thetennesseestar--2020-05-11--Industry Leaders Warn Hundreds of Businesses Won’t Survive Reopening Plan, Extended Stay-Home Order

Michigan business leaders are concerned some businesses won ’ t survive Michigan ’ s mandated closures by Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , which she extended yesterday through at least May 28 .
Whitmer announced a plan to reopen the economy Thursday but provided no dates , other than for manufacturing , for when additional businesses could reopen .
Michigan Chamber President and CEO Rich Studley said the order “ may be a foreclosure notice ” for many small and seasonal businesses .
“ You ’ ve got June , July , and August to make 90 percent of your revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you miss that window , you ’ re finished.
” For example , tourism drives much of the Upper Peninsula ’ s economy but is currently shuttered .
Tourism employed more than 220,00 people in 2018 , the 11th largest employer in Michigan , and garnered $ 25.7 billion of visitor spending according to a Michigan Economic Development Corporation report .
Studley said many northern Michigan communities have few COVID-19 cases , and while business owners acknowledge the virus is a serious concern , so are their livelihoods .
Studley said his members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged a falling number of COVID-19 cases , but hasn ’ t lifted what they call the “ Stay-Closed , Stay-out-of-Work order.
” Studley said hundreds of the Chamber ’ s members were in serious financial trouble before the additional extension , many of which will now close permanently .
“ And that ’ s a tragedy , and it ’ s largely unnecessary , ” he said .
Studley said his members have pointed to a disconnect between business owners who know how to operate safely and the executive office .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand or care that if I stay closed for another month , that ’ s it ?
” Studley asked , repeating member concerns .
“ I ’ m done ; I ’ ll lose a family business that I ’ ve worked decades to build.
” The Small Business Association of Michigan released a survey this week of more than 1,300 small businesses that found one in seven Michigan small businesses weren ’ t confident they would survive the COVID-19 pandemic .
• Nearly 45 percent of small businesses are closed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to lay off at least one employee .
• More than 50 percent of small businesses don ’ t have the ability for their employees to work from home .
• More than 70 percent of surveyed businesses have applied for the Paycheck Protection Program , and 43 percent have applied for other loans or advances .
• About 35 percent of small businesses would need additional physical space to meet social distancing guidelines .
The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association ( MRLA ) on Friday released the Roadmap to Reopening and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 29 .
MRLA President and CEO Justin Winslow said the roadmap applies guidelines from several multiple federal agencies and Whitmer ’ s executive orders so Michigan could join the states in the country that have reopened in some capacity .
The state-mandated business closures hammered Michigan ’ s restaurant industry , which estimated $ 1.2 billion in lost April 2020 sales and almost 250,000 furloughed or laid off workers since the outbreak .
The MRLA said between March 1 and April 16 , 53 percent of Michigan restaurants temporarily closed while 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been decimated since their forced closure on March 16 , ” Winslow said in a statement .
“ Those that remain in business stand ready to meet or exceed the challenging , but necessary , new standard procedures that will keep their guests and team members safe .
These restaurateurs are Michiganders who need to be afforded that opportunity before it is too late.
” Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-11--Ohio Lawmaker: DeWine’s Budget Cut ‘an Alarming Divestment from our Public School System’

A state senator from Toledo is blasting Gov .
Mike DeWine ’ s decision to cut funding to public schools as part of a move to reduce spending amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ Governor DeWine ’ s decision to slash more than $ 300 million from Ohio ’ s K-12 funding is an alarming divestment from our public school system during a time when schools need more support than ever , ” state Sen. Teresa Fedor , D-Toledo , said in a statement .
“ Nearly half of the $ 775 million total in cuts to General Revenue spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public schools , which continue to serve more than 90 % of children in our state .
“ Public schools have become lifelines to communities throughout the pandemic , ” Fedor added .
“ With only a few days ’ notice , educators found new ways to provide students with free meals , Wi-Fi hotspots and so much more .
Our public schools are already being asked to do more with less and announcing these drastic cuts on Teacher Appreciation Day was a devastating blow to the professionals who are heroes to Ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeWine announced a $ 775 million budget reduction in General Revenue Fund ( GRF ) spending for the rest of the fiscal year .
“ If we don ’ t make these cuts now , the cuts we will have to make next year will be more dramatic , ” DeWine said in a tweet defending the decision .
In addition to the K-12 spending cut , DeWine said he is slashing $ 110 million for higher education .
In making the announcement , the governor said he would not tap into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As we have all seen , COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the American economy , ” DeWine said .
“ And Ohio ’ s economy as well .
Prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic , Ohio ’ s economy was strong and our budget was on track .
“ For example , by the end of February , state revenues for the fiscal year were ahead of estimates by over $ 200 million , ” he added .
“ We now have the figures in through the month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenues have taken a dramatic turn.
” The governor ’ s decision to cut budgets was also met with criticism from Policy Matters Ohio , a liberal-leaning think tank .
“ Ohio stands strongest when we stand together .
The early stages of our response to # COVID made that clear , ” the organization said in a tweet .
“ Now , as the powerful try to divide us , unity is more important than ever .
( DeWine ’ s ) cuts do the opposite : They put programs that help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeFeo is a contributor to The Center Square .

Richmond Police arrested 11 people during a protest outside the Richmond City Justice Center on Tuesday.
The group was gathered outside of the Justice Center to protest conditions in the Richmond jail after COVID-19 outbreak among 100 inmates and staff was reported.
Richmond police officers arrived outside of the Justice Center to help the Richmond Sheriff’s office deal with the group protesters who had moved from the public sidewalk onto Justice Center grounds during the demonstration, causing a security concern, according to the Richmond police description of the incident,
Just before 7 p.m., a man on a bicycle attempted to block a tow truck trying removing a vehicle that had been illegally parked in front of the Justice Center. When a Richmond police officer arrived at the scene, the man tried to flee on his bike and was then stopped by the officer. Other protesters witnessed this and attempted to stop the arrest, leading to those people being arrested as well, according to the police account.
A video of the incident was captured and published to the RVA Magazine Instagram account. That video is below.
A flyer on social media for the protest read: “Our comrades on the inside are facing retaliation from officers for simply requesting adequate medical attention. These conditions are inhumane. We stand in solidarity with those who have been kidnapped, convicted and caged.”
On Wednesday, Richmond police released the names and charges for the 11 protesters arrested.
Their names and charges are as follows:
Stephen Roach Obstruction of Justice Impeding the flow of traffic
Benjamine Skromine Obstruction of Justice Impeding the flow of traffic
Gabrielle Brost Hoffman Obstruction of Justice
Aditya Mohan Obstruction of Justice
Rachel Fidlow Obstruction of Justice
Andre Rosson Obstruction of Justice
Alex Oxford Obstruction of Justice with Force
Jonathan Miranda Disorderly Conduct
Susanna Keating Disorderly Conduct
Mollie Luck Disorderly Conduct
Carmen Day Disorderly Conduct
– – –
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Richmond City Justice Center Protest” by RVA Mag.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-11--90 Percent of Ohio’s Economy Expected to Reopen This Week

An estimated 90 percent of Ohio ’ s economy will be reopened by the end of the week under Gov .
Mike DeWine ’ s “ Responsible Restart Ohio Plan.
” Since May 1 , the healthcare industry has been able to perform all medically necessary procedures that do not require an overnight stay , such as routine check-ups , outpatient surgeries , imaging procedures , and diagnostic tests .
On May 4 , general office environments as well as businesses in manufacturing , distribution , and construction were allowed to reopen .
The most substantial reopening phase is set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the consumer , retail , and services industries can reopen so long as they abide by mandatory safety requirements .
“ Well it ’ s really a risk no matter what we do .
It ’ s a risk if we don ’ t do anything , it ’ s a risk if we do this , ” Gov .
DeWine said during a Sunday appearance on Fox News .
“ The economy is not going to open no matter what we do , whatever we order , unless people have confidence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidence , ” he added .
As of Sunday , Ohio had 22,891 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,220 deaths .
Over the last two weeks , Ohio saw its number of new cases steadily decrease but then climb back up on Friday when the state reported 885 new cases in a single day .
“ What we do have now is great capacity in regard to testing .
We did not have that two weeks ago , ” said DeWine , who noted that the state has recruited a “ big force ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are really at a plateau with hospitalizations .
We ’ re at a plateau with deaths .
We ’ re at a plateau in regard to new cases , ” the governor claimed .
“ So they do go up and down.
” University Hospitals has released a “ Healthy Restart Playbook ” as a guide for business owners on how to safely reopen .
The guide encourages businesses to conduct a health screening of employees before they enter the workplace and ask all employees to wear a face mask while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look to come back carefully , it ’ s not so much about at this point orders that I issue or my health director issues .
It ’ s really about what people do and I emphasize that time and time again , ” DeWine said Sunday .
“ We ’ ve got to be very careful as we do this because if we ’ re not careful we ’ re going to roll backwards , we ’ re going to have to shut things down , and that is not what anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-11--Two More Rural Minnesota Cities Ask Walz to Reopen

Two more rural Minnesota cities passed resolutions last week asking Gov .
Tim Walz to allow all businesses to reopen .
According to the Grand Forks Herald , the Roseau City Council unanimously approved of a resolution during its Monday meeting that asks the governor to lift restrictions on small businesses .
Roseau Mayor Jeff Pelowski said in a letter to Walz that his city is “ dealing with several inequities that need to be addressed.
” “ For example , a business that sells a hammer can be open , but a business selling clothing can only do curbside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our constituents , ” Pelowski wrote in his letter .
He told Walz that many small businesses in Roseau “ probably won ’ t survive this catastrophe ” and said his city is “ having a very difficult time administering the unfairness of the ‘ critical ’ vs. ‘ non-critical ’ designation.
” “ In rural Minnesota , we consider every business to be critical , and we hope that you will agree , ” he continued .
“ We hope you will address these inequities as soon as possible ” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed a resolution during its Tuesday meeting that asks the governor to reopen the state ’ s economy .
Jackson is the second city in Jackson County to pass such a resolution .
The Lakefield City Council said it will no longer direct any resources to the enforcement of Gov .
Walz ’ s stay-at-home order , The Minnesota Sun reported .
“ The City Council of Lakefield hereby declares its intent to oppose any infringement by Executive Order or any other directive on the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep their businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of Sunday , Jackson County ( home to both Lakefield and the city of Jackson ) had 32 positive COVID-19 cases and zero deaths .
Roseau County has only one confirmed case and no deaths , according to the Department of Health .
There are still three counties in rural Minnesota with no confirmed cases .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ City of Roseau ” by City @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-11--Former Nashville Healthcare Executive Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $700,000

The former president of Nashville-based Omnis Health pleaded guilty last week to embezzling $ 763,887 from the company and evading taxes .
U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee ( pictured above ) said 50-year-old Robert Burton was charged in February with wire fraud and tax evasion related to his embezzlement scheme .
Burton was the president of Omnis Health , which sells diabetic testing kits , from July 2013 to May 2017 .
According to court documents from the case , Burton admitted to embezzling approximately $ 763,887 from Omnis by submitting false and fraudulent reimbursement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claiming that he had purchased supplies and incurred travel expenses which he had not .
To justify his reimbursement requests , Burton fabricated receipts to include with his fraudulent reimbursement requests .
A “ large portion of his scheme ” consisted of submitting reimbursement requests for diabetic testing products , falsely claiming he had purchased those products .
According to Cochran , Burton never actually purchased the supplies , but instead visited multiple online vendors , placed products in his online shopping cart , printed screenshots of his shopping cart , and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his reimbursement requests .
All in all , he was reimbursed for at least $ 484,328 of supplies that he never actually purchased .
Burton also admitted to frequently submitting false travel expense reimbursements and travel advances .
He was reimbursed for approximately $ 203,747 in flights that he never took .
“ Similar to how he falsified his expense reports for diabetic testing supplies , Burton would visit an airline ’ s website , print an itinerary that displayed a cost for the flight , and submit that as the receipt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cochran ’ s office said .
According to court documents , Burton often used the embezzled funds for gambling and submitted false income information on his personal tax returns .
He faces up to 20 years in prison on the charge of wire fraud and up to five years in prison on the charge of tax evasion .
His sentencing is scheduled for August 28 .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Nashville Businesses Who Don’t Comply with COVID-19 Guidelines Risk Losing Permits

Any Nashville business owners who don ’ t obey the city ’ s new COVID-19 guidelines risk losing their permits to operate , Nashville Mayor John Cooper said at a press conference Monday .
Cooper , preaching safety first , said the community must respond to business owners who flagrantly violate the rules .
“ Should a venue persistently not try to keep its customers or staff safe , should that happen after lots of education , then , of course , it is the right of the public health department to pull all of its permits allowing it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a right to be safe and not just safe at home .
They need to be safe when they go outside .
People have worked very very very hard in this town to limit the spread of the virus , and we have to honor that work .
We have to value it .
We have to reinforce it , ” Cooper said .
“ We will encourage people not to patronize .
Public notice can be involved with people understanding that they ’ re not going to be safe in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not valuing customers , is not valuing the citizens in Nashville and all their efforts .
We are in a situation together .
We can , as neighbors , make it work and it ’ s inappropriate for one party to endanger the rest of us or more of us into the lazy , frankly , and not protecting its staff and its customers and from that laziness.
” Cooper went on to compare his guidelines to seat belt laws that keep people safe .
“ Well , this is a lot bigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper said .
As The Tennessee Star reported last week , Nashville business owners better comply with all of Cooper ’ s safety rules , or else police might pay them a visit .
As of Monday , Nashville moved to Phase One of Cooper ’ s plan to reopen the city ’ s economy , at least partially .
As The Star reported last month , Cooper issued a four-phased plan to reopen Nashville ’ s economy .
According to ASafeNashville.org , for each of the four phases Nashville is in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next phase if the area meets one of two benchmarks .
The website said either the number of COVID-19 cases in Davidson County must remain stable or the number must decline over a 14-day period .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

A dozen individuals have been charged in a gun-running conspiracy that funneled firearms from Tennessee and Kentucky to Chicago, according to a release from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In total, the 12 individuals are facing a 21-count indictment with charges for dealing in firearms without a license, transporting and receiving firearms into another state, making false statements to a federally licensed firearm dealer, and multiple other offenses.
Three of the alleged members of the gun pipeline were enlisted members of the U.S. Army and were stationed at Fort Campbell in Clarksville.
Demarcus Adams, Brandon Miller, and Jarius Brunson, along with other individuals charged in the indictment, allegedly purchased legal firearms from dealers in the area. After securing the guns, the DOJ contends the group would deliver the firearms to individuals in Chicago.
Law enforcement officials also claim the scheme was connected to gang violence in Chicago, saying that “the defendants conspired to purchase and deliver over 90 illegally obtained firearms to the Chicago area to facilitate the ongoing violent disputes between the Pocket Town Gangster Disciples and their rival gangs.”
Authorities detailed that at least two deaths were connected to firearms distributed in the movement from Tennessee to the Chicago area.
In addition to Clarksville, the organized crime circle operated in Oak Grove, Kentucky:
“The indictment further alleges the methods used by co-conspirators to purchase firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers in the Clarksville, Tenn. and Oak Grove, Kentucky areas, which included communicating via text messages to coordinate the purchase and delivery of firearms to the Chicago area; providing false information on firearms purchase application forms; and using apps such as Zelle and CashApp to facilitate payment for the illegal transfer of firearms. On one occasion, the indictment alleges that in addition to several firearms available for sale, Brandon Miller had 1,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition available for purchase,” the release from the DOJ details.
— — —
Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Justice Department Announces Superseding Indictment Charging 12 in Gun-Running Conspiracy to Supply” by The Justice Department.


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Commentary: It Was President Barack Obama Who Targeted Michael Flynn

From the beginning of the Russia – Trump collusion hoax we have had the somewhat contrarian view that the entire operation was as much or more about Obama and his people getting back at LTG Mike Flynn than it was about stymieing the Trump agenda .
General Flynn ’ s must-read book , Field of Fight , is a searing indictment of Obama ’ s policies in the Near East and Afghanistan .
It was also a damning indictment of Obama ’ s pro-Muslim supremacist policies that downplayed the cultural and constitutional threat of importing vast numbers of Muslims to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , but Mike Flynn was one of Donald Trump ’ s most effective surrogates during the campaign .
Along with a few other military and intelligence outsiders like Rich Higgins , he hoisted the pirate flag and pounded Obama and Hillary Clinton with broadside after broadside .
He also helped Trump craft his America First national security platform .
A key piece of Trump ’ s appeal to voters wary of the Obama – Clinton pro-Muslim immigration policies .
And beyond the military , political and cultural critique of Obama ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn had been on the inside of Obama ’ s intelligence apparatus and cried foul , causing Obama to push him out as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency .
Flynn was , as far a we can remember , the only Obama insider to break ranks and switch sides .
In short , Flynn earned Obama ’ s hatred the easy way – he told the truth .
And the conspiracy to get Flynn all started long before Donald Trump ever entered the 2016 presidential campaign .
As Svetlana Lokhova explained in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his whistleblower complaint.
, the plan to get Mike Flynn began in 2014 and involved Stefan Halper , British intelligence and former CIA Director John Brennan who put it in motion to destroy Mike Flynn before Trump was even in the race for President.. How much did Obama hate Mike Flynn ?
He put him in the same category of threat as Kim Jong Un , the North Korean dictator .
Back in 2017 , NBC News reported former President Obama warned President Donald Trump against hiring Mike Flynn as his national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama administration officials .
The warning , which was first reported by NBC in May 2017 , came less than 48 hours after the November election when the Obama and Trump sat down for a 90-minute conversation in the Oval Office .
A senior Trump administration official acknowledged Monday that Obama raised the issue of Flynn , saying the former president made clear he was “ not a fan of Michael Flynn.
” Note that that Obama ’ s November 2016 warning pre-dated the phony concerns about Flynn ’ s contacts with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a general caution that he believed Flynn was not suitable for such a high-level post , the unnamed Obama official said .
The other warning Obama gave Trump ?
Two administration officials said Obama also warned Trump to stay vigilant on North Korea .
The May 2017 revelations reported by NBC came on the same day that former acting Attorney General Sally Yates testified behind closed doors about the events that led to Flynn ’ s eventual firing .
But what Sally Yates said didn ’ t come out until Attorney General Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused the release of Yates ’ testimony given before a House committee investigating the Russiagate hoax .
Yates testified that during a January 5 , 2017 Oval Office meeting , then-President Obama demonstrated he was well aware of the details of then-incoming national security adviser Michael Flynn ’ s intercepted December 2016 phone calls with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak , apparently surprising Yates , according to documents released Thursday as exhibits to the government ’ s motion to dismiss the Flynn case .
Gregg Re of FOX News reported Obama ’ s unexpectedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s calls , which the FBI acknowledged at the time were not criminal or even improper , raised eyebrows because of his own history with Flynn — and because top FBI officials secretly discussed whether their goal was to “ get [ Flynn ] fired ” when they interviewed him in the White House on January 24 , 2017 .
Also attending the January 5 , 2017 Oval Office meeting were then-FBI Director James Comey , then-Vice President Joe Biden , then-CIA Director John Brennan , and then-Director of National Intelligence James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents , including an FD-302 FBI witness report .
They were discussing Russian election interference , along with national security adviser Susan Rice and other members of the national security council .
After the briefing , Obama asked Yates and Comey to “ stay behind , ” and said he had “ learned of the information about Flynn ” and his conversation with Russia ’ s ambassador about sanctions .
Obama “ specified that he did not want any additional information on the matter , but was seeking information on whether the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given the information.
” A memo from Rice stated that Biden also stayed behind after the main briefing had ended , Mr. Re reported .
Remember – when Obama fired Flynn as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014 , Obama cited insubordination , while Flynn asserted he was pushed out for his aggressive stance on combating lslamic extremism .
The topic of the disputed phone call with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak was , among other things , another Obama policy Flynn and Trump planned to undo – Obama ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s perspective , another act of insubordination by Mike Flynn .
It is unknown who informed Obama of the intercepted Flynn – Kislyak phone call , and it remains to be seen if Yates , Comey , Biden or anyone else will tell the full truth about what was said directly or between the lines in the January 5 , 2017 “ stay behind ” meeting .
However , one thing is clear even from the sketchy details available today – Obama was out to get Flynn and he had some willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 Oval Office meeting .
George Rasley is the Editor of ConservativeHQ.com


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Crom Carmichael: Nashville is Heading the Wrong Way by Following the Disastrous Financial Route of D

Crom Carmichael: Nashville is Heading the Wrong Way by Following the Disastrous Financial Route of Democrat Controlled Illinois

Monday morning on the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – Leahy was joined in studio by all-star panelist Crom Carmichael .
At the end of the third hour , Carmichael discussed how Illinois is a government fiscally out of control even though it is one of the highest taxed states in America .
He warned that if Metro Nashville doesn ’ t fix its obvious ails that the city will go by the way of Illinois ’ s financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had a lively Monday coming back from the weekend .
Howie Carr is always fun .
He was talking a little bit about Governor Pritzker , the Democratic governor in Illinois who was born into the fortune of the Hyatt family and who thinks he should be king apparently .
Illinois is an example of a state government that is out of control in terms of limiting individual rights there .
Carmichael : It ’ s not just the limiting of individual rights .
It ’ s a state out of control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here is what ’ s interesting about Illinois .
And I want to touch on a point that you made about the local black caucus at the state level .
They made the comment that if you give the police the health records on COVID-19 it ’ s going to cause people to not want to be tested .
Which I happen to think is dead on .
Carmichael : I think that is dead on .
That is human nature .
Why would I want to be tested and then the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the government and police departments .
That could end up being used against me .
So , I want to try to tie all this together .
And also I ’ m going to take it back to Metro Nashville .
In Illinois a recent article of just how upside-down everything financially is in Illinois .
Their pensions are 38 % funded .
38 % funded .
Carmichael : A lot less than half .
It is just terrible .
When you get that low what happens when you have a dip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pensions you ’ re having to sell principle .
You ’ re having to sell your foundation .
Carmichael : It ’ s a complete failure .
Illinois is also one of the highest-taxed states in the country .
So here you have a state that is Democrat-controlled by the legislature .
Democrat-controlled .
You don ’ t graduate as governor of Illinois unless you go to prison .
Leahy : That ’ s right .
That ’ s the next step .
Carmichael : By the way , that ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ republicans .
You get to go to prison .
Leahy : I think the last three governors , both democrat and republican have gone to prison for various reasons ?
Carmichael : It maybe three out of four .
If you ’ ll remember Dennis Hastert who was for a short time Speaker of the House ended up going to prison .
And he was a republican .
This is just the way Illinois is .
But here ’ s the problem with Illinois .
In Illinois , you can be a state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m tying it back to Nashville .
In Illinois , you can be a state employee and retire after 30 years in your 50s .
You get your full pension .
You get healthcare for life .
And you can go work another job full time .
So you are triple dipping and getting paid three ways .
In metro Nashville , after 30 years you can retire and you get your healthcare and you get your pension .
And we have a four billion dollar , four billion dollars of unfunded liability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The reason I say this is human nature is if you ’ re in your mid-50s , and I ’ m not blaming anybody , I ’ m blaming a very bad policy .
It ’ s a very bad policy .
If you are in your mid-50s and you ’ ve worked for 30 years for Metro Nashville , why wouldn ’ t you retire ?
Take your pension and take your healthcare and go work for somebody else .
You might increase your income by $ 20,000.00 to $ 50,000.00 a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything you were getting before .
Leahy : It makes perfect sense .
It ’ s logical to do that .
Carmichael : Yes .
Consequently , this comes back to the human nature thing we are talking about .
If we are going to fix our problems here in Nashville we need to recognize this singular aspect of human nature and that is we can add and do simple math .
It is the policy that is the problem , not the Metro employees who are saying I ’ m 55 I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m better off taking my pension , healthcare , and going to work for someone else .
Which is what they are doing .
So we need to change that policy here locally .
Illinois is so far gone that I ’ m not sure that they can fix it .
I think at the end of the day , McConnell is correct .
Under our constitution , I checked this , a state can not declare bankruptcy but a city can .
But a state can not .
Leahy : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Leahy : Interesting .
I think what your warning is this , Illinois may be gone .
Leahy : Nashville may not be far off .
Carmichael : Well , Nashville is heading in the wrong direction .
And its heading in the wrong directions for very very easy to see reasons .
The other area in Nashville that can be corrected where there is a great deal of money that ’ s being poorly spent .
You pointed out the other day Michael that in our government-run school system for every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leahy : It ’ s about one to one .
Carmichael : It ’ s almost one to one .
So clearly we are top-heavy in administration .
By the way , where does that money come from ?
It comes from the pockets of the teachers in the classroom because there is a budget of X and the city council isn ’ t going to greatly increase that budget in any one year .
And the city over the years more and more people have moved into the bureaucracy and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowly .
But you don ’ t increase taxes , you administer better .
I would think that a ratio of one to five would be more than adequate .
That even maybe too much .
Leahy : I would agree with you on that .
Carmichael : One to one makes no sense other than if you understand why its that way .
And that gets back to the unions .
Listen to the full third hour : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Bill Hagerty Releases Video Critical of the World Health Organization

U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty has released a video critical of the World Health Organization .
This , after President Donald Trump announced he ’ s halting all funding for the group .
Hagerty said in a statement that the video features a timeline exposing the WHO ’ s efforts with the Communist Chinese regime to hide valuable information related to the Wuhan coronavirus and calling for a full investigation .
“ The Communist Chinese regime lied about the Wuhan coronavirus .
The WHO ’ s leadership has been their accomplice since the beginning .
I appreciate President Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO and believe there must be a full investigation , ” Hagerty said .
“ Director-General , Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , a long-time friend of the Communist regime , apparently has been bought and paid for by President Xi .
Dr. Tedros continues to aid in China ’ s misinformation campaign .
By parroting the regime ’ s talking points , the WHO added legitimacy to China ’ s cover-up , which diverted the world from the truth — costing valuable time and placing hundreds of thousands of lives at risk.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , Hagerty weighed in on China in a FOX News editorial with Andy Puzder .
Puzder was chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants and is currently a senior fellow at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy .
In the column , both men praised U.S. President Donald Trump for “ an extraordinary job ” slowing the spread of the coronavirus by , among other things , banning travel with China .
“ But make no mistake , the efforts of China ’ s communist overlords to conceal and destroy evidence regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , expose this regime ’ s true intentions : to preserve their power and evade responsibility for their gross misconduct .
Communist leaders prioritized regime control over the safety of the Chinese people , the world ’ s health , and the global economy , ” Hagerty and Puzder wrote .
“ This isn ’ t the first time it has been necessary for President Trump to stand up to the Communist Chinese regime .
He kept his campaign promise and took on their unfair trade practices , which included heavy subsidies for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology transfers for firms seeking access to China ’ s domestic markets , and outright theft of intellectual property .
Using targeted tariffs , President Trump pressured China to end its abusive trade practices .
The Communist leaders finally came to the negotiating table and signed the historical ‘ Phase One ’ trade deal with America.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Report: DNI Grenell Wants to Unmask the Obama Officials Who Unmasked Michael Flynn

Richard Grenell , the acting director of national intelligence , visited the Justice Department last week seeking to declassify documents related to Obama administration officials ’ unmasking of Michael Flynn in transcripts of phone calls he had with Russia ’ s ambassador , ABC News is reporting .
Grenell is asking the Justice Department to declassify a list of names of officials involved in the unmasking process , a senior intelligence official told ABC .
Unmasking refers to a process where top U.S. government officials can request information on American citizens picked up during electronic surveillance of foreigners .
Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 29 , 2016 phone with Sergey Kislyak , the Russian ambassador .
It is not illegal for U.S. officials to make unmasking requests .
But the information on Flynn was leaked to The Washington Post , opening up the possibility that someone in the Obama administration illegally disclosed classified information .
An unidentified senior U.S. official provided details of the Flynn-Kislyak phone call to The Washington Post for a column published on Jan. 12 , 2017 .
The revelations set off a chain of events that led the FBI to interview Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2017 .
Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements in that interview regarding the substance of his conversation with Kislyak .
But he retracted that admission of guilt on Jan. 29 .
The Justice Department filed a motion to withdraw charges against Flynn on Thursday , citing the discovery of FBI documents that showed that the bureau was about to shut down a counterintelligence investigation of Flynn just before he was unmasked in the phone call with Kislyak .
Attorney General William Barr defended the decision on Thursday , saying that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trap ” for Flynn .
He also said that there was nothing illegal about Flynn ’ s call with Kislyak .
Grenell , who is also serving as ambassador to Germany , has led a push in recent weeks to declassify a trove of documents related to the FBI ’ s investigation of various Trump associates .
He took part in the process to declassify footnotes from a Justice Department inspector general ’ s report on the FBI ’ s Crossfire Hurricane investigation .
The footnotes , which were published on April 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of possible Russian disinformation in the Steele dossier .
Grenell also pressured Rep. Adam Schiff into releasing 53 transcripts of interviews that the House Intelligence Committee conducted as part of its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
The transcripts showed that multiple Obama administration officials testified that they had not seen evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian government .
The transcripts also revealed that Obama administration officials James Clapper , Susan Rice , Ben Rhodes , and Samantha Power denied taking part in the Flynn leak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intelligence did not respond to a request for comment .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--King of Boston Radio Howie Carr Discusses Trump’s Recognition of His Coronavirus Tweet within Leahy’

King of Boston Radio Howie Carr Discusses Trump’s Recognition of His Coronavirus Tweet within Leahy’s Breitbart Story

On Monday ’ s Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – host Leahy welcomed back good friend and undisputed King of Boston Talk Radio Howie Carr to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Carr talked about his recent Tweet which was acknowledged by President Trump and that inspired Leahy ’ s Breitbart story about the average age of coronavirus deaths .
The men later discussed Governor Andrew Cuomo ’ s late turnaround which left 5,200 deaths at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : We are joined now on the line by our good friend , Boston talk radio king Howie Carr .
Howie the President of the United States is reading what you Tweet about coronavirus .
Carr : Yes Michael Patrick Leahy .
But he read it in your story that you wrote for Breitbart about the prepondurous of deaths being in certain age groups and certain facilities ( i.e .
nursing homes ) .
I ’ d like to thank you for getting my Tweets to his attention .
( Leahy chuckles ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on them .
Leahy : Well , it was great work on your end .
So what ’ s interesting is the Massachusetts Department of Health was putting out all these lengthy , lengthy documents and you found in it a slide that was just stunning .
And that was the average age among the 4,000 plus people that have died of COVID-19 in Massachusetts are 82 years old .
This was like on page 11 of a 100-page report .
You found it .
Tell us how you found it first .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll go from there .
How did you find that information ?
Carr : Actually I should give credit to John Hinderaker at powerlineblog.com .
This is how the modern media works .
He ’ s very interested in this and he ’ s a lawyer in Minnesota .
He actually was just scrolling down through documents and found it and printed it .
And I said holy bleep !
Where did this come from ?
As you said , this is a lengthy document that they post everyday .
They call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked at it and I Tweeted it out .
I ’ m in based in Boston but I ’ m in Florida .
Then I see a guy from Minnesota post it .
You ’ re in Tennessee and yo usee it and you put it into Breitbart and then the President of the United States sees it .
Carr : It should be the Washington Post or The New York Times picking this stuff up .
Not people like us .
We are sort of reporters but we don ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leahy : Well , apparently we do now Howie .
( Laughter ) Carr : Again the thing is a legitimate media plural would be interested in this kind of thing .
As I said in my column yesterday that there is another very interesting chart I didn ’ t notice in there until one of my listeners pointed it out .
Every day they point out how many deaths were in nursing homes .
And it ’ s up over 60 % in Massachusetts and it ’ s rising higher and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of grief in New York state as well he should for that idiotic directive that said if you ’ ve recovered from COVID-19 you have to go back to the nursing homes rather than say the Javits Center or field hospitals .
They had these field hospitals set up just for this purpose and he was pushing them back at the nursing homes .
As the New York Post said today on its front page he changed the policy 250 deaths later .
Even in New York state , the rate is only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t know what it is in Tennessee .
It ’ s over 60 % in Massachusetts where John Hinderaker is in Minnesota its over 80 % in nursing homes .
This is a nursing home crisis is what this is .
Leahy : That ’ s why this information is so important .
I don ’ t know that you saw it with John Hinderaker with Powerline Blog .
He ’ s a friend of ours and will be involved in our Constitution Bee .
He ’ s a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this works .
He finds this .
You highlight it .
Now let me tell you how this got into a Breitbart story .
I ’ m here doing the radio show Wednesday morning at about 7:30 am and a caller talks about the average age .
And I say let me see what I can find .
So I start scrolling through my Twitter feed and boom !
There ’ s this great Tweet from Howie !
( Carr chuckles ) Wow 82 % .
That ’ s pretty significant .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Half an hour later or an hour and at around 9 am and a half later I ’ m on a regular Breitbart call and our editor Matt Boyle says I need somebody to write a story about the average age of death of somebody who has COVID-19 and I said , hey I want that one because Howie has shown me the way .
Carr : I think even more telling than that average age of 82 is the chart showing how you have at this point in Massachusetts if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a one percent chance of dying .
If you are under the age of 30 you have a zero percent chance of dying .
Zero .
And it ’ s just amazing .
There is no reason for the state to be shut down just like there ’ s no reason for the country to be shut down .
And I like the way the President put it .
He just said , amazing .
He didn ’ t comment .
He didn ’ t go overboard .
He just said amazing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazing charts .
He ’ s just laying it out and sort of telling people , take a look at this stuff .
I can ’ t say for sure but what I think he seems to be telling people is ask yourself why you can ’ t go to Mother ’ s Day dinner with your mom yesterday .
Why you can ’ t go to church .
Why you can ’ t get a haircut .
It doesn ’ t make any sense .
Leahy : So Howie then Wednesday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those that have died from COVID-19 being 75 including your Tweet with the chart showing the average age in Massachusetts as 83 .
Then it ’ s published at Breitbart late Wednesday night .
I guess what happens is they have a crew in the White House and they print out stuff for the President to read in the morning .
They printed out my story and my byline and then you get this handwritten note from the President on my story highlighting your Tweet and he says , Howie , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald J. Trump .
( Laughs ) Carr : ( Chuckles ) It made me very happy .
It made me very happy that he was paying attention .
And also that he knows what ’ s going on .
He ’ s in kind of a tough spot here you know ?
He ’ s going to get criticized if he pushes to get these states open .
Look , Michael , remember a couple of weeks ago they were killing Brian Kemp the governor of Georgia .
This is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this stuff .
And all these deplorables are going to come over from Florida and South Carolina .
And guess what ?
Nothing has happened .
So nothing to see here folks .
Move along .
They just go to the next step purported scandal that they can lay at the feet of Republicans .
It ’ s just total nonsense what they printed about what was going to happen in Georgia .
Nothing happened .
And by the way , I don ’ t believe anything is happening in Colorado either .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Georgia but their governor is a gay democrat so he ’ s immune from any kind of criticism .
He can open his state and not have to worry about being slammed by the left-wing media .
Leahy : So about three weeks ago everybody was saying what a wonderful job Andrew Cuomo was doing in New York because he was glib in the press conferences .
Now it ’ s turning out he ’ s made perhaps the most disastrous executive decision by saying if you are a nursing home resident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you positive they ’ re going to push you right back in that nursing home and spread the disease rapidly in that nursing home .
Carr : And actually there was at least one director of a nursing home in Cobble Hill Brooklyn who said , are you crazy ?
Are you sure about this ?
There are other places we can send them .
And they just came down hard on them and said you have to do this .
I ’ m looking at the headline in the New York Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deaths to Late , Cuomo Finally Flips on Nursing Home Scandal .
That is a tough headline .
But it ’ s totally accurate .
Leahy : That ’ s really tough .
There was some talk that Joe Biden who shall we just say has been hidden away in his basement in Delaware for some time and who ’ s not quite all there .
Carr : I thought it was Memphis I believe it was .
Leahy : There was some talk , well maybe they ’ ll replace him with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing up in New England about the Democratic nomination now ?
Carr : I think he peaked about three weeks ago before this news started trickling out and now its a flood about what he did at the nursing homes .
And then also the fact that he was screaming about the ventilators .
And they got him the ventilators and now he ’ s just dolling them out to whatever state needs them as far west as Michigan I think .
His response has been totally fraudulent .
They pushed him because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think he ’ s glib and he was married to a Kennedy before she cheated on him with a polo player .
( Leahy laughs ) I don ’ t think anybody is taking him seriously anymore .
He has that kind of abrasive style .
It ’ s not so much that its an ethnic thing but that he ’ s entitled .
He ’ s like Pritzker in Illinois .
These guys were born on third base with silver spoons in their mouths .
And they think they can tell everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust fund and who didn ’ t have a totally easy path and get all these federally appointments .
He thinks he can tell all of us and Pritzker how to live our lives .
It ’ s the same with Charlie Baker the Rhino in Massachusetts .
Leahy : Howie Carr .
The king of Boston talk radio .
We didn ’ t even get to Elizabeth Warren but we will next time .
Howie thanks for joining us and keep up the good work .
The President is watching what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 am to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Howie Carr ” by Howie Carr .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Commentary: The Unbearable Truths About Our Current Political Moment

Sometimes the truth is like mythical kryptonite .
It radiates power and yet promises great destruction .
And so reality is to be left alone , encased in lead , and kept at bay .
Take the Chinese genesis of the COVID-19 epidemic .
We started in February with the usual Chinese deceptions about their role in the birth , transmission , and worldwide spread of the virus .
No one , apparently except Mike Bloomberg and Bill Gates , was surprised by the accustomed politically correct prevarications of the Chinese-purchased World Health Organization , whose transparent lies were passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tens of thousands of deaths .
On cue , our own obsequious media accepted Chinese and globalist myths – their shared antipathy for President Trump meant whatever he is for or says , they are against and deny .
But by late March the bits and pieces of the truth had emerged .
All that gobbledygook talk of a Chinese wet market , of patient-zero bats , snakes , pangolins and such , were likely ruses to deflect attention from a conveniently nearby level-4 Chinese virology lab .
We are beginning to learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – surprise , surprise – coronaviruses in general , and in particular , methods to enhance their lethality , all for the ostensibly exalted humanitarian aim of discovering cures and vaccinations , although how that was to be so was never quite disclosed .
China ’ s patient zero almost weekly was backdated by communist party officials from late January to mid-November .
When the lying is exhausted , we may well learn the virus was known to the Chinese even earlier .
In addition , we learned that China variously threatened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
It stopped all flights in and out of Wuhan on January 23 , but called America racist for waiting a week until January 31 to issue a travel ban on China – including , but not limited to , ending direct flights to the United States from Wuhan .
Consider the Chinese communist logic : running-dog American capitalists mimicked Beijing in forbidding Chinese from flying – but only after a week-long interlude of bourgeoise debate and puerile reflection .
Were the Chinese embarrassed that they had accused Washington of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had done earlier ?
Of course not .
In their eyes , weak decadent Westerners welcome such help in aiding their own self-abnegation and debasement .
Unbearable American Weakness in the Face of a Growing Chinese Lie China went on to spin lies that the U.S. military deliberately had created the virus to harm the poor noble Chinese .
They seemed intent on peddling to the Trump-hating leftist media the talking points that China as the victimized “ other ” served as a convenient object of racial hatred by the deplorables and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurse their racism on “ conspiracy theories ” about viral labs .
China destroyed the original data concerning the discovery of the virus .
Brave , gullible and naïve scientists who were willing early on to speak up about the existential danger of an epidemic ended up “ disappeared ” or were silenced .
News censorship stopped critical early foreign knowledge of the Chinese epidemic .
On various online metrics , China ’ s case numbers and fatalities from the virus calcified , as if the country with the most cases magically now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was good to lie about the Wuhan virus ’ s birth , then all the better to lie about its adolescent spread and mature lethality .
China ’ s behavior follows years of patent and copyright theft , forced technological appropriation , dumping , currency manipulation , crackdowns on Hong Kong democracy , and sophisticated espionage within the United States .
It now threatens sovereign nations in Asia and the Pacific , if they dare blame China for the pandemic .
Its military embarks on more aggression in the South China Sea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violations of nuclear proliferation agreements .
Americans began grumbling that China almost seemed to have made war against the United States , in a peremptory fashion that dwarfed Pearl Harbor .
At least it seems so when tallying up the over 80,000 dead , the trillions in destroyed market equity and GDP , and , most importantly , the likely larger human toll from suicides , family and substance abuse , lapsed medical procedures and tests , and wrecked businesses and lives from the lockdown .
So that was an unbearable truth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ debt held by China ?
That is likely a terrible idea that would undermine the world ’ s entire financial system .
Cut off all relations ?
Embargos , sanctions , social distancing on a transnational scale ?
Expel all Chinese students ?
Bring home every American business in China ?
Seems unlikely .
The truth is that Americans know that to restore deterrence they must do something .
But that “ something ” is equally difficult in the case of a 1.4-billion-person nuclear nation , which has systematically leveraged and compromised many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entertainment , media , and academic elite .
The result is that everyone from Michael Bloomberg and Bill Gates to the CNN/MSNBC crowd know the truth that China despises the United States , feels that America is a spent and increasingly toxic society , and is ever more emboldened to humiliate its rival .
Yet Beijing wagers that we will not do much , even if we could .
It sees that weakness as laxity to be exploited , not at all magnanimity to be appreciated , much less reciprocated .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth , but apparently it is unbearable and preferably should not be known and just go away .
And it probably will .
Consider also Joe Biden .
Most Democrats have long known that Biden was a blowhard , a plagiarist , and a serial fabricator .
Take Bernie Sanders out of the race , and Biden would have offered little utility , and his candidacy likely would have sputtered to an end .
“ Handsy ” Joe Biden was also creepy .
Most prudent associates in his social and business circles kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and daughters as far away from his breathing , probes , and squeezes as possible .
The truth is not that any complainant , such as Tara Reade , who makes a career-ending accusation – fraught with contradictions and well beyond any fair notion of a statute of limitations – should be believed automatically .
She shouldn ’ t at all ruin a life without compelling evidence .
Nor is the Democratic dilemma just that the progressive write-off of Tara Reade has essentially destroyed the # MeToo movement , and exposed left-wing feminism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unconcerned with gender justice for the oppressed .
The point instead is that Joe Biden ’ s accuser should be believed – but according to Joe Biden ’ s prior own standards , statements and sermonizing .
Tara Reade , playing a stronger hand than Christine Blasey Ford , has lodged a sexual assault charge against a far more likely suspect offender than Brett Kavanaugh .
Biden , in most other circumstances , would be cheering her on to pursue her charges and pursue her truth were it not against himself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truth too is unbearable .
In other words , so what ?
What is the remedy ?
Have a long inquiry in which women come out of the woodwork to describe Biden ’ s squeezing , sniffing , breathing , and whispering with dozens of victimized young and teenage girls ?
There are many .
Does the donor class abort Biden ’ s candidacy to avoid hypocrisy and save its feminist credentials – so buffeted by Harvey Weinstein and fallen liberal media superstars ?
Or do they appoint investigators , as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Mueller investigation , to examine and to leak to the media Reade ’ s accusations and supporting testimonies , as Joe Biden daily bleeds out , nicked by a thousand cuts as a sexual pariah ?
So , the truth is again intolerable .
The fact is that Reade could be privately believable , given what one knows of Joe Biden ’ s wayward hands and unbridled narcissism .
But such a reality certainly is publicly unpalatable .
So watch as Tara Reade disappears into a media decompression chamber , designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thus be contained until she is recalibrated , exhausted and inert and the danger passes .
There is another unendurable truth : Joe Biden himself is not cognitively able to run a presidential campaign .
Even if successful , he is not prepared to serve as president .
Biden proved more exhausted in seclusion at home than in public on the campaign trail .
He is neither seen nor heard much anymore .
His planned series of fireside snarky critiques of the president ’ s handling of the virus imploded when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nor with or without the teleprompter , nor with or without friendly media prompts from his progressive interlocutors , nor with or without his wife ’ s encouragement at his side .
His party pros know that if turned loose on the campaign trail , Biden will give us another spooky squeeze , one more bizarre Corn Pop or hairy legs story , still more biographical myths and plagiarisms , and daily lying dog-faced pony soldier incoherence .
They have become shapeless ripples in Biden ’ s mental river of Lethe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finally disappearing in a nothing stream of forgetfulness .
The Democratic Party also knows that Biden can not schedule a rendezvous with Dr. Bandy X. Lee and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test , given the result would terrify his handlers .
On any given day , at any given moment Biden can say something not just controversial in the manner of Donald Trump , but something that simply can not be deciphered or translated into any known language .
So , what does one do with kryptonitic truth ?
What would one instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the runner-up and , in theory , most deserving candidate Bernie Sanders – and see the Democrats lose the presidency , the House , and the Supreme Court for a generation ?
Or do they keep Joe in the basement , outsource his campaign to future cabinet picks , his vice-presidential candidate and his family ?
Do they cancel the debates , seek to postpone the election or do it all by mail – and thereby confirm the albatross around their necks ?
Or still again , do they have a therapeutic “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one for the team , stand aside and allow non-candidate free-riders like Andrew Cuomo , Hillary Clinton , or Michelle Obama to usurp his delegates ?
Do they simply shaft the runner-up , nutty socialist Bernie Sanders and his legions of true believers ?
No , of course , not .
The truth is simply too foreboding even to contemplate .
Instead , we will hear that Joe is fine , in the manner that FDR was in great shape in November 1944 .
He will run not against Trump and his record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will say , fiddled while an unfettered and non-quarantined America was consumed by viral fires , and yet somehow as Herbert Hoover incarnate also fiddled while America ossified in an amber lockdown .
When the legend of a hale Biden is belied by the fact of his impairment , print the legend—but first get the necessary holograms , photoshopping , and testimonials to get him across the November 3 finish line .
Add up Michael Horowitz ’ s inspector general ’ s report .
Review the wreckage of the Mueller investigation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an utter fraud and dupe .
Remember that Hillary Clinton destroyed her hard drives and communication devices , that the FBI liquidated hundreds of text messages of Lisa Page and Peter Strzok , and that Christopher Steele destroyed all his emails and data about “ Russian sources.
” Compute in the new discoveries that all the principles who fueled the “ collusion ” hoax had long ago , when pressed in secret and under congressional oath , confessed they had no evidence for the lies they spread in the media .
Recall the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oval Office session .
Then , finish off these revelations with the reality that Barack Obama was always privy at best , and at worst orchestrating the effort to destroy a presidential campaign and transition .
And where does it all lead ?
To the unendurable truth that a sitting president unleashed his intelligence agencies to warp an election , feigned ignorance of his central role , and yet finally was so furious about the winner that he sought to sabotage his successor ’ s transition and , by association , his presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Valley , Wall Street , the bureaucratic state , academia , and entertainment ever process that reality : that a deity was likely the most corrupt president in a generation ?
Victor Davis Hanson is an American military historian , columnist , former classics professor , and scholar of ancient warfare .
He was a professor of classics at California State University , Fresno , and is currently the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at Stanford University ’ s Hoover Institution .
He has been a visiting professor at Hillsdale College since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently of The Second World Wars : How the First Global Conflict was Fought and Won ( Basic Books ) .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Eighteen Attorneys General Call for Congressional Probe into China’s Efforts to Mislead the World Ab

Eighteen Attorneys General Call for Congressional Probe into China’s Efforts to Mislead the World About Coronavirus

Eighteen Republican attorneys general called for a congressional probe on Friday into China ’ s deliberate concealment of the severity of the coronavirus outbreak at its onset .
“ Recent reports suggest that the communist Chinese government willfully and knowingly concealed information about the severity of the virus while simultaneously stockpiling personal protective equipment , ” stated the letter from South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson , which 17 other state attorneys general cosigned .
The letter was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the leaders of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The attorneys general detailed China ’ s apparent efforts to have “ intentionally misled the world over the last 6 months ” in the letter .
“ These layers of deceit began last year with the censoring of Chinese health officials and the muzzling of Taiwanese complaints , ” the attorneys general wrote .
“ The cover-up continued with the expulsion of media outlets and the proliferation of Chinese propaganda targeting the Western world.
” “ Congressional hearings are critical to our Nation ’ s understanding of the origins of COVID-10 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the letter stated .
The attorneys ’ general call for a congressional probe into China ’ s handling of the coronavirus outbreak came three weeks after Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government for damages caused by its efforts to deceive the global community about the dangers of the virus .
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson , the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , said in April his committee would conduct a wide-ranging probe into the coronavirus outbreak , including its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organization ’ s response to the virus .
President Donald Trump said in late April that he ’ s seen evidence that strongly indicates that coronavirus originated from the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
His comments about the lab came one day after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence confirmed that it ’ s examining whether the virus accidentally leaked from a lab in Wuhan .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Cuomo Reverses, Says Nursing Homes Can Refuse COVID-Positive Patients

Gov .
Andrew Cuomo partially reversed a March executive order Sunday that prevented nursing homes from denying admission of patients who tested positive for the new coronavirus .
Patients must now test negative for the virus before hospitals can admit them to assisted living facilities , Cuomo said during an Albany press briefing Sunday .
“ We ’ re just not going to send a person who is positive to a nursing home after a hospital visit , ” said Cuomo during the Sunday briefing .
“ This virus uses nursing homes … They are ground zero , ” Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 stated : “ No resident shall be denied readmission or admission to the [ nursing home ] solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19.
” The March policy was designed to prevent discrimination , though nursing homes can refer COVID-positive patients elsewhere if they couldn ’ t care for them , Cuomo said .
Just 12 % of New York ’ s roughly 26,000 coronavirus deaths have occurred in nursing homes , Cuomo said .
“ Whatever we ’ re doing has worked , on the facts , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of contracting and dying from the illness , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in March .
“ Starting at age 60 , there is an increasing risk of disease , and the risk increases with age , ” Nancy Messonnier , director of the CDC ’ s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases , said during press briefing March 10 .
New York state revealed in April that at least 3,316 people in nursing homes had died of coronavirus at their residences or in hospitals across the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan , China , before spreading across the world , landing in the United States where it had been a factor in more than 80,000 deaths by the end of April .
“ If you are positive ( for COVID-19 ) , you should be admitted back to a nursing home , ” New York Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said during one of Cuomo ’ s daily coronavirus briefings in April .
“ The necessary precautions will be taken to protect the other residents there.
” A New York Democrat disagreed with Zucker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zucker ’ s assertion that “ necessary precautions ” were being taken was “ clearly not the case , ” Democratic Assemblyman Ron Kim said in April .
“ It ’ s either he ’ s lying or they have absolutely no idea what ’ s going on on the ground.
” “ The staff , the families , everyone is telling me there ’ s completely a lack of support and they don ’ t have the necessary PPE [ personal protective equipment ] to be safe , ” Kim added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ politician who is feeling the heat for decisions about the pandemic response .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio dismissed the impact of coronavirus in March nearly two weeks before blasting President Donald Trump for not mobilizing the military to confront the outbreak .
“ Since I ’ m encouraging New Yorkers to go on with your lives + get out on the town despite Coronavirus , ” de Blasio told his Twitter followers on March 3 , no more than two weeks before likening the outbreak to a type of World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ” by Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Lamar Alexander Calls New Argument to Abolish Obamacare ‘Flimsy’

Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) seemed to say this past weekend that he ’ s not on board with President Donald Trump ’ s latest efforts to repeal Obamacare — at least not with the reasoning .
Alexander said this as he finished an interview on NBC ’ s Meet the Press .
Host Chuck Todd asked Alexander about Trump ’ s decision to move forward with a case that , if successful , would do away with the health care law .
“ Are you disappointed Trump decided to go forward with the Obamacare lawsuit ?
There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have pulled out of it , but they didn ’ t , ” Todd said ; adding , “ If you undo Obamacare what is the plan to replace it ?
” No one in Alexander ’ s office returned The Tennessee Star ’ s request for comment on the matter Monday .
As Breitbart reported , the U.S. Supreme Court will likely hear the case later this year .
“ More than a dozen Republican-led states brought the case , Texas v. Azar , and increased the chances that the court could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a federal appeals court found that former President Barack Obama ’ s signature legislation violated the Constitution , ” Breitbart reported .
“ Republican state officials contend that Obamacare must be struck down because Congress eliminated the penalty for following Obamacare ’ s individual mandate to purchase health insurance .
Republicans believe that the individual mandate is essential to the ACA and that the rest of the provisions would not work and can not stand without that mandate.
” Alexander , who is scheduled to retire at the end of his term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not believe that a majority of U.S. Supreme Court members will find Obamacare unconstitutional .
Alexander said as much on Twitter that year .
“ If the U.S. Supreme Court eventually were to agree that Obamacare is unconstitutional — which seems unlikely , however poorly the law was written — I am confident that any new federal law replacing it will continue to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions who buy health insurance.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
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thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--New American Populist Founder Jeff Webb Criticizes Governor Lee’s Decision to Give COVID-19 Patient

New American Populist Founder Jeff Webb Criticizes Governor Lee’s Decision to Give COVID-19 Patient Data to Law Enforcement: It’s a Pattern of Government Overreach

Live from Memphis on the newsmakers line Monday morning , New American Populist founder Jeff Webb joined The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.– to discuss his concerns about government overreach amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Leahy : We are talking with our very good friend Jeff Webb who is the Memphis entrepreneur and founder of Varsity Brands and Varsity Spirit .
He kind of invented the cheerleading industry and has gone on to set up the New American Populist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend and said what is Governor Bill Lee doing releasing COVID-19 positive testing information to law enforcement ?
What do you make of this policy Jeff ?
Webb : Good morning Mike .
I think this is another overreach .
It ’ s kind of unfortunately somewhat of a pattern with Governor Lee which is very concerning .
It ’ s certainly not something that I think his constituents felt like we would see when he was elected .
But I think it ’ s definitely an overreach .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting into people ’ s privacy and their rights to privacy and I think it ’ s just very worrisome .
I think also this was something that seems like Governor Lee just did .
And there ’ s really not that good of communication about it or explanations to the people .
I don ’ t know how much consultation there was with our other elected representatives .
I just think it ’ s a really bad idea when we start seeding power to the government and especially potentially to law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyday citizens .
Leahy : Yes .
I think you nailed it when you said this is something Governor Lee just did and didn ’ t even explain .
This came out by the Associated Press who found out about this memorandum of understanding that the Tennessee Department of Health signed with 30 some odd law enforcement agencies and counties around the state .
Now when he was caught on this , I don ’ t know if caught is the right word because he just failed to communicate the policy .
Late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government for it .
He said yes and he said , all I did was say yes to the implementation to these federal guidelines that came from the Department of Health and Human Services .
I don ’ t know about you Jeff but releasing private health information seems to me whether or not the Department of Health and Human Services says it ’ s a good idea in guidelines , it seems to me to be a violation if not the letter but certainly the spirit of the HIPPA privacy laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Webb : Absolutely .
Listen , think about every time you go to a new doctor , and all the forms you fill out about privacy and how much emphasis we put in our country on maintaining an individual ’ s privacy in regards to your health .
I understand we ’ re in very different times and people are trying to do extraordinary things about this crisis with the virus .
But these are the sorts of things that need to be thought through very very well .
And as far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the federal government .
That ’ s why we have federalism .
That ’ s why we have a state government to protect us from these sorts of things .
I just think it ’ s very disappointing that apparently our state government just rolled over on this one without there being a serious conversation with the citizens of Tennessee .
Leahy : I think again you nailed it on that .
You mention it , Jeff .
This is a pattern on behalf of Governor Lee .
It seems to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he did when he was given the option of saying no more refugees and without consulting anyone he said yes , bring them on in and we Tennessee taxpayers even though the Tennessee General Assembly is suing the federal government to stop it , he wants to bring them all in .
Again , it seems very tone-deaf to what the people of Tennessee want .
Webb : It almost seems cavalier .
Governor Lee was not elected to make these kinds of decisions on his own .
I think again not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communicating or getting the support of the communities where the resettlements would take place is just again tone-deaf , cavalier , I ’ m not sure .
But I think it ’ s wrong .
Leahy : Now the Tennessee black legislative caucus is called the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators I guess , they said this is a bad idea .
They actually didn ’ t focus on the issue of HIPPA they said , which I think makes sense is this is going to make people not want to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve rarely agreed with them because they are mostly left-wing but in this particular instance I think they make a good point .
Webb : I think that ’ s right .
We ’ ve seen time and time again in our country whether its the government or frankly the big technology companies another discussion we should have Mike .
Once your information is given away and people have the power to act on it good things do not come from that eventually .
Leahy : I wonder what happened in the mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month and a half ago they refused to release even the aggregate number of deaths by county for COVID-19 because they thought that might give away too much private information .
Webb : Well and then you see they ’ re going to be giving away the private information of individuals to law enforcement .
It ’ s pretty inconsistent .
I think there is a communication issue here .
I think that since Governor Lee made had made some addresses about the status of things but there doesn ’ t seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communication like here ’ s what we ’ re doing .
Here ’ s why we ’ re trying to do .
If you have better ideas we want to hear it .
Or reaching out to the legislature and our representatives there and creating more of a feeling that we ’ re all in this together .
That doesn ’ t mean just staying at home together .
What it also means that we ’ re all going to try to solve this together and the major decisions affecting our citizens in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our citizens have been unbelievable by cooperating and being supportive and helping each other that this should not be taken advantage of .
I ’ m not saying there is any ill intent on behalf of the Governor here , I just think it was a bad decision that was not thought through or communicated properly .
Leahy : Speaking of communication , and I know this will shock you but Brandon Gibson is apparently his legal advisor on this .
She crafted the memorandum of understanding .
A former state judge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve actually contacted Brandon Gibson in the governor ’ s office and asked her to come on and explain this .
They don ’ t want to come on .
( Laughs ) We ’ re not mean .
We want to just give them a fair chance to explain .
Webb : Even if you stated your opinion and the difference with theirs they should feel a responsibility to take a platform like yours which communicates with so many people across our state and at least explain what they have done .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have a democracy here .
The people deserve to hear and hear both sides .
They deserve to have our elected politicians or those people appointed like our bureaucrats and appointees they deserve to be heard .
And they deserve to put those people in a position where they should be defending what they ’ ve decided to do because it affects all of us .
We deserve that .
Leahy : I don ’ t know about you but it makes me feel very uncomfortable .
Let ’ s say if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 and you live in a county and your county Sheriff has received this information about you .
Even if you are asymptomatic for instance , what are they going to do with that information ?
Are they going to be watching you and seeing if you are quarantining in your house ?
Webb : They need to explain .
You ’ re exactly right .
And again when give up personal rights like this especially in a time where there is a crisis and it may seem innocuous but there are ramifications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give up any of our rights .
You ’ re seeing the same thing across the country with regard to sheltering in place .
There is a real question about whether sheltering in place is even legal .
So many of these left-wing governors and even mayors are assuming that people decided to stay home , social distance , stay home or cut back because they told them to .
That is not the case .
Because they told them to .
That is not the case .
People have done that because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge plague if you will and everybody was going to get sick and die .
Leahy : And it didn ’ t quite pan out .
Listen to the third hour : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 am to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Pennsylvania Counties Go Rogue, Ignore State Shutdown Orders

Officials from several counties across central Pennsylvania said over the weekend they likely will lift pandemic restrictions against Gov .
Tom Wolf ’ s orders .
The news follows the governor ’ s decision Friday to transition 13 counties in the southwestern region of the state – including the Pittsburgh metro area – to the yellow phase of his economic reopening plan after showing signs of slowing community spread and ramped up testing and contact tracing abilities .
The yellow , or “ caution ” phase , means businesses can reopen if they practice social distancing and provide masks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Day cares can resume operations , too , with infection control measures in place .
Wolf said Allegheny , Armstrong , Bedford , Blair , Butler , Cambria , Fayette , Fulton , Greene , Indiana , Somerset , Washington and Westmoreland can transition from red to yellow on May 15 .
But some of the 30 counties still in the red phase – which includes widespread businesses closures and stay at home orders until at least June 4 – want out .
Officials in Adams , Berks , Cumberland , Dauphin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mifflin , Perry and Schuylkill counties have mentioned their various plans to move to the yellow phase without the governor ’ s permission .
“ We need to do this right .
There is a world of difference between action , and effective action ; to be effective , it has to be legal , ” said Cumberland County Commissioner Gary Eichelberger in a news release Saturday .
“ We understand the frustration of our business owners and residents , and we are extremely sympathetic to their plight.
” Sen. Doug Mastriano , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four central Pennsylvania counties who want to begin reopening , despite some falling short of the Department of Health ’ s guidelines for progressing into yellow .
Notably , new case counts in many of the counties pushing to reopen total above the 50 per 100,000 residents metric Wolf established late last month .
“ Over the past two months , the General Assembly has offered to work with the Governor to address ongoing issues , including safely reopening our state for business , fixing flaws within the business waiver program , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Industry , ” Mastriano said , referencing the state ’ s botched response to soaring unemployment claims during the economic shut down .
“ We are all in this together , but the administration has refused to cooperate.
” Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman , R-Centre , backed calls for reopening in Mifflin and Juniata counties and accused Wolf of “ ignoring the data ” to play politics instead .
Total cases in each county total 52 and 93 , respectively , with one death recorded in Juniata County as of Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our region absolutely should be progressing toward reopening , ” Corman said .
“ People in this area want to get back to work and are capable of getting back to their lives safely .
They need to be on the path toward yellow and ultimately green for a full reopening.
” “ This is absurd , ” Rep. Kerry Benninghoff , R-Centre , said .
“ Since the beginning , this governor has said ‘ data ’ and ‘ science ’ would direct his decision making .
What happened ?
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed .
None.
” Wolf lifted some pandemic restrictions in 24 northern and western counties on Friday .
He said a slow , coordinated reopening provides public health officials the best chance to track new infections and prevent future outbreaks from reaching crisis levels .
Christen Smith is a staff reporter at The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Cherry Health, CBS News Slammed for Adding Staffers to Coronavirus Testing Line

A Michigan health system and CBS News have come under fire after Project Veritas revealed that a line for a COVID-19 testing site was staged for television cameras .
Cherry Health and CBS News denied directing staffers to form a line to appear as patients for a coronavirus testing site before later reversing their statement and saying that the staffers were in line to “ provide a visual backdrop.
” “ After conducting an internal investigation , we learned that a few staff were encouraged to pull their cars up in the testing line to provide a visual backdrop showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Cherry Health CEO Tasha Blackmon ( pictured above ) in a statement , according to a Fox News affiliate .
“ This was done with the intention of protecting patient privacy since many of the patients scheduled for a COVID-19 test on that day declined to be filmed for HIPAA reasons.
” The health system continues to give contradictory statements .
Cherry Health ’ s board president Scott Afree said the board has not determined if staging was involved , but said the board was investigating .
“ We haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do anything , but…if that turns out to be the case it will have been an honest mistake because Cherry Health is not in the business of making political statement about COVID-19 or any other political matter , ” Alfree told Wood-TV , an NBC affiliate .
Michigan Rep. Steve Johnson ( R-71-Allegan County ) sent a letter to Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer expressing concern about the footage “ potentially being utilized for propaganda.
” “ Cherry Health is a taxpayer-funded entity and , as such , should receive proper oversight .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially being utilized for propaganda , not only lacks integrity but is also dishonest and disrespectful to our taxpayers , ” he wrote in the letter .
“ Taxpayers deserve to know that their dollars are being spent properly and in a principled manner.
” Johnson , a member of the Oversight Committee , said that President Trump talked about the incident during a press conference , adding that he is growing increasingly concerned about the negative press Michigan is receiving .
“ As elected officials , the importance of transparency in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Johnson wrote .
“ It is our responsibility to ensure Michigan residents and Americans alike know the whole truth about what really happened between CBS News and Cherry Health.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ] Photo “ Cherry Health CEO Tasha Blackmon ” by Cherry Health .
Editors note : Neil McCabe , The Tennessee Star and Star News Network National Correspondent , also serves as a contract communications manager for Project @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Whitmer Extends Driver’s License, Vehicle Registration Expiration for Second Time

Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer temporarily extended the expiration of various identification and vehicle-related documentation during the pandemic for the second time , the governor announced late last week .
The order extends the expiration of state identification cards , driver ’ s licenses , operator endorsements and vehicle registration to July 31 .
The documentation must be originally set to expire between February 1 and July 30 to fall under the extension .
“ Nobody should have to stress about renewing their drivers license or state ID card , or worry about their auto insurance coverage during a global pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ By extending this executive order , we ’ re lifting that burden off Michiganders ’ shoulders so they can focus on staying home and staying safe.
” The order protects Michigan residents from penalties for driving on expired licenses or permits , Whitmer ’ s office said .
The protections do not extend to drivers with suspended or revoked licenses or those whose diagnoses have changed or expanded since their last medical certificate was issued .
The order also requires that drivers complete driver ’ s license or vehicle registration renewals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability.
” Friday ’ s order is a continuation of a previous order in mid-April that also extended the expiration of licenses and registrations .
That order was originally set to end on June 30 .
The Michigan Secretary of State temporarily laid off 900 workers and recently extended their lay-off for another week .
Most of the workers who have been laid off work in branch offices , which are currently closed .
“ This was an extremely difficult decision to make , ” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the families impacted by these layoffs against the fiscal realities our state and department are now facing is not a responsibility I take lightly .
We will continue working on a plan to reopen branches and get our employees back to work as soon as we are safely able.
” Many services are now being done online or at self-serve kiosks .
Find a list of services able to be completed digitally here .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Jason Lewis Running for ‘Forgotten Man and Woman,’ Calls Opponent ‘Poster Child’ of the Elite

Republican Jason Lewis , a former conservative radio host turned congressman , said his campaign for the U.S. Senate will be about the “ forgotten man and woman in Minnesota.
” His opponent , Sen. Tina Smith ( D-MN ) , on the other hand , has become “ the poster child for how the DFL has left behind the working man and woman of Minnesota.
” “ This is not Hubert Humphrey ’ s party anymore .
This is the party of Jacob Frey , Ilhan Omar , and Tina Smith .
And that is a total , radical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the DFL .
She sort of represents the elite one percent of Democrat orthodoxy , ” Lewis told The Minnesota Sun in a recent interview .
According to Lewis , Smith can “ spit all over ” Minnesota ’ s working class so long as she says “ the right things on a couple of hot button issues.
” “ And that ’ s where the Democratic Party is , which is why they ’ re losing , losing the forgotten man and woman of Greater Minnesota in droves , ” Lewis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked as an executive for the abortion giant Planned Parenthood while her husband , Archie , was a venture capitalist .
According to financial disclosure forms from 2018 , the two have a net worth of at least $ 5 million and up to as much as $ 12 million .
Her husband is now an independent investor in medical-device companies who had up to $ 1 million invested in a Bermuda hedge fund in 2018 .
A report from the Campaign Legal Center indicates that the Smiths made two stock transactions valued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometime between February 2 and April 8 of this year – right around the time the coronavirus was reaching the country ’ s shores .
“ You ’ ve got Tina Smith running around pretending to be this do-gooder when the first thing she did is sell all her stock in March , ” said Lewis .
“ We don ’ t know , and I don ’ t know , but what kind of information did she have , when did she have it , and what did she know ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resonate with enough voters in Greater Minnesota and the suburbs to carry him to electoral victory .
“ For those who think you can ’ t win a state without winning all of the Metro , they need to look at the numbers , ” he said , noting that President Donald Trump nearly won the state in 2016 despite underperforming in the Metro area .
“ It ’ s a dirty , little secret that nobody wants to talk about but there are as many votes to be had in Greater Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you just focus on them .
I still have to hold my own in the suburbs , but I think I can do that .
This is going to be a campaign about that forgotten man and woman in Minnesota.
” Lewis doesn ’ t buy into the common narrative that a pro-Trump Republican can ’ t win a statewide race in Minnesota .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s an ignorance of history .
I think it ’ s a deliberate avoidance of it because it ’ s so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sun .
Mitt Romney and John McCain both lost Minnesota to former President Barack Obama by more than 200,000 votes , he pointed out .
“ In comes Donald Trump , anathema to the establishment , Republican and Democrat , has no money invested in this state , no endorsements , and no people on the ground and he loses by 44,000 votes .
That is called tapping into something .
And for the Democrats to whistle past that graveyard – I just hope they keep doing it , ” said Lewis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has exposed the “ Achilles heel of the left , ” which is that it is willing to “ seek power by any means.
” “ And Tina ’ s all in on that .
Holding up the relief until they federalize elections or until she gets a bailout for the state .
Refusing to support Tara Reade just for the sake of Joe Biden .
All of these sorts of things are just revealing themselves in real time to people who were already starting to grow wary .
So it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis continued .
Statewide polling purports to show a significant disparity in the approval ratings of Gov .
Tim Walz and President Trump – to the detriment of the latter .
Lewis , however , said he doesn ’ t “ believe the numbers for a New-York minute.
” “ These are the polls that would have Hillary Clinton in the White House .
These are the polls that had me down by five points in 2016 when I won , and had me down by 13 in 2018 when , albeit I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standing in the Metro , ” he said , suggesting that modern polling is used “ to influence people , not to reflect people.
” “ I ’ m just very , very suspicious of these .
I can tell you from our travels , we ’ ve been on the road for 10 days and all over the state , not only the Metro , but also in Brainerd , also in Little Falls , in Cloquet , in Duluth , in Rochester , in Good Thunder , in Mankato , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the ground are fit to be tied .
Period.
” This is the first part of a three part interview with former Congressman Jason Lewis .
Check back for parts two and three .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-05-12--Commentary: Power-Hungry Democrats Are Using COVID-19 as an Excuse to Pursue Radical Policies

Give them credit .
At least the Democrats admit they view the deadly coronavirus pandemic as just another opportunity to advance their ideological game plan for America .
That doesn ’ t make it any less nauseating , though .
During a recent “ town hall ” event for presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden , twice-failed presidential candidate , Hillary Clinton , urged her fellow Democrats to exploit the panic and fear caused by COVID-19 to pursue far-left policy goals that would never stand a chance of being enacted in normal times .
“ This is a high-stakes time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she explained , presenting the crisis as an opening to establish the government-controlled “ universal health care ” system that she has sought since 1993 .
“ [ T ] his would be a terrible crisis to waste , as the old saying goes , ” Clinton added .
The former Secretary of State isn ’ t the only Democrat who sees the coronavirus pandemic as a political convenience .
President Obama ’ s former National Security Adviser , Susan Rice , also believes that the Democratic Party should take advantage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extraordinary measures in the name of public health , calling on liberals to start pushing for remote voting in the upcoming elections .
“ This is a moment not only of crisis but inherent in that crisis is opportunity , ” Rice said while advocating for national legislation that would make it easier to vote from home — an inherently risky process that is vulnerable to numerous forms of corruption and fraud , and even jeopardizes the sacrosanct principle of the secret ballot .
Sadly , Michigan ’ s own Governor Gretchen Whitmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her Party ’ s elders , using COVID-19 as an excuse to propose a massive new entitlement program that would provide “ free ” college to workers who were deemed essential by the state during the pandemic crisis .
What does this legislation have to do with keeping Michiganders safe and secure today ?
Absolutely nothing .
Even though the policy is being presented as COVID-19 assistance , putting taxpayers on the hook for the future college tuition of essential workers won ’ t do anything to curb the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s also unclear where Whitmer plans to get the money to pay for her capricious “ thank you ” gesture , since she ’ s still fighting to extend the draconian lockdowns that have put most of the state ’ s economy on ice and forced more than one million Michiganders to seek unemployment benefits .
We all believe in stopping the spread of the virus , but most parts of our vast state have little incidence of the outbreak .
Between the economic devastation her policies have wrought and the enormous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats in Michigan would probably have to seek a bailout from Washington and raise taxes dramatically in order to pay for Whitmer ’ s scheme .
Fortunately , President Trump has presented a clear contrast to the Democrats throughout the coronavirus pandemic , putting political squabbles aside in order to focus on unifying the country , saving American lives , and supporting the U.S. economy .
On numerous occasions , White House negotiators have had to salvage emergency relief legislation after Democrats delayed them over demands for unrelated ideological priorities such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governors have chosen to work with the President rather than against him , and they ’ re experiencing incredible results .
“ In our hour of need , whether it was ventilators , the Army Corps building out capacity , FEMA with our testing sites , and a big part of our ability to reopen as fast as we all want to is to rapidly expand testing and you all literally , in the here and now this week , are helping us in a big way , ” New Jersey Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting in the Oval Office .
It ’ s too bad some governors have chosen to take a different , more partisan path .
Democrats are going to regret being so candid about their desire to exploit the nation ’ s suffering for their own political gain .
The only question is whether Americans will be able to stomach their partisan antics until November .
Meshawn Maddock was a Michigan delegate for Donald Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention .
She is also the Co-founder of Michigan Trump Republicans and the wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @