thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo Apologizes at Sentencing for Victimizing 87 People

SACRAMENTO , California ( AP ) — Just before receiving multiple consecutive life sentences , Joseph James DeAngelo , the former California police officer who lived a double life as the murderous sociopath dubbed the Golden State Killer , broke his silence to tell a hushed courtroom filled with victims and their family members that he was “ truly sorry ” for the crimes .
It was such an unexpected moment that it brought gasps from those in the gallery , many of whom sat through an extraordinary four-day sentencing hearing filled with graphic and heart-wrenching testimony from dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever seemed to know what DeAngelo would do and who he was , which helps explain how he eluded detection for four decades while committing at least 13 killings and dozens of rapes .
The 74-year-old DeAngelo spoke for only a few seconds after rising from a wheelchair that newly released jail video shows he doesn ’ t need .
“ I listened to all your statements , each one of them , and I ’ m truly sorry for everyone I ’ ve hurt , ” he said , putting aside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plead guilty and also admit to multiple other sexual assaults for which the statute of limitations had expired .
Prosecutors and victims said it was more evidence of a manipulative and vicious criminal who fooled investigators and his own family until he finally admitted victimizing at least 87 people at 53 separate crime scenes spanning 11 California counties .
He was finally unmasked in 2018 with a pioneering use of DNA tracing .
“ I think that he is truly diabolical and he is constantly masked , whether it ’ s a physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the role of a decent guy in the community and having people around him who love him , ” said Debbi Domingo McMullan , the daughter of murder victim Cheri Domingo .
“ One hundred percent ‘ Jekyll & Hyde , ’ ” added Jane Carson-Sandler , one of DeAngelo ’ s first rape victims .
“ It ’ s like he was living two completely different lives .
… He probably , somehow in his mind , didn ’ t feel that he was committing these crimes — it was someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s family members broke their silence in the case , writing in letters read to the judge that the “ monster , ” “ devil , ” “ beast ” and “ madman ” described by prosecutors is the polar opposite of the man that one niece saw as a loving father figure and another as her “ hero ” who took her camping and fishing .
Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman was unmoved .
He said DeAngelo should die in prison with “ no mercy ” from his jailers after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 13 rape-related charges that spanned much of California between 1975 and 1986 .
The plea deal spared him the death penalty .
“ When a person commits monstrous acts , they need to be locked away so they can never harm an innocent person , ” the judge said to applause from DeAngelo ’ s victims .
Investigators in the case pioneered a new method of DNA tracing that involves building a family tree from publicly accessible genealogy websites to narrow the list of suspects .
They linked nearly 40-year-old DNA from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeAngelo and eventually to a discarded tissue they surreptitiously lifted from DeAngelo ’ s garbage can in suburban Sacramento .
The same technique has since been used to solve 93 murders and rapes across the nation , said Ron Harrington , whose family has been obsessed with solving the 1980 slayings of youngest brother Keith Harrington and his new wife , Patrice Harrington .
It led oldest brother Bruce Harrington to champion a ballot measure passed by California voters in 2004 that expanded the collection of DNA samples from prisoners and those arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 81,000 identifications .
Bowman told DeAngelo he was moved by the courage and strength of the victims and their family members — “ all qualities you clearly lack ” — who told how they endured sadistic , hours-long assaults .
DeAngelo ’ s rapes and eventual murders followed the same pattern of binding couples he surprised while they slept and assaulting the woman as the man lay helpless .
He would place dishes on the man ’ s back , warning that he would kill them both if the dishes rattled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflicted with their image of the man they loved .
“ I personally feel that someone else is inside him who I do not know , ” a niece said in a letter read by defense attorneys .
DeAngelo ’ s sister and a close friend each wrote that he was abused as a boy by an emotionally distant , disciplinarian father .
Prosecutors said they had found no evidence of abuse , but Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said they learned he was a teenager “ who was blowing up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” His ex-wife , Sacramento attorney Sharon Huddle , said in her own court filing that she was fooled by his excuses of working nights , leaving for pheasant hunts and visiting his parents , though many victims have wondered aloud how she could not have known of her husband ’ s double life .
“ No compassion , no empathy , no remorse , ” Schubert said .
“ He has and always will be a sociopath in action.
” Former fiance Bonnie Colwell Ueltzen said , “ I didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know now he was a burglar and a Peeping Tom before I ever knew him.
” She broke off their teenage engagement when DeAngelo became abusive .
Investigators have said one rape victim ’ s recollection that her assailant shouted “ I hate you , Bonnie ” helped lead them to DeAngelo .
“ Maybe I ’ m part of his cover .
Maybe his family ’ s part of his cover , ” Ueltzen said after DeAngelo was sentenced .
“ We ’ re all props in his big story , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal underneath.
” Don Thompson is a reporter with The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : Joseph James DeAngelo apologizes to his victims and the families of the victims he killed more than four decades ago during his sentencing hearing in Sacramento County Superior Court held at CSU Sacramento , Friday , Aug. 21 , 2020 , in Sacramento , Calif. DeAngelo , 74 , was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole , under a plea agreement that allowed him to avoid the death sentence .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and raping nearly 50 people in the 1970s and 1980s .
( Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Reports of Cyber Crimes Against Tennessee Children Spiked During Pandemic Shutdown

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has received more than 450 tips of cyber crimes against children this year , TBI Director David Rausch said .
The bureau received 122 tips of cyber crimes against children in March , which was three times the number of tips received in January .
“ At the start of the quarantine , we saw a large and concerning spike in the number of cyber tips that we received , ” Rausch said Thursday during a news briefing at the state Capitol .
Tips decreased significantly in April and spiked again in May .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistent with the beginning of the year .
“ With more young people on the internet , it opens a large door for potential bad actors , ” Rausch said .
“ Not only are children working more in a virtual environment , so are the sexual predators .
It can only take a few steps to get from a virtual school to escort ads.
” Rausch said TBI ’ s Technology and Innovation Division is actively investigating tips of cyber crimes against children .
“ The pandemic may have slowed down a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but let me tell you , it sure hasn ’ t slowed down the investigators in these units , ” Rausch said .
As many students are returning to school this year in a virtual environment , increasing exposure for potential crimes , Gov .
Bill Lee has directed the Department of Education ( DOE ) to join TBI to develop a cybersecurity plan to protect students from internet predators .
“ We must do everything we can to protect our kids to the fullest extent of the law , ” Lee said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Education to develop a plan for a more stringent cybersecurity strategy for districts utilizing online learning.
” Education Commissioner Dr. Penny Schwinn said DOE is coordinating with state and district operations and IT teams , along with TBI , to develop a cybersecurity strategy .
Information on the plan will be announced in coming weeks .
Vivian Jones is a reporter at The Center Square .

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


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Man Who Was Already a Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Armed Carjacking in Memphis

Officials at the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have released details about two more convicted felons in separate cases who broke the law while using a handgun .
One of the two felons used a firearm to commit a violent crime .
This , according to separate press releases that federal officials published late last week .
Cody Davis , 28 , pleaded guilty in federal court to armed carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence , according to one statement .
“ According to information presented in Court , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , the victim , J.G.
, was asleep in his vehicle in the parking lot of a business on White Station Road [ in Memphis ] , when the suspect approached him and pointed a gun .
The suspect took the victim ’ s cell phone , ordered him out of the car , told him to walk around the corner , and then drove off with the victim ’ s Audi A4 .
The armed robbery was captured on surveillance video , ” the press release said .
“ The Audi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the vehicle was a cell phone that did not belong to the victim .
Fingerprints on the cell phone belonged to Davis .
On January 4 , 2019 , detectives conducted surveillance at the defendant ’ s residence .
While there , detectives observed Davis depart the residence and enter a vehicle .
Davis disregarded several traffic signals and was stopped by law enforcement .
Detectives recovered a tan Century Arms 9mm pistol under the driver ’ s seat , loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition.
” The defendant , the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waived his Miranda rights and admitted he was a convicted felon , committed the carjacking , and possessed the firearm that law enforcement found in his vehicle .
“ Further investigation from the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives determined that the Century Arms 9mm caliber pistol and the Audi A4 were manufactured outside the State of Tennessee , ” according to the press release .
“ As a result of his prior felony convictions , including robbery and aggravated burglary , Davis is prohibited by federal law from possession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pled guilty this month before U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris .
Officials have scheduled a sentencing hearing for Dec. 3 , where Davis faces a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 15 years and up to life imprisonment , the press release said .
Court officials , in a second press release , said they sentenced Donald Blaine Ashby , 39 , to 180 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are continuing to coordinate with our federal and local law enforcement partners to prioritize and target carjacking cases for aggressive federal prosecution , ” U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant ( pictured above ) said about the arrest .
“ There is a heavy price to pay for recidivist violence and lawlessness , and Davis will now pay that price with a significant sentence in federal prison .
Hopefully , it will also send a strong deterrent message to others to avoid throwing their lives away by committing senseless gun crimes.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--President Trump Announces Plasma Treatment Authorized for COVID-19

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — President Donald Trump announced Sunday the emergency authorization of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 patients , in a move he called “ a breakthrough , ” one of his top health officials called “ promising , ” and other health experts said needs more study before it ’ s celebrated .
The announcement comes after days of White House officials suggesting there were politically motivated delays by the Food and Drug Administration in approving a vaccine and therapeutics for the disease that has upended Trump ’ s reelection chances .
On the eve of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the authorization — which makes it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment — in a news conference Sunday evening .
The blood plasma , taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and rich in antibodies , may provide benefits to those battling with the disease .
But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works , when to administer it and what dose is needed .
In a letter describing the emergency authorization , the chief scientist for the FDA , Denise Hinton , noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 .
Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing , well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.
” The White House had grown agitated with the pace of the plasma approval , but the accusations of a slowdown were just the latest assault from Trump ’ s team on what the president often calls the “ deep state ” bureaucracy .
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows did not deal in specifics , but said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of people that are not being as diligent as they should be in terms of getting to the bottom of it.
” “ This president is about cutting red tape , ” Meadows said in an interview on “ This Week ” on ABC .
“ He had to make sure that they felt the heat .
If they don ’ t see the light , they need to feel the heat because the American people are suffering.
” The push on Sunday came a day after Trump tweeted sharp criticism on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has killed more than 175,000 Americans and imperiled his reelection chances .
The White House has sunk vast resources into an expedited process to develop a vaccine , and Trump aides have been banking on it being an “ October surprise ” that could help the president make up ground in the polls .
“ The deep state , or whoever , over at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics , ” Trump tweeted .
“ Obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer until after November 3rd .
Must focus on speed , and saving lives !
” Earlier this month , Mayo Clinic researchers reported a strong hint that blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors helps other infected patients recover .
But it wasn ’ t considered proof .
More than 70,000 patients in the U.S. have been given convalescent plasma , a century-old approach to fend off flu and measles before vaccines .
It ’ s a go-to tactic when new diseases come along , and history suggests it works against some , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s no solid evidence yet that it fights the coronavirus and , if so , how best to use it .
The Mayo Clinic reported preliminary data from 35,000 coronavirus patients treated with plasma , and said there were fewer deaths among people given plasma within three days of diagnosis , and also among those given plasma containing the highest levels of virus-fighting antibodies .
But it wasn ’ t a formal study .
The patients were treated in different ways in hospitals around the country as part of an FDA program designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That so-called “ expanded access ” program tracks what happens to the recipients , but it can not prove the plasma — and not other care they received — was the real reason for improvement .
Administration officials , in a call with reporters Sunday , discussed a benefit for patients who were within three days of admission to a hospital and were not on a respirator , and were given ‘ high-titer ’ convalescent plasma containing higher concentrations of antibodies .
They were then compared to similar patients who were given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were 35 % lower in the high-titer group .
There ’ s been little data on how effective it is or whether it must be administered fairly early in an illness to make a significant difference , said Dr. William Schaffner , an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University .
Aiming to ward off a possible a run on convalescent plasma after the announcement , government officials have been working to obtain plasma and to team with corporate partners and nonprofit organizations to generate interest among previously infected patients to donate .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Trump did not speak to him about the timing of the announcement , which comes just before a pivotal week for the president ’ s reelection chances .
Hahn said “ this has been in the works for several weeks ” and came after a data validation for which the agency had been waiting .
Rigorous studies underway around the country are designed to get that proof , by comparing similar patients randomly assigned to get plasma or a dummy infusion in addition to regular care .
But those studies have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waxes and wanes in different cities .
Also , some patients have requested plasma rather than agreeing to a study that might give them a placebo instead .
Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb dismissed the suggestion of a slowdown .
“ I firmly reject the idea they would slow-walk anything or accelerate anything based on any political consideration or any consideration other than what is best for the public health and a real sense of mission to patients , ” Gottlieb told CBS ’ s “ Face the Nation.
” Hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatments against the coronavirus infection , taking a range of approaches .
Trump , in news conferences , “ has made all kinds of therapeutic suggestions , ” which have not proven to be supported by science — and are even dangerous , Schaffner said .
That includes statements about the possible value of treating COVID-19 patients with ultraviolet light and bleach .
Trump reportedly also recently became enthusiastic about oleandrin , a plant extract derived from a toxic shrub that scientists immediately warned against .
But the president is perhaps best known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine .
The FDA in late March granted emergency authorization for distribution of the drugs for treating COVID .
But in June , the agency revoked the authorization in light of growing evidence they don ’ t work and could cause serious side effects .
Not only that , the FDA warned doctors against prescribing the drugs in combination with remdesivir , a drug that was shown to help patients with COVID-19 .
The FDA said the anti-malaria drugs can reduce the effectiveness of Remdesivir , which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier this month , Hahn emphasized that routine evaluation procedures will remain in place to evaluate COVID vaccine candidates .
“ I think this administration has put more pressure on the Food and Drug Administration than I can remember ” ever happening in the past , Schaffner said .
“ Everybody is just a little bit nervous , ” he said .
Jonathan Lemire and Mike Stobbe are reporters with The Associated Press .
Stobbe reported from New York .
About the Headline Photo : President Donald Trump speaks during a media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the White House , Sunday , Aug. 23 , 2020 , in Washington .
( AP Photo/Alex Brandon )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--FBI Agents Pushed for a FISA to Investigate Foreign Government Targeting Hillary Clinton

FBI agents in 2015 sought authorization to surveil foreign government operatives who sought to influence Hillary Clinton , but ultimately settled for a defensive briefing given to lawyers for the Democratic presidential candidate , according to documents released on Sunday .
One FBI agent involved in the investigation asked then-FBI Director James Comey in an April 2015 email for a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) warrant , according to the documents , published by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham .
A FISA order was not granted in the investigation .
Instead , an FBI special agent provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal lawyers in October 2015 .
Graham , a Republican , said that the documents are evidence of a double standard in how the FBI conducted investigations of foreign meddling regarding the Clinton and Trump campaigns .
The FBI obtained FISA orders against former Trump campaign aide Carter Page in October 2016 as part of its investigation into Russia ’ s meddling in the election .
The FISA Court has been highly critical of the FBI over its surveillance of Page , citing numerous errors and omissions found in applications for the spy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton regarding general foreign threats in August 2016 .
But unlike during its briefing for Clinton , the FBI used an agent in the Trump briefing to collect information as part of Crossfire Hurricane , the FBI ’ s counterintelligence probe of the Trump campaign .
“ There was a clear double standard by the Department of Justice and FBI when it came to the Trump and Clinton campaigns in 2016 , ” Graham said in a statement releasing the documents , which the Justice Department declassified on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released on Tuesday laid out a broad effort by Russian government operatives to cozy up to members of the Trump campaign .
The most troubling contacts were between Paul Manafort , a Trump campaign chairman , and Konstantin Kilimnik , who is believed to be a Russian intelligence officer .
The Senate report showed no evidence that Trump or others on the campaign sanctioned Manafort ’ s contacts with Kiliminik .
The Clinton campaign had fewer apparent foreign contacts than did the Trump campaign , though federal investigators uncovered at least one multi-million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A federal grand jury indicted Lebanese-American businessman George Nader in December 2019 on charges that he funneled $ 3.5 million in foreign money to the Clinton campaign and super PACs that supported the Democrat .
Nader , who was a longtime adviser to the crown prince of Abu Dhabi , referred to Clinton as “ Big Lady ” in text messages in 2016 with his alleged co-conspirator , Andy Khawaja .
Nader also sought access to Trump campaign officials .
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in June for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the special counsel ’ s investigation .
The FBI documents released Sunday are heavily redacted and do not identify the foreign government that targeted Clinton .
“ These newly released documents indicate that a foreign government was trying to influence the Clinton campaign through a campaign associate and the FBI was seeking a FISA warrant , ” Graham said in a statement .
Graham declined to identify the foreign government during an interview on Fox News ’ s “ Sunday Morning Futures.
” There is no indication that Clinton or members of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ scheme .
A personal attorney for Clinton did not respond to requests for comment on Sunday regarding the defensive briefing .
The records released Sunday say that the FBI opened its investigation of the foreign operation on Nov. 25 , 2014 , and first applied for a FISA warrant on Dec. 15 , 2014 .
Clinton did not declare her candidacy until April 2015 , though she had been rumored for months by that time to be considering a White House run .
Graham released multiple emails from March and April 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation of the foreign operation and the need for FISA coverage .
Notes from an FBI briefing provided to Clinton ’ s personal lawyers on Oct. 15 , 2015 , are also included in the document batch .
That memo says FBI special agent David Archey advised Clinton ’ s lawyers that “ the FBI has information that the [ foreign government ] is attempting to influence Hillary Clinton through lobbying efforts and campaign contributions.
” “ The campaign contributions may come in a form outside established parameters for such contributions.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s liaison to the special counsel ’ s investigation into possible links between the Trump campaign and Russia .
The memo says that the FBI provided the briefing to raise Clinton ’ s awareness about the foreign donations and so she “ could take appropriate action to protect herself.
” According to the memo , Archey “ stated the FBI felt the information was sufficiently reliable and serious that the FBI had a duty to warn.
” The declassified documents include a March 2 , 2015 , email , seemingly from an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing to announce her candidacy .
“ To me , this underscores the need for us to push this FISA .
By the time we get it signed and go up , we would only be up a few weeks before she announces , at best , ” reads the email .
The unidentified FBI employee said that waiting to obtain a FISA until after Clinton began her campaign “ puts us even further behind the curve on the intel necessary for this operation.
” An FBI special-agent-in-charge emailed Comey on April 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the foreign government ’ s activities .
“ In short , [ redacted ] has identified attempts by the [ foreign government ] to influence the U.S. presidential election , U.S. presidential candidates , and U.S. politicians through illegal campaign contributions , ” the agent wrote .
“ The FISA application has remained in limbo for the last four months , even though subsequent investigative activity by [ field office ] provided additional probable cause for the FISA application , ” the agent wrote .
The agent said they were told that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FISA application originated “ on the seventh floor , ” a reference to the FBI ’ s executive offices .
The agent lamented that investigators “ have not received a clear answer as to why we are not being allowed to use one of the only tools available against a target — FISA collection — in spite of clear legal justification.
” The agent lobbied for the FISA warrant , saying that the investigation was “ superficially connected to political candidates ” and that the surveillance order “ does not target the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI opened its counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign on July 31 , 2016 .
In the following weeks , investigators opened investigations on four separate Trump campaign associates : Carter Page , George Papadopoulos , Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort .
Other declassified documents show that FBI officials sent a top investigator , Joseph Pientka , into a routine defensive briefing on Aug. 16 , 2016 attended by Donald Trump and Flynn .
FBI officials wanted to use Pientka to collect any useful information he could on Flynn .
Pientka also took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Aug. 27 , 2016 , though the newly released documents do not show that he was tasked with collecting evidence for any investigation of the Democrat .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Tennessee Will Provide an Extra $300 in Unemployment Benefits During Coronavirus Pandemic

NASHVILLE , Tennessee ( AP ) — Tennessee will provide an additional $ 300 per week in federal assistance to people who are unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it has approved Tennessee ’ s request for a grant to give to people on top of their regular unemployment benefits .
The Lost Wage Assistance ( LWA ) grants have been awarded to nearly half of the states .
President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month making the money available .
It was announced as a $ 400-per-week benefit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay $ 100 a week of that amount .
The U.S. Department of Labor issued recent guidance saying states would not have to contribute that money .
Trump ’ s order came after a $ 600-per-week federal unemployment benefit expired at the end of July , without a new bill for pandemic relief being reached .
“ Unlike the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program ( FPUC ) that ended in July , ” a statement by the Tennessee Labor and Workforce Development explained , “ LWA is a grant with a finite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program exhausts its grant funding , it will no longer have the resources to provide LWA payments and the program will end at that time .
If the federal program does not exhaust the LWA grant funding , payments will end in Tennessee on December 26 , 2020.
” The state agency added it has begun working to build the capability within the unemployment computer system to implement and pay the new benefit .
Christina Botteri contributed to this Associated Press report .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Gov. Lee Signs Bill Making Illegal Camping a Felony

NASHVILLE , Tennessee ( AP ) — Tennessee protesters will face harsher penalties , including losing the right to vote , for breaking certain laws during demonstrations under a law enacted by Gov .
Bill Lee .
The Republican governor quietly signed off on the bill Thursday .
Lee has previously conceded there were portions of the bill he “ would have done differently ” but ultimately agreed to make the proposal law effective immediately with his signature .
Tennessee ’ s GOP-dominant General Assembly advanced the measure last week during a brief three-day special legislative session while also passing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Most notably , the new law now states that those who illegally camp on state property would now face a Class E felony , punishable by up to six years in prison , rather than a misdemeanor .
Felony convictions in Tennessee result in the revocation of an individual ’ s right to vote .
The bill also imposes a mandatory minimum 45-day hold if convicted of aggravated rioting ; enhances the fine for obstructing emergency vehicles from accessing highways ; requires a court to order restitution for damaging state property ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for aggravated assault against a first responder — which carries a $ 15,000 fine and mandatory minimum 90-day prison sentence .
The governor said a provision requiring a warning to those camping illegally strengthened the bill , and cited the discretion of prosecutors and judges .
The leader of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee , who had asked Lee to veto the legislation , said Thursday the group will be closely monitoring enforcement of the law and urged Tennesseans “ to get out and vote like their rights depend on it.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governor Lee ’ s decision to sign this bill , which chills free speech , undermines criminal justice reform and fails to address the very issues of racial justice and police violence raised by the protesters who are being targeted , ” ACLU of Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg said in a statement .
“ While the governor often speaks about sentencing reform , this bill contradicts those words and wastes valuable taxpayer funds to severely criminalize dissent.
” Lawmakers advanced the bill amid nearly two months of frequent protests outside the Capitol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spearheaded the demonstration had been calling for racial justice reforms and for a meeting with Lee .
The governor has declined to meet with them , but has met with a handful of Black leaders as part of a previous promise to address “ racial reconciliation ” and other racial justice issues .
However , Lee and other lawmakers have defended the protest bill by pointing to a late May demonstration that resulted with some participants setting fires inside and outside a courthouse .
“ I think what we saw was a courthouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vehicles being damaged .
We saw lawlessness that needed to be addressed immediately .
And that was done so , ” Lee told reporters Thursday when asked about the bill .
The protest occurred as demonstrators across the country expressed outrage – sometimes violently – over the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody .
Multiple demonstrations throughout Tennessee since then have remained overwhelmingly peaceful .
Kimberlee Kruesi and Jonathan Mattise are reporters with The Associated Press .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--U.S. Department of Education Opens Investigation of Fordham University Over Punishment of Student Au

U.S. Department of Education Opens Investigation of Fordham University Over Punishment of Student Austin Tong

The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into Fordham University , about two months after student Austin Tong received notification from the New York City private college that his social media posts violated university policy and that he had been placed on probation .
As Campus Reform previously reported , Tong , a Chinese-American student , posted on Instagram in early June a photo of retired St. Louis police officer David Dorn , who was killed while defending a friend ’ s store from looters amid nationwide , violent demonstrations .
The post contained an image of Dorn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the caption , “ Y ’ all a bunch of hypocrites.
” Another post showed Tong holding a firearm pointed toward the ground with the caption “ Don ’ t tread on me # 198964 ” and emojis of the American flag as well as the Chinese flag .
The “ 198964 ” hashtag referred to the date of the Tiananmen Square massacre , which occurred in China on June 4 , 1989 .
“ Of course , this raises questions about the influence of the Chinese government on American colleges and universities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Campus Reform .
The Department of Education recently launched a separate investigation into Fordham to determine whether the university failed to disclose foreign funding sources , including gifts from China .
Tong received notice from the school that the posts violated its policy and that as a result he would be barred from campus unless obtaining permission from the dean of students .
He is required to complete the rest of his courses online .
The university said the sanctions are “ non-appealable and final.
” In response , Tong sued Fordham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment right .
Now , the Department of Education has opened an investigation into the university misrepresented itself to students and parents by claiming to promote free expression and free speech .
“ In its Demonstration Policy , Fordham promises prospective students , their parents , and other potential consumers in the market for education certificates ‘ [ e ] ach member of the University has a right to freely express their positions and to work for their acceptance whether they assent to or dissent from existing situations in the University or society.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on students ’ right ‘ to express [ their ] positions ’ and engage in ‘ other legitimate activities , ' ” the Department of Education stated in its notice to Fordham .
“ However , Fordham fails to warn prospective students , their parents , and other potential consumers in the market for education certificates of their liability to potential discipline for the lawful off-campus expression of thoughts and constitutionally protected conduct that happens to be disfavored by Fordham ’ s education bureaucrats , ” the department added .
Further , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is defending Tong , announced Thursday that Fordham responded to the lawsuit this week , in which it stated that Tong “ deliberately ignores Fordham ’ s prerogative to limit a student ’ s free expression rights which is outlined in the University Code of Conduct…Specifically , the University Code of Conduct prohibits students from engaging in ‘ [ p ] physical abuse , sexual abuse , threats , intimidation , coercion , and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
” “ Fordham University finally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students have known for a while : Fordham just doesn ’ t care about student speech rights , ” FIRE said in a statement .
“ Sure , Fordham makes big promises about freedom of expression .
The university ‘ guarantees the freedom of inquiry ’ to students , and claims they have ‘ a right to freely express their positions and to work for their acceptance whether they assent to or dissent from existing situations in the University or society.
” However , FIRE added , “ When it comes to actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent track record is ugly.
” “ Because Fordham isn ’ t pretending that it cares about free speech anymore , it should update its mission statement and policies .
It should also alert its accreditor , the Middle States Commission on Higher Education , which requires that an accredited university ‘ possess and demonstrate .
.
.
a commitment to academic freedom , intellectual freedom , [ and ] freedom of expression , ' ” FIRE stated .
Jon Street is the Managing Editor at CompusReform.org


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Churches Sue Governor Walz, State Attorney General and County Attorneys for Violating Religious Libe

Churches Sue Governor Walz, State Attorney General and County Attorneys for Violating Religious Liberties

Three churches are suing the governor and his constituents for executive orders that violate their religious liberties .
Defendants in the case are Governor Tim Walz , State Attorney General Keith Ellison , and county attorneys Chad Larson , Tom Kelly , and Donald Ryan .
The Thomas More Society filed on behalf of the churches .
The lawsuit cites Article I , Section 16 of Minnesota ’ s Constitution as state precedent protecting the right to worship : “ the right of every man to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience shall never be infringed.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Bible ’ s commandment for believers to worship together .
The Thomas More Society Special Council Erick Kardaal affirmed this reasoning , adding that multiple religions “ are bound by their faith to worship together.
” “ Time-honored rights and rituals , including prayers , singing , communion , and a laying of hands in blessing , are among those elements that comprise the free exercise of religion , for which the First Amendment disallows the prohibition thereof .
That is the central tenet of the complaint.
” The suit argues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution .
Executive Orders 20-74 and 20-81 are referred to as “ legal requirements imposed upon [ the church ] interfering with their religious practices.
” Governor Walz established Executive Order 20-74 on June 5th .
The order banned worship gatherings over fifty percent capacity , limited indoor and outdoor worship services to 250 people , and mandated six feet social distancing .
Penalties for breaking any part of Order 20-74 was costly .
Individuals were subject to a $ 1,000 fine or 90 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and management faced $ 3,000 or a year ’ s time .
For every violation of the order , businesses faced civil relief fines up to $ 25,000 .
Less than two months later , Governor Walz mandated face coverings in Executive Order 20-81 .
Individuals could incur up to $ 100 fine , while businesses could face up to $ 1,000 fine or a 90 day imprisonment .
“ Other states , including Texas , Illinois , and Ohio have excluded churches from COVID-19 mask mandates , ” said Kaardal .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you can not criminalize religious attendance at houses of worship for any reason.
” Last week , the Thomas More Society successfully defended a California-based church from county attorneys seeking to shut its indoor services down .
Spokespersons for Governor Walz say that his orders affecting the church are within his authority .
While Governor Walz has been outspoken against large gatherings throughout the pandemic , he has yet to address the violations that occurred during George Floyd protests .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Trump’s Sunday Presser Forces Hand of Ohio’s Dept of Health and Governor DeWine

President Donald J. Trump announced the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) issued Emergency Use Authorization ( EUA ) for convalescent plasma as a therapeutic treatment in COVID patients Sunday .
Convalescent plasma is the liquid part of the blood that contains COVID antibodies .
Convalescent plasma given to COVID patients during research conducted since April by the Mayo Clinic has resulted in a 35 % decrease in the incidence of death in the patients receiving the plasma , according to FDA Director Stephen Hahn .
The announcement is significant in Ohio where Republican Governor Mike DeWine has hinted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohioans to return to normal life until there is a vaccine .
The Ohio Star reached out to Governor DeWine ’ s team immediately following President Trump ’ s Sunday news conference .
Governor DeWine through his Press Secretary Dan Tierney said , “ the Ohio Department of Health is reviewing today ’ s announcement .
To clarify , the Governor has previously stated that we are in the current phase of the pandemic response and are living with the virus until we have a vaccine OR another effective treatment.
” The Ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by Lance Himes who has been General Counsel to ODH for the past 15 years and is not a medical doctor , virologist or epidemiologist but an attorney .
The phrase ‘ effective treatment ’ deviates from previous statements from Governor DeWine and one of his top advisors – Dr. Andrew Thomas , Chief Clinical Officer at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center .
For months Governor DeWine has warned that COVID is searching the land “ looking for bodies ” and we are not safe until we have a vaccine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Governor DeWine and his pandemic response team since inception and was a key contributor to the Ohio Public Health Advisory System ( OPHAS ) .
Dr. Thomas was describing OPHAS during a July 16 press conference when he said “ none of the counties are green .
The reason none of the counties are green is no matter what county you live in , you are at risk for contracting COVID-19 .
There is activity to some degree across the entire state .
Until we have a vaccine or until we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop the incidence of the disease and the spread of the disease , no county really will be anything less than yellow.
” Convalescent plasma is not a vaccine nor is it a pharmacologic medication .
Other pharmacologic interventions Redesivir and hydroxychloroquine have both been nixed as game-changers for Ohio ’ s executive branch and their band of bureaucrats .
During the presser all Americans who recovered from the virus were encouraged to donate plasma and to begin the process at www.coronavirus.gov .
Under the EUA , patients will have expanded access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
FDA Director Stephen Hahn was questioned by the White House press corps about what an EUA means for convalescent plasma and about its true efficacy .
Regarding the meaning of the EUA , Hahn said “ [ u ] nder legal authority of Emergency Use Authorization it ’ s not approval , it ’ s an authorization that allows us to expand access to this – and our data , we knew we were going to continue to collect data for all of our Emergency Use Authorizations .
For example , Remdesivir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we ’ re still collecting data and we will continue to do that with plasma as well .
So it ’ s the nuances of the language around the authorization and the legal aspect.
” When asked by a reporter ‘ So it ’ s a promising treatment but you couldn ’ t say it ’ s very effective just yet ?
’ Hahn responded , ‘ So I would say if you are one of those 35 out of 100 people who these data suggest or show survives as a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to that person and their family.
’ 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--2020-08-24--BOOK REVIEW: Author Jerry Kammer Exposes the Left-Right Coalition to Undermine Immigration Reform

The Democrats ’ 2020 choice for vice-president of the United States is Kamala Harris , a U.S. senator from California who has compared our courageous , underpaid , overworked , and often Latino , Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to the Ku Klux Klan .
How did we get here exactly ?
Let us look back and examine how immigration enforcement has been undermined for decades and then discuss what it means for the 2020 presidential election .
The Sunlight Foundation reports that between 2007 and 2012 , 678 lobbying groups – including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry , agribusiness , high-tech companies , major universities , the ACLU , the Service Employees International Union , the National Council of La Raza ( now UnidosUS ) , and many other lobbyists – spent $ 1.5 billion to influence immigration policy .
Likewise , from 2001 to 2020 , leading philanthropic foundations – including Carnegie , Ford , Tides , Atlantic Philanthropies , and George Soros ’ Open Society Foundations – invested $ 400 million on immigration issues .
The bulk of these enormous sums was spent to promote three main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amnesty for illegal aliens , and the gutting of any serious enforcement of U.S. immigration laws .
I have drawn all of the material above from a new book , Losing Control : How a Left-Right Coalition Blocked Immigration Reform and Provoked the Backlash that Elected Trump , published earlier this year by the estimable Center for Immigration Studies ( CIS ) .
Author Jerry Kammer is an old-fashioned liberal and shoe-leather reporter who favors a lawful , regulated immigration system .
He is not a fan of conservatism or of President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thorough in detailing the history of illegal immigration from the Truman Administration to the present day .
Three Decades from Amnesty to “ Earned Legalization ” In 1986 Congress passed , and President Reagan signed , the Immigration Reform and Control Act ( IRCA ) that was supposed to resolve the illegal immigration problem once and for all .
IRCA provided an amnesty ( and it was called amnesty at the time ) for nearly 3 million illegal immigrants .
The legislation promised to prevent future illegal immigration through enforcement provisions , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the laborers that they were legally authorized to work in the United States .
Instead of contracting , however , the illegal immigrant population exploded to 12.2 million by 2007 .
The worker ID verification system was rife with widespread fraud and employer sanctions were essentially nonexistent .
Under Bill Clinton enforcement was weak .
Originally , George W. Bush put a libertarian , James Ziglar , in charge of the immigration service who portrayed immigrants ( rather than the American people ) as the “ customers ” of the agency .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Naturalization Service ( INS ) and later Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) conducted worksite raids to arrest illegal immigrants , employers screamed foul and contacted their senators and congressmen to get INS and ICE to back off .
For years , the political leadership in the Clinton , Bush , and Obama administrations along with many in Congress – including plenty of Republicans like Orrin Hatch ( R-UT ) and Chuck Hagel ( R-NE ) – had scant interest in enforcing immigration laws .
Needless to say , Kammer reports , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dangerous job of combating illegal immigration .
Since the passage of IRCA over three decades ago , Congress has tried three times to “ fix ” immigration , both legal and illegal .
In the 1990s , an immigration commission headed by civil rights icon and former U.S. Representative Barbara Jordan ( D-TX ) recommended a serious legal immigration policy that would focus on skills rather than on extended family migration and suggested reductions in legal immigration .
Significantly , the Jordan Commission proposed repairing the problem of fraudulent worker documentation with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairmen Alan Simpson ( R-WY ) in the Senate and Lamar Smith ( R-TX ) in the House introduced legislation based on the Jordan Commission report .
Intense resistance to Simpson-Smith came from left-wing activist groups , corporate lobbies , and libertarians .
Business- and libertarian-oriented congressional Republicans opposed cutting legal immigration and fought the proposed worker identification system .
An ailing Barbara Jordan died .
President Clinton , who had supported the bill , changed his position .
Hence , Simpson-Smith ( what Jerry Kammer called the “ high water mark ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) failed .
The two other attempts at broad immigration legislation were proposals that would have implemented mass amnesty for illegal immigrants immediately upon passage of the bill , with the promise of border and interior enforcement sometime in the future .
These initiatives included the McCain-Kennedy “ comprehensive immigration reform ” legislation strongly backed by the Bush Administration in 2007 and the “ Gang of Eight ” immigration bill of 2013 promoted by President Obama .
This proposed amnesty legislation of 2007 and 2013 ( no longer called amnesty but “ earned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) had overwhelming support from the nation ’ s elites but was defeated essentially by a grassroots populist uprising led by Numbers USA that managed to influence many in Congress .
Left and Right for Open Borders As Kammer outlines , in the history of immigration policy , one salient point has been consistent time and time again .
Since the passage of IRCA , 34 years ago , a powerful Left-Right coalition has waged an unrelenting campaign against enforcing our immigration laws .
I mentioned some of these organizations and individuals earlier—the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and George Soros .
But there are many others on the Right as well as the Left , including the Koch brothers network , the Cato Institute , FWD.US ( a coalition of immigration expansionists in the Silicon Valley founded by Facebook ’ s Mark Zuckerberg ) , Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist , Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention ’ s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission , and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops ( USCCB ) .
All of the above have contributed significantly to gutting immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more importantly , at the work site .
The victims of their machinations are American workers forced to compete with imported lower-wage labor in blue-collar and white-collar occupations .
For example , the Census Bureau reports that 74 percent of Americans who graduated from universities with STEM degrees are not currently working in STEM jobs – a phenomenon caused in part by the continuous importation of foreign workers ( through H1B and other guest worker programs ) by high-tech oligarchs and other corporations .
Kammer writes that the words of American Federation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true today : “ Those who favor unrestricted immigration care nothing for the people .
They are simply desirous of flooding the country with unskilled as well as skilled labor of other lands for the purpose of breaking down American standards.
” The Trump Administration has had some success with border enforcement .
Kammer writes that ICE is clearly more active in work site enforcement than during the Obama years .
Consequently , morale among border agents is greatly improved .
Their interior enforcement strategy , however , would be stronger if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported a mandatory electronic verification process ( E-Verify ) requiring employers to check the legal status of potential employees , as proposed in legislation by Senator Tom Cotton ( R-AR ) .
Recently , when the Tennessee Valley Authority planned to replace 20 percent of its American tech workforce with foreign H1B workers , the president issued an executive order requiring federal agencies and contractors to make sure that American employees were not displaced by foreigners .
TVA authorities quickly dropped their plans .
Biden and Harris have made it clear that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dismantling of immigration enforcement , and increasing immigration of all types , including low skilled foreign workers who would directly compete with the most economically vulnerable Americans of all ethnic groups .
Biden specifically has stated that there will be no deportations for the first 100 days he is president .
This is an open invitation to the world : come on in .
After this 100-day period only convicted felons would be deported .
Free to stay in the United States , for example , would be illegal immigrants convicted of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perjury , computer hacking , resisting arrest , some forms of manslaughter , and drunk driving that resulted in innocent deaths .
Further , Biden and Harris advocate a mass amnesty for the estimated 11-12 million illegal aliens in the country .
Biden would also like to increase legal immigration and bring in more guest workers under H1B and other programs .
He recommends increasing the number of refugees and asylum seekers admitted to the United States and , indeed , expanding the definition of “ asylum ” to bring in even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ remain in Mexico ” program that requires asylum seekers from Central America to wait in Mexico while their asylum claims are being adjudicated .
Instead , he favors their immediate entry into the United States before their case has been settled and they are deemed eligible for asylum .
In sum , there is no doubt that the election on November 3 – or whenever the presidential winner is determined – will have a momentous effect on all the issues related to immigration policy : the total amount of legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if any ) , the prospects for the patriotic assimilation of immigrants , and the perennial question of amnesty for illegal immigrants .
John Fonte is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and author of Sovereignty or Submission : Will Americans Rule Themselves or be Ruled by Others ?
( Encounter Books ) winner of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute ( ISI ) book award for 2012 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Commentary: Two Miles from North America’s Oldest Elected Body, a Richmond Neighborhood Cowers in Fe

Commentary: Two Miles from North America’s Oldest Elected Body, a Richmond Neighborhood Cowers in Fear

It ’ s two miles or so down Monument Avenue from the Virginia State Capitol building in Richmond to the Robert E. Lee Memorial .
The capitol houses the oldest legislative body in North America – the Virginia General Assembly , which dates to 1619 when the Virginia Company , the private firm that controlled the state , appointed a governor and Council of State to rule along with 22 elected burgesses .
The statute is the oldest standing along Monument Avenue .
Only Lee and Arthur Ashe , the black tennis hero and Richmond native , remain from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statues of Stonewall Jackson , J.E.B .
Stuart , Matthew Fontaine Maury – all native Virginians who fought for the South in the Civil War , and Jefferson Davis , president of the Confederate States of America .
Today , what once was declared one of the great streets in all of America is now defaced , defiled and defenestrated .
The base of the Lee statue , a large , broad white structure that supports Lee atop his horse , is covered in the foulest of graffiti .
Those who spray-painted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the cacophony of colors and styles – had all the time in the world to deface the statue , knowing the state and city government did not have the will to step up and protect this public property .
The result is a once-beautiful neighborhood now gripped in fear , stripped of its history , shorn of its tradition .
“ This used to be a beautiful street with an abundance of history , ” a commenter wrote on the travel site Trip Advisor .
“ It is now covered in graffiti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families with children .
It has also been the scene of some dangerous activity and should be avoided.
” It ’ s hard to say what is worse … that the broken window – or broken neighborhood in this case – theory has come to Richmond and is systematically robbing it of its history , or that the oldest elected body in the new world doesn ’ t seem to care .
The founding of what became the General Assembly in 1619 marked the start of a tradition of government by the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government that allows this wanton destruction does not meet that standard .
One can understand the frustration of some black Americans with the American justice system and can sympathize and empathize with those who work for a better country .
But that ’ s not what is going on in Richmond .
Richmond ’ s protesters are mad at their police because Portland ’ s protesters got mad at their police because Seattle ’ s had gotten mad at their police earlier .
Richmond ’ s protesters even copied many of the methods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – from the strategic destruction of property to the late-night violence to the wording of their demands .
They destroyed $ 100,000 of property in one night of riots … the timing of which , two months almost to the day after the death of George Floyd , suggests the mayhem and destruction had little to do with Floyd or police reform and everything to do with chaos and destruction of property .
Its local government , controlled by Democrats , has cowered to the mob .
The mayor of Richmond , Levar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ralph ‘ Coonman ’ Northam , both Democrats , conspired to ignore procurement rules and unilaterally award a $ 1.8 million contract to remove the statue .
It remains standing today only because preservationists went to court and got an injunction to prevent the removal .
Stoney and Northam , of course , have no interest in defending the statue or the law , so the defacing and the unruly behavior along the avenue will not stop anytime soon .
We don ’ t have to accept this new normal with regard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to pretend these are lawful and legitimate protests – they ’ ve long since become violent , destructive riots .
We don ’ t have to pretend these riots in Portland and Seattle and Richmond can not be stopped until Marxists reign over the country .
The police can not be told to stand down .
Property and lives are at stake .
When a city allows this kind of wanton abuse of public property , it invites more of it .
People cease to respect government and each other .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerges .
Those early Virginians in Jamestown elected that first assembly to move us past every man for himself and to a path toward working together to promote community interests .
Also , Richmond is not just any city in the South and these aren ’ t just any statues of Confederates .
Richmond was the capitol of the Confederacy and the essential city to understanding the history of the Confederate States of America and how this insurrectionist movement came to fight a four-year-long war against the United States .
How did this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that long with 1/4th the manpower and 1/10th the money and munitions ?
Who were these leaders , and why and how did they do what they did ?
Especially significant for today , how might we keep this division , this hostility of American against American , from happening again ?
We could study the history , but we better move quickly because the rioters of Richmond don ’ t seem interested in preserving it , and neither the city government in Richmond nor the oldest elected lawmaking body in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boneta is an American policy advisor , commentator , and farmer .
Martha is President of Vote America First .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Amid a Crowded Field, Democrat Terry McAuliffe Moves to Run for Governor Again in 2021

Former Governor Terry McAuliffe filed paperwork to run for governor in 2021 , joining field of four other Democrats and another four Republicans who have filed or declared serious interest in running in the 2021 primary .
Strategist and Democratic political pundit Ben Tribbett told The Virginia Star that filing to run is not the same as an official declaration as Virginia does not allow exploratory committees .
“ When people say they ’ re exploring a run for office , they either have to form a political action committee and raise money through that , or they have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Meanwhile , McAuliffe spokesman Brennan Bilberry told the Associated Press , “ Governor McAuliffe is making no decisions on 2021 until after we defeat Donald Trump and his hateful ideology.
” Democrats who have filed or announced their candidacy for the gubernatorial nomination include Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy ( D-Woodbridge ) , Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax , Attorney General Mark Herring , and Senator Jennifer McClellan ( D-Richmond ) .
However Senator Amanda Chase ( R-Colonial Heights ) is the only official candidate for the Republican primary as of press time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , former Senator Bill Carrico ( R-Grayson ) , and businessman Pete Snyder have also expressed interest in the primary .
Tribbett noted that the 2020 presidential election will define the 2021 Virginia governor ’ s race .
Normally , the party that holds the presidency loses the governor ’ s seat .
If that president is Trump , Tribbett said , Republicans may struggle even more .
“ When Trump ’ s president , the problem that down-ballot Republicans have is that he really doesn ’ t allow them to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either all-in or you ’ re out of the family , ” Tribbett said .
“ A successful Republican candidate is going to have to create separation.
” The Democratic field is also waiting to see who is elected president .
After November , Tribbett said the candidates should start to differentiate themselves on ideology .
“ I haven ’ t seen a lot of issue contrast yet , ” said the veteran strategist noted .
“ I haven ’ t seen a lot of differences in the actual policy , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they want to approach the fight so far.
” Tribbett warned that despite the Democratic lead in Virginia , Republicans are still dangerous .
“ This is a blue-leaning state but it is not a dark blue state , ” Tribbett said .
“ You have to fight this out next year treating if as it is a competitive race , and you ’ re going to have to go win a competitive election.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Michigan State University Flip-Flops on In-Person Classes Two Weeks Before Semester Begins

Michigan State University ( MSU ) , two weeks prior to the institution ’ s fall start date , announced that in-person learning has been cancelled for undergraduates and that students planning to live on campus may have to stay home .
“ But given the current status of the virus in our country — particularly what we are seeing at other institutions as they re-populate their campus communities — it has become evident to me that , despite our best efforts and strong planning , it is unlikely we can prevent widespread transmission of COVID-19 between students if our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president Samuel Stanley said in the announcement .
“ So , effective immediately , we are asking undergraduate students who planned to live in our residence halls this fall to stay home and continue their education with MSU remotely , ” he continued .
Classes are set to begin on Sept. 2 and the university claims the online-only teaching protocol will be ready by the start date , the announcement read .
MSU also urges students planning on living in off-campus properties to remain in their home communities as they are “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exceptions to the remote-only ruling will be made for graduate students in programs such as law , veterinary work and human medicine , according to the release .
MSU will offer refunds for students who have already pre-paid the fall semester and will continue to allow students who use the university as their primary residence and who are currently staying in dorm to remain on campus , the announcement detailed .
Michigan has nearly 94,000 cases of the virus with 6,340 deaths , according to the state ’ s department of health .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has 1590 cases , data shows .
Michigan ranks 19th in cases confirmed in the U.S. , according to Center for Disease Control data .
Schools in Georgia , Indiana and Mississippi were forced to close mere days into re-opening to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 , according to the New York Times .
Jake Dima is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ The Michigan Spartan in the COVID Era ” by Michigan State University .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Severity of COVID-19 Impact at Richmond Colleges Unclear as University of Richmond Classes Resume Mo

Severity of COVID-19 Impact at Richmond Colleges Unclear as University of Richmond Classes Resume Monday

As Richmond area colleges start the fall semester , the impact from COVID-19 exposure and cases remains unclear .
Both Virginia Commonwealth University ( VCU ) and the University of Richmond ( UR ) have implemented new policy and procedures which students , faculty and employees must strictly adhere to .
VCU residential students must complete a daily health survey and there are normal COVID-19 policies such as wearing a mask , social distancing as well as cleaning and disinfecting shared spaces .
UR has many of the same policies regarding wearing a mask or face coverings and daily health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the schools website .
With VCU only one week into the semester and UR beginning classes on Monday , it ’ s too early to tell if the measures in place are making a difference .
As of Sunday , there are 58 VCU students and 12 employees with cases of COVID-19 , with 39 residential students currently in isolation , According to the VCU Covid dashboard .
Last week , the Richmond-Times Dispatch broke a story reporting that of a little more than 4,500 students on campus , about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were on campus – and 11 employees contracting COVID .
However some VCU students are upset with the COVID numbers and remain concerned for their health and safety .
Since students and faculty begin a mix of in person and online classes Monday , Richmond ’ s numbers are low .
As of Tuesday , there have been 11 total cumulative cases , six cases being active , 1,285 tests conducted and a total positivity percentage of 0.9 , according to the UR COVID-19 dashboard .
As the semester begins and students resume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers will likely increase .
Both Richmond and VCU will hold students accountable for violating the established health and safety policies .
In a letter to the VCU community on Thursday by the VCU president , provost and interim CEO of the VCU health system , it said that students hosting parties or other personal gatherings both on and off campus are subject to interim suspension .
Richmond students who host parties or large gatherings off campus or fail to comply with directives from university officials to stay in quarantine or isolation could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , students can be evicted from their housing if they host a party of large gathering on campus , according to UR ’ s interim student conduct policies .
Two University of Richmond students have already been evicted from their on campus housing for not adhering to the policies , a current UR student told The Virgina Star .
Students have already been suspended for not following new COVID-19 policies at other Virginia colleges .
Seven Virginia Tech students were suspended for off-campus incidents , according to a letter sent to all students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while The Roanoke Times reported that three Radford students were suspended .
It remains to be seen if punishments for violating COVID-19 policies will effectively stop students from gathering in violation of proximity rules .
As students return to class and cases rise , The Star asked how many cases of COVID-19 would be required to switch from in-person to virtual learning .
VCU did not have a specific answer .
“ VCU has a Public Health Response Team which would monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 in the VCU community and develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate , ” VCU director of communications and marketing Matthew Lovisa said .
“ This team also manages response to local outbreaks of COVID-19 and makes recommendations to VCU administration regarding local and general closure.
” Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--Tennessee Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Marquita Bradshaw Tells Socialists She Can Get Republican

Tennessee Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Marquita Bradshaw Tells Socialists She Can Get Republican Votes

Tennessee U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Marquita Bradshaw late last week thanked the Democratic Socialists of America for helping her campaign , and she also said she can get Republicans to vote for her .
Bradshaw said this during an online conversation with DSA members nationwide .
DSA Los Angeles officials posted the video on their YouTube channel .
“ We flipped some Republicans , explaining to some DSA members what Medicare-for-all really is and having that patient-centered aspect of it and then talking about education and the environment , ” Bradshaw said .
“ Yeah , we flipped a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about those issues that are more American issues .
That ’ s how I know that we are going to win in November .
It ’ s because we stick to the issues.
” Bradshaw said that more than 500 volunteers have signed on to her campaign since the primary election .
She also said various people throughout Tennessee have donated almost $ 250,000 to help elect her .
“ That is how I knew I would win because when I saw the ActBlue come in and how someone started giving $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cents .
I said that is how that will happen , ” Bradshaw said , adding she hopes to energize conservative black women and young people into supporting her .
“ It will happen with no money.
” Bradshaw also praised the DSA and told them that she “ could not have done as much without you.
” As The Tennessee Star reported this month , Bradshaw is an environmental activist and former AFL-CIO organizer .
Her campaign website lists her as a community organizer who volunteers for , among other groups , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive Committee , and the Tennessee African American Environmental Justice Network .
As reported in 2018 , socialists in Tennessee apparently have even more influence over the Tennessee Democratic Party than previously believed , including at the state level .
Citing a Gallup poll that year , USA Today reported most Democrats no longer think highly of capitalism .
Nearly 60 percent of Democrats feel better about socialism .
Bradshaw wants to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) .
Voters will choose between her or Republican U.S. Senate candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
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Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Marquita Bradshaw ” by Marquita Bradshaw .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-24--BREAKING: Ohio Lawmakers File Articles of Impeachment Against Governor Mike DeWine

On the morning of Monday August 24 , members of the Ohio House of Representatives filed articles of impeachment exhibiting charges levied against Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ( R ) .
Representatives supporting the filing are John Becker ( R-Union Township , Clermont County ) , Nino Vitale ( R-Urbana ) , Candice Keller ( R-Middletown ) , and Paul Zeltwanger ( R-Mason ) .
The filing will be followed by impeachment proceedings in the House during which representatives will hear testimony regarding the alleged offenses .
The House would need a simple majority vote to impeach Governor DeWine to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Ohio Senate .
Article 2 , Section 24 of the Ohio Constitution outlines who is liable to impeachment , and punishment : The governor , judges , and all state officers , may be impeached for any misdemeanor in office ; but judgment shall not extend further than removal from office , and disqualification to hold any office under the authority of this state .
The party impeached , whether convicted or not , shall be liable to indictment , trial , and judgment , according to law .
Impeachment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indictment in criminal law – it is the statement of charges against the official , not a guilty verdict .
Governor DeWine has violated the Ohio and United States Constitutions , as well as multiple sections of the Ohio Revised Code .
Among his abuses of power , he meddled in the conduct of a presidential primary election and arbitrarily closed certain businesses , while allowing other businesses to remain open .
He later instituted a statewide mask mandate , implementing that requirement as a condition of employment , making Ohio a hostile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to congregants at places of worship , forcing citizens to choose between worshipping their God and worshipping at the altar of unbridled government .
Many Ohioans find the mask mandate offensive , degrading , humiliating , and insulting .
There is also evidence that masks can be hazardous to one ’ s health .
Gov .
DeWine doubled down when he expanded the mandate to our school-age children , who are less susceptible to COVID-19 .
Representative Becker – the champion of the impeachment effort – continued “ [ T ] he public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Representative at ImpeachDeWine.com .
The contact form contains sample language for constituents to send to their respective State Representatives to ask them to sign onto the legislation as co-sponsors.
” The website is here : https : //impeachdewine.webs.com .
Both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate contain a majority of Republicans , which makes articles of impeachment against a Republican governor uncommon – impeachment in the house and a conviction in the Senate would be even more rare .
In an interview with The Ohio Star , Representative Nino Vitale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcement “ articles of impeachment do not go far enough for me .
While it ’ s a good step , Dictator DeWine needs to be charged and tried for crimes against humanity , in my opinion.
” House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes ( D-Akron ) was contacted by The Star but her reaction had not been received at the time this article published .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--‘Tennessee Stands’ Files Lawsuit Claiming Statute Deeming Governor’s Executive Orders Having Full Fo

‘Tennessee Stands’ Files Lawsuit Claiming Statute Deeming Governor’s Executive Orders Having Full Force and Effect of Law Unconstitutional

Citizens for Limited Government and Constitutional Integrity , Inc. doing business as Tennessee Stands filed a lawsuit in Davidson County Chancery Court Monday against Governor Bill Lee on the grounds that the state statute deeming the governor ’ s executive orders have the full force and effect of law is unconstitutional .
Tennessee Stands founder and president Gary Humble ( pictured right ) along with Rodney Lunn , the plaintiffs in the case , reference Tennessee Code Annotated ( T.C.A . )
58-2-107 which dates back to 2000 .
As the complaint states , it is under this law that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to municipalities and county executives via numerous executive orders.
” The plaintiffs , residents of Williamson County and subject to the delegated authority of the governor , allege the delegation of power is “ illegal and unconstitutional and must be declared void , ” no matter how well-intentioned it may have been .
The constitutionality of T.C.A .
58-2-107 is being challenged on the grounds that it violates several Articles and Sections of the Tennessee Constitution .
Article II , Section 1 states , “ The powers of the government shall be divided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive , and judicial.
” Section 2 goes on to state , “ No person or persons belonging to one of these departments shall exercise any of the powers properly belonging to either of the others , except in the cases herein directed or permitted.
” Section 3 , under Legislative Department , defines “ The Legislative authority of this state shall be vested in a General Assembly , which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives , both dependent on the people.
” “ The authority to make laws rests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Governor , ” the complaint states .
Additionally , the Legislature can not delegate its power to another department pursuant to the strict mandates in the Tennessee Constitution .
Article III describes the Executive Department and , while it authorizes no law-making power , Section 10 requires that the governor “ shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
” Further , there is no constitutional authority for the Governor to delegate powers to county executives/mayors for their issuance of public health orders such as mask mandates , under threat of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VII , Section 1 of the Tennessee Constitution defines that “ The qualified voters of each county shall elect for terms of four years a legislative body , a county executive , a sheriff , a trustee , a register , a county clerk and an assessor of property .
Their qualifications and duties shall be prescribed by the General Assembly.
” ( emphasis added ) Humble covered much of the material in the complaint on the Tennessee Stands website through two videos , a preamble and a resolution he created to inform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defend against governmental overreach .
Humble has been gathering petition signatures in support of the resolution , and announced Sunday on Facebook that over 1,000 signatures had been achieved .
Humble told The Tennessee Star that he is just a dad , husband and citizen of Tennessee who sees that no one else is fighting for his constitutional rights .
“ I ’ d much rather be in a cabin in the woods with my boys and my wife , and not doing this , ” Humble told The Star , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ From memory , Humble went on to quote Section 2 of Article I , Declaration of Rights , “ That government being instituted for the common benefit , the doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd , slavish and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.
” With an obvious fondness for the document , Humble said that in 1796 when the Tennessee Constitution was first drafted , Thomas Jefferson said that it was the least imperfect and the most republican of all the state constitutions at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1834 and again in 1870 after the Civil War and remained unchanged until 1953 , making it the longest-standing , unamended Constitution in the U.S. , Humble relayed .
Humble isn ’ t the only one to call out state law that put the governor in a position to violate citizens ’ constitutional rights .
When the legislature came back into session in June after the two-month COVID-19 recess , Rep .
Bud Hulsey ( R-Kingsport ) sponsored an amendment to his HB 2291 filed for another purpose prior to the recess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that caught a lot of attention , Hulsey said he thought the legislature had done the governor wrong by setting up the system for the governor to operate in .
Hulsey pointed out that his amendment “ doesn ’ t fix all the mess that we created for the governor.
” Rather , “ It strips out the fascism out of the three most egregious constitutional areas , ” said Hulsey .
His legislation stated simply , “ The governor or the chief executive officer of a local government shall not require a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enforce a provision of an executive order : ( 1 ) Requiring a private business entity to close ; ( 2 ) Restricting the freedom to assemble peaceably ; or ( 3 ) Restricting the freedom to travel.
” While Hulsey ’ s measure passed its first step in the House State Committee , it never made it to the House floor and the Senate never took it up in committee .
While the topic of the governor ’ s executive powers was not included in his proclamation for the Second Extraordinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Speakers of the Senate and House established a Joint Ad Hoc Committee to Study Emergency Powers .
In its first of three meetings , the committee heard expert testimony last Thursday on Governor Lee ’ s executive orders throughout the coronavirus pandemic .
Retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice and president and dean of Nashville School of Law William C. Koch , Jr. said Governor Bill Lee ’ s executive orders are entirely consistent with the inherent power in his office and granted to him in state statute .
What Koch did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was constitutional .
In Humble ’ s opinion , “ When no one talks about the Constitution , there ’ s a reason for that.
” Tennessee Stands full complaint can be read here .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .

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


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Commentary: The Pale Pastel Republicans for Socialism

He was “ a minority of a minority ” who “ has been taking some extreme positions.
” His positions were “ so extreme that they would alter our country ’ s very economic and social structure and our place in the world to such a degree as to make our country ’ s place at home and abroad , as we know it , a thing of the past.
” He was horrifyingly “ foolhardy , ” and a Republican Party in his hands was headed for a certain “ crushing defeat … that could signal the beginning of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective force in American political life.
” The man was putting the GOP in “ an impossible situation ” because he was a “ sure-loser in November ” who held “ extreme and too simple views.
” Thus it was that establishment Republicans expressed their utter disdain for Donald Trump .
Oh , sorry .
They weren ’ t talking about Donald Trump ; they were talking about — Ronald Reagan .
And the “ they ” in question in those quotes above had proudly had their names attached to their views of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disaster .
The names were , successively , then-GOP Vice President Nelson Rockefeller , New York Republican Sen. Jacob Javits , Illinois Republican Sen. Charles Percy , and former President Gerald Ford .
And there were more , with less illustrious names .
This is worth recalling as , during the week Republicans gather to celebrate the renomination of President Donald Trump — the candidate who , like Reagan before him , led the GOP to victory on a platform of bold colors .
And did so over the vociferous opposition of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , no surprise that the lineal descendants of the Rockefeller/Javits/Percy/Ford Republicans are still with us .
And as with Reagan ’ s opponents these “ Never Trump ” Republicans and “ Republicans for Biden ” — and former Arizona GOP Sen. Jeff Flake ’ s group of ex-GOP members of Congress — have made it clear .
• When the choice comes down to a Republican who is , like Reagan , pro-life and has made a central point of appointing constitutionalists to the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pastel Republicans are endorsing the candidate who vows to put pro-abortion , anti-Reagan/Scalia judges on the bench .
• When the choice came down to Trump , a Republican who , like Reagan , supports peace through strength and , as with Reagan dealing with Gorbachev , was unafraid to sit down and confront America ’ s tyrant/dictator adversaries face to face — and walk out on the dictator when required ?
As Reagan did with Gorbachev and Trump did with North Korea ’ s Kim Jong Un ?
The Pale Pastels opt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed on to sending pallets of cash to appease the Iranian mullahs so that they could fund terrorists .
Biden , the candidate from the infamous “ apology tour ” Obama administration .
Hell would freeze over before Reagan — or Trump — would ever apologize for America .
• When the choice came down to a Republican who insists that our NATO allies live up to their financial obligations to spend 2 per cent of their GDP on defense — the Pale Pastels sided with those who refused to live up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ride on the backs of American taxpayers .
• When the choice came down to a Republican who , in Reagan-esque fashion , cut taxes , the Pale Pastels have signed up for the candidate who pledges to raise them — the Walter Mondale of 2020 .
A pledge Biden repeats over and over .
• The Pale Pastels say their choice came down to “ character and competence ” and that Trump was engaging in “ corrupt behavior that renders him unfit to serve as president.
” Seriously ?
Not a peep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corrupt vice president in American history , who blatantly used his offices as senator and vice president to enrich his family , bringing his son along to China on an official trip so he could make a rich deal with a Chinese banker or getting a prosecutor in Ukraine fired for investigating that same son .
There ’ s more — oh so much more .
But the fact is that the Pale Pastel Republican signers of this 70-person letter from various GOP security officials endorsing Joe Biden , not to mention the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pastel ex-GOP members of Congress for Biden , are nothing remotely new .
This is the wing of the GOP that repeatedly produces disastrous Republican nominees with names stretching from Dewey to McCain and Romney and others .
What is new is that the socialist agenda of the Biden/Harris/Bernie/AOC Democrats is out there for all to see .
This is socialism on steroids .
Happily we know the names of all the Pale Pastels — aka “ Republicans for Biden ” — who have endorsed it .
As here and here .
Thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president should hire you or any Republican support you — ever again .
Jeffrey Lord , a contributing editor to The American Spectator , is a former aide to Ronald Reagan and Jack Kemp .
An author and former CNN commentator , he writes from Pennsylvania at [ email protected ] .
His new book , Swamp Wars : Donald Trump and The New American Populism vs .
The Old Order , is now out from Bombardier Books .
Photo “ Jeff Flake ” by Gage Skidmore CC2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Tennessee GOP Officials Receive Detailed Death Threats

One or more anonymous people , apparently out of Knoxville , allegedly and recently mailed death threats to members of the Tennessee Republican Party ’ s State Executive Committee — at each of their home addresses .
Tennessee GOP spokeswoman Delaney Dickey told The Tennessee Star in an email Monday that party officials have encouraged members to contact their local enforcement agencies .
The Star did not see any of the threats , but three of the 66 State Executive Committee members on Monday described receiving the same type of letter , about six pages , postmarked out of Knoxville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was like they had typed something and then had written over the top of it .
It reminded me of those manifestos that these killers used to have .
It was a weird thing , and it didn ’ t make sense , ” said Executive Committee member Betty Fain .
“ All I could get out of it was that ‘ I ’ m going to kill you ’ and ‘ We ’ re going to kill you.
’ ” Executive Committee member Bobby Wood said his death threat arrived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Star called him Monday .
“ It ’ s hard to understand .
The writer says they are the great-grandson of Robert E. Lee .
It ’ s both typed and handwritten .
A lot of vulgar language .
And it says of all Republicans ‘ We will kill you all , ’ ” Wood said .
“ To me it is just a fanatical thing that some demented person has sent out.
” Executive Committee member Rob Ailey , meanwhile , said he turned his letter over to the State Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say more .
Matthew Coleman , another Executive Committee member , said the same person sent a letter to his home , but he had not yet opened it .
Wood said he doesn ’ t believe that members of ANTIFA , Black Lives Matter or other prominent left-leaning organizations mailed the letters .
“ I feel like this is the work of one person , ” Wood said .
“ He might be dangerous to an individual , but not to a group.
” The Tennessee Republican Party ’ s website lists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member .
To protect herself , Fain said she just bought a gun .
“ Partially because of this letter , ” Fain said .
“ And also because of everything going on right now.
” When asked to elaborate , Fain said she was referring to all of the nation ’ s civil unrest .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--‘More Misinformation for the American Public’: Postmaster General Calls Congressman’s Accusations ‘O

‘More Misinformation for the American Public’: Postmaster General Calls Congressman’s Accusations ‘Outrageous’

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy sparred with Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts over recent U.S .
Postal Service policy changes at a congressional hearing Monday .
DeJoy , who appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform , called Lynch ’ s accusations “ outrageous ” after the congressman blamed DeJoy for reported slow downs in mail delivery .
Lynch had also said recent changes to postal service policy were unprecedented and “ embarrassing.
” “ After 240 years of patriotic service delivering the mail , how can one person screw this up in just a few weeks ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you bring private sector expertise .
I guess we couldn ’ t find a government worker who could screw it up this fast.
” Lynch also expressed outrage that the postal service is unprepared for the upcoming election .
He said there were only two possibilities : DeJoy is either incompetent or malicious .
“ We can only reach two conclusions .
One , either through gross incompetence , you have ended the 240 year history of delivering the mail reliably , on time , ” Lynch said .
“ The second conclusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing this on purpose .
And that you are deliberately dismantling this once proud tradition.
” After his time expired , Lynch said , “ What the heck are you doing ?
” DeJoy acknowledged the postal service ’ s history of reliable mail delivery and said he was proud to lead the agency .
But , he called Lynch ’ s accusations “ outrageous.
” “ Every accusation you made , other than adhering to the truck schedule , is inaccurate and more misinformation for the American public , ” DeJoy said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t replace letter sorting machines , which were removed from some post offices in recent months .
After facing criticism over internal changes , the postal service suspended further policy changes , DeJoy announced in an Aug. 18 statement .
The House of Representatives passed legislation Saturday that would reverse the policy changes and give the postal service emergency funding , CNBC reported .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the House back into session over the weekend to pass the bill .