thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--In Another Effort to Challenge Electoral College Votes, Rep. Gohmert Sues Vice President Mike Pence

U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert , R-Texas , sued Vice President Mike Pence in an attempt to challenge the results of some states ’ Electoral College votes .
Another attempt is being made by U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks , R-Alabama , who says he and “ dozens ” of House members plan to challenge some of the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6 when the Joint Session of Congress meets to certify the votes and ratify the president-elect .
Gohmert ’ s lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas , Tyler Division , asks a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to decide which Electoral College votes should be counted .
Eleven others joined the lawsuit , including Republican electors from Arizona .
The lawsuit argues that Section 15 of the 1887 Electoral Count Act , which established procedures for determining which of two or more competing slates of presidential electors for a given state are to be counted in the Electoral College , or how objections to a proffered slate are adjudicated , violates the Electors Clause and the Twelfth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution .
Section 15 designates the vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate and presiding officer of the Joint Session of Congress , to “ count the electoral votes for a state that have been appointed in violation of the Electors Clause.
” It also “ limits or eliminates his exclusive authority and sole discretion under the Twelfth Amendment to determine which slates of electors for a State , or neither , may be counted ; and replaces the Twelfth Amendment ’ s dispute resolution procedure – under which the House of Representatives has sole authority to choose the President , ” the complaint states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Count Act unconstitutionally violates the Electors Clause by usurping the exclusive and plenary authority of State Legislatures to determine the manner of appointing Presidential Electors , and instead gives that authority to the State ’ s Executive .
Similarly , 3 USC § 5 makes clear that the Presidential electors of a state and their appointment by the State Executive shall be conclusive , ” the complaint states .
Gohmert is asking the judge to determine if Pence is subject solely to the requirements of the Twelfth Amendment , in his capacity as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Joint Session of Congress , to on Jan. 6 “ exercise the exclusive authority and sole discretion in determining which electoral votes to count for a given State , and must ignore and may not rely on any provisions of the Electoral Count Act that would limit his exclusive authority and his sole discretion to determine the count , which could include votes from the slates of Republican electors from the Contested States , ” the complaint states .
Steven Vladeck , professor of law at the University of Texas at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lawsuit .
One day later , he tweeted , “ If the Twelfth Amendment somehow gave the Vice President the power to unilaterally throw out electoral votes for the other guy in favor of their own party ( and even themselves ) , one might think that one of them would ’ ve noticed by now.
” Neither the White House nor the Vice President ’ s Office has issued a statement on the lawsuit .
GOP-selected electors cast votes in several states for Trump in which lawsuits alleging election fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by state governors or other state officials finalized Dec. 14 gave former Vice President Joe Biden 306 votes , and Trump , 232 .
Gohmert says he ’ s joining Rep. Brooks ’ challenge .
Brooks told Fox News , “ There are dozens in the House of Representatives who have reached that conclusion , as I have ; we ’ re going to sponsor and co-sponsor objections to the Electoral College vote returns.
” The objection requires at least one member of the House and one member of the Senate to object @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a two-hour debate would occur , followed by each chamber voting .
Sen.-elect Tommy Tuberville , R-Alabama , indicated he would be open to objecting , Forbes reported .
Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , also left the door open , saying he would let the legal process play out .
According to Politico , Sen. Rand Paul , R-Kentucky , has also left the door open to challenge the votes .
Senate Majority Whip John Thune , R-Kansas , says the challenge effort is doomed to fail regardless of who objects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Electoral College votes , the U.S. Constitution requires a majority vote cast in both the House and the Senate for each of the states ’ votes in question .
Neither chamber has a majority of votes .
Bethany Blankley is a contributor to The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Pennsylvania GOP: 2020 Election Numbers ‘Don’t Add Up,’ Certification of Presidential Results ‘in Er

Pennsylvania GOP: 2020 Election Numbers ‘Don’t Add Up,’ Certification of Presidential Results ‘in Error’

A group of Republican Pennsylvania state lawmakers announced Monday that the certified results of the 2020 election for president in the Keystone State were off by more than 200,000 votes—more than twice the margin of Biden ’ s alleged victory .
The PA Republicans are now are questioning “ how the results of the presidential election could possibly have been certified by Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar and Governor Tom Wolf , ” according to PA State Rep. Russ Diamond .
A comparison of official county election results to the total number of voters who voted on November 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of State shows that 6,962,607 total ballots were reported as being cast , while DoS/SURE system records indicate that only 6,760,230 total voters actually voted .
Among the 6,962,607 total ballots cast , 6,931,060 total votes were counted in the presidential race , including all three candidates on the ballot and write-in candidates .
The difference of 202,377 more votes cast than voters voting , together with the 31,547 over- and under-votes in the presidential race , adds up to an alarming discrepancy of 170,830 votes , which is more than twice the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates for President of the United States .
On November 24 , 2020 , Boockvar certified election results , and Wolf issued a certificate of ascertainment of presidential electors , stating that Vice President Joe Biden received 80,555 more votes than President Donald Trump .
The PA lawmakers who participated in performing the extensive analysis of election data were State Reps. Frank Ryan ( R-Lebanon ) , Russ Diamond ( Lebanon ) , Dave Zimmerman ( R-Lancaster ) , Barb Gleim ( R-Cumberland ) , Stephanie Borowicz ( R-Centre/Clinton ) , Dan Moul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-Franklin ) , Dawn Keefer ( R-York/Cumberland ) , Eric Nelson ( R-Westmoreland ) , Mike Jones ( R-York ) , Rob Kauffman ( R-Franklin ) , David Maloney ( R-Berks ) , David Rowe ( R-Snyder/Union ) , Kathy Rapp ( R-Warren/Crawford/Forest ) , Daryl Metcalfe ( R-Butler ) , Jim Cox ( R-Berks/Lancaster ) and Brett Miller ( R-Lancaster ) .
In response to their findings , the lawmakers issued the following statement : “ We were already concerned with the actions of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania , the Executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties contravening and undermining the Pennsylvania Election Code by eliminating signature verification , postmarks , and due dates while allowing the proliferation of drop boxes with questionable security measures and the unauthorized curing of ballots , as well as the questionable treatment of poll watchers , all of which created wholesale opportunities for irregularities in the 2020 presidential election .
However , we are now seeing discrepancies on the retail level which raise even more troubling questions regarding irregularities in the election returns .
These findings call into question the accuracy of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Pennsylvania Election Code from county to county , and the competency of those charged with oversight of elections in our Commonwealth .
These numbers just don ’ t add up , and the alleged certification of Pennsylvania ’ s presidential election results was absolutely premature , unconfirmed , and in error.
” President Trump tweeted Monday that the massive discrepancy indicates that he easily won the state : Debra Heine reports for American Greatness .
Photo “ Trump Supporters ” by Anthony Crider .
CC BY 2.0 .

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--2020-12-30--Judge Who Reversed Controversial Voter Roll Cleanup Ruling Is Stacey Abrams’ Sister

Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner blocked two counties from purging over 4,000 voters from the rolls for Georgia ’ s upcoming runoff elections .
Gardner is the sister of Democratic activist and failed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams .
Abrams is the leader of Fair Fight Action , a voter rights organization , and the founder of New Georgia Project , which is under investigation currently by the secretary of state ’ s office .
The defendants requested that Gardner recuse herself due to her relationship with Abrams and Fair Fight .
Their reasoning concerned Fair Fight ’ s current engagement in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the same day last week as their lawsuit .
The defendants noted that the lead counsel in both cases are also the same .
“ [ A ] ny relief rendered in the instant case as it relates to the NCOAR ( National Change of Address Registry ) would likely be cited as persuasive authority in the Fair Fight Litigation , ” wrote the defendants .
“ Abrams ’ interest could therefore be substantially affected by the outcome of this proceeding .
For this reason , Judge Gardner ’ s impartiality might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceed before her.
” Gardner refused to recuse herself on the case .
She offered no immediate explanation , instead issuing a brief footnote on the first page of her order acknowledging the defendants ’ request .
“ The Court has reviewed the motion and finds no basis for recusal , ” wrote Gardner .
“ An Order detailing the Court ’ s reasoning is forthcoming.
” Gardner , an appointee of President Barack Obama , was removed by the courts from the Democratic Party of Georgia ’ s court case challenging the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gardner issued the ruling on Monday .
The order prevented two counties from challenging the eligibility of certain voters : over 150 voters in Ben Hill County , and over 4,000 voters in Muscogee County .
The eligibility challenges arose from the county ’ s review of evidence gathered from comparing each county ’ s voter registration databases and the NCOAR .
Prior to the court order , both counties would only allow the challenged voters to cast a provisional ballot .
Gardner ruled that the voters weren ’ t given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed addresses , and that both counties had failed to undertake individual inquiries into each voter ’ s case .
Gardner also called the challenged voters , “ Targeted Voters , ” and stated that both counties were violating those voters ’ right to vote .
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger issued a statement on the ruling , stating that Gardner ’ s decision “ undermined rule of law in Georgia.
” “ This ruling is a direct attack on rule of law in Georgia and the integrity of elections in this state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , ” stated Raffensperger .
“ Without even hearing from Muscogee County , a President Obama-appointed judge has decided to overturn the express will of Georgia law and the county elections officers around the state who follow it.
” The press release noted that the plaintiff in the case was heavily funded by Fair Fight through its parent political action committee , Senate Majority PAC .
The secretary of state ’ s office also contradicted Gardner ’ s claims , noting that it had issues warning letters to 8,000 individuals who ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the ruling .
“ Additionally , throughout the order , Judge Abrams Gardner repeatedly refers to removing individuals from the voter lists , ” stated the press release .
“ The provisions of Georgia law utilized by the Muscogee and Ben Hill Boards of Elections , O.C.G.A .
section 21-2-230 , deal specifically to the acceptance or rejection of ballots cast by a challenged individual , not to the removal of individuals from voter lists.
” Abrams ’ spokespersons with Fair Fight didn ’ t respond to The Georgia Star News request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Background Photo “ Voting Booths ” by Tim Evanson .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Virginia Republicans Criticize CASH Act for Not Including Spending Cuts

Three of Virginia ’ s Republican congressmen voted against the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Health ( CASH ) Act on Monday night , noting that while the bill would increase a taxpayer stimulus from $ 600 to $ 2,000 , it failed to include the necessary budget cuts .
Despite that , the bill did pass the House , 275 to 134 .
Congressman Morgan Griffith ( R-VA-09 ) voted against the CASH Act , and said in a statement , “ Today , the Democrats in the House put forward a bill to increase the size of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward any of the President ’ s cut suggestions OR cuts to spending that they preferred .
This is a typical Democrat compromise .
We will give you increased spending , but we will not give you the cuts requested.
” Congressman Rob Wittman ( R-VA-01 ) and Ben Cline ( R-VA-06 ) also voted against the CASH Act .
The only Virginia Republican voting for the House bill on Monday was outgoing congressman Denver Riggleman ( R-VA-05 ) , who was one of just 44 Republicans across the country who voted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Riggleman said on Twitter , “ Last night I voted YES on the # CASHAct to increase stimulus aid from $ 600 to $ 2,000 per person .
While I ’ m glad that we have finally come to an agreement on financial assistance , I hope that the Senate will vote to pass the $ 2,000 package.
” Griffith had previously criticized the omnibus funding bill passed by the House that provided $ 600 stimulus checks .
Griffith said in a press release , “ Omnibuses tend to be bloated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together in backrooms with little time for Members of Congress to read them , much less understand their provisions .
They are a terrible way to exercise Congress ’ power of the purse.
” “ This bill contains $ 85.5 million for assistance to Cambodia , $ 134 million to Burma , $ 1.3 billion for Egypt and the Egyptian military , which will go out and buy almost exclusively Russian military equipment , ” President Trump said last week .
“ Despite all this wasteful spending and much more , the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only $ 600 each in relief payments , ” he added .
Last week , Wittman issued a unanimous consent request in the House to remove foreign spending , but he lacked the necessary support from House Democratic leadership for the move to proceed .
“ Our government ’ s top priority must be our families , communities , and small businesses as we get through this pandemic and restore our country , ” Wittman said in a statement .
On Sunday , President Trump signed that bill under bipartisan pressure to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the bill to be edited to cut some spending while increasing the taxpayer stimulus .
Trump said in a press release that legislators should remove support for Section 230 , which protects tech companies from lawsuits based on user content .
“ Congress has promised that Section 230 , which so unfairly benefits Big Tech at the expense of the American people , will be reviewed and either be terminated or substantially reformed .
Likewise , the House and Senate have agreed to focus strongly on the very substantial voter fraud which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election.
” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Kentucky ) introduced an alternative bill in the Senate on Tuesday .
McConnell ’ s bill addresses most of Trump ’ s concerns , but does not include significant spending cuts .
If passed , the bill will increase the stimulus checks to $ 2,000 , repeal Section 230 , and establish a bipartisan committee to review the 2020 General Election for fraud or foreign interference .
In a statement , Cline expressed regret that he couldn ’ t support the House CASH Act .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that is why I fully supported President Trump ’ s call to raise the dollar amount of Emergency Relief Checks from $ 600 to $ 2,000 by offsetting it with cuts to wasteful spending included in the bill.
” Cline added , “ Sadly , Democrats voted down our attempt to make these changes last week .
Therefore , because the bill only included half of President Trump ’ s proposal , I could not support the bill as written.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Richmond, Virginia to Start Accepting Proposals for Resort Casinos, Releases Expectation Document

With the release of the Request for Qualifications/Proposals ( RFQ/P ) document , Richmond can now begin accepting submissions from established operators to build a resort casino in Virginia ’ s capital city .
Monday ’ s release of the RFQ/P marks the official start of the months-long competitive process to potentially bring a resort casino to Richmond in the coming years .
The document outlines what the city expects from a proposal .
“ With this project , we ’ re looking for the best possible opportunity for Richmond – that means jobs , sustainability , investment in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote on Twitter .
The RFQ/P not only has specific requirements each proposal must address , but it also has several general objectives that the city “ encourages ” applicants ’ plans to accomplish .
Some of those objectives include : creating sustainable and well-paying jobs with benefits , enhancing Richmond ’ s economic development and providing additional revenue to the city that can be used for important needs such as public education , affordable housing and public infrastructure , among others .
The specific requirements laid out in the document are broken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operators ’ qualifications and experiences , and then the actual proposed casino project .
Included within qualifications and experiences must be a description of the applicant and all partner entities and a separate description of the applicant ’ s experience developing or operating resort casino projects during the last five years .
Additionally , operators must provide evidence of their community involvement in other places , such as community benefit agreements , and available sources of financing for the project .
Lastly , applicants must be able to pass background checks and be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Under the proposed casino project section , applicants need to identify a proposed site for the casino , detail the overall plan for the project , which includes everything from renderings to revenues to balance sheets .
Applicants must also provide a community engagement plan , demonstrated commitments to problem gaming initiatives and to identify any potential adverse effects that might result from the casino .
All responses to the RFQ/P from operators are due by 3 p.m. local time on February 22 , 2021 , and must be submitted to Leonard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The RFQ/P also incorporated some feedback from Richmond residents who filled out a survey the city released at the beginning of December that asked about desired benefits from a casino .
Survey results from 2,021 respondents – who were mostly white , male and between the age of 30-39 – showed those residents found jobs paying a living wage or higher and funding for public education as the most important benefits from a potential casino .
After the RFQ/P closes in late February , the city will take several months to review all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consulting firm to aid in the process .
By summer of 2021 , the city will select one operator , while considering community input , and announce the decision to the public .
Whether or not the city welcomes a future casino is ultimately up to Richmond ’ s voters to decide through referendum on election ballots , just as residents from four cities did this past November .
Two potential operators that have shown interest in submitting a bid for a resort casino project in Richmond are the Colonial Downs Group and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group previously told The Virginia Star that they were waiting until the RFQ/P was released before making a final decision and sending in a proposal to the city .
A resort casino in Richmond and other localities in Virginia only became possible after Governor Ralph Northam signed legislation into law earlier this year that allowed for the possible establishment of casinos in certain jurisdictions if approved by local voters .
For more information on the Richmond resort casino development , visit : rva.gov/economic-development/resort-casino Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Stafford County, Virginia Uses Federal Grant to Provide Restaurant Vouchers to SNAP Recipients

Stafford County is sending some extra cash to its 3,900 Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program ( SNAP ) recipients in the form of $ 150 worth of restaurant vouchers to one of 100 local restaurants .
County Board of Supervisors Chair Meg Bohmke said the nearly $ 800,000 program is the first part of the Stafford Cares initiative , a series of programs aimed at helping the county recover physically , mentally , and financially from COVID-19 .
“ The initiative supporting families in need is an innovative way to help out the most vulnerable people and assist our local restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in an announcement .
From February 15 through February 26 , restaurants can apply to be part of the “ Supporting Restaurants and Families in Need ” program .
The Economic Development Department will purchase the gift cards in amounts of $ 7,500 or more from the restaurants .
The Department of Social Services will then give recipient families two $ 75 gift cards , one in March , and one in June .
To apply to participate , restaurants should visit GoStaffordVA.com .
Bohmke said , “ These families will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 100 restaurants participating in Stafford Cares , helping to supplement their food budgets and give them new experiences during the pandemic.
” County spokesman Andrew Spence told The Virginia Star that county officials applied for the nearly $ 800,000 federal Community Development Block Grant , and that stipulations of the grant required the two-fold approach focused on helping restaurants and SNAP recipients , instead of merely being used as a cash handout .
“ It ’ s really an innovative way to utilize the Community Development Block Grant , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and can not do with the funds , ” Spence said .
Bohmke also announced another piece of Stafford Cares — signs promoting mental health with a link to the Rappahannock Area Community Service Board hotline .
More Stafford Cares plans are in the works .
“ The other members of the Board of Supervisors and I have been concerned about the pandemic ’ s overwhelming impact on our restaurants and their workers , ” Bohmke said .
“ Helping restaurants stay in business and continuing to employ our citizens while affording SNAP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a win-win for our county.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Michigan Considers Sanctions Against Some Lawyers Who Filed 2020 Election Challenges

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thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Raffensperger Created ‘Serious Problems’ in Election, Dick Morris Tells NewsMax TV

Dick Morris told Newsmax TV that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger created “ serious problems ” in the November election for several reasons .
Morris appeared on the Monday episode of “ American Agenda , ” according to a story by Newsmax .
• Refused to allow double-verification for signatures on absentee and mail-in ballots .
He required only one signature , contrary to state law .
• Refused to comply with state statute and provide Republicans within a “ reasonable time ” a list of those who voted so they could see who died and who moved away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the balloting process or confined them in a distant part of the room where they couldn ’ t see the paper ballots or the verification .
Raffensperger is also drawing heat for a similar question regarding the January 5 U.S. Senate runoff election .
On December 15 , The Georgia Star News reported that as of the first day of early voting for the runoff election , Georgians had not received an updated voter registration list .
The Republican Party of Georgia issued a press release posing seven questions about the list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stating the “ Secretary of State has failed to answer basic questions ” about the status of the current voter registration rolls .
Also , incumbent Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue released a joint statement asking Raffensperger for the updated voter registration list .
Debbie Dooley , president of the Atlanta Tea Party , recently criticized Raffensperger for his decision in March to send absentee ballot requests to 6.9 million voters , saying he was appeasing Stacey Abrams and Georgia Democrats .
Once the applications went out , voters reported receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lived at their address and that had been deceased .
It was a disaster .
Raffensperger allowed an outside contractor to mail out absentee ballots .
The fact he did this shows that Raffensperger had no clue about ballot security .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Columbus Police Department Fires Officer Who Shot Andre Hill

Officer Adam Coy has been fired from the Columbus Division of Police in Ohio after he fatally shot Andre Hill , a Black man , officials announced on Monday after a disciplinary hearing .
Police Chief Tom Quinlan announced on December 24 that he was officially recommending the termination of Coy , who shot Hill in an encounter during a response to a nonemergency call .
Quinlan said he was charged by the department with critical misconduct .
Coy and another officer were responding to a call about a “ car in the street that was being turned on and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a statement last week .
The officers found Hill sitting inside the vehicle .
He then walked toward the pair while holding up a cell phone .
Coy then shot Hill .
“ Mr .
Hill was known to the residents of the home where his car was parked on the street and he was an expected guest .
He was not intruder , ” Ginther said .
Body-worn camera footage shows Coy shooting Hill , as well as waiting before rendering aid to Hill .
Coy did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he shot Hill , but a function of the camera captures footage from the previous 60 seconds without the audio , NPR reports .
Quinlan said that although a recommendation for termination would typically come after a hearing within the department , he “ bypassed that step.
” “ Like all of you , I witness [ Coy ’ s ] critical misconduct firsthand via his body-worn camera .
I have seen everything I need to see to reach the conclusion that Officer Coy must be terminated immediately , ” Quinlan said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may call this a rush to judgement .
It is not .
We have an officer who violated his oath to comply with the rules and policies of Columbus Division of Police , and the consequences of those violations are so great it requires immediate action .
This violation cost an innocent man his life.
” Public Safety Director Ned Pettus , who NPR says is the only person with authority to fire Columbus officers , held a disciplinary hearing on Monday , where he agreed with the recommendation to fire Coy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not live up to the oath of a Columbus Police officer , or the standards we , and the community , demand of our officers , ” Pettus wrote in a statement .
“ The shooting of Andre Hill is a tragedy for all who loved him , in addition to the community and our Division of Police.
” Officials confirmed that an investigation into the roles of the other officers involved in the incident are still pending .
“ I can not fathom the pain Andre Hill ’ s family is feeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He was taken from them by violence — preventable violence , senseless violence .
This didn ’ t have to happen , and it never should have.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Photo “ Andre Hill Poster ” by Becker1999 .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Senator Mark Obenshain Still Wants More Transparency from Virginia Parole Board

When the Virginia Senate convenes next month in Richmond for its 2021 regular session , Senator Mark Obenshain ( R-Rockingham ) will continue to push legislation that brings greater transparency and accountability to the state parole board .
With 14 days left until the session starts on January 13 , Obenshain has already pre-filed two bills this month relating to the parole board .
Senate Bill 1125 requires the parole board to give written or electronic notice to a victim of a crime within seven days of making any decision to release the prisoner who committed the offense .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls for the Department of Corrections to release a prisoner no sooner than 21 days after the parole board notifies the appropriate Commonwealth ’ s Attorney of its decision , either electronically or through certified mail .
Additionally , the bill would require the parole board to release monthly reports on its decisions and include the offenses of prisoners under consideration for release , the locality in which the crime was committed and the amount of time served by the inmate .
Both bills have been referred to the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming laws will start .
SB 1104 is the same legislation Obenshain had introduced in the 2020 special session , which passed out of the Senate unanimously but was tabled by the House Committee for Courts of Justice by a party-line vote .
The Virginia Star reached out to Obenshain for comment , but did not hear back before press time .
In a press release , Obenshain said the bill stems from the parole board failing to follow requirements of notifying victims and local prosecutors in advance of granting parole to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lack of transparency under which the board operates , and this bill seeks to address those transparency concerns , ” Obenshain said in the release .
“ It is past time the Board follows the law and its own policies and provides to victims and their families the respect they deserve.
” A glaring example of this came back in early October when the Office of the State Inspector General ( OSIG ) released reports substantiating multiple instances where the parole board violated state statutes and its own policies .
The OSIG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not give notifications to Commonwealth ’ s Attorneys of prisoners ’ pending releases within the allotted time frame and seven allegations where they failed to make adequate efforts to contact victims prior to granting parole .
On the same day the reports were released , Obenshain took a point of personal privilege to deliver a passionate speech on the subject to his colleagues in the Senate and called for Governor Ralph Northam to fire and replace every member of the parole board .
Fellow Republican Sen. David Suetterlein ( R-Roanoke County ) has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – to make the individual votes of parole board members public record and subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA ) – that had originally passed the Senate but was tabled by the same House committee .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Background Photo “ Virginia Capitol ” by Matheus Gonçalves CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Minnesota Department of Health Guidance Says Masks Will be Required at All Times for Youth Sports

The Minnesota Department of Health released guidance for youth and adult sports Dec. 28 , announcing that games and scrimmages will be able to take place starting on Jan. 14 , in addition to practices being allowed beginning on Jan. 4 .
Masks will be required at all times for players during both practices and games , with very few exceptions .
According to the guidelines , “ People are not permitted to remove their face coverings during activities that involve a high level of exertion.
” For gymnastics and cheerleading , “ if there are concerns about safety in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting caught on objects , athletes may temporarily remove the face covering during activities such as tumbling/stunting/flying or on certain apparatuses .
However , athletes must wear face coverings for all other practices and routines.
” Practices must have fewer than 25 people per “ pod , ” which is “ a group of individuals that only practice or play with members of their own pod.
” Teams are responsible for enforcing distinct pods and keeping members of different pods away from each other , either by practicing in separate rooms or keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the groups .
Six feet of physical distance must be maintained between players when they are not playing but are on the bench or sideline .
Spectators are not allowed at practices , but it is implied that spectators will be allowed at games starting Jan.14 , with guidance on games to follow .
Additionally , any facility hosting a sporting event and all youth sports programs must create a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan .
The guidelines also recommend appointing a COVID-19 coordinator who is in charge of the plan and reporting cases on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ carpooling should be discouraged as much as possible.
” The MDH also highly recommends keeping rosters of who attends practices each day , “ so we can do contact tracing quickly.
” Team photography was given its own section in the guidelines , with the suggestion to “ consider using a longer lens to increase distance between the photography staff and the people being photographed.
” After the photo has been taken , “ people should quickly separate from others.
” Rose Williams is an assistant editor for Alpha News .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Fewer COVID Patients in Hospitals, ICUs and on Vents in Almost Every Region in Ohio

Governor DeWine or Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff spend a portion of press briefings discussing the issue of hospital capacity , often warning Ohioans that if cases continue to climb , hospitals around the state will be overrun and care for other non-COVID patients may be crowded out .
Consequently , The Ohio Star dug into the data to unearth the trend in statewide hospital capacity and in each of Ohio ’ s eight Hospital Preparedness Regions .
Based on numbers found on the COVID Dashboard , between December 1 and December 15 cases dropped statewide by 23 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decreased 35 % .
The percentage change was not calculated beyond December 15 as the Ohio Department of Health ( ODH ) has repeatedly advised that numbers take about two weeks to settle – except for numbers reported on the Hospital Key Indicator page , which updates daily .
According to the data found on the state website ( specifically under the “ Key Metrics ” tab , then “ Hospitalizations ” in the drop-down menu ) total utilization statewide per inpatient beds , ICU beds and ventilators , is as follows : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hospitals , ICUs and on ventilators between December 16 – December 29 dropped by double digits across the board : Statewide trends are not indicative of what is occurring in each corner of the state .
The Ohio Hospital Preparedness Regions break up the state into eight parts – the map below outlines each region .
Key hospital metrics can be viewed for each region by visiting the hospital key metrics page and clicking on the drop-down menu and selecting any one of the eight regions .
The Star looked into hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and compared utilization on December 16 to utilization on December 29 and found the following information .
According to Governor DeWine ’ s Press Secretary Dan Tierney , the Governor , et.al .
may schedule a COVID briefing for Wednesday .
Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Despite Bravery by Nashville Law Enforcement, Expert Explains Why Public Will Continue to Hear ‘Defu

Despite Bravery by Nashville Law Enforcement, Expert Explains Why Public Will Continue to Hear ‘Defund the Police’ Rhetoric

Certain Nashville activists will continue their “ defund the police ” rhetoric despite the bravery that law enforcement officers displayed before and after last week ’ s explosion downtown , said Nashville Fraternal Order of Police President James Smallwood .
As reported , a massive Christmas Day explosion damaged at least 41 businesses on Second Avenue and collapsed one building .
Nashville Mayor John Cooper praised six uniformed Metro Nashville Police officers who he said saved several lives after they determined that a parked RV in that area was about to detonate .
Smallwood said that people , though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a lot of politically-driven agendas , and because of those politically-driven agendas — like our revolving door criminal justice system — in Nashville over the last year we have seen more than a 36 percent spike in crime and that ’ s horrible , ” Smallwood told The Tennessee Star Tuesday .
“ While I would love to say that [ what happened last week ] will stop the rhetoric and the hate against law enforcement I don ’ t think that it will get in the way of people ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , left-wing activist Justin Jones , during a rally for George Floyd , asked Cooper to his face if he would “ commit to demilitarize the police department and defund the police department.
” Jones seemed disappointed when Cooper declined to say if he would .
Jones said on his Facebook page this week that last week ’ s bombing and the actions that law enforcement took to save lives will not prompt him to alter his message .
“ I ’ ve noticed some who seek to use this tragedy to promote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ and pro-policing , ” Jones wrote .
“ While we ’ re grateful for the actions of the individual officers , this doesn ’ t negate a key lesson of this year that our overall system of policing is still harmful.
” As reported in June , members of the grassroots coalition that campaigned for Nashvillians to create the Metro Community Oversight Board compared the idea of defunding police to some of history ’ s greatest civil rights accomplishments .
As of Tuesday , members of that group , Community Oversight Nashville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s bombing on its Twitter feed .
As reported last summer , the group Teens For Equality gathered in significant numbers to protest at Nashville ’ s Bicentennial Capitol Mall Park on July 4 .
They gave speeches , marched and chanted about their contempt for law enforcement .
Teens for Equality chanted “ Brick-by-brick .
Wall-by-wall .
Metro PD has got to fall.
” and “ Take it to the streets to fight the police .
No justice .
No peace.
” At one point , the protestors chanted either “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police , ” although the distinction was unclear .
Teens for Equality have not updated their Twitter feed since August .
Smallwood said events such as these take a toll .
“ It wears on morale .
You are away from your family .
You are not able to get the time to decompress that you need , and then you see other issues like pay and benefits .
Officers and their families are second-guessing whether this is the right career for them .
Their spouses or their boyfriends or girlfriends are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to do for the rest of their lives , ” Smallwood said .
“ We are seeing people leave the profession because of the challenges they are facing and the rhetoric that is out there .
Seeing people come out and show their support for law enforcement is huge .
As much as I hate that [ last week ’ s ] event was the catalyst for that , maybe folks will understand that law enforcement is ready to stand on the line between good and evil and protect the communities that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corner on the morale deficiency.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Metro Nashville Police Car ” by nashville.gov .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-30--Sen. Josh Hawley Announces He Will Contest Electoral College Certification Next Week

We need to remember this when reelection time comes around .
From now on , I will only support financially @ @ @ @ @ the People ” and our leader , President Trump !
And Missouri ain ’ t @ @ @ @ @ us to go help him when the RINOs and the Left come after him at @ @ @ @ @ Senators Blackburn , Hagerty , Cruz and Lee , step up or don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ me for donations !


thetennesseestar--2020-12-31--Teachers and Educational Staff Moved Up into First Phase of Vaccine Priority List

The Tennessee Department of Health ( TDH ) announced Wednesday that it would be moving teachers and educational staff up on the vaccine priority list .
TDH estimated that teachers and educational staff may receive vaccines starting around February or March of 2021 .
This updated plan for vaccine distribution occurs in months-long waves : Phases 1a1 , 1a2 , 1b , 1c , 2a/b , and 3 .
Teachers and educational staff fall into Phase 1b .
The last several phases don ’ t have projected dates as of yet .
Those who qualify solely through age-based criteria will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Phase 1a2 , starting with those over 75 years old .
Mid-December marked the first wave of vaccinations .
The first phase included inpatient healthcare workers , inpatient residents , long-term care facility staff and residents , first responders , and anyone over 18 years old unable to live independently due to a medical condition or disability .
Also included as a first priority are those over 65 years old and are considered obese , or have cancer , chronic kidney disease , COPD , an organ transplant , serious cardiac diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For most of the state , the second phase of vaccinations is expected to begin in the coming weeks .
Those receiving the vaccine for the next month will include outpatient healthcare workers as well as funeral and mortuary workers .
However , officials shared that smaller and more rural counties were able to move onto the next phases of the vaccination plan , due to less vaccines needed .
In mid-November , Pfizer selected Tennessee as one of four pilot states to administer its COVID-19 vaccine .
Nearly a month later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vaccine .
The first doses were administered just days later as part of the state ’ s first phase .
In total , the state estimated that nearly 2 million people will receive the vaccine by the end of the last phase .
That covers nearly 30 percent of Tennessee ’ s population , which is around 6.8 million people .
Public health officials have stated that complete herd immunity requires 80 to 90 percent vaccination rates .
In order for mask and social distancing requirements to be lifted , officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the population needed vaccination .
Immunization Medical Director Michelle Fiscus told The Tennessean that the state wouldn ’ t reach that number until August 2021 , at least .
According to the latest data from Tennessee ’ s COVID-19 website uploaded Tuesday , over 79,000 individuals have received a vaccine .
As of Wednesday , that number reached 90,000 .
State health officials had hoped to vaccinate over double that number by the end of the year .
Spokespersons with TDH didn ’ t respond to a request for comment on these numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .

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 original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio for another edition of Crom’s Crommentary.
CROM CARMICHAEL:
Michael, yesterday, the Supreme Court heard a very, very important case, Texas versus Biden. And the Wall Street Journal wrote a very interesting article about that case. It appeared on Monday. So it was before the case was heard. There was a law passed in 1996 and Biden voted for the law. The law says that migrants who are, ‘Not clearly and beyond doubt, (not reasonable doubt, beyond doubt,) entitled to be admitted shall be detained.’ It goes on to say that the law also says that DHS can parole individual migrants on a case by case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
That’s what the law that was passed in 1996 says. According to some reports I read this morning about the hearing yesterday, the case by case part of the 1996 law is what some justices may try to hang their hat on to allow Biden to eliminate or rescind Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy on the basis that we only can detain 34,000 illegal immigrants at the same time. That’s all we can detain. And so Trump said we can’t follow the law, so we’re going to make them stay in Mexico.
Now, the left says, well, you can’t make them stay in Mexico because Mexico won’t necessarily agree to that. Well, they already have. Under Trump they did agree to it and they did do it. So it’s not a function of whether or not Mexico can and will do it because they did do it under pressure, but they did do it. This is going to be a very interesting decision that will come down from the courts to see whether or not the courts believe that the law itself has written is what the administration should adhere to. I think that decision will come out very quickly. I don’t think it’ll be months. I think it will be weeks, and maybe even days before that decision comes out.
Listen to the Crommentary:
– – –
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--2020-12-31--Mark Levin Commentary: On January 6, We Learn Whether Our Constitution Will Hold

January 6 is the day we learn whether our Constitution will hold and whether congressional Republicans care .
The 2020 presidential election was , in several targeted battleground states , an unconstitutional electoral exercise .
Even putting aside evidence of significant fraud , virtually none of which received a hearing by our courts , events leading up to and including the November national election constituted a radical and grave departure from the federal electoral system adopted by the framers of the Constitution and the state ratification conventions .
Now , let ’ s be clear : None of this matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its surrogates perpetrated these unconstitutional acts , as I shall soon explain .
Nor does it matter to the media , which is utterly illiterate on the subject and unequivocally supports the supposed outcome in any event .
But it should be of great moment and concern to the people of this country and especially to congressional Republicans in both Houses , for if the latter do not at least confront and challenge this lawlessness on January 6 , when Congress meets to count the electors , it will be the GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the undoing of our presidential electoral system .
Ultimately , it will be the people of the United States who love our republic who will be the losers .
Win , lose , or draw , on January 6 , the Republicans must not act as if “ the people have spoken ” and be cowered into passivity or worse , such as joining the Democrat Party and media hecklers , by insisting that they are part of a lawless party seeking to “ reverse the results of the election.
” Too many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Republican leader , Mitch McConnell , Sen. John Thune , and Rep. Adam Kinzinger .
No doubt others who are unreliable and cowardly when facing the organized mob will follow .
But let us not be judged by those who have intentionally and strategically manipulated our politics and the law to undermine our constitutional order .
It is they who must be condemned .
Specifically , Article II , Section 1 , Clause 2 of the federal Constitution could not be more explicit .
It states , in pertinent part : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct , a Number of Electors , equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress … ” This language was purposeful .
During the Constitutional Convention , there were various proposals suggested for electing a president .
Should the president be directly elected by the people ?
That proposal was rejected out of concern that such a purely democratic process could be hijacked by a temporary majority .
Should the president be chosen in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That proposal was also rejected on grounds of separation of powers .
Should the judiciary play a role in the selection of the president ?
That idea was dispensed with as being the most objectionable , as judges were to be the least political of all public officials .
The framers deliberatively and with much thought created the Electoral College process , in which the people and their elected legislatures — both state and national — would play important roles .
But the electoral process rested first and foremost on the state legislatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The reason : While rejecting the direct election of a president , the framers concluded that the state legislatures were closest to the people in their respective states and would be the best representatives of their interests .
At no time did the framers even raise the possibility that governors , attorneys general , secretaries of state , election boards , administrators , etc.
, would play any significant role in the electoral process .
Indeed , certain of those offices did not even exist .
Moreover , as I said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thus , such an important power was to be exercised exclusively by the state legislatures .
After the 2016 election , the Democrat Party , its various surrogate groups , and eventually the Biden campaign unleashed hundreds of lawsuits and an unrelenting lobbying campaign in key states that had previously been won by President Trump , taking unconstitutional measures intended to stop President Trump from winning these states in the 2020 election , thereby literally undoing this critical constitutional provision .
What had been carefully crafted at the Constitutional Convention and clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main obstacle to defeating President Trump and winning virtually all future presidential elections .
The problem for the Democrats was that in several of these battleground states , the Republicans controlled the legislatures , while the Democrats controlled state executive offices .
The Constitution was not on their side .
Therefore , they used the two branches of government that were to have no role in directing the appointment of electors to eviscerate the role of the Republican legislatures .
In Pennsylvania , considered the battleground of the battleground states , the Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state made and enforced multiple changes to the state ’ s voting procedures , all of which were intended to assist the Democrats and Biden .
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court , whose seven justices are elected , has a 5-2 Democrat majority .
( In 2018 , there was a big push by the Democrat Party to fill three of the seats with Democrats , and it succeeded . )
Just months before the general election , that court rewrote the state election laws to eliminate signature requirements or signature matching , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure votes were timely , and extended the counting of mail-in ballots to Friday at 5:00 p.m. ( state law had a hard date and time — election day on Tuesday , which ended at 8:00 p.m .
ET ) , thereby fundamentally altering Pennsylvania ’ s election laws and nullifying the federal constitutional role of the Republican legislature .
In Michigan , among other things , the Democrat secretary of state unilaterally changed the state ’ s election laws with respect to absentee ballot applications and signature verification .
Indeed , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior to the primary and general elections .
State law required would-be voters to request such ballots .
She intentionally circumvented the Republican state legislature and violated the federal Constitution by issuing over 7 million unsolicited ballots .
Furthermore , a court of claims judge , appointed by a Democrat , ordered clerks to accept ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 and received within 14 days of the election , the deadline for results to be certified .
The ballots would be counted as provisional ballots .
The state legislature had no role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elections Commission and local Democrat officials in the state ’ s largest cities , including Milwaukee and Madison , changed the state ’ s election laws .
Among other things , they placed hundreds of unmanned drop boxes in strategic locations in direct violation of state law .
Not surprisingly , the locations were intended to be most convenient to Democrat voters .
In addition , they told would-be voters how to avoid security measures like signature verification and photo ID requirements .
These bureaucrats and local officials bypassed the Republican legislature in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the secretary of state is a Republican .
Regardless , as explained in the Texas lawsuit brought against Georgia and the three other states mentioned above , “ on March 6 , 2020 , in Democratic Party of Georgia v. Raffensperger , Georgia ’ s Secretary of State entered a Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release with the Democratic Party of Georgia to materially change the statutory requirements for reviewing signatures on absentee ballot envelopes to confirm the voter ’ s identity by making it far more difficult to challenge defective signatures beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at GA. CODE § 21-2-386 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B ) .
71 .
Among other things , before a ballot could be rejected , the Settlement required a registrar who found a defective signature to now seek a review by two other registrars , and only if a majority of the registrars agreed that the signature was defective could the ballot be rejected but not before all three registrars ’ names were written on the ballot envelope along with the reason for the rejection .
These cumbersome procedures are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statutory requirements , as is the Settlement ’ s requirement that notice be provided by telephone ( i.e.
, not in writing ) if a telephone number is available .
Finally , the Settlement purports to require State election officials to consider issuing guidance and training materials drafted by an expert retained by the Democratic Party of Georgia.
” Georgia ’ s Republican legislature had no role in these electoral changes resulting from consent decree .
Consequently , in each of these four battleground states — and there were others — whether through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if not core , aspects of state election laws were fundamentally altered in contravention of the explicit power granted to the state legislatures and , therefore , in violation of the federal Constitution and the process set forth for directing the selection of electors .
And this is before we even get to the issue of voter fraud .
That said , in many instances , ballots that would have been rejected or , if counted , evidence of fraud , were now said to be legal — not by state legislatures but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws .
The United States Supreme Court had an opportunity before the election , and in this general election cycle , to make clear to the states that they must comply with the plain language of Article II , Section 1 , Clause 2 of the Constitution .
Indeed , when a federal district judge in Michigan altered that state ’ s election laws , a closely divided U.S. Supreme Court overturned his order .
Justice Gorsuch pointed out that the state legislature writes election laws .
However , when a case was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court ’ s interference in state election laws , the U.S. Supreme Court was paralyzed .
Chief Justice Roberts attempted to distinguish between federal and state courts , which is irrelevant ; in another instance , Justice Alito ordered the Pennsylvania secretary of state , not once but twice , to segregate certain mail-in ballots , but nothing came of it .
A court divided against itself can not stand , to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln .
Its failure to enforce the Constitution ( and by that I don ’ t mean make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions ) has contributed mightily to our current plight .
Despite what has been reported and repeated , the president is not actually or officially chosen on Election Day .
The president is not chosen upon the certification of electors by the states .
The process ends in Congress .
And on Jan. 6 , Congress — following both the Constitution and its own procedural law — makes the final decision on who is to be president and vice president of the United States .
Of course , in every election in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there have been some controversies , the process has proceeded without much attention .
But this time is different , as it must be .
The Democrat Party , its surrogates , and eventually the Biden campaign instituted an unprecedented legal and lobbying campaign , mostly under the radar , as it was not well covered by the usual media outlets , to undermine our Constitution , the Republican state legislatures , and the Trump re-election campaign , in favor of Biden .
In other words , the Constitution ’ s electoral process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vice president was systematically and strategically attacked .
It is now left to Congress , or at least the Republicans in Congress , to confront this .
The Democrat Party has done severe damage to the nation ’ s electoral system , to the point where the state legislatures are now in the position of having the least input on the manner in which elections are held and federal electors are chosen — the complete opposite of what the Constitution compels and the framers unequivocally intended .
And the legislatures in Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have , in a variety of ways , objected to what ’ s occurred , underscoring the seriousness of the problem .
If this outcome is allowed to stand without a fight on Jan. 6 , it is difficult to see how this can be fixed .
The Democrats will view this as a sure sign that they are free to do more and even worse .
It will become extremely difficult for Republicans to win nationwide elections ( something the ten or so GOP senators who wish to run for president should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also become increasingly difficult to win a Republican majority in the Senate .
And the 2020 constitutional violations will be used as a baseline for even more unconstitutional manipulations of the electoral system .
The Democrat Party ’ s goal is to turn the nation ’ s electoral system into the one-party rule that exists in virtually all blue states , especially California with its supermajorities .
As I said earlier , win , lose , or draw , the congressional Republicans must act .
It is the Democrats and their media who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election system .
Look at what they did in 2016 ( need I remind everyone of the relentless assault against candidate and then President Trump ? )
and now 2020 .
And they have every intention , as they have boldly proclaimed , to further undermine our constitutional system should they win the Senate majority in a few days — by eliminating the filibuster and any ability to slow their radical legislative agenda ; packing the Supreme Court with left-wing ideologues ; and packing the Senate with four more Democrats from Puerto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just for starters .
This is the same party that did not care that it had no hope of removing President Trump in the Senate , but impeached him anyway — on the most specious of grounds .
They are playing for keeps and destroying our constitutional system , for which they have little regard .
I am well aware that it takes a majority of both Houses to send the election of the president to the House of Representatives , where each delegation gets one vote , an extremely difficult hurdle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ much for the Republicans to uphold the United States Constitution — which they all took an oath to do — and to fight to preserve and protect the plain words set forth in Article II .
They must make the case to and on behalf of the American people .
And they must make it clear to the Democrats that we , the people , who believe in this Republic , will not roll over !
Now , let ’ s see how many statesmen there are among Republican members of Congress .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-31--DOJ Researcher Releases Study Indicating Massive Election Fraud in Georgia and Pennsylvania

A researcher at the Department of Justice on Tuesday released a 25-page report indicating a high probability of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election .
World-renown economist John Lott Ph.D. , examined election results from Pennsylvania and Georgia , as well as potential election fraud in Arizona , Michigan , Nevada , and Wisconsin .
“ This paper ’ s approach allows us to quantify how large a potential problem vote fraud and other abnormalities might be in the 2020 election , ” Dr. Lott wrote .
Navarro released his own study of six contested states earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to steal the election , “ or unfairly tilt the playing field in favor of the Biden-Harris ticket.
” Lott ’ s study compared Fulton County Georgia ’ s precincts to similar precincts in neighboring counties that had no allegations of fraud .
The purpose of the exercise , Lott wrote , was “ to isolate the impact of Fulton county ’ s vote-counting process ( including potential fraud ) .
” In 2016 , there was little difference between Fulton County and its surrounding counties , according to Lott .
But in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person voting variables , he found that President Trump ’ s percentage of absentee votes was 7.81 percent lower in Fulton county than precincts in neighboring counties .
In measuring the difference in President Trump ’ s vote share of the absentee ballots for these adjacent precincts , we account for the difference in his vote share of the in-person voting and the difference in registered voters ’ demographics .
The best estimate shows an unusual 7.81 % drop in Trump ’ s percentage of the absentee ballots for Fulton County alone of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Biden ’ s vote lead in Georgia .
“ In layman ’ s terms , in precincts with alleged fraud , Trump ’ s proportion of absentee votes was depressed – even when such precincts had similar in-person Trump vote shares to their surrounding countries .
The fact that the shift happens only in absentee ballots , and when a country line is crossed , is suspicious , ” Lott said .
Lott applied the same approach to Allegheny County in Pennsylvania for both absentee and provisional ballots and estimated that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two sources ” was about 55,270 votes .
“ The precinct level estimates for Georgia and Pennsylvania indicate that vote fraud may account for Biden ’ s win in both states , ” said Lott .
He also examined the suspiciously high turnout rates in the two states .
“ Increased fraud can take many forms : higher rates of filling out absentee ballots for people who hadn ’ t voted , dead people voting , ineligible people voting , or even payments to legally registered people for their votes , ” Lott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70,000 to 79,000 “ excess ” votes in Georgia and Pennsylvania , enough vote fraud to account for Joe Biden ’ s win in both states .
Lott looked at voter turnout rates in Arizona , Michigan , Nevada , and Wisconsin , comparing counties in which voter fraud was alleged to other counties where it was not .
He concluded that if you add those states , the total number of fraudulent votes in the 2020 election increases to up to 289,000 excess votes .
The voter turnout rate data also indicates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona , Michigan , Nevada , and Wisconsin as well .
While the problems shown here are large , there are two reasons to believe that they are underestimates : 1 ) the estimates using precinct level data assume that there is no fraud occurring with in person voting and 2 ) the voter turnout estimates do not account for ballots for the opposing candidate that are lost , destroyed , or replaced with ballots filled out for the other candidate .
Lott was appointed as senior adviser for research and statistics at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Programs in October of 2020 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-31--Commentary: The Virus Is Not Invincible, But It’s Exposing Who’s Irreplaceable

In all the gloom and doom , and media-driven nihilism , there is actually an array of good news .
As many predicted , as testing spreads , and we get a better idea of the actual number and nature of cases , the death rate from coronavirus slowly but also seems to steadily decline .
Early estimates from the World Health Organization and the modeling of pessimists of a constant 4 percent death rate for those infected with the virus are for now proving exaggerated for the United States .
More likely , as testing spreads , our fatality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is some evidence from Germany and to a lesser extent South Korea , that it may be possible to see the fatality rate dip below 1 percent .
And with the breathing space from the lockdown , better hygiene ( the degree of constant and near-obsessive cleaning at businesses that are still open is quite amazing ) , more knowledge and data , better medical protocols , the use of some efficacious drugs , warmer weather , and experience with the disease will , in perfect-storm fashion , begin to mitigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we get the lethality rate down to German levels ( currently two to three in 1,000 ) , then we can cautiously assume that those who predicted that the coronavirus could eventually be contextualized as a bad , H1N1-like flu will no longer be demonized as nuts , and life can resume with reasonable precautions and focused quarantines and isolation .
In two or three weeks , if we can just allow most businesses to reopen , gear up to pandemic testing , track cases and contacts in the manner of past protocols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and measles outbreaks , and focus on the ill and elderly , then the economy will reboot .
But now the current economy is starting to resemble a patient in an induced coma , one whom no one knows whether he will recover after the respirator is disconnected .
But still , there are reasons for optimism : historically low interest rates will eventually encourage bit-ticket buying .
After any war or national crisis , confidence soars with collective relief and people go out to eat , travel , buy , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commercial and private transportation sector , will receive a multi-billion-dollar subsidy in radically reduced gas and diesel prices .
The same holds true for the utilities .
Summer is approaching .
With it comes increased driving and travel at lower prices , at the exact time there is some good reason to believe warmer weather could curb viral transmissions—just as we are learning of an increased effort to defeat the coronavirus with experimental medicines , homogenized protocols , more plentiful medical supplies , and better data .
We forget the world goes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news apart from the outbreak is actually pretty good .
California , the country ’ s largest state and biggest economy , was facing a harsh drought just three weeks ago .
There were near record dry months in January and February , when essentially no rain or snow fell , and the bounty of the prior December was melted or sent out to sea .
There was not much hope , since the great preponderance of California ’ s precipitation falls before March 1 .
However , a rare “ March Miracle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mountains suddenly receive 4-6 feet of snow that covers dry ground ( it is still snowing as I write this ) .
And the later the snow , the better the spring runoff .
While 2020 will not prove an especially wet year , the state—and by extension , the country— has dodged a lethal bullet .
Had California in the midst of the epidemic , whose spread is predicated on unhygienic behavior , been struggling also with drought-induced water rationing—less bathing , hand-washing , cleaning—the negative synergy could have been devastating .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ endemic at being simultaneously ordered to practice nonstop washing and cleaning , while also being ordered to save water amidst a panic of hand cleanser and antiseptics hoarding and shortages .
In geostrategic terms , we do not endure an absolute but rather a relative epidemic .
Like it or not , national rivalries continue at a time of plague .
Our three greatest rivals , China , Russia , and Iran are all faring far worse than are we in ways that transcend the virus .
China ’ s brand is tarnished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Silkroad its way out of the disaster .
Sending medical supplies to Italy does not balance out earlier sending hundreds of Chinese citizens with the virus to Italy , at a time the communist government knew the disease was transmissible , and well established among the Chinese population .
It kept such knowledge from the world in general , and from its clients like Italy in particular .
Nations , if wise , will question Chinese reliability , transparency , and truthfulness as never before—despite likely Chinese discounts and outreach to maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the upside of cheap labor cancels out the downside of dependency on such an unreliable and odious government partner .
In American terms , Trump ’ s supposedly quixotic effort to decouple key industries from China will no longer be the stuff of bemused scorn , but the new orthodoxy , with obvious advantages for the United States in terms of autonomy and autarky of life-sustaining goods—not to mention U.S. jobs .
Iran was in extremis before the virus—oil price crashes , oil sales boycotted and embargoed , unpopularity over killing 1,500 protestors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airliner .
Now its “ China First ” policy of relying on Beijing for help in avoiding U.S. sanctions boomeranged in catastrophic fashion : their atheistic and Islamic-persecuting Chinese patrons knowingly sent infectious people into Iran , with the full knowledge of the risk to their supposed client .
Russia ’ s Middle East agendas were already stagnating , given that Syria is an expensive hellhole that great powers are now wise to avoid , at least on the ground .
Crashed oil prices robbed Moscow of revenue .
Its military buildup , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are running short of cash .
They will continue to do so as both Saudi Arabia and the United States pump more oil .
There is a golden opportunity for U.S. corporations to return to America and to become what has been called the new Roosevelt “ arsenal of democracy , ” the world ’ s supplier of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals that nations count on in times of crisis .
Everyone knew before just how biased and unprofessional the media had become in its maniacal hatred of Donald Trump .
But few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clueless about simple calculations and logic was this generation of reporters that has emerged from politicized schools of journalism , which taught therapy rather than knowledge , much less a code of conduct .
The media daily blares out preliminary models and data , without even the most remedial context .
They parrot the supposedly historic death rate of the virus , without any knowledge that the denominator of virus cases is as inaccurate and misleading as the numerator of deaths is mostly factual .
Then they seemed surprised that the death rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , without any appreciation that known cases are likely not representative of the populace as a whole , but represent only those who were tested ( 80-90 percent negative ) , and thus only of those who felt ill or were exposed enough to be tested .
Few tell us that a small percentage of those tested , when ill , have COVID-19 , or the death rate is warped by those over 70 with accompanying heart , respirator , and cancer challenges .
When journalists talk of “ 20,000 cases !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 99 percent recover from the virus that has stealthily been with us likely since mid-January , and of those 20,000 or so cases , a large number of the sick are already well .
There is now a parlor game on the Internet of cutting and pasting clips from cable news , PBS , and NPR to reveal how inane and unthinking reporters have become .
Not so long ago , it was “ bombshells , ” “ turning points , ” “ game-changers , ” and “ walls are closing in ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about to indict the entire Trump team .
And now “ we will never be the same , ” “ worse than the 1918 flu , ” “ xenophobia , ” etc .
have become the new parroting .
Only an ignoramus or worse , would employ the terms “ Chinese virus ” and “ Wuhan flu ” for most of January and February , and then suddenly declare such terms racist when Donald Trump or his supporters copied such common media parlance .
Whereas no one believed the media in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , either .
The more they in Pavlovian fashion equate coronavirus with the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 , and Trump with Hitler , the more people , to the degree they hear of such silliness , tune them out .
I think one of the strangest of all sequelae to the virus and the lockdowns might be the millions of high-paid Americans whose absences were hardly missed either by the public or count much in subsequent economic analyses of damage to the economy .
In a sophisticated society under lockdown , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fix a toilet , replace a circuit breaker , or change a tire , or to be a New York fashion designer , a Hollywood actor , or a corporate merger lawyer ?
At 9 p.m. , when you go downtown in need of a critical prescription , are you really all that furious that a law-abiding citizen who has a gun and concealed permit is also in line—or would you be more relieved that gun control laws might ensure that his ilk never enters an all-night pharmacy ?
So who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often told globalized elites on the coast were the deserved 21st-century winners , while the suckers and rubes in-between had better learn coding or head to the fracking fields .
But who now is more important than the trucker who drives 12-hours straight to deliver toilet paper to Costco ?
Or the mid-level manager of Target who calibrates supply and demand and is on the phone all day juggling deliveries before his store opens ?
Or the checker at the local supermarket who knows that the hundreds of customers inches away from her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ensures that people walk out with food in their carts ?
The farmworker who is on the tractor all night to ensure that millions of carrots and lettuce don ’ t rot ?
The muddy frackers in West Texas who make it possible that natural gas reaches the home of the quarantined broker in Houston ?
The ER nurse on her fifth coronavirus of the day who matter-of-factly saves lives ?
Do we really need to ask such questions of whether the presence of the czar for diversity and inclusion at Yale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cop on patrol at 2 a.m. in New Haven ?
Do social justice student protestors who surround and heckle the politically suspicious now in ones and twos also scream in the faces of the incorrect plumber who unclogs their locked-down apartment drain ?
The virus has reminded us again , but in an unorthodox fashion , that the world is bifurcated by the degreed versus the non-college educated , rural versus urban , sophisticates in opposition to supposed rubes—and the dichotomy has been telling .
I don ’ t suppose Rick Wilson will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fake-Okie accent to ridicule the supposed unwashed , who deliver his food and energy , as viewers might wonder what exactly was his expertise .
Will multibillionaire Mike Bloomberg really convince anyone that a farmer operates by simplistic rote , and someone like himself is critical to America—one who censored the politically incorrect reporting of his own journalists while he schemed to find ways to capitalize Chinese Communist-owned companies with western currencies—at huge multi-billion-dollar profits to himself ?
When your refrigerator goes out under quarantine and your supplies begin to rot , do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maxine Waters ( D-Calif. ) —or do you rather need a St. Michael Smith and St. Uriel Mendoza to appear out of nowhere as the archangels from Home Depot to wheel up and connect a new one ?


thetennesseestar--2020-12-31--McConnell Ties $2,000 Checks to Section 230 Repeal, Voter Fraud Investigation

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced legislation authorizing direct cash payments of $ 2,000 Tuesday , but with a catch to which Democrats will likely object .
The bill combines $ 2,000 payments with a repeal of Section 230 , a provision that grants social media companies liability protections against content users post on their platforms , and the establishment of a commission to study allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election .
Though Democrats supported President Donald Trump ’ s push for $ 2,000 checks , they have opposed his efforts to abolish Section 230 and investigate his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s bill little chance of becoming law .
McConnell has so far resisted holding a vote on any legislation regarding increased stimulus checks even as senators from both parties increase the pressure to do so .
Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Tuesday that he would filibuster the Senate ’ s override of the annual military bill , keeping the chamber in session through the New Year , unless it held a vote on $ 2,000 checks .
His effort was seconded by Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley , who tweeted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a vote on the bad defense bill… unless the Senate votes on $ 2k Covid relief for working people.
” But Democrats criticized McConnell ’ s altered bill , which is all but certain to fail to garner enough support .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill was “ a blatant attempt ” to sabotage the passage of $ 2,000 checks , calling it a “ cynical gambit ” on Tuesday .
Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy echoed Schumer , saying that “ poison pills ” are “ just another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this body doesn ’ t support $ 2,000 payments.
” Though legislation authorizing $ 2,000 checks has the support of Trump and passed the House of Representatives in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote , multiple Senate Republicans have come out against the measure .
Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey said the bill was “ not sound economic policy ” given its size , and Texas Sen. John Cornyn said that it was a distraction from the amount of relief that Congress already granted .
“ This is just opportunistic on the part of the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They ’ ve got an issue and unfortunately it seems to be drowning out all of the other good stuff we ’ ve done.
” McConnell ’ s bill appears to address all of Trump ’ s most recent demands made when signing the $ 900 coronavirus relief bill on Sunday .
Specifically , he called to “ start the process for a vote that increases checks to $ 2,000 , repeals Section 230 , and starts an investigation into voter fraud.
” McConnell ’ s bill does technically start the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has yet to schedule a vote on his legislation .
Despite the majority leader ’ s bill , Trump has continued to pressure Republican senators to pass legislation authorizing higher checks , tweeting on Tuesday that those who oppose doing so have a “ death wish ” and that passing higher checks “ is the right thing to do.
” Several GOP senators have come out in support of the legislation , including Georgia Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler .
The two are running in dual Senate runoffs on Jan. 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and whether Democrats can obtain full control of Congress and the White House .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-31--Feds at Nashville Bomb Site Announce Plans to Finish Crime Scene Work

Federal officials said they may soon complete the crime scene where a massive Christmas Day explosion damaged at least 41 businesses on Second Avenue and collapsed one building .
“ FBI Evidence Response Teams and the ATF National Response Team members continue to recover evidence at the blast scene in downtown Nashville , ” sad FBI Special Agent Jason Pack in a press release that Metro Nashville officials published Wednesday .
“ Because of their efforts , nearly half of the original crime scene has been returned to the city for clean-up and safety assessments .
Agents hope to complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest ( may be sooner ) .
” Nashville Mayor John Cooper on his Facebook page Wednesday said the following : • Broadway to Union and Second Avenue to Riverfront will remain closed .
• Second Avenue is closed , including all structures and properties fronting on Second Avenue .
• First Avenue South is restricted to WeGo use .
• Broadway and Union are open to vehicles and pedestrians .
Pack said that Metro Nashville Police Department officers , including Urban Search and Rescue team members , were assisting business owners in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Second Avenue between Church and Commerce active crime scenes .
The FBI Victim Services Division deployed 26 victim specialists to work with impacted business owners and residents .
“ A temporary flight restriction over Second Avenue is in place through Thursday afternoon .
FBI and ATF Special Agents and analysts also continue to interview those who knew the suspect in order to try to understand why this happened , ” Pack wrote .
“ The FBI ’ s Behavioral Analysis Unit ( profilers ) are assisting the case agents with that task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haven ’ t yet spoken with investigators are asked to contact the FBI at 800-CALL-FBI.
” In the hours after the explosion , a video was posted on Twitter from an apparent recording of the bombing from a nearby security camera .
Audio of a loudspeaker warning people to leave the area and “ evacuate now ” was heard echoing in the street moments before the blast .
The recording is disrupted , but the camera eventually resets showing the aftermath of the explosion .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-31--ER Nurse Tests Positive for COVID-19 After Receiving Pfizer Vaccine

An emergency room nurse tested positive for COVID-19 over a week after getting the Pfizer vaccine , an ABC affiliate reported Monday .
A 45-year-old ER nurse identified as Matthew W. , works for two hospitals San Diego , California , tested positive for COVID-19 eight days after receiving the vaccine , though experts say he could have been exposed prior to receiving the vaccine , 10 News reported .
“ It ’ s not unexpected at all .
If you work through the numbers , this is exactly what we ’ d expect to happen if someone was exposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an infectious disease specialist with Family Health Centers of San Diego , 10 News reported .
Matthew said that his arm was sore after getting the vaccine but reported no other side effects , according to 10 News .
After working a shift in a COVID-19 unit , Matthew said he had the chills which developed into muscle aches and fatigue on Dec. 24 , 10 News reported .
Ramers said it ’ s likely that Matthew was infected before he got the vaccine since the incubation period can be as long as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine clinical trials that it ’ s going to take about 10 to 14 days for you to start to develop protection from the vaccine , ” Ramers said , 10 News reported .
Ramers mentioned multiple other cases of local health care workers testing positive for COVID-19 around the same time they got the vaccine , 10 News reported .
He said that the cases demonstrate the results of the vaccine aren ’ t effective immediately .
“ That first dose we think gives you somewhere around 50 % , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 95 % , ” Ramers said , 10 News reported .
Ramers said that health practitioners talk about the vaccine “ being the beginning of the end , but it ’ s going to be a slow roll , weeks to months as we roll out the vaccine , ” Ramers said , 10 News reported .
Ramers said that the vaccines won ’ t immediately change the state of the pandemic and that PPE and practicing good hygiene are still important after getting a vaccine , 10 News reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-31--Tennessee Democratic House Caucus Chairman Questions Need for Legislature to Hold Special Session on

Tennessee Democratic House Caucus Chairman Questions Need for Legislature to Hold Special Session on Education Challenges

One Democratic leader in the Tennessee House is questioning the need for a special session to address education topics .
State Representative Vincent Dixie ( D-Nashville ) , chairman of the Democratic House Caucus , is skeptical , Fox 17 News reported .
“ We have an ongoing cause to fix the learning loss accountability teacher pay .
The things the governor is calling for in a special session is what we do in a regular session .
If you ’ re going to call a special session is how do we protect Tennesseans ?
How do we make their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue a mask mandate ?
” Governor Bill Lee on Tuesday called for the Tennessee General Assembly to convene for a special legislative session on January 19 to address “ urgent issues facing Tennessee students and schools in the 2021-22 school year , ” according to a a story by The Tennessee Star .
Lee said on his Facebook page Tuesday that the special session will address learning loss , funding , accountability , literacy , and teacher pay .
Lee said preliminary data projects an estimated 50 percent decrease in proficiency rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 percent decrease in proficiency in math .
This exacerbates issues that existed prior to the pandemic , where only one-third of Tennessee third graders were reading on grade level .
Some have questioned the Lee administration ’ s numbers , which were announced in September .
The numbers are based on a report released in April , only a couple of weeks after Tennessee schools closed over fears of the coronavirus , WMC reported .
The data was from NWEA , a research firm , which did a national sampling in 2017-2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a justification to force students back into the classrooms , ” Parkinson said .
“ Not one time did they request data , actual data , from the superintendents or from the school districts to justify the numbers or the claims that they were making .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-12-31--Analysis: Federal Tax Overhaul Increased Taxes on Wealthy in Many Blue States

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act , harpooned by progressive Democrats as a handout to wealthy corporations , turned out to be more progressive in practice , new data from the federal government revealed .
The federal tax reform measure supported by President Donald Trump increased taxes on some wealthy property owners in high-tax jurisdictions such as Illinois and New Jersey and decreased tax burdens on the middle class .
Internal Revenue Service data released in December , analyzed by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation and Wirepoints , show the federal tax overhaul that took effect in 2018 didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the wealthy as it was criticized as .
The top 1 % of earners , those with income over $ 540,009 , paid 40 % of all income taxes , according to the data .
That ’ s despite the tax reductions they ’ d received under the new tax code change .
“ NTUF has compiled historical IRS data tracking the distribution of the federal income tax burden back to 1980 and this is the highest share recorded over that period , topping 2007 ’ s 39.8 percent income tax share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NTUF said in its report .
“ The amount of taxes paid in this percentile is nearly twice as much their adjusted gross income ( AGI ) share.
” This was coupled with a doubling of the standard income tax deduction , which removed more people from the income tax rolls when coupled with more refunds .
Where the federal government made some money back was from the cap on the state and local tax , or SALT , deduction .
“ That just hammered folks who have high property taxes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and New Jersey , ” said Mark Glennon , founder of Wirepoints .
“ There were a lot who had those deductions taken away but it didn ’ t affect the middle class because they don ’ t hit that $ 10,000 cap.
” In its assessment of the data , Wirepoints said taxpayers in high-tax states such as Illinois , New Jersey , and New York got hit with the majority of the new tax burden because the SALT deduction was capped at $ 10,000 .
This meant residents with expensive homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returns .
This , as Moody ’ s Analytics noted in 2019 , resulted in a $ 1 trillion reduction in home prices .
In 2017 , then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi , D-California , called the legislation the “ worst bill in the history of the United States Congress ” and an attempt to “ plunder the middle class to put into the pockets of the wealthiest 1 % more money.
” Glennon said it was that “ blind partisanship ” that kept many from taking an objective look at the legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill got branded as ‘ the worst form of greed by some rich oligarchy in America , ’ ” he said .
Cole Lauterbach reports on Illinois and Arizona government and statewide issues for The Center Square .
He has produced radio shows for stations in Central Illinois and created award-winning programs for Comcast SportsNet Chicago .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-31--United Kingdom Approves AstraZeneca Coronavirus Vaccine

The United Kingdom became the first country to approve AstraZeneca ’ s coronavirus vaccine as the nation combats a sharp spike in confirmed cases .
The vaccine , developed in partnership with Oxford University , can be stored at much warmer temperatures than other approved candidates .
Its approval followed an official recommendation from Britain ’ s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency , and the country has already purchased 100 million doses , the company said in its statement .
“ The rollout will start on Jan. 4 and will really accelerate into the first few weeks of next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hancock told Sky News .
His comments were echoed by AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot , who told BBC Radio that vaccines will be shipped Wednesday or Thursday and that vaccinations “ will start next week and we will get to 1 million – and beyond that – a week , very rapidly.
” “ [ It ’ s ] an important day for millions of people in the U.K. who will get access to this new vaccine , ” Soriot added .
“ It has been shown to be effective , well-tolerated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AstraZeneca at no profit.
” Like Pfizer ’ s vaccine , which was approved in the U.K. in early December , AstraZeneca ’ s also requires two doses .
But health experts believe that the first dose will be powerful enough to protect against the virus , and have said that they will focus on administering the first dose to as many people as possible .
They added that everybody would receive their second dose within 12 weeks of receiving their first .
The vaccine ’ s approval follows record daily case counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contagious variant that originated in the country and is spreading across the globe .
The strain prompted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to impose a series of strict lockdown measures through the holidays and led several countries to fully halt travel to and from the country .
Scientists , however , believe that vaccines will be effective against the new strain .
“ At the moment , there ’ s no evidence that the vaccines won ’ t work against the new variant , ” Oxford ’ s Dr. Andrew Pollard told BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to look at .
We can ’ t be complacent about this variant or perhaps future variants.
” AstraZeneca ’ s Phase III trials showed the vaccine to be approximately 70 % effective , though the drug maker said that one dosing regimen showed approximately 90 % effectiveness .
The vaccine will likely be relied upon throughout the world since it can be stored in refrigerators instead of specialized ultra-cold freezers .
The company also said that it plans to produce approximately 3 billion doses by the end of 2021 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , ” Pollard said on Wednesday .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .