thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Homes Burned as Winds Push California Fire into Desert Floor

JUNIPER HILLS , California ( AP ) — Strong winds pushed a wildfire burning for nearly two weeks in mountains northeast of Los Angeles onto the desert floor and spread it rapidly in several directions , causing it to explode in size and destroy homes , officials said Saturday .
Meanwhile , officials were investigating the death of a firefighter on the lines of another Southern California wildfire that erupted earlier this month from a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used by a couple to reveal their baby ’ s gender .
The death occurred Thursday in San Bernardino National Forest as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 75 miles ( 120 kilometers ) east of Los Angeles , the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement .
In northern Los Angeles County , erratic winds pushed the Bobcat Fire onto the Mojave Desert community of Juniper Hills on Friday after churning all the way across the San Gabriel Mountains .
The winds and thick smoke over the area grounded water-dropping aircraft most of the day .
Meanwhile , crews on the ground shifted from attacking the blaze to protecting homes because they were “ outflanked ” by the flames , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire grew by nearly 20,000 acres to 142 square miles ( 368 square kilometers ) .
Some residents in Juniper Hills fled as blowing embers sparked spot fires , hitting some homes but sparing others .
Bridget Lensing said she feared her family ’ s house was lost after seeing on Twitter that a neighbor ’ s house three doors down went up in flames .
“ The past year , I poured my heart and soul into improving this home , ” Lensing said .
“ And it could be ripped away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately clear how many homes were burned in the area about 50 miles ( 80 kilometers ) northeast of downtown LA .
A crew will assess damages once the area is cleared of danger , said fire spokesman Sky Cornell .
No injuries were reported .
He said crews will take advantage of slightly cooler temperatures to make headway on Saturday .
However , winds were expected to remain strong with possible gusts of up to 25 mph .
On the south side of the blaze , firefighters continued to protect Mount Wilson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a historic observatory founded more than a century ago and numerous broadcast antennas serving Southern California .
The fire that started Sept. 6 had already doubled in size over the last week .
It is 15 % contained .
Officials said the fire has been challenging because it is burning in areas that have not burned in decades , and because the firestorms across California have limited resources .
There were about 1,660 firefighters on the lines .
The name of the firefighter killed in the nearby El Dorado Fire was being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Our deepest sympathies are with the family , friends and fellow firefighters during this time , ” Forest Service spokesperson Zach Behrens said in the statement .
No other information was released about the firefighter , the agency the firefighter worked for , or the circumstances of the death .
The body was escorted down the mountain in a procession of first-responder vehicles .
A statement from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , or Cal Fire , said it was the 26th death involving wildfires besieging the state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that caught fire was growing in wilderness outside Palm Springs .
To the north , a fire burning for nearly a month in Sequoia National Forest roared to life again Friday and prompted evacuation orders for the central California mountain communities of Silver City and Mineral King .
More than 7,900 wildfires have burned more than 5,468 square miles ( 14,164 square kilometers ) in California this year , including many since a mid-August barrage of dry lightning ignited parched vegetation .
The El Dorado Fire has burned more than 34 square miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 59 % contained , with 10 buildings destroyed and six damaged .
Cal Fire said earlier this month that the El Dorado Fire was ignited Sept. 5 when a couple , their young children and someone there to record video staged the baby gender reveal at El Dorado Ranch Park at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains .
The device was set off in a field and quickly ignited dry grass .
The couple frantically tried to use bottled water to extinguish the flames and called 911 .
Authorities have not released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could face criminal charges and be held liable for the cost of fighting the fire .
Marcio Jose Sanchez and Christopher Weber are reporters for The Associated Press .
AP writer John Antczak in Los Angeles and Daisy Nguyen in San Francisco contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : Members of a Los Angeles County Fire crew make a stand to protect a home from the advancing Bobcat Fire along Cima Mesa Rd .
Friday , Sept. 18 , 2020 , in Juniper Hills , Calif. ( AP Photo/Marcio Jose @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis Says He Will Support Trump’s SCOTUS Nominee

Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said Saturday that he would support whomever President Donald Trump nominates to the Supreme Court .
Tillis ’ s statement comes just over six weeks before the presidential election .
A seat on the Supreme Court became vacant Friday evening when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died of pancreatic cancer at age 87 .
“ There is a clear choice on the future of the Supreme Court between the well-qualified and conservative jurist President Trump will nominate and I will support , and the liberal activist Joe Biden will nominate and [ Democratic senatorial nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will legislate radical , left-wing policies from the bench , ” Tillis said .
Tillis also offered his condolences to Ginsburg ’ s family , and praised the late justice as a “ pioneer who honorably served our nation for 27 years.
” “ It ’ s a testament to Justice Ginsburg ’ s character that she developed strong friendships with her fellow justices who disagreed with her on fundamental issues before the court , including the late Justice Antonin Scalia .
Susan and I send our deepest condolences to Justice Ginsburg ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats have called on Senate Republicans to not hold a vote on Ginsburg ’ s successor until after the presidential inauguration in January , citing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s refusal to proceed with Judge Merrick Garland ’ s nomination in 2016 after insisting that President Barack Obama ’ s successor should fill the seat instead .
“ Four years ago , a Supreme Court vacancy arose under divided government and a lame-duck president as Americans were choosing his successor .
Today , however , President Trump is again facing voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will ultimately render their judgment on his presidency and how he chooses to fill the vacancy , ” Tillis said .
While Trump said Saturday that he would nominate a successor to Ginsburg ’ s seat “ without delay , ” it is unclear whether Senate Republicans will have the votes to successfully confirm Trump ’ s appointee .
Though the GOP holds a 53-47 majority in the Senate , Republican Sens .
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have said that they will not vote to confirm any appointee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 51 possible GOP votes to confirm .
Other GOP senators , including Sens .
Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , have also previously said that they would wait to confirm a Supreme Court appointee in an election year , though it is unclear whether they will hold to that position .
Though it is unknown whether Tillis ’ s statement will help or harm his own reelection bid , he and Cunningham are neck-and-neck in one of the tightest Senate races in the country , with Cunningham leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

Arizona State Rep. Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) and 19 other legislators issued a statement following a video that went viral of three black students kicking two white students out of Arizona State University’s multicultural center. They demanded accountability and threatened to withhold funding from the university.
They announced, “It has come to light following the racially-motivated harassment of two students and their subsequent removal from one of the campus’ study facilities that ASU has allowed a culture of institutionalized racism and neo-segregation to take hold on its campus. The racially-charged removal of these students from the multicultural center begs the question of why Arizonans are being forced to spend tens, potentially hundreds, of millions of their hard-earned tax dollars on a building at a public university that some of our citizens are not allowed to use?”
Hoffman is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and concluded that he would “get to the bottom of this and take the appropriate action in the upcoming budget. Not one penny of taxpayer money should be appropriated to a public institution that in any way enables racism or neo-segregation. Period.”
ASU said it is investigating the incident. The angry students may have been “triggered” by a sticker on the laptop belonging to one of the white males, which said “Police Lives Matter,” and the slogan on the other white male’s shirt, which said “Did not vote for Biden.” They told the two young men, “You’re making this space uncomfortable” and “white is not a culture.” They said the Police Lives Matter sticker was racist.
One of the three told the students to leave, and another remarked, “This white man thinks he can take up our space, and this is why we need a multicultural space, because they think they can get away with this sh*t.” One of the two males packs up and leaves, and the other one stands up and looks like he might have been about to leave too.
A fundraiser was started for the harassed students on GoFundMe — one of the students mentioned in the video that he works 60 hours a week to support himself and his tuition, explaining that he’s not entitled — but GoFundMe removed it, refunding the money back to the donors. The company said it violated their “prohibited conduct policy,” which bans content that GoFundMe finds to be “in support of hate, violence, harassment, bullying, discrimination, terrorism, or intolerance of any kind.”
– – –
Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Commentary: NYU Prof Says More Than 20 Percent of Universities Could Fail Because of the Lockdowns

As bad as the COVID-19 lockdown has been in any number of sectors of the US economy , colleges and universities have been hit particularly hard .
Restaurants and movie theaters have physical plants that continue to cost them money regardless of whether they are serving food or showing movies .
Hotels have it even worse , because they are far more expensive to maintain .
But colleges and universities have it worse still .
Their physical plants include not only housing and dining facilities , but also recreation areas , classrooms , and expansive grounds .
In addition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number hundreds of times that of hotels .
Unlike restaurants , movie theaters , and hotels , colleges and universities do have the ability to offer their product remotely .
Students with their faces planted firmly into Zoom calls have become the new normal pretty quickly .
But when a quarter to almost half of a university ’ s income comes from room and board , it becomes pretty clear pretty quickly that those Zoom classes are gutting college and university revenue streams .
Making matters worse , foreign students are staying home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and US policy .
This might not sound like much , but universities obtain more than twice the revenue from the typical foreign student than from the typical American student .
Foreign students have been subsidizing American students for years .
And now they aren ’ t .
The upshot of all of this , according to NYU marketing professor Scott Galloway , is rather disconcerting .
In examining some 442 US universities , Galloway estimates that more than 20 percent could fail because of the lockdowns , and that another 30 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 50 percent of US colleges and universities at very serious ( or mortal ) risk .
None of this is all that surprising .
The number of potential college students is limited by the number of college-ready young people .
And that number has not been growing .
Faced with a mostly stagnant population , universities started a sort of dance of death several decades ago .
To attract more students , institutions started improving their physical plants – first with air-conditioning ( that wasn ’ t a thing in colleges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newer and better dorms , then with all manner of extravagances like climbing walls , personal trainers , state of the art gyms , campus-wide wifi , and transportation to local hotspots .
But these amenities were expensive .
To pay for them , universities had to attract still more students , which they did by improving their amenities even further .
And when they had tapped out the population of college-ready young people , universities lowered their standards and started admitting not-so-college-ready young people .
But to keep those students in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide all manner of remedial help .
And that required yet more physical plant and more personnel to get these students to a point that they had at least a chance of graduating .
The numbers are unambiguous .
In 1970 , 17 percent of 18 to 24 year olds in the U.S. were full-time college students at 4-year institutions .
That number rose steadily to over 30 percent by 2018 .
That ’ s more than a 75 percent growth in the number of college students relative to the population .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same decades that the inflation-adjusted price of higher education more than doubled , the population-adjusted number of 18 to 24 year olds opting to go to college increased 75 percent ?
Three forces were at work .
In guaranteeing student loans , the federal government simultaneously made college more expensive ( by increasing the number of students attending college ) , and made it easier for students to borrow to pay for it ( by forcing taxpayers to pick up some of the tab ) .
Second , the success of high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of their students accepted into colleges .
This encouraged high school teachers and administrators to push more students to go to college .
And finally , colleges strong-armed faculty into watering down academic rigor in order to keep enrollments up .
In short , to capture more revenue , colleges had to increase their enrollments .
To do that , colleges had to make graduating easier .
This house of cards was destined to fall at some point , but COVID-19 has become a catalyst .
“ At some point ” is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any other venture , colleges will go out of business when they become insolvent .
There is nothing special about a college in this respect .
Since 2016 , some 52 colleges and universities have closed their doors or merged with other institutions .
With the new reality of COVID-19 , this trend will accelerate .
Big state schools and those in the Ivy League will come out the other side to be sure .
But small liberal arts colleges will not be nearly as fortunate .
But that ’ s only the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at-risk institutions .
The COVID-19 related downturn has caused any number of young people to ask themselves whether they want to go to college at all given the exorbitant costs .
For the first time in decades they are asking the right sorts of questions about college .
The most important question , of course , is whether college is a good investment .
Young people are finding that the answer is more complex than it first appears .
The career-long financial return to a four-year degree ranges from over $ 3 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million dollars for majors like Early Childhood Education , Voice and Opera , and Piano Performance .
Most majors ending in the word , “ studies ” ( Film Studies , Organizational Studies , Urban Studies , Liberal Studies ) deliver a financial return anywhere from one-third to one-tenth that of the STEM majors .
The government has propped up colleges and universities by requiring taxpayers to underwrite student loans .
In turn , colleges and universities have propped up low-value majors by including many of their courses in the general studies curriculum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As institutions compromise standards in the name of increasing student numbers , employers will come to realize that , while some college majors remain valuable , a college degree in general isn ’ t necessarily so .
As COVID forces universities to offer classes online , students will come to realize they can attend college from their own homes at significant savings .
Either one of these factors would put significant financial pressure on colleges and universities .
And as they tighten their belts , the first programs they ’ ll eliminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The sunny side of all of this is that a stronger system of higher education will emerge , one re-focused on educating students rather than on selling a “ college experience.
” There will still be plenty of options for that “ college experience , ” but there will likely be a number of purely utilitarian options for the budget-conscious and academically driven .
In the end , COVID-19 may come to be seen as the catalyst that disrupted the American system of higher education for the better , no matter how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davies is the Milton Friedman Distinguished Fellow at FEE , associate professor of economics at Duquesne University , and co-host of the podcast , Words & Numbers .
James R. Harrigan is Managing Director of the Center for Philosophy of Freedom at the University of Arizona , and the F.A .
Hayek Distinguished Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education .
He is also co-host of the Words & Numbers podcast .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Marsha Blackburn Says No One Made Things Easy for Ruth Bader Ginsburg

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) during a FOX News interview , discussed the legacy of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who passed away Friday .
“ Nobody gave it to her and nobody made the way easy for her .
Women have a much more circuitous route in their careers than men , and certainly we see that in Justice Ginsburg ’ s career , ” Blackburn said .
“ Women who have had to fight to make their way really appreciate the opportunity…to do a job that they truly love , and she loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relied on an inner strength .
She said she appreciated how Ginsburg fought back against cancer .
She also said she appreciated how Ginsburg refused to cave to pressure from the political left and allow someone else to take her seat on the U.S. Supreme Court .
Blackburn serves on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee .
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) has already said that U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s nominee to replace Ginsburg will get a vote on the U.S. Senate floor .
Blackburn told Bream that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court justice can take upwards of 60 days .
Ginsburg died at her home in Washington .
She was 87 .
Her death just over six weeks before Election Day is likely to set off a heated battle over whether Trump should nominate , and the Republican-led Senate should confirm , her replacement , or if the seat should remain vacant until the outcome of his race against Democrat Joe Biden is known .
Trump , who called Ginsburg “ an amazing woman , ” made his view clear on Saturday : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without delay ” his upcoming pick for the high court .
“ We were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us , ” Trump tweeted , “ the most important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices .
We have this obligation , without delay !
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this report .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Black Man Goes on Anti-Trump Rampage in California, Punches Several Women, Including an 84-Year-Old

A 33-year-old black man went on an anti-Trump rampage in Aliso Viejo , California , Wednesday evening , allegedly assaulting several females—including an 84-year-old woman—during a Trump rally .
One woman was reportedly hospitalized with a neck injury .
The elderly woman was left battered and bruised by the attack .
“ He took his hand way back like he was going to punch me , and [ he ] hit me right across the face !
” Donna Snow told CBSLA .
“ Broke my earrings off.
” Cynthia Cantrelle-Westman told KTLA that the rally was was winding down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came and we thought he was going to join our group.
” But the man , identified as Alvin Gary Shaw , appeared to be in the throes of a violent Trump Derangement Syndrome ( TDS ) episode .
“ You out here disrespecting my people !
” he can be heard saying in video footage of the altercation .
He was “ using profanity from the minute he arrived , ” Westman told KTLA .
Witnesses also said he blew smoke in the Trump supporters ’ faces before physically attacking them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming up to me and getting in my face and all he could say was the F-word.
” She said he wouldn ’ t leave her alone .
“ He took his cigar—whatever it was filled with , marijuana—whatever—he put it on my brand new Trump sign !
” Snow exclaimed .
“ They ’ re not giving away Trump signs in California , okay ?
So that made me a little upset .
And I said , ‘ what are you doing ?
You can ’ t do that ?
!
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punched her in the face .
She managed to keep her balance , CBSLA reported , but another person was knocked to the ground while trying to help others .
A third victim was reportedly taken to the hospital with a neck injury .
Shaw was armed with a small folding knife , which deputies later found in a nearby bush , A retired police officer who was on the scene pulled his gun on the assailant as he attempted to flee , according to the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a retired police officer from an agency outside of Orange County had detained an adult male subject , ” said Sgt .
Dennis Breckner .
Shaw was arrested “ on suspicion of elder abuse , assault with a deadly weapon and assault and battery after allegedly attacking three people in attendance , ” the sheriff ’ s office said .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Hispanics in Virginia Significantly More Likely to Have COVID-19 Antibodies than Other Adults, VDH S

Hispanics in Virginia Significantly More Likely to Have COVID-19 Antibodies than Other Adults, VDH Study Says

Hispanic adults are four times more likely to have prior traces of a COVID-19 infection when compared to the average Virginian , according to a Virginia Department of Health ( VDH ) study published Friday .
The VDH Coronavirus Serology Project was conducted this summer from June 1 to August 14 by adult patients in Virginia presenting non-COVID related symptoms agreeing to complete a questionnaire and provide a blood sample for antibody testing .
Of the 4,675 people tested , roughly 2.4 percent of adults showed evidence of antibodies from a prior case of COVID-19 .
Hispanic adults among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 antibodies at 10.2 percent , according to the study .
“ The results are in line with the preliminary findings we reported in August that suggested a relatively low rate of COVID-19 exposure overall among Virginia adults , ” said Dr. Norman Oliver , Virginia State Health Commissioner .
“ Virginians are avoiding infections by following recommendations on wearing masks , social distancing and handwashing .
We continue to study the higher rate of infection in Hispanic adults and to work with community partners to formulate additional interventions.
” The study also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern Virginia , where COVID has been more prevalent , and 3.8 percent of people who are uninsured or insured through Medicaid showed the presence of antibodies .
The VDH said people of Hispanic ethnicity , living in an apartment building or a multi-family housing unit significantly increases the risk of having a positive antibody test .
Del .
Jason Miyares ( R-Virginia Beach ) was surprised by the findings and thought the higher rates among Hispanics may have something to do with aspects of Latin culture .
“ It ’ s obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t know exactly why .
I don ’ t know if it ’ s somewhat cultural because , as a Cuban American , your culture is to embrace people and to hug people , particularly loved ones in your family .
Obviously , that also violates social distancing [ guidelines ] .
” Miyares also mentioned how many Hispanic households there can be three generations living together .
The results and information from the serology study will help public health officials and Virginia hospitals plan for future urgent healthcare needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five different health systems across Virginia ’ s regions to estimate the total number of Virginians infected with COVID-19 since March including Inova Health System , Virginia Commonwealth University , Sentara Healthcare , Carilion Clinic , and University of Virginia , according to the study .
As of Saturday , there are 139,655 cases , 10,562 hospitalizations and 2,990 deaths in Virginia .
Latinos account for 33,296 cases , 2,969 hospitalizations and 297 deaths , according to the VDH COVID-19 daily dashboard .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Large Numbers of Early Voters Might Not Change Final Election Results

It looked like the release of a new iPhone .
Across Virginia , hundreds of people lined up outside polling places on the first day of early voting on Friday .
The Virginia Public Access Project is reporting that already , over 600,000 more Virginians have requested mail-in ballots than in 2016 .
However , political pundits warn that large increases in early voting might not affect final results that much .
Pundit Ben Tribbett told The Virginia Star , “ It tends to be that people that vote the earliest also have the strongest views , so I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lined up for three hours to vote yesterday at the early vote centers were people that were going to be persuaded later in the election.
” “ The reality is that in voting by mail , you don ’ t pick up any votes unless it ’ s somebody that wouldn ’ t have otherwise voted in person , ” Tribbett said .
“ So until we get the list back to see , are these new people who are requesting mail ballots , or are they the same people that voted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to analyze that.
” Pundit Paul Goldman told The Virginia Star that whichever candidate is leading in the polls will likely want people to vote earlier .
“ It seems to me that to the extent that people are voting earlier , it ought to help Biden at this point cause he ’ s ahead in the polls , and so naturally if you ’ re ahead , you want people to cast their ballots now , you don ’ t want them to think about it for 45 more days.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I were running , and I thought I had the best message , I ’ d want to have as much time as possible to get that message across to people.
” Goldman agreed that there isn ’ t really enough data to understand what an increase in mail-in ballots and early voting means , but he ’ s concerned that it could harm the democratic process .
“ I just find it a little bit disconcerting , ” Goldman said .
“ It used to be , you nominate the candidate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then they hit the campaign trail for 60 days and everybody gets to judge it .
And so every week in the campaign is important .
Here , people are getting nominated and then a couple of weeks later , there ’ s voting before the first debate .
That doesn ’ t make any sense to me.
” “ It ’ s almost like nobody wants to campaign , ” Goldberg said .
“ If half the people have voted before the first debate , why even bother with a debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Altria Performing Well Despite COVID-19

Altria Performing Well Despite COVID-19

Richmond-based tobacco company Altria ’ s stock is performing relatively well , and has recently raised dividend payouts to shareholders .
That ’ s despite several factors working against the company , including the COVID-19 pandemic with worse outcomes for people with tobacco-related health problems and an economic crisis .
David Brat , dean of the Liberty University School of Business , told The Virginia Star that increased stress from the pandemic and economic crisis may be causing more people to buy tobacco products .
“ Being cooped up in a house alone , with all the stresses of 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shutdown , 40 million people in the country had to cope with that .
When people are in that kind of situation … it ’ s not surprising the usage [ of alcohol and tobacco ] goes up some , ” Brat said .
Brat added , “ Most people are aware of the health danger [ of tobacco ] involved in the first place , so that ’ s already baked in.
” “ Then , on top of that , Altria has been one of those very solid performing companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solid dividends , very conservatively run in a business sense , they try not to make errors , they ’ re very careful , they go out of their way to avoid litigation , and they ’ re a well-run firm .
And so if you put together any new burst in demand , that ’ s not a bad combination.
” Brat cautioned that he is not an expert on Altria specifically .
Additionally , The Motley Fool notes that tobacco ’ s addictive nature makes for more stable product sales , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have more time for smoking .
Tobacco ’ s strong performance has been matched by strong alcohol sales in Virginia , with the Virginia Acoholic Beverage Control Authority reporting a revenue increase of $ 117 million in 2020 .
Meanwhile , a rise in overdoses in Virginia suggests an increase in substance abuse .
“ People want to opt out when reality is just really crushing them , ” Brat said .
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Virginia Election Ballots to Feature Proposed Constitutional Amendment on a New Redistricting Commis

Virginia Election Ballots to Feature Proposed Constitutional Amendment on a New Redistricting Commission

When Virginians submit their ballots for the November elections they will not just be voting for the president or members of Congress , they will also be deciding how the state ’ s redistricting system will work going forward .
Redistricting is constitutionally mandated to occur every ten years after the completion of the most recent U.S. Census .
If Amendment 1 is approved , a 16-member redistricting commission consisting of eight General Assembly members and eight citizens would be created .
The legislative members would include two Senate Republicans , two Senate Democrats , two House Republicans and Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointed by party leaders of the Senate and House , and the citizen commissioners are selected by a group of five retired circuit court judges from lists created by the party leaders of the General Assembly .
The party leaders from the House and Senate are also responsible for choosing the judges from a list provided by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia .
Each party leader gives the judges a list of 16 candidates and then two from each list are selected .
“ I think it is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half split on first glance looks good , but the devil is always in the details , ” said Dave Brat , former U.S. Representative for Virginia ’ s 7th Congressional District , in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ Part of the issue is always that both sides of leadership , Democrat or Republican , at the federal or state level , are guided by money in too many cases.
” Under the amendment , two legislative commissioners can kill a proposed redistricting drawing through veto .
If this happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court , which is constructed of legislator ’ s appointees .
If Amendment 1 is not approved by voters , the current system where the General Assembly draws the state ’ s legislative and congressional districts , with the governor having veto power , would remain in place .
Proponents of Amendment 1 say it would bring increased transparency and fairness to the process and , ultimately , stop partisan gerrymandering .
Fair Maps VA is one organization that favors the amendment and has been using social media to urge Virginians to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yes vote on Amendment 1 in Virginia is a vote to end partisan gerrymandering , ” said Brian Cannon , executive director of Fair Maps VA , in an interview with The Star .
“ It also would provide transparency and some clear rules to protect our communities in the [ redistricting ] process .
It would stop politicians from the proverbial smokey backroom from rigging their election maps.
” Cannon continued : “ [ This commission ] is balanced by party in both the citizen side and legislator side .
I certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the lines , but our legislature doesn ’ t share that full agreement with us , so we have to make compromises to get it through and this is a pretty good one.
” Opponents of the amendment argue the commission selection process is flawed , deceitful and it would allow for partisan gerrymandering .
Del .
Mark Levine ( D-Arlington ) is one of many legislators against proposed amendment change .
“ The amendment claims to do one thing , but does exactly the opposite of what it claims to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with The Star .
“ It claims to be reform , it claims to actually stop gerrymandering .
In fact , it enshrines gerrymandering in the Virginia Constitution .
It is completely deceptive and misleading.
” Levine ’ s arguments against Amendment 1 focus on the stipulation that assembly party leaders get to submit lists of hand-picked citizens to the judges and that only two legislative commissioners need to veto for the state Supreme Court to take over the process , which Levin argues is politically biased .
“ This is actually less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drawing ] because , at least , when 140 legislators do it there ’ s 140 voices .
This is just eight voices and the eight people they appoint , ” Levine said .
The full amendment can be found here .
Because early voting in Virginia began on Friday , thousands of citizens have already cast their ballots with votes for or against the proposed amendment .
Only time will tell which side prevails .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ email protected ] Photo “ Ballot Drop Box ” by Joe Mabel .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Gov. DeWine Did a Number of Things to Address COVID-19 This Week

Governor Mike DeWine ’ s office released a review of the state ’ s COVID-19 status and response as well as a list of actions taken by the state .
The governor updated this week ’ s coronavirus numbers , which saw 69 counties remain at their current level of exposure , and Preble County being downgraded from a level 3 to a level 2 .
In other COVID-19 news , the state has it ’ s own dashboard for COVID tracking of children and schools in conjunction with the Ohio Children ’ s Hospital Association and local health departments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers ” was released to “ support local health districts in developing culturally appropriate plans to respond to outbreaks in the migrant and seasonal farmworker communities.
” The guide advises farms to utilize onsight testing , education , and smaller cohorts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 .
DeWine announced the expansion of the states “ Coronavirus Wastewater Surveillance Network ” from 30 cities to 50 in the next month .
The release stated that “ The state will continue to closely monitor the wastewater data and ensure communities are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assist with quick response and prevent further spread of disease.
” Adding to the existing health concerns in Ohio , the governor reported that the state has documented the first case of the flu in Putnam County and reminded Ohioans to get a flu shot .
Two programs to help Ohio ’ s struggling economy were announced this week .
The “ Ohio To Work ” initiative and a lost wages assistance program are aimed at helping the 8.9 % of Ohioans currently unemployed .
The Ohio To Work program seeks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job to a new job opportunity , ” by bringing together “ employers , nonprofits , educators , and training providers to help Ohioans reskill and restart their careers.
” The lost wages assistance program distributes $ 300 a week to eligible unemployment insurance recipients .
The state says that “ this assistance is available to Ohioans who received traditional unemployment benefits , Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ( PUA ) , Trade Readjustment Assistance , SharedWork Ohio or extended benefits for weeks ending August 1 through September 5.
” – – – Ben Kolodny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Michigan Judge Rules Absentee Ballots That Arrive up to Two Weeks After Election Day Still Valid

A Michigan state judge ruled on Friday that absentee ballots that arrive after Election Day can still be counted .
Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens ruled that absentee ballots that are postmarked for November 2 can still be counted even if they arrive up to two weeks after polls close on Election Day , according to reporting from CNN and ABC News .
Absentee ballots were previously only allowed to be counted if they arrived before 8 p.m. on Election Day .
The ruling says that the pandemic and related delays in mail delivery justified the extension .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fortunate enough to receive their absent voter ballots in advance of the election , mail delays and the COVID-19 pandemic stack the deck against successfully casting an absent voter ballot by mail in a timely manner , ” the ruling said .
“ For those with underlying health risks and who prefer not to cast a vote in person , returning the ballot by mail is the only realistic option.
” Stephens also ruled that absentee ballots can be collected by third parties to submit in the days leading up to the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot harvesting , ” CNN said .
The suit — brought against Michigan by Democracy Docket on behalf of Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans , the Detroit Chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute and individual voters — was lauded as a win by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson .
“ No eligible voter should be disenfranchised through no fault of their own for exercising their right to vote by mail .
The court ’ s decision recognizes many of the unique challenges that the pandemic has created for all citizens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to mail delays , ” Benson said in a statement .
“ However we still want voters to make a plan to vote now , and not wait until the last minute if they want to vote by mail .
That ’ s why we will continue to strongly encourage voters to request and return their absentee ballots as soon as possible.
” The suit did fail to win its effort to have the state pay for return postage for all mail-in ballots .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter at The Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Ohio Schools Report Low Cases of COVID-19 During Beginning of School Year

With the majority of Ohio school students back in the classroom , at least on a hybrid learning model , new data show COVID-19 cases related to school districts is relatively low .
Ohio ’ s new school dashboard and children ’ s dashboard launched this week , reporting 197 students and 122 staff members across Ohio have tested positive for the virus .
That number is less than 1 percent of Ohio ’ s total cases so far .
The school dashboard shows new and cumulative COVID cases reported to schools by parents or guardians and staff .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school district and shows information on both students and staff .
Schools are required to report cases to their local health departments , which then report to the Ohio Department of Health .
The children ’ s dashboard shows information about cases and hospitalizations related to COVID-19 among children 0-17 years old .
Both dashboards can be found at coronavirus.ohio.gov .
At the same time , DeWine reported five Ohio counties recently met the CDC ’ s definition of high incidence , although those five did not join the five Ohio counties under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties – Athens , Delaware , Green , Harrison and Pickaway – did not meet enough indicators to trigger an emergency designation , but they did have more than 100 cases per 100,000 over the past two weeks .
Since the beginning of the pandemic , Ohio has 141,585 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 4,580 confirmed and probable COVID deaths .
An Ohio native , J.D .
Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in Ohio , Georgia , Alabama and Texas .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , managing editor and publisher .
Davison is a regional editor for The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-20--Minnesota Secretary of State Sends Letters Telling Those Who Haven’t Requested Absentee Ballots to V

Minnesota Secretary of State Sends Letters Telling Those Who Haven’t Requested Absentee Ballots to Vote from Home

Minnesota ’ s Secretary of State Steve Simon is sending letters telling those who haven ’ t requested an absentee ballot to vote from home .
An estimated 2.3 million voters will receive the letter and an absentee ballot application .
The letter asserts that staying safe and keeping other citizens healthy “ means voting from home.
” “ During a pandemic , we have to view this election as a public health challenge .
In a normal year , the appeal of voting from home is a comfort and a convenience , ” Simon stated in the press release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s also a public service – because every person who votes from home is making the polling place a little bit safer for voters who need or prefer to vote in person .
This mailing is all about making sure Minnesota voters know that voting from home is easy , safe , and secure.
” The United States Postal Service ( USPS ) sent a letter in May warning election officials nationwide that the surge of mail-in ballots surrounding election dates may result in delayed deliveries impacting voting deadlines .
“ [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee a specific delivery date or alter standards to comport with individual state election laws.
” The USPS also suggested voters be made aware of transit times and given mail-in deadlines to ensure timely ballot deliveries .
Since then , critics have blamed USPS policy changes to untimely mail delivery and argued the delays are a conspiracy to undermine fair elections .
Simon advocated for statewide vote by mail earlier this year , as well as limiting the amount and accessibility of in-person polling locations .
Governor Tim Walz opted not to switch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota election law no longer requires notarization on absentee ballots , based on the recent ruling issued by Ramsey County District Judge Sara Grewing last month .
The ruling raised concern due to the state ’ s history of voter fraud .
The Office of the Legislative Auditor ( OLA ) discovered up to 26,000 ineligible voters appeared on the state ’ s registered voter list in 2016 .
The secretary of state ’ s office reports that more than 926,000 Minnesotans have requested absentee ballots thus far .
Absentee voting began Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November 3 , Election Day .
Minnesotans have the option to track their absentee ballot online .
Absentee ballots are returnable by mail if postmarked by Election Day , or in person to county elections offices up until 3 p.m on Election Day .
Voters may also request for an “ agent delivery ” of their ballot , under special circumstances .
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--2020-09-20--Attorney Warns That Mayor John Cooper and Others are Privately Seeking Ways to Sabotage the Nashvill

Attorney Warns That Mayor John Cooper and Others are Privately Seeking Ways to Sabotage the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act

Members of the Metro Nashville Election Commission met privately Friday , and at least one of the five commission members refused to say what they discussed , even though it was government business .
Nashville attorney Jim Roberts told The Tennessee Star Saturday that he suspects commission members met to discuss ways to undermine the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act .
As reported last month , this referendum , if approved , would roll back Nashville Mayor John Cooper ’ s 34-37 percent tax increase .
The referendum would also limit property tax rate increases to 2 percent every year without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decide during a December 5 referendum .
Cooper , as reported , opposes the referendum and wants voters to reject it .
“ We don ’ t know what the meeting was to discuss , but come on .
You don ’ t have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing .
They are getting ready to put the Nashville Taxpayer Protection .
Act on the ballot , ” Roberts said .
“ Metro is fighting tooth and nail to keep it off the ballot .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
It ’ s possible that it ’ s for some innocent reason , but I sincerely doubt it.
” A.J .
Starling , one of five Election Commission members , confirmed that he and his four colleagues met Friday .
“ It was just an advisory.
” The Star asked Starling what he meant by that .
“ We were getting some information from the Metro Legal , but it wasn ’ t a public meeting , ” Starling said .
Starling would say nothing further .
Cooper spokesman Chris Song did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Roberts said “ Cooper is desperate for some way to try to keep this initiative off the ballot.
” He also said he believes Election Commission members “ want to break the ballot initiative into multiple pieces ” or change the scheduled date of the referendum.
” “ Or they ’ re just trying to keep it off the ballot entirely , which will get the absolute crap sued out of them if they do , because that is absolutely a civil rights violation , ” Roberts said .
Roberts also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inappropriate under the Open Meetings Act.
” “ Regardless of what they spoke about , that should have been in a properly noticed meeting where they went into executive session , ” Roberts said .
“ That is what the law says , I think pretty clearly , and they should have come out of that executive session and said ‘ OK , we ’ ve been given some advice , and we ’ re going to discuss that advice.
’ That should have been done in the public .
That is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ John Cooper ” by nashville.gov .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-21--A Year After Impeachment, Hunter Biden’s Ukraine Activities Come Home to Roost

A year ago this month , Democrats began their impeachment crusade against President Trump because he had sought an investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden ’ s activities in Ukraine .
And the rallying cry then was that any concerns about the Bidens were pure , discredited conspiracy theories .
The GOP-led Senate Finance and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees plan to release a joint report as early as this week disclosing the results of a year-long probe into Joe Biden ’ s stewardship of Ukraine anti-corruption policy while his son earned big money as a board member at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The report is expected to accuse the former vice president of engaging in a prohibited conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest by continuing to oversee the U.S. anti-corruption policies in Ukraine while his son served on the board of a natural gas company under investigation by the very Ukrainian prosecutors dependent on U.S. money , guidance and assistance in the fight against corruption that Joe Biden controlled .
The fact that Joe Biden admits he forced the firing in spring 2016 of Viktor Shokin — the Ukrainian prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by threatening to withhold $ 1 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine only heightens the conflict concerns .
Democrats won ’ t be able to easily dismiss the concerns politically because Obama-era State Department officials have admitted in testimony that the Bidens ’ behavior created the appearance of a conflict of interest that directly undercut U.S. efforts to fight endemic corruption in Ukraine .
But the bigger concern the report is expected to raise is whether U.S. officials during the Obama-Biden era turned a blind eye to red flags about what was going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his business dealings .
Records reviewed by Just the News and provided to the Senate committees reveal that Hunter Biden ’ s name was invoked by a Democratic firm called Blue Star Strategies as it lobbied mightily in 2016 to get the State Department to help make Burisma ’ s corruption problems disappear before that year ’ s presidential election .
Blue Star ’ s wide-ranging efforts included contacts at the State Department in Washington , the U.S. embassy in Kiev and even inside Congress , the memos show .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a State Department official lamented in summer 2016 in one memo , describing a nonstop pressure campaign .
Blue Star ’ s contacts on behalf of Burisma reached as high as Undersecretary of State Catherine Novelli in February 2016 in Washington and Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch in Kiev in December 2016 .
“ Per our conversation , Karen Tramontano of Blue Star Strategies requested a meeting to discuss with U/S Novelli USG remarks alleging Burisma ( Ukrainian energy company ) of corruption , ” one memo read , citing Hunter Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason State officials should take the meeting .
State Department officials not only chafed at the pressure , they had deep-rooted concerns that Burisma had indeed engaged in bad behavior , including after Hunter Biden joined its board in spring 2014 .
Records obtained by Just the News show State official George Kent reported concerns in early 2015 that Burisma had just paid a $ 7 million bribe to Ukrainian officials to try to make the corruption investigations against it go away .
Kent reported the bribe successfully undercut FBI efforts to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its owner ’ s past alleged corruption .
The documents also show Kent in 2016 successfully canceled a clean energy partnership between USAID , the department ’ s foreign aid arm , and Burisma because of “ reputational ” concerns that the natural gas firm was still corrupt .
How Burisma was able to secure the initial deal in 2014 when it was under multiple corruption investigations is expected to be flagged as another example of the conflicts Hunter Biden ’ s role created at State as well as the temptation for government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The concerns about Hunter Biden ’ s far-reaching global business deals didn ’ t stop with State , either .
Suspicious Activity Reports that the U.S. Treasury Department provided the Senate panels are expected to show that several foreign transactions flowing into firms connected to Hunter Biden were flagged by the department ’ s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network as suspicious .
Those red flags were raised as Hunter Biden benefited from more than $ 3 million paid by Burisma in Ukraine to one of his firms and secured multiple business deals in communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Archer boasted in a document obtained by the FBI that he had secured more than $ 200 million in financing commitments from a Russian oligarch .
Again , Senate investigators will ask the question whether the FBI or U.S. intelligence committees looked the other way because Hunter Biden ’ s father was the vice president .
Such questions are the very reason why conflict of interest laws exist in the U.S government ’ s ethics laws — to avoid putting federal officials in awkward positions that cause Americans to doubt the integrity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be aware of this what I call glaring conflict of interest , ” Senate Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) said recently .
“ The media is covering for Joe Biden .
They ’ re part and parcel of the Democratic Party.
” The big question is whether the Senate committees will conclude any laws or regulations were broken .
But no matter where the report comes down on that question , it is no longer a conspiracy theory to question the Bidens ’ behavior in Ukraine .
Even the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did that .
John Solomon is an award-winning investigative journalist , author and digital media entrepreneur who serves as Chief Executive Officer and Editor in Chief of Just the News .
Before founding Just the News , Solomon played key reporting and executive roles at some of America ’ s most important journalism institutions , such as The Associated Press , The Washington Post , The Washington Times , Newsweek , The Daily Beast and The Hill .

by Tom Joyce
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is leading a group of 21 attorneys general in an amicus brief regarding federal immigration law.
The attorneys general are asking the Supreme Court of the United States to uphold a federal statute to enforce federal immigration law in United States v. Hansen.
“In the middle of this man-made disaster at our southern border, we need every tool and law available,” Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said in a press release. “The last thing we need is anyone incentivizing migrants to come here illegally and further straining our social safety net. Border communities are being overwhelmed by the influx of people.”
A grand jury charged California resident Helaman Hansen with multiple crimes in 2017 for scamming hundreds of noncitizens out of more than $1 million by promising them a nonexistent path to citizenship.
According to the release, Hansen was charged under a federal statute for encouraging people to come to the United States illegally for “commercial advantage or private financial gain,” according to the release.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals then struck down the statute arguing that the words “encourage” and “induce,” in the law are too broad.
General Brnovich and the attorneys general argue in their amicus brief that the Ninth Circuit decision jeopardizes the constitutionality of criminal law in all 50 states. They worry that the decision may cause other state and federal courts to invalidate existing criminal laws.
The other attorneys general who signed the brief is from the states of: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
– – –
Tom Joyce is a contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “Mark Brnovich” by Mark Brnovich. Background Photo “U.S. Supreme Court” by AscendedAnathema. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-21--Lamar Alexander Weighs in on Replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) on Sunday shared his thoughts on U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s intent to replace U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Alexander also weighed in on U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell ’ s ( R-KY ) announcement that the Senate will vote on that nomination .
This , according to a press release that Alexander shared on his Facebook page .
“ No one should be surprised that a Republican Senate majority would vote on a Republican President ’ s Supreme Court nomination , even during a presidential election year .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
The voters who elected them expect it , ” Alexander wrote .
“ Going back to George Washington , the Senate has confirmed many nominees to the Supreme Court during a presidential election year .
It has refused to confirm several when the President and Senate majority were of different parties .
Senator McConnell is only doing what Democrat leaders have said they would do if the shoe were on the other foot.
” Alexander said in the press release that he voted to confirm Justices John Roberts , Samuel Alito @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Brett Kavanaugh “ based upon their intelligence , character and temperament.
” “ I will apply the same standard when I consider President Trump ’ s nomination to replace Justice Ginsburg , ” Alexander wrote .
The White House said Sunday that Trump will announce his pick to replace Ginsburg in the “ near future ” but is declining to say whether the president will push for a Senate confirmation vote before Election Day .
Marc Short is the chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence .
He says a confirmation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible ” because Ginsburg was confirmed within 43 days and currently it is 44 days out from the election .
But Short tells CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” that the White House is leaving the confirmation timetable up to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
When asked whether Trump considered Ginsburg ’ s dying wish for her replacement to be named by the winner of the November presidential election , Short said the White House and nation mourn her loss “ but the decision of when to nominate does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-21--Commentary: The Ivory Tower’s ‘Anti-Racist’ Olympics

Are the lofty lords of higher education beginning to realize that the dictates of social justice would require a “ largely peaceful ” defenestration of these “ educators ” along with their cushy , taxpayer-subsidized sinecures ?
Academia ’ s elites are engaged in a heated competition at the Anti-Racist Olympics .
The no-fun and games are a decided public spectacle , one demanded by the contestants ’ leftist ideology and fellow-traveling peers to prove one ’ s fealty to the hideous myth of America ’ s systemic racism .
Oh , and what a competition it is !
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Manhattan Institute ’ s City Journal , journalist Heather Mac Donald dispenses with the pretenders and also-rans ; and provides a highlight reel of the real contenders in the Anti-Racist Olympics .
Stunning and brave and with job security , these social justice warriors stride forth from their sinecures into the collegiate coliseum to slay the racism permeating themselves , history , society , and their institutions .
Princeton ’ s president , Christopher Eisgruber , has ordered the school ’ s top faculty and administrators to submit plans on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and beyond the University.
” Every aspect of Princeton will be reexamined with a “ bias toward action.
” Duke University president Vincent Price announced : “ I can not as a white person begin to fully understand the daily fear and pain and oppression that is endemic to the Black experience ” [ and ] “ insisted that his university must take ‘ transformative action ’ to eliminate the ‘ systems of racism and inequality that have shaped the lived experiences of too many members of the Duke community.
’ ” And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arts crowd having all the self-flagellating fun in the Anti-Racist Olympics .
The sciences are horning in on the action : The dean of the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California , San Diego , pronounced himself “ absolutely dedicated ” to turning the engineering school into an “ anti-racist organization .
.
.
crucially includ ( ing ) unconscious bias work we must do within ourselves.
” The chairman of the earth and planetary sciences department at the University of California at Davis announced an “ anti-racist reading group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
to confront the “ structural racism that pervades ” the field of geology .
.
.
[ and ] should “ specifically confront , in the classroom , the history and relationship of racism and colonialism in Earth Science education , application , and research.
” The American Mathematical Society declared that “ equity , diversity and inclusion ” are fundamental to its mission .
In their anti-racist zeal , the “ party of science ” strikes another blow against the deplorable team that is working to keep them from resurrecting Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Anti-Racist Olympics could well be Middlebury College President Laurie Patton .
From a safe space ( one hopes ) , Patton decried her college ’ s racist Hellscape : [ R ] acism ‘ happens in our residence halls and in our classrooms , at the tables of our dining halls and in our locker rooms , on our sidewalks , within the offices where we work , and in our town .
.
.
’ [ and ] Middlebury ’ s ‘ non-Black members ’ [ need ] to develop ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the way oppression operates within our culture , within our institutions , and within ourselves.
’ And Patton had another ace up her Left sleeve , apologizing for All such institutional self-accusations by college presidents leave out the specifics .
.
.
Which faculty members do not treat black students fairly ?
If that unjust treatment is so obvious , why weren ’ t those professors already removed ?
What is wrong with an admissions process that lets in thousands of student bigots ?
In other moments , college presidents brag about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faculty .
Are they lying ?
Shouldn ’ t they have disclosed to black applicants that they will face “ racist acts ” and “ systems of inequality ” should they attend ?
This failure to provide specifics—i.e.
, evidence and corrective actions—belies these “ educators ” sincerity and , indeed , the very existence of systemic racism itself .
It also proves the contestants in the Anti-Racist Olympics have a survival instinct .
By their own admission they can not understand the “ black experience ” ; they have implicit biases against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have presided over institutions that are systemically racist .
And all this hideous racism infesting campuses despite the millions of dollars dolloped into diversity and inclusion programs !
By their own logic , these “ woke ” bureaucrats should resign ; and , if they are white , they should allow people of color to assume these positions .
Such would be a decided and concrete blow against the systemic racism these bureaucrats purport to oppose .
But these grandees of academe refuse to put their money where their myth is .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ angst that , despite the ephemeral accolades that result from their participation in the Anti-Racist Olympics , maybe no one wins when Stalinist group think strangles the universities ’ mission of free speech and inquiry .
Perhaps this explains why , during these self-abasement sweepstakes , none of these Philippic spouting bureaucrats—oops , “ educators ” —has vowed to cancel the term “ ivory tower.
” Are the lofty lords of higher education beginning to realize that , should the students they ’ ve indoctrinated with woke civil religion discover the ivory tower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social justice ” would require a “ largely peaceful ” defenestration of these “ educators ” along with their cushy , taxpayer-subsidized sinecures ?
That would be beyond all prizing .
The Hon .
Thaddeus McCotter is the former chairman of the Republican House Policy Committee , current itinerant guitarist , American Greatness contributor , and Monday co-host of the “ John Batchelor Show.
” Photo “ Anti-Racism ” by Fibonacci Blue CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-21--Democrats Say They Will Pack the Court if Republicans Vote to Replace Ginsburg in 2020

Prominent Democrats are threatening to expand the size of the Supreme Court to cancel out President Donald Trump ’ s court picks if Republicans vote on late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s replacement this year .
Left-wing activists have been pushing Democratic politicians to endorse court-packing since Justice Anthony Kennedy ’ s 2018 retirement cleared the way for Justice Brett Kavanaugh to join the high court .
Some congressional Democrats embraced the idea following Ginsburg ’ s death Friday night .
“ If Sen. McConnell and @ SenateGOP were to force through a nominee during the lame duck session—before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office—then the incoming Senate should immediately move to expand the Supreme Court , ” House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler wrote on Twitter Saturday .
“ Filling the SCOTUS vacancy during a lame duck session , after the American people have voted for new leadership , is undemocratic and a clear violation of the public trust in elected officials , ” added Nadler , a Democrat from New York .
“ Congress would have to act and expanding the court would be the right place to start , ” he said .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we pack the court in 2021 , ” Democratic Mass .
Rep. Joe Kennedy tweeted on Saturday .
“ It ’ s that simple.
” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told his fellow Senate Democrats on Saturday that “ nothing is off the table for next year ” if Republicans move to fill the vacant seat , CBS News reported .
Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal echoed Schumer ’ s rhetoric , tweeting Saturday : “ If Republicans recklessly & reprehensibly force a SCOTUS vote before the election—nothing is off the table.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of expanding and packing the Supreme Court .
Republican Tennessee Rep. Chuck Fleischmann warned that packing the court would be “ dangerous ” and undermine the court as an institution .
“ Court packing is a dangerous and shortsighted idea that will delegitimize our institutions — and that ’ s what the Dems are threatening to do if they don ’ t get their way , ” Fleischmann wrote in a tweet .
“ Packing the court would be a greater blow to norms , legitimacy , and our system of government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” National Review editor Rich Lowry wrote on Twitter .
Some liberal voices in the media have expressed support for packing the court .
“ So Democrats should threaten to pack the court , ” left-wing writer Jill Filopovic argued in a Washington Post op-ed Saturday .
“ And , if McConnell pushes through a new justice and then Joe Biden wins , they should follow through , ” she added .
“ One way for Democrats to make clear they will not tolerate Republicans trying to fill this seat in advance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pledge that , if they take the White House and Senate in November , they will increase the size of the Supreme Court to 13 justices , ” University of California , Berkeley School of Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky wrote in a Los Angeles Times op-ed Saturday .
“ Democrats have no choice but to implement structural reforms to the judiciary if they hope to prevent decades of rule by the alt-right in America , ” HuffPost reporter Zach Carter wrote in a June 2018 piece following Kennedy ’ s retirement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean expanding the Supreme Court bench to 11 justices under the next Democratic president .
Other reforms , including term limits to remove aging conservatives , may well be appropriate , ” he added .
But Ginsburg herself rejected packing the court when asked about it last year .
“ Nine seems to be a good number .
It ’ s been that way for a long time , ” she told NPR in July 2019 .
“ I think it was a bad idea when President Franklin Roosevelt tried to pack the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photos “ Supreme Court ” by Kjetil Ree and “ RBG ” by European University Institute CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-21--Gun Rights Group Raises $50,000 For Kyle Rittenhouse

A Colorado-based gun rights group has raised thousands of dollars for Kyle Rittenhouse , who was arrested in late August for allegedly shooting three people , killing two of them during riots in Kenosha , Wisconsin following the police shooting of Jacob Blake .
The National Foundation for Gun Rights ( NFGR ) is set to send a check for over $ 50,000 that they say will go “ directly ” to the 17-year-old who ’ s behind bars , according to a press release from the organization .
“ I spoke with Kyle ’ s mother this morning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousand donations amounting to over $ 50,000 from folks who support her son , ” Dudley Brown , executive director of the National Foundation for Gun Rights , said in the release .
Rittenhouse ’ s mother said , “ No words can describe what we ’ re going through .
Thank you so much – and I know Kyle and the rest of the family would say thank you too , ” according to Brown .
The NFGR believes the 17-year-old “ acted legally and defended himself , ” while those on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their power ” to portray him “ as a villain , ” Brown said in the release .
The purpose of the funding is to ensure Rittenhouse has “ the best defense possible , ” Brown said .
Rittenhouse was charged with murder after he allegedly killed Joseph Rosenbaum , 36 , as well as Anthony Huber , 26 , and injured Gaige Grosskreutz , 26 , according to a criminal complaint .
Video and the police document indicate that Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum after the 36-year-old chased him and lunged toward him near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran into the street where he fell to the ground and fired upon Huber , who jumped on top of him and hit him with a skateboard , the complaint said .
Grosskreutz was shot in the arm after he produced a handgun and moved toward the teen , according to the complaint .
The Gun Owners of America , another pro-Second Amendment group , has backed Rittenhouse and say the charges weren ’ t well-founded .
“ We don ’ t think he did anything wrong as far as defending himself and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DCNF in a phone interview in September .
“ They chased him , they followed him and he was forced to fire in self defense.
” Others , including former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich , consider the teenager to a be a “ right-wing vigilante.
” The ACLU referred to Rittenhouse as a “ white militia member ” and said “ right-wing extremists ” with “ automatic weapons ” had terrorized protesters in Kenosha during the shooting , according to a press release .
Jake Dima is a reporter at Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street ” by Lightburst CC4.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-21--Judge Blocks Trump’s WeChat Ban, Says the Move ‘Targets the Chinese American Community’

A judge blocked the Department of Commerce ’ s ban on Chinese social messaging app WeChat over First Amendment concerns early Sunday morning before it could go into effect .
Judge Laurel Beeler of San Francisco issued the decision more than a month after President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning both WeChat and social media app TikTok over national security concerns , The Associated Press reported .
The executive order signed on Aug. 6 was set to go into effect Sunday .
“ The court grants the motion on the ground that the plaintiffs have shown serious questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment claim , ” Beeler wrote in the order .
“ The balance of hardships tips in the plaintiffs ’ favor.
” The government argued that the ban was necessary given WeChat ’ s close affiliation with the Chinese government , according to the decision .
The messaging app has averaged 19 million active users daily in the U.S. alone , according to Apptopia , NBC News reported .
The executive order banning the app , which is primarily used by Chinese students , Chinese Americans and Americans living in China , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The United States has never shut down a major platform for communications , not even during war times , ” said Michael Bien , a lawyer representing the plaintiffs , the U.S. WeChat Users Alliance , according to NBC News .
“ There are serious First Amendment problems with the WeChat ban , which targets the Chinese American community.
” Following Trump ’ s August executive order , Eurasia Group analyst Paul Triolo called the move “ an unprecedented use of presidential authority , ” according to the AP .
Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s attempt to ban all transactions made through the app , according to the ruling .
The Commerce Department announced Friday that it was prohibiting all transactions made through both TikTok and WeChat .
“ At the President ’ s direction , we have taken significant action to combat China ’ s malicious collection of American citizens ’ personal data , while promoting our national values , democratic rules-based norms , and aggressive enforcement of U.S. laws and regulations , ” Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary injunction meaning it will last up until the case is decided .
The plaintiff ’ s requested the injunction on Wednesday .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-21--Mayor John Cooper Claims Nashville Bar and Restaurant Owners ‘Have Been Playing with Matches in a Ba

Mayor John Cooper Claims Nashville Bar and Restaurant Owners ‘Have Been Playing with Matches in a Barn . . . Complaining About Taking Their Matches Away’

In an interview with WSMV ’ s Nancy Amons on Thursday , Nashville Mayor John Cooper failed to provide any evidence to support his claim that reports he “ deliberately overstated the number of COVID cases tied to Nashville bars when he shut them down July 2nd ” was “ fake news , ” but he did insult the city ’ s bar and restaurant owners , saying they are “ a group of people that have been playing with matches in a barn .
You know , complaining about taking their matches away.
” You can read a partial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Host : Mayor John Cooper today saying it ’ s fake news that Nashville is hiding information about its COVID clusters in bars .
He spoke at length one on one with our News 4 ’ s Nancy Amons who ’ s working for you tonight with the tough questions , you want to know .
Nancy Amons : Did Nashville ’ s mayor deliberately overstate the number of COVID cases tied to Nashville bars when he shut them down July 2nd ?
John Cooper : Not true and fake news .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got in this time of divisiveness propelled into a national story that nobody locally believes is at all true .
Amons : As we told you last night , Mayor John Cooper ordered bars closed for 14 days on the eve of the 4th of July weekend .
Even though these internal emails show the city had traced only 19 COVID cases to bars .
Cooper defended his decision to close the bars .
A decision that angered Broadway bar owners .
Cooper : It is , you know , just a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with matches in a barn .
You know , complaining about taking their matches away .
Amons : Internal emails raised questions about how information was going to be released .
This is an exchange between a health department employee and the mayor ’ s Senior Advisor Ben Eagles .
Eagles on June 29th asking the health department , how many cases have spread at bars ?
The health department responds with a chart showing 19 cases , but asks , this isn ’ t going to be publicly released , right ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ office ?
Eagles answers correct , not for public consumption to help understand and guide policy formulation .
Eagles telling me Thursday the information was to form a policy to curb what had become a runaway spike in COVID cases .
Eagles : So to address the specific point that the government was somehow hiding the number of cases it ’ s flatly untrue .
Cooper : We were pretty tough , pretty firm pretty early , that ’ s why we ’ re successful today .
Amons : At the time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak was tied to 10 bars .
News 4 filed an open records request for the names of the bars and details .
The health department wrote to us that there were no records available .
Will you reconsider releasing that information ?
Cooper : Sure , I mean I ’ m going to sit down with the lawyers in public health , anything that is more transparent we ’ re going to do .
Host : Adding that the city has to be careful not to damage the reputation of a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak there especially if there ’ s no proof .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-21--Chinese Military Sends Warning to U.S., Taiwan With Fighter Jets

The Chinese military on Friday sent 18 planes including fighter jets flying over the Taiwan Strait — an apparent attempt to show its power and dominance over Taiwan , which is hosting U.S .
Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth , Energy and the Environment Keith Krach , to Chinese disapproval .
The diplomatic visit this week by a high-ranking U.S. official resulted in a sharp warning from China , which considers the self-governing island its own .
China opposes official contacts between Taiwan and other countries and also suggested upon Krach ’ s arrival the possibility of retaliation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two bombers and 16 fighter jets from China crossed into Taiwan ’ s air defense identification zone , according to the Associated Press .
The defense ministry scrambled jets in response and monitored the locations of the Chinese planes .
A Chinese defense ministry spokesperson said the drills were “ legitimate and necessary action taken in response to the current situation across the Taiwan Straits to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
” “ Recently , the U.S. and ( Taiwan ’ s ruling ) Democratic Progressive Party authorities have stepped up their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ren told reporters Friday morning .
“ Whether it is using Taiwan to contain China or relying on foreign powers to threaten others , it is wishful thinking and is destined to be a dead end.
” The U.S. switched formal relations from Taiwan to China in 1979 but has maintained unofficial ties with Taiwan since the official diplomatic break .
The U.S. is the island ’ s most important ally and provider of defense equipment .
Krach ’ s visit marked the second time in recent weeks in which a top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar visited the island , sparking disapproval from China .
Earlier this week , a Chinese spokesperson said that they “ urge the U.S. to … immediately stop official exchanges ” with Taiwan .
The tensions between the U.S. and China continue to escalate with this most recent Chinese move .
Brianna Kraemer is a reporter at Just the News .
Photo “ Chinese Jet ” by juiceeric18 CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-21--Minnesota Freedom Fund Bailed Out 37-Year-Old Man Accused of Raping 8-Year-Old Girl

Warning : This article contains content that some readers may find disturbing .
The Minnesota Freedom Fund ( MFF ) , a charity promoted by Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris , helped free a 37-year-old man accused of raping an 8-year-old girl from jail .
The fund also bailed out a man who allegedly broke into the home of a 71-year-old woman and tortured her , and a man accused of curb stomping and robbing another man who walked with a cane the same day that George Floyd died .
Records of the fund assisting these individuals and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Daily Caller News Foundation ( DCNF ) .
Harris first promoted the fund on June 1 when she asked her supporters to give the MFF their money on Twitter .
The link she included in her Twitter post still leads to a page featuring her branding that allows individuals to give money to the fund , as of September 10 .
Harris promoted the fund to , in her own words , “ help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota ” during the George Floyd riots .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of many other high-profile liberals , the fund raked in over $ 35 million ostensibly to assist arrested protesters .
Only 6 % of the money the fund has spent since Floyd ’ s death has actually gone towards this cause , per the MFF itself .
A large portion of the money actually went to freeing alleged criminals arrested on charges that are not related to the protests .
He “ put his thing inside me , ” an 8-year-old girl told authorities as they investigated allegations that 37-year-old Timothy Wayne Columbus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states that “ ‘ Tim ’ laid her [ the victim ] on the couch and held her down as he unbuckled his pants and then pulled down her pants.
” He then “ told her not to tell anyone and continued to penetrate her , ” according to the report .
This is not the first time Columbus has been investigated in connection with sexual crimes .
He “ has a prior juvenile adjudication for criminal sexual conduct … and is a registered sex offender , ” the report notes .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years in prison .
The MFF paid at least $ 75,000 for his conditional release and as much as $ 300,000 for his unconditional release , according to records related to his ongoing case ( court file number 27-CR-20-14425 ) .
Columbus filed to have his bail money returned to the MFF prior to his release , indicating that the group provided the funds to set him free .
When officers responded to the home of a 71-year-old woman who called in regarding a domestic assault , they “ observed a pool of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a swollen eye that was competently red/bloodshot ” with “ bruises on her chest , shoulders , back and legs , ” per a statement of probable cause on file with the Hennepin County District Court .
The aged lady told officers that it was her son , 54-year-old Richard Raynell Kelley , who broke into her home , grabbed her , beat her , bound her with duct tape and left her “ laying on the floor at the foot of the stairs where officers later found a pool of blood.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run up and down the stairs multiple times , stepping on Victim each time he passed her , ” according to the statement of probable cause .
Kelley also told his elderly mother “ he was going to kill her , ” and kept her bound for a period of time while he napped and made food in her home .
The statement of probable cause also notes that by invading his mother ’ s home , he violated a no-contact order .
The statement adds that authorities are concerned Kelley may do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from custody .
The MFF freed him for between $ 4,000 and $ 50,000 , depending on the terms of his bail , per a court document that indicates his set bail amounts .
Kelley later went on to violate a court order requiring him to remain in his home , according to another court document .
Kelley is currently at large , and his whereabouts are unknown , according to the Hennepin County Sheriff ’ s Office , the DCNF discovered .
Like Columbus , the fact that Kelley filed for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fund indicates that the MFF paid his way out of police custody .
Surveillance video shows Deshaun Jermaine Boyd knocking a man with a cane to the ground , and then stomping on his head before robbing him , according a statement of probable cause on file with the Hennepin County courts .
Boyd allegedly caused “ significant injuries ” to his victim ’ s “ face and head.
” When police found the victim , he “ had difficulty talking and seemed to not understand where he was , ” per the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was arrested , Boyd filed to have his bail money returned to the MFF , again indicating that the fund secured his release .
The three individuals listed in this article are just some of the many individuals bailed out by the Minnesota Freedom Fund and identified by Alpha News and the DCNF .
Both outlets will continue to publish more stories about these individuals .
Kyle Hooten has written for Alpha News , the Daily Caller , the Wall Street Journal , the College Fix , and Campus Reform .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s The Story with Martha MacCallum , Newsmax and local TV .
His work has appeared on The Rush Limbaugh Show and Tucker Carlson Tonight and been reported by the Washington Examiner , Drudge Report , Blaze Media , PJ Media , National Review , Citizens Journal , Western Journal , Yahoo News , NTD Television , and dozens of other outlets .
Contact him at [ email protected ] Follow him on Twitter @ KyleHooten2 Photo “ Kamala Harris ” by Gage Skidmore CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-21--Joe Biden Endorses Michigan Candidate Who Once Called Women ‘Breeders’

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden endorsed Michigan congressional nominee Jon Hoadley Wednesday despite remarks Hoadley made in 2004 and 2005 , calling women “ breeders.
” Hoadley , who is hoping to unseat GOP Rep. Fred Upton in Michigan ’ s 6th Congressional District , also previously published a conversation on his blog which referenced four-year-old girls wearing thongs , The New York Post reported .
The blog , “ Rambling Politics , ” was deleted in early August .
“ Jon has been an advocate for working families and better schools as a state Representative for the last five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of southwest Michigan , and I ’ m proud to support his campaign , ” Biden ’ s endorsement said .
“ I hope you ’ ll join me in helping get Jon elected to Congress.
” The National Republican Congressional Committee called on Hoadley to withdraw from the race and has referred to him as a “ pedo sex poet , ” a phrase that the LGBTQ Victory fund said perpetuated harmful stereotypes of gay men as pedophiles , The Detroit News reported .
If elected , Hoadley would be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s congressional delegation , according to the Detroit outlet .
Hoadley ’ s campaign dismissed his blog as “ bad college poetry , ” The New York Post reported , and has apologized for his past comments .
“ I said things 16 years ago that I would never say today .
They are not reflective of who I am , ” he said , according to The Detroit News .
“ For folks that I hurt with my words , I ’ m sorry.
” The NRCC has also criticized Hoadley regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meth .
Hoadley wrote that he went to a gay bar to “ learn about crystal meth ” and its effects on the LGBTQ community , and ended the post by saying “ don ’ t do meth , ” according to The Advocate .
Upton , the dean of Michigan ’ s congressional delegation , has refrained from commenting on Hoadley ’ s comments , according to The Detroit News .
“ The Upton campaign has had nothing whatsoever to do with Jon Hoadley ’ s own words being used in campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nate Henschel , Upton ’ s campaign manager , told the Detroit publication .
Hoadley won a competitive primary to become the district ’ s Democratic nominee in August , and Cook Political Report rates his race against Upton as “ lean Republican.
” Andrew Trunsky is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Phil Roeder CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-21--Democrats on Filling a SCOTUS Vacancy in 2016: ‘A Responsibility to Vote’

Several Democratic leaders favored a Senate confirmation vote for President Barack Obama ’ s Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland in 2016 .
Following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia , Obama nominated Garland , who had been the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia .
However , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed to block a confirmation vote for Garland until after the 2016 presidential election , The Washington Post reported .
“ The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice , ” McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Therefore , this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.
” Several Democrats condemned McConnell in the days and weeks following his decision .
Although Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden favored putting off a confirmation hearing during an election year in 1992 as a senator , Biden supported Garland ’ s confirmation in 2016 as vice president , according to ABC News .
He said there was no supposed “ Biden Rule ” concerning Supreme Court nominations in an election year .
“ Deciding in advance simply to turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nominee is not an option the Constitution leaves open , ” Biden said , according to Business Insider .
“ It ’ s a plain abdication from the Senate ’ s duty .
… [ It ’ s ] never occurred before in our history.
” “ Elections have consequences , ” then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said , according to Politico .
“ The president has a responsibility to nominate a new justice and the Senate has a responsibility to vote.
” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted : “ Garland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & is a perfect fit for [ the Supreme Court ] .
GOP inaction does our country a great disservice.
” And then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted : “ Judge Merrick Garland , is a respected jurist who must be given a fair hearing & timely vote.
” Sen. Bernie Sanders , an Independent who caucuses with Democrats , tweeted , “ Judge Garland is a strong nominee with decades of experience on the bench .
[ Obama ] has done his job .
It ’ s time for Republicans to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted that Republicans must “ ditch their extremism ” and schedule a vote for Garland .
Then-Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said the Senate should consider a nominee immediately , according to Politico .
“ It would be unprecedented in recent history for the Supreme Court to go a year with a vacant seat , ” Reid said , Politico reported .
“ Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate ’ s most essential Constitutional responsibilities.
” Thomas Catenacci is a reporter for the Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schumer ” by Senate Democrats CC2.0