakers line .
During the second hour , McCabe described how he saw that Republicans could take back the House of Representatives in the upcoming November election .
He added that President Trump would bring candidates out of the woodwork and a max turnout for Republicans .
Leahy : We are joined on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and famed Washington journalist Neil McCabe .
Good morning Neil .
McCabe : Hello !
Top of the morning to you Michael .
Leahy : Top of the morning Mr. McCabe from Michael Patrick Leahy .
Leahy : So tell me do you think the Republicans have a chance of taking back the House of Representatives in November ?
McCabe : Absolutely .
In fact , I think its more than a good chance .
I think it ’ s a great chance and its got almost nothing to do with policies or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of turnout .
In the last turnout in the midterm of 2018 and there are other factors involved but I think the number one factor that the Republicans lost the House is they left 40 , four zero Democrats without challengers .
There were three House Republicans without challengers .
Before the first vote was counted you are down 40 to three ?
That ’ s not good .
Leahy : This is like encouraging news to our listeners who are looking at the possibility of a Democratic sweep at least on paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you think that the Republicans could possibly regain the House ?
McCabe : Yes I think on policy there are going to be some problems because the National Republican Congressional Committee is going to put its thumb on the scale with sort of so-called self-funding candidates .
So those self-funding candidates tend not to be doctrine conservatives .
I don ’ t think there is going to be any sort of policy thing .
I think the big deal is that President Donald Trump is at the top of the ticket and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the woodwork .
And the media is kind of making the same mistake that people made who were running the Romney campaign in 2012 because 2010 was that Tea Party wave year and it was incredible .
And the Romney team was basing their turnout models on more 2010 than 2008 .
And with Obama at the top of the ticket Democrats turned up and it got President Obama re-elected .
I think the key thing to look at is that there was a 10-12 million dollar drop off in Republican turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 whereas there was only about maybe a two percent drop off for the Democrats .
And so the Democrats were able to maintain max turnouts .
So they had max turnout for Hillary Clinton .
They had a max turnout in 2018 .
If the Republicans return to max turnout then what you ’ re looking at is you are looking at all of these races .
There were nine House races decided by less than a percentage point .
There were two dozen seats that were decided by less than 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election night .
How many of those races were too close to call ?
That ’ s with 10-12 million Republicans not showing up .
If they show up again then it just sort of returns to where you were in 2016 and 2014 .
Remember , that majority that Republicans had that was the largest Republican House majority in 80 years .
That was a very significant majority that the Democrats had to win .
And so it ’ s natural that that thing is going to swing back .
Leahy : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you look at this is that their lack of enthusiasm in every poll for Joe Biden .
Those who support Joe Biden really do it because they don ’ t like Donald Trump .
There ’ s not a lot of enthusiasm for Joe Biden .
In contrast by a three to one margin , those who support Donald Trump are very enthusiastic about him .
McCabe : Oh yeah , absolutely .
I think when you and I were having conversations in 2016 one of the things that kept coming up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported Hillary Clinton who didn ’ t have to support Hillary Clinton .
Nobody was jumping out of their shoes saying , oh goodness this woman needs to be president .
Nobody is saying we have to have Joe Biden .
( Leahy chuckles ) Joe Biden is not the cowbell of presidential candidates .
On the other hand , people are absolutely adamant about re-electing the president .
And then that is going to play out .
That ’ s why your turnout is going to go back to 60 million whereas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 .
Leahy : Neil McCabe , the national correspondent for The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Thank you for your insights .
Crom , so if that ’ s true and if he ’ s right and if Republicans were to take over the House we would not see the debacle that we saw in the House Judiciary Committee yesterday when they did the inquisition of Attorney General Barr .
Carmichael : I watched a good bit of it .
And it was absolutely fascinating to just watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my head saying , I don ’ t understand what it is the Democrats are trying to accomplish with this .
Because here is what they would do Michael .
Then you had Nadler and this is the part that is interesting to me .
Nadler welcomes the attorney general to the House Judiciary Committee .
Thanks , him graciously for coming blah blah blah and then proceeds to throw him under the bus and run the tires back and forth over him .
And then Barr gives his opening statement .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave his opening statement .
Leahy : And what did that consist of ?
Carmichael : Well , he spoke .
And then he said I have a video that I ’ d like to show .
Do we have a video ?
So they showed the video and it was a whole bunch of reporters from the mainstream media and CNN who were reporting to the camera that there was no violence with buildings burning behind them .
( Leahy laughs ) Then after about a minute but it was at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that the protests are peaceful .
The protests are peaceful .
Peaceful protests blah blah blah .
Then it had about two minutes of just mayhem .
It looked like a war zone .
It looked like the Middle East after a huge bombing run .
It just looked terrible .
And then you had these rioters and that ’ s all you can call them .
They were knocking windows out of police cars that had policemen in them .
They were throwing rocks and bricks and all this stuff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said that will not go into the record because we have a House rule that any audio or video must be provided to the chair 48 hours ahead of time .
So it was like he was a petulant little child who had gotten busted .
Because I don ’ t think if Jordan had given it 48 hours ahead of time Nadler wouldn ’ t have let it run .
( Laughs ) Leahy : He would not have let it run .
Carmichael : So he got it out there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then Nadler proceeds to throw him under the bus again by asking him questions that Barr would try to answer .
He would then interrupt him .
Leahy : He wouldn ’ t let him answer the questions .
Carmichael : And then they would ask a question and he would try to answer it they would say I ’ m reclaiming my time ad then they would ask another question or make a statement then ask another question .
And I ’ m sitting here asking myself , how do they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask somebody a question and then you don ’ t let them answer .
Then the chair , Nadler got up and left .
So this other person sat in the chair and Jim Jordan asked the chair and said , madam chair because it was a woman and I don ’ t know who she was , aren ’ t you going to let him answer the question ?
She didn ’ t say a word .
Carmichael : So that ’ s how it went the whole time .
Leahy : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can make his comments after the hearing .
Carmichael : Is that it ?
( Laughs ) 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--2020-07-30--NYPD Reports Demonstrators Damaged 303 Cruisers, Costing $1 Million in Repair

The New York City Police Department said 303 law enforcement vehicles were damaged since George Floyd ’ s death on May 25 , costing nearly $ 1 million .
A total of 14 cruisers were set ablaze and totaled with another seven still being repaired , according to the Associated Press .
The remainder of the damaged cars have since been re-deployed on NYC ’ s streets that continue to be roiled by protests and riots following the death of Floyd , who died after a former Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on video Saturday using a sign as an instrument to break an NYPD police van ’ s window , according to the AP .
A tweet from July 25 shows a sign that read “ ARTISTS FOR GEORGE ” stuck through a police vehicle ’ s windshield .
Protesters continue to gather in NYC en masse , and a large group of demonstrators overtook a manhattan freeway Sunday .
An estimated 300 NYPD officers were injured between May 25 to June 8 during the onset of the unrest , the New York Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city for the month of June , according to the NYPD .
Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ’ s signature on two proposals that stripped the NYPD of over $ 1 billion in funding and disbanded a plainclothes anti-crime unit , according to the Wall Street Journal .
Jake Dima is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-30--AFC’s Shaka Mitchell: Families Should Have Options to Make the Decisions That Work Best for Their Ki

AFC’s Shaka Mitchell: Families Should Have Options to Make the Decisions That Work Best for Their Kids

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Tennessee Director the American Federation for Children Shaka Mitchell to the show .
During the third hour , Mitchell weighed in on the current status of Metro government ’ s decision to keep kids out of school for the fall .
Leahy : We are joined on our newsmakers line by our good friend Shaka Mitchell who is the Tennessee state director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shaka welcome .
Mitchell : Hey good morning .
Thanks for having me on again .
Leahy : The big issue now is kids going back to school .
Leahy : Tell us what the Tennessee branch of the American Federation for Children ’ s views is on that .
Mitchell : Sure .
It ’ s on everybody ’ s mind right now .
School is starting in Tennessee next week if you can believe that .
Just got out of 100-degree heat and now school is starting .
What we want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s really our mantra for families .
Families should have options to make decisions that work best for their kids .
And that might be healthcare-related .
It might have to do with digital versus in-person learning .
There is any number of reasons that a parent might choose something different from their neighbor or different among their kids .
So we think parents should have options and right now we are not seeing a lot of that .
Leahy : Particularly let ’ s draw our attention to Metro Nashville schools where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option and they claim that they are going to have virtual schooling for 86,000 students .
But I don ’ t think that logistically that ’ s working out so well .
What are your thoughts on that ?
Mitchell : Unfortunately , Michael I don ’ t have much that is kind to say about the Metro Nashville Public School District so-called plans to return to school .
I think this would be kind of one of those bless their hearts moments .
That ’ s the best you can say .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with about 86,000 students that have decided to go 100 percent online .
So we can start there .
I ’ ve got a rising kindergartner .
Five-year-olds can not spend a full school online .
And we wouldn ’ t want them too .
Just to start with that ’ s just bananas .
And logistically as you mentioned there are many challenges there .
The technology is not even ready .
And we can talk more about that .
It ’ s just a nightmare .
Leahy : I saw on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group called Tennessee for a Safe Return to Campus held a mock funeral around near the governor ’ s mansion here and their claim was basically dead teachers can ’ t teach dead children .
That was their kind way of putting it .
What ’ s your reaction to that ?
Mitchell : I don ’ t know anyone who has said that they are encouraging an unsafe return to schools .
I think it ’ s just melodramatic .
Certainly with this sort of mock funeral .
Unfortunately , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any tears when reports said that 80 percent of kids couldn ’ t read on grade level .
There were no tears about that .
There is all this consternation .
Unfortunately , it overdramatizes the issue .
And it ’ s a disservice to most teachers .
Because I think most teachers would tell you , listen we want to teach and we want kids to be successful and online-only is not the best way that kids or teachers are going to be successful .
I think it has to do a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does these individual teachers .
Carmichael : This is Crom and I think you are exactly right .
It ’ s the unions and the heads of the unions that think of this more as politics than what ’ s right for the students because if you took that statement , dead teachers can ’ t teach dead students or whatever they said .
If you take that to its logical conclusion than every year when we have the flu season you ’ d have to shut down the schools for four months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and students get to school because we know that there is a risk that they ’ ll have a fatal accident in a vehicle on their way to school ?
It is just an asinine statement made by a bunch of what I call thugs .
And I do call the people who run the teachers unions all across the country , I call them thugs because that ’ s what they are .
They do not care about the students .
And to tell you the truth , they don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They want to increase the number of bureaucrats in education that gives them more union dues .
Leahy : Shaka , tell us what the agenda of the American Federation of Children and recommendations are here as you are the Tennessee state director here .
What are your positive recommendations going forward here in this crisis ?
Mitchell : One of the things we ’ ve talked about and your listeners have probably been paying a lot of attention to is we ’ ve been beating the drum on education savings accounts a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That program is currently tied up in litigation .
In fact those two go to the court of appeals next week .
We are hopeful that ultimately that program is going to be successful .
That ’ s a program that would put power in the hands of parents to make decisions .
Currently , that program is limited to Nashville and Memphis areas but I think there is an opportunity because of the COVID to say hey look , if this works in our most urban areas then we have to consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are in suburban areas and in rural areas as well .
Consider this .
You ’ ve got districts with no broadband that are going to try and go 100 percent virtual .
That ’ s not going to work .
Leahy : It ’ s not going to happen .
Mitchell : Not going to happen .
So we better get parents ’ lists .
We think school choice is a great way to do this .
You would say free up teachers frankly and certifications to go get into tutoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you ’ re hearing a whole lot about .
Let ’ s free up teachers to do that .
Let ’ s free up organizations even to start more schools .
You ’ ve got a lot of churches that have great buildings and community centers that have great buildings and could do safe distance learning for small groups of kids and have teachers in there .
I think there are just a lot of creative solutions that unfortunately they are not considering .
The last thing I would say is if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure those laptops have chargers .
That ’ s something that Nashville forgot too .
Mitchell : So we ’ ve got 20,000 laptops without chargers .
Come on .
We ’ ve got to do better than that .
Leahy : That ’ s a Democrat administration at work in my view by not thinking all these things through .
Metro Nashville schools will not have in-person schooling .
Do we have any idea when they are planning on doing it or just saying not now ?
And we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last that I heard is that Metro Nashville won ’ t do it through it Labor Day or about thereabouts .
Honestly , I think you ’ re not going to see kids get back into the school in public schools .
Because many of the private schools are starting .
They are figuring out a way to make this work .
And obviously , we pray that all the students and the faculty and families stay safe .
But they are trying to figure out a way to make this work to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think public schools are not going to be in this semester .
That ’ s my prediction .
Carmichael : The alternative to what the teachers union people are saying is that ignorance is OK because that ’ s what they are now promoting .
More ignorance than they were getting before when they were doing a lousy job running the schools before .
The unions ’ position is not surprising but it is absolutely just sad .
Leahy : Shaka , we have 30 seconds .
People can go to americanfederationforchildren.org .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ add ?
Mitchell : I would just say keep an eye on these school choice programs and ESA .
You now its campaign time .
Ask your legislators and where they stand .
Are they pushing for these one size fits all school and education programs ?
Or are they willing to empower parents to do what is best for their kids ?
Listen to the third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Photo “ Shaka Mitchell ” by Shaka Mitchell .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-30--Remington Files for Bankruptcy Amid Nationwide Unrest, Surge in Gun Purchases

Remington Arms Co. filed for bankruptcy amid nationwide unrest and surging gun sales .
The firearm company filed for chapter 11 protection , or reorganization bankruptcy , for the second time since 2018 , The Wall Street Journal reported Monday .
Remington has been in business for over 200 years , according to its webpage .
JPMorgan Chase and Co. , Franklin Resources Inc. and other investors acquired Remington following the arms manufacturer ’ s first bankruptcy declaration , according to WSJ .
Remington engaged in talks to sell its company to the Navajo Nation , however negotiations failed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is looking for potential buyers and may sell its ammunition and gun businesses as separate entities .
Remington paid over $ 775 million in debt in 2018 but has continued to struggle , WSJ reported .
The company faced litigation after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting , in which the shooter used a Remington-manufactured Bushmaster AR-15 , according to WSJ .
Victims ’ families filed the lawsuit stating Remington “ knowingly marketed and promoted the Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle for use in assaults against human beings , ” NPR reported .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide unrest which began following George Floyd ’ s death in police custody .
Gun sales have surged by more than 145 % in the month of June amid protests and riots across multiple cities , according to Fox Business .
The Remington 870 , one of the brand ’ s models , was the third best-selling pump-action shotgun in 2019 , according to Gun Broker statistics obtained by American Hunter .
The Remington 700 bolt-action rifle and V3 Tac-13 semi-automatic shotgun were also top sellers last year .
Remington did not immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Jake Dima is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Woman Shooting Remington Gun ” by Mitch Barrie .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .