thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Citizens Groups Hold Rallies in Franklin, Knoxville to Declare ‘We Will Not Comply’ With Mask Mandat

Citizens Groups Hold Rallies in Franklin, Knoxville to Declare ‘We Will Not Comply’ With Mask Mandates

Tennessee Stands held a “ Mask Free Tennessee Rally ” Saturday on the Public Square in Franklin .
A similar rally was held Sunday in Knoxville by No Mandates Tennessee .
Tennessee Stands organizers on Saturday evening posted on their Facebook page , “ So thankful to all of the patriots that showed up today for the Mask Free Tennessee Rally today in Franklin !
Our voices are louder together .
We will not give in to the mob .
We will not relinquish our liberty .
We .
Will .
Not .
Comply.
” On Friday , leading up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Facebook , “ We have had enough of unlawful and unconstitutional orders .
Williamson County is now under a mask mandate through the end of the year thanks to Governor Bill Lee and Mayor Rogers Anderson .
We .
Will .
Not .
Comply.
” The group ’ s website says , “ Tennessee Stands is a nonprofit social advocacy organization that serves to protect the individual liberties of all Tennesseans as stated in the Tennessee State Constitution and given to us by God.
” Citizens for Limited Government and Constitutional Integrity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed a lawsuit in August against Lee , The Tennessee Star reported at the time .
The suit was based on the grounds that the state statute deeming the governor ’ s executive orders have the full force and effect of law is unconstitutional .
Gary Humble , who founded Tennessee Stands , also founded Recall Williamson , which in September sued the Williamson County School System over its mask mandate , The Star reported .
The other event held over the weekend , the “ Knoxville Freedom Rally , ” billed itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voices together in protest against mask mandates , social distancing , unelected boards controlling the actions of Tennesseans , and the possibility that any Tennessee state legislators will write , sponsor , or vote for any proposed mandatory COVID vaccine bills.
” Speakers in Knoxville were Gary Humble ; Dr. Theron Hutton , a family physician ; and attorney Andy Fox .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photos “ Mask Free Tennessee Rally ” by Tennessee Stands .

by Joe Mueller
Attorneys general from 26 states are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower-court decision upholding a California law banning the raising or importing pork, veal or eggs if the animals are confined.
The Supreme Court announced on March 28 that it would hear the pork industry’s challenge to California’s Proposition 12, a law restricting confinement practices in animal agriculture. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on Oct. 11.
Prop. 12 was approved by 63% of California voters in 2018. The law established minimum space requirements based on square feet for calves raised for veal, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens. It banned the sale of products from those animals if they were “confined in a cruel manner,” defined as in areas below minimum square-feet requirements.
The case, National Pork Producers Council v. Karen Ross, the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, focuses on the regulation of animal products outside of California by prohibiting the in-state sale of products traceable to the animal being confined in a “cruel manner.” The Pork Producers and others argue the law violates the Interstate Commerce Clause and general constitutional restrictions against “extraterritorial regulation.”
The brief filed by the attorneys general states California consumes 13% of the nation’s pork and imports 99.87% of pork consumed. The attorneys general argue the “entire impact of Proposition 12 will be visited on out-of-state producers that, though they have no vote in California, must remodel their farms (or reduce their herds) to comply with the law.”
“Under no circumstances should the state of California be allowed to dictate to Missouri farmers and ranchers how they can raise and confine breeding pigs, egg-laying hens, and veal calves,” Missouri Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt said in a statement. “Further, California is attempting to impose their will on Missouri farmers and ranchers by threatening to deny entry into the California market if those farmers and ranchers don’t comply with their pointless regulations. Missouri’s farmers and ranchers have been tending to their land and livestock for generations, they don’t need Californian politicians telling them how to do their jobs.”
Of the 19 briefs filed with the Supreme Court on the case last week, all urged the court to reverse the lower court’s decision, with the exception of two neutral parties providing economic information.
A brief filed to persuade the Supreme Court not to hear the case was filed last year by The Humane Society of the United States, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Equality, The Humane League, Farm Sanctuary, Compassion in World Farming USA, and Animal Outlook. They stated the Pork Producers’ argument uses a “dormant Commerce Clause” to stop in-state sales of certain pork products from “animals confined in cruel and unsanitary conditions that threaten the health of California consumers. … Because that prohibition applies only to sales inside California, moreover, producers outside California are free to confine animals however they choose for products sold outside the state.”
States represented by the attorneys general are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
– – –
Joe Mueller covers Missouri for The Center Square. After seven years of reporting for daily newspapers in Illinois and Missouri, he spent the next 30 years in public relations serving non-profit organizations and as a strategic communications consultant.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Commentary: It’s Decision Time for the Costco Mom

Earlier this year , a strange spectacle kept recurring at one of the country ’ s most popular big box stores .
Costco shoppers across the land wrestled each other for industrial-sized packages of toilet paper ; as panic set in about the looming coronavirus pandemic , well-heeled suburbanites quickly depleted the retailers ’ nationwide supply of Charmin and Quilted Northern .
Even the store ’ s discount Kirkland brand sold out fast .
It ’ s unclear exactly why toilet paper topped the list of the COVID-19 survival kit but the scenes were instructive as far as observing upscale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The toilet paper rush of 2020 probably started with a few comments at the monthly Bunco game or the ladies ’ league liquid lunch or at a bespoke med spa house party .
Soon enough , premium membership card in hand , suburban women cruised their Range Rovers to the nearest Costco ready to fight for their right to a 30-roll pack like it was the last size 4 Veronica Beard camo blazer at Nordstrom .
Photos of TP booty were proudly posted on Facebook ; the booties of Jacob and Olivia would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And thus we had a peek into the workings of the hivemind of modern-day suburban moms .
In 2018 , the sorority of suburban sisterhood found a common enemy : Donald Trump .
Suburban congressional districts from Washington , D.C. and Chicago to Orange County , California flipped from Republican to Democrat , giving Nancy Pelosi enough new members to take back her coveted speaker ’ s gavel .
Like nearly all midterm elections , the outcome was a rebuke of the sitting president .
Millions of white suburban women , amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace , cried “ but his tweets !
” all the way to their polling places .
High on fumes from their daily doses of “ The View ” and desperate to mimic the groupthink that easily penetrates their consciousness—a cul de sac consensus they nevertheless describe as “ independent thinking ” —suburban women succeeded in sending a message to the Bad Orange Man while inflicting the likes of Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) and Ilhan Omar ( D-Minn. ) on the body politic .
In a way , the country owes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because she helped to fully expose the depravity of the Left .
Had Democrats not won Congress and the governorships of several states , Americans still would be blissfully ignorant about the insidious agenda of the radicalized Democratic Party beholden , as it is , to its most anti-American , anti-capitalist , anti-freedom element .
Major American cities remain occupied by America-hating thugs as Democratic governors and mayors pledge solidarity .
The founding fathers are on posthumous trial for “ systemic racism ” as statues are removed , schools are renamed , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history slowly is erased .
The police must be defunded ; Black Lives Matter more than anyone else ’ s ; looting is reparations .
Bend the knee or else .
Petty tyrants shutter businesses and schools on a whim as college campuses resemble surveillance states .
Yet even in this dangerously divisive climate , suburban women appear poised once again to give Democrats an edge in the election .
According to one recent analysis , 54 percent of white suburban women back Joe Biden versus the 45 percent who are for President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that might make the difference in battleground states from Pennsylvania to Georgia .
But it ’ s utterly baffling why any suburban woman , especially a mother , would vote to put Democrats in power .
Like him or not , Donald Trump is the only thing standing between the typical suburban lifestyle and the Democratic Party intent on destroying it .
Privileged white families safely ensconced in the suburbs represent everything the Democratic Party detests .
And if Democrats capture the White House and the Senate while keeping control of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waste no time turning on the very voters who helped put them in power .
Under a Biden-Harris Administration , federal bureaucrats could seize control of local zoning decisions .
Central planners—longtime foes of what they view as the banal existence of suburban bourgeois—would seek to recreate the densely-populated dysfunction of the cities that so many suburbanites fled .
Mandates to adjust housing , income , employment , and educational disparities could drastically reconfigure American suburbs ; federal decrees would supersede local efforts .
Suburban residents and leaders would be rendered powerless .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundamentally and irrevocably destroy the modern economy ; even a “ lite ” version of the proposal will impose astronomical taxes on electricity , gas , food , travel , and yes , toilet paper .
Biden scoffed when the president mentioned the Green New Deal ’ s $ 100 trillion price tag , but even that might be optimistic .
And Biden ’ s slip-of-the-tongue about transitioning away from the oil industry wasn ’ t a senior moment , it is the stated goal of every climate activist who will dominate not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
Climate lockdowns will replace coronavirus lockdowns with far worse consequences .
Critical race theory will be mandated in public schools , and the long-desired reparations paid by white Americans to black Americans won ’ t settle racial grievances , only deepen them .
The borders will be open and illegal immigrants will be entitled to all the benefits of citizenship including voting rights , diminishing the voice of legal citizens .
The Supreme Court will expand , the Electoral College will be eliminated , and Washington , D.C. will earn statehood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including children , who step out of line .
Business owners will be forced to prove their “ woke ” cred lest they face the social media mob .
Conservative views will be censored by Big Tech .
Every young white man will live in fear of being “ Kavanaughed.
” The long march to socialism will get a big jump .
The president is asking – begging ?
– for suburban women to back him like they did in 2016 .
“ Suburban women are flocking over to us , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realize that I am saving the Suburbs – the American Dream !
I terminated the Regulation that would bring projects and crime to Suburbia .
Not on my watch !
Biden will bring the Regulation back , but bigger and worse.
” Let ’ s hope the president is right .
So to my fellow suburban moms : This is legit .
Voting for Donald Trump might not be as fashionable as the “ Hate Has No Home Here ” decal in your front picture window .
But voting for Joe Biden is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and your country ’ s – best interests .
If you get this wrong , those toilet paper scrums at Costco might become a routine occurrence .
And if you vote for Trump… I promise I won ’ t tell .
Julie Kelly is a political commentator and senior contributor to American Greatness .
She is the author of Disloyal Opposition : How the NeverTrump Right Tried―And Failed―To Take Down the President Her past work can be found at The Federalist and National Review .
Photo “ Women for Trump ” by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Black Tennessee Business Owner Says Donald Trump is the Better Candidate for His Bottom Line

Madison , Tennessee resident and businessman Robert Sherrill , currently seeking a federal pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump for past federal drug offenses , appeared on FOX News twice last week .
Sherrill first appeared with a panel of other Nashville business owners where they shared their thoughts on the presidential election .
Sherrill said at the time — before Thursday ’ s presidential debate in Nashville — that he had not yet decided on whether to support Trump , the incumbent , or Trump ’ s challenger , former Vice President Joe Biden .
But Sherrill said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was leaning more toward Trump .
Biden , as president , would raise taxes , Sherrill said .
Sherrill said higher taxes could cripple his business , especially after the COVID-19 pandemic .
But after Thursday ’ s debate , Sherrill said he had decided on a candidate .
“ Last night ’ s debate for sure solidified my support for Trump .
He was strong .
He was straightforward , ” Sherrill said during a second appearance on FOX News .
“ He gave me confidence as an African-American in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head.
” FOX News then asked Sherrill what he thought about paying his employees a higher minimum wage , a topic Trump and Biden debated Thursday .
Sherrill said he had 22 employees before COVID-19 hurt his business .
“ When the pandemic hit I had to get rid of a lot of people , admin staff , front line staff .
In this climate of Nashville , $ 15 an hour is an astronomical amount of money for a small business owner to be paying .
Of course , you will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Sherrill , who is African-American .
“ You may have your supervisor making $ 15 .
You may have someone under him making $ 13 or $ 12 .
But to be able to pay everyone $ 15 an hour , that wouldn ’ t be sustainable for me and my company.
” As The Tennessee Star reported last month , more black voters are volunteering for and involving themselves with Republican Party causes .
As reported last year , former Nashville mayoral candidate Carol Swain , also black , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voices for Trump to attract African-American voters .
At age 30 , Sherrill had served his time for a drug-related felony and was out of prison .
In 2015 Sherrill started his own company , Imperial Cleaning Systems , which he said reaches nearly $ 1 million in revenue with more than 20 employees .
He published an autobiography , The Journey Back to Now .
Sherrill then started Impact Youth Outreach , a nonprofit to help inner city at-risk youth .
Former Tennessee Gov .
Bill Haslam pardoned Sherrill so that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then started The Dream Initiative , a nonprofit that helps former prisoners reenter society .
As The Star reported last month , Sherrill ’ s past felony conviction restricts him from contributing all that he wants to contribute .
A pardon from Trump could , if granted , enable Sherrill to accomplish grander things , Sherrill said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Robert Sherrill ” by Robert Sherrill Facebook .
Background Photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson Resuming U.S. Tests of COVID-19 Vaccines

Two drugmakers announced Friday the resumption of U.S. testing of their COVID-19 vaccine candidates .
Testing of AstraZeneca ’ s vaccine candidate had been halted since early September , while Johnson & Johnson ’ s vaccine study was paused at the beginning of last week .
Each company had a study volunteer develop a serious health issue , requiring a review of safety data .
The two coronavirus vaccines are among several candidates in final-stage testing , the last step before seeking regulatory approval .
The drugmakers said they got the go-ahead Friday from the Food and Drug Administration to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary halts of drug and vaccine testing are relatively common : In research involving thousands of participants , some are likely to fall ill. Pausing a study allows researchers to investigate whether an illness is a side effect or a coincidence .
Testing of the AstraZeneca vaccine , developed with Oxford University , has already resumed in the United Kingdom , Brazil , South Africa and Japan .
“ The restart of clinical trials across the world is great news as it allows us to continue our efforts to develop this vaccine to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pascal Soriot , AstraZeneca ’ s CEO , said in a statement .
AstraZeneca ’ s study involves 30,000 people in the U.S. , with some getting the vaccine and others a dummy shot .
Testing was stopped after one British participant developed severe neurological symptoms consistent with a rare inflammation of the spinal cord called transverse myelitis .
AstraZeneca testing had also been paused earlier in the summer .
Johnson & Johnson said it ’ s preparing to resume recruitment soon for its U.S. vaccine study .
In a statement , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the volunteer ’ s illness but said a thorough evaluation “ found no evidence that the vaccine candidate caused the event.
” The company added that it ’ s in talks with other regulators around the world to resume testing in their countries .
Linda A. Johnson is a reporter for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : This September 2020 photo provided by Johnson & Johnson shows vials for a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the company .
On Friday , Oct. 23 , 2020 , Johnson & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administration is letting it resume testing of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the U.S. ( Cheryl Gerber/Johnson & Johnson via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Report: Some Public Schools Obstructing Parents’ Efforts to Withdraw Children for Home-Schooling

Some public schools are telling parents they can ’ t withdraw their children to home-school or aren ’ t following the TEA guidelines for withdrawal , according to a new report published by the Texas Home School Coalition Association ( THSC ) .
The largest statewide advocacy organization for home educators in the state sent a written notice to 9,500 school administrations in August , clarifying the Texas Education Agency policy for student withdrawal .
Still , schools are obstructing parents from doing so , according to numerous complaints the THSC has received .
“ Some schools required new homeschool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the TEA or even told families that they could not withdraw at all from public school due to COVID-19 , ” the THSC says in the report .
“ Schools can not legally keep students from withdrawing , force families to withdraw in person rather than by letter or email , or require that unnecessary forms be signed by families who have already properly withdrawn.
” The coalition has more than 82,000 families on its mailing list and regularly works with state and federal agencies on issues related to home education .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ families initially withdrew their children from the Texas public school system , seeking help from THSC , after the state released guidelines for in-person instruction and virtual learning for the 2020-2021 public school year .
Withdrawals have continued for months .
Initially , “ within 24 hours after the guidelines were released , THSC ’ s call and email volume had doubled from parents asking how they could homeschool , ” THSC said .
In July alone , 15 times the number of public school families withdrew from public school through THSC ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did so in July 2019 .
Since then , in Central Texas , at least 5,000 students have been withdrawn from the Austin Independent School District public school system .
In Austin ’ s outlying suburban districts of Pflugerville and Round Rock , roughly 1,300 and 2,400 students , respectively , were withdrawn from their public school systems .
Official TEA total statewide withdrawal numbers for 2020 are not yet available .
For the 2018–2019 school year , the TEA reported that 22,967 students were withdrawn from public schools to be home-schooled .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 350,000 estimated home-schoolers , and 317 local home-school groups in the state .
Home-schooling has been a legal alternative to public school education in Texas since 1994 .
A recent Ipsos poll found that more than half of the respondents who are parents with a school-aged child said they were very likey or somewhat likely to switch to at-home learning .
Bethany Blankley is a reporter for The Center Square .
Photo “ Home School ” by Larry Koester CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Commentary: Why Democrats Still Love to Spy on Americans

The very last op-ed progressive journalist Michael Hastings wrote for BuzzFeed was titled , “ Why Democrats Love To Spy On Americans.
” Ten days later , on June 17 , 2013 , Hastings emailed his BuzzFeed associates warning them , “ The Feds are interviewing my ‘ close friends and associates.
’ ” He added that he was “ onto a big story ” and had to go “ off the rada [ r ] for a bit … hope to see you all soon.
” Hastings did not get to see those associates soon or otherwise .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his leased Mercedes crashed into a palm tree at high speeds in a residential Los Angeles neighborhood .
The car burst into flames upon impact , and Hastings ’ s body was burned beyond recognition .
Two months later , Hastings ’ s widow , Elise Jordan , gave her first national interview .
“ My gut is that it was really a tragic accident , ” Jordan said of the crash , before adding a more bankable quote : “ There will be published his profile of John Brennan in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a couple weeks.
” Jordan did not know enough about President Obama ’ s newly appointed CIA director to be concerned .
For the four previous years , Brennan had served quietly as Obama ’ s deputy national security advisor and generally kept his name out of the news .
Jordan ’ s comments about Brennan made no waves .
They should have .
Although not yet made public , Michael Hastings was well aware of a 2010 email hacked from the chief security officer of Stratfor , a global intelligence company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was fed to WikiLeaks , reads as follows : “ Brennan is behind the witch hunts of investigative journalists learning information from inside the beltway sources .
Note — There is specific tasker from the WH to go after anyone printing materials negative to the Obama agenda ( oh my . )
Even the FBI is shocked .
The Wonder Boys must be in meltdown mode… ” Those who knew Brennan had to believe the email was accurate .
From the beginning , he served as Obama ’ s fixer .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brennan ’ s central role in the plot to subvert first Trump ’ s candidacy and then his presidency , but even before Obama was elected president , Brennan had shown his potential for high-level mischief .
Beginning in January 2008 , for instance , a still unnamed individual breached Obama ’ s passport file four times .
To its credit , CNN reported a detail the New York Times did not find newsworthy , namely that the suspect worked for the Analysis Corporation , whose CEO “ advises the Illinois Democrat on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO was John Brennan .
With a president to elect , the media let the Brennan angle die .
Michael Hastings was a media outlier .
Although he moved in progressive circles , his one true cause was a free press .
Hastings represented a shrinking pool of journalists from within that circle willing to pursue the truth even if it thwarted the Democratic agenda .
A month before his death , Hastings appeared on the left-wing Current TV program , The Young Turks .
“ The Obama administration has clearly declared war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared war on investigative journalists , our sources , ” said Hastings .
“ I think the only recourse to this kind of behavior by the government is to say back to the government , ‘ We declare war on you.
’ ” Hastings was responding to the news that Obama ’ s Justice Department had quietly seized all of the relevant records for twenty Associated Press telephone lines .
The seizure had to do with AP reporting on a covert CIA operation in Yemen .
Although only five reporters were involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters used the lines and switchboards whose records were seized .
AP President Gary Pruitt publicly scolded Attorney General Eric Holder , arguing that the government had “ no conceivable right to know ” the content of those records .
On Face the Nation , Pruitt boldly assessed White House strategy , “ I know what the message being sent is : If you talk to the press , we ’ re going after you.
” In his June 7 op-ed , Hastings referenced another looming scandal , “ Glenn Greenwald ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ domestic spy program.
” Hastings cited several other journalists , including James Rosen of Fox News , who had been “ viciously attacked by the Obama administration and its allies in the FBI and DOJ.
” He may not have known about the cyber-harassment of CBS News ’ s Sharyl Attkisson .
In her book , Stonewalled , Attkisson refers to the Stratfor email about Brennan in the way of suggesting her possible tormentor .
As to whether Brennan had Hastings killed , one essential variable overrides all the many circumstantial ones : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother , Jonathan .
In an extended interview , Jonathan related how he had flown out to Los Angeles to help ease his brother through a manic episode , not Michael ’ s first .
“ I started to make arrangements with our other brother to fly out and help me possibly force Mike into checking himself into a hospital or detox center , ” said Jonathan .
Jonathan never got the chance .
“ He snuck out on me when I was sleeping .
He crashed his car before anyone could do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly unlikely Brennan or his allies had sabotaged the car .
What seems probable , however , is that the Deep State response to Hastings ’ s investigation aggravated his paranoia .
Unlike the brother and parents of Seth Rich , the DNC data analyst murdered in 2016 , Jonathan and his family did not turn on those who speculated about Michael ’ s death .
Instead , Jonathan suggested a more constructive course of action .
“ By casting Mike ’ s death as a kind of Robert Ludlum-style conspiracy , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on how the government actually silences and suppresses reporters : through the threat of legal action.
” Four years after the death of Hastings , possibly at the instigation of larger forces , the Rich family would take legal action to prevent Fox News and others from investigating the death of their son Seth .
Michael Hastings would have been appalled .
Two years almost to the day after Hastings ’ s death , Donald Trump announced for the presidency .
Soon thereafter John Brennan launched his secret war to undermine Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the media , including the hosts of The Young Turks , cheered him on .
More perversely still , after he lost his gig at the CIA , NBC , and MSNBC hired Brennan as a senior national security and intelligence analyst .
Among the few progressive journalists to see through the madness was renegade Rolling Stone reporter Matt Taibbi .
In his book , Hate Inc. , Taibbi says out loud what should have been obvious to everyone on his side of the barricades : “ Being on any team is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press being on team FBI/CIA is an atrocity , Trump or no Trump.
” As the Biden laptop scandal has shown , the media and the FBI still play on the same team .
The profile of John Brennan , the one Elise Jordan believed was to be published “ in a couple weeks , ” never did see the light of day .
Serious progressive journalism appears to have died when Hastings did .
He had warned that “ the Obama administration ’ s version of the national security state will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he could not have suspected that his progressive colleagues would happily enable the feast .
Hastings never did tell his readers why Democrats love to spy on Americans , but he surely sensed what the answer was : unlike Republicans , Democrats know they can get away with it .
So why not ?
An independent writer and producer , Jack Cashill has written a dozen books under his own name and collaborated on a dozen more .
He has a Ph.D. from Purdue University in American studies .
Jack Cashill ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fight to Tell the True Story of a Failed Presidency , is now widely available .
See www.cashill.com for more information .
Photo “ John Brennan ” by Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Crews Vacuum ‘Murder Hornets’ Out of Washington Nest

BLAINE , Washington ( AP ) — Heavily protected crews in Washington state worked Saturday to destroy the first nest of so-called murder hornets discovered in the United States .
The state Agriculture Department had spent weeks searching , trapping and using dental floss to tie tracking devices to Asian giant hornets , which can deliver painful stings to people and spit venom but are the biggest threat to honeybees that farmers depend on to pollinate crops .
The nest found in the city of Blaine near the Canadian border is about the size of a basketball and contained an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to scientists who announced the find Friday .
Crews wearing thick protective suits vacuumed the invasive insects from the cavity of a tree into large canisters Saturday .
The suits prevent the hornets ’ 6-millimeter-long stingers from hurting workers , who also wore face shields because the trapped hornets can spit a painful venom into their eyes .
The tree will be cut down to extract newborn hornets and learn if any queens have left the hive already , scientists said .
Officials suspect more nests may be in the area and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned Monday on the status of the nest .
Despite their nickname and the hype that has stirred fears in an already bleak year , the world ’ s largest hornets kill at most a few dozen people a year in Asian countries , and experts say it is probably far less .
Meanwhile , hornets , wasps and bees typically found in the United States kill an average of 62 people a year , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said .
The real threat from Asian giant hornets — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) long — is their devastating attacks on honeybees , which are already under siege from problems like mites , diseases , pesticides and loss of food .
The invasive insect is normally found in China , Japan , Thailand , South Korea , Vietnam and other Asian countries .
Washington state and the Canadian province of British Columbia are the only places the hornets have been found on the continent .
The nest was found after the state Agriculture Department trapped some hornets this week and used dental floss to attach radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Headline Photo : Sven Spichiger , Washington State Department of Agriculture managing entomologist , displays a canister of Asian giant hornets vacuumed from a nest in a tree behind him Saturday , Oct. 24 , 2020 , in Blaine , Wash. Scientists in Washington state discovered the first nest earlier in the week of so-called murder hornets in the United States and worked to wipe it out Saturday morning to protect native honeybees .
Workers with the state Agriculture Department spent weeks searching , trapping and using dental floss to tie tracking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can deliver painful stings to people and spit venom but are the biggest threat to honeybees that farmers depend on to pollinate crops .
( AP Photo/Elaine Thompson )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Senate Votes to Advance Barrett; Confirmation Expected Monday

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — Senate Republicans voted overwhelmingly Sunday to advance Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett toward final confirmation despite Democratic objections , just over a week before the presidential election .
Barrett ’ s confirmation on Monday was hardly in doubt , with majority Republicans mostly united in support behind President Donald Trump ’ s pick .
But Democrats were poised to keep the Senate in session into the night in attempts to stall , arguing that the Nov. 3 election winner should choose the nominee to fill the vacancy left by the late Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the chance to install a third Trump justice on the court , locking in a conservative majority for years to come .
Barrett ’ s ascent opens up a potential new era of rulings on abortion , gay marriage and the Affordable Care Act .
A case against the Obama-era health law scheduled to be heard Nov. 10 .
“ The Senate is doing the right thing , ” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , vowing to install Barrett to the court by Monday .
The 51-48 vote launched 30 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine , voted against advancing the nominee , and all Democrats who voted were opposed .
California Sen. Kamala Harris , the vice presidential nominee , missed the vote while campaigning in Michigan .
Vice President Mike Pence would typically preside over the coming votes , but after a close aide tested positive for the COVID-19 , it was unclear whether he will fulfill his role for the landmark vote .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the Trump administration ’ s drive to install @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican Party is willing to ignore the pandemic in order to rush this nominee forward.
” The conservative judge picked up the crucial backing Saturday from Murkowski , one of the last GOP holdouts against filling the seat in the midst of a White House election and with more than 50 million people already having voted .
Murkowski said she disliked the rush toward confirmation , but supported Trump ’ s choice of Barrett for the high court .
She said would vote against the procedural steps , but ultimately join GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I oppose the process that has led us to this point , I do not hold it against her , ” Murkowski said .
Now the only Republican expected to vote against Barrett is Collins , who faces a tight reelection in Maine .
She has said she won ’ t vote for the nominee so close to the election .
McConnell , R-Ky. , noted the political rancor , but defended his handling of the process .
He scoffed at the Democrats ’ “ horror stories ” about the judge ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presented herself in public testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee as a neutral arbiter and at one point suggested , “ It ’ s not the law of Amy.
” But Barrett ’ s past writings against abortion and a ruling on “ Obamacare ” show a deeply conservative thinker .
“ She ’ s a conservative woman who embraces her faith , she ’ s unabashedly pro-life but she ’ s not going to apply ‘ the law of Amy ’ to all of us , ” said the committee chairman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late Saturday on Fox .
At the start of Trump ’ s presidency , McConnell engineered a Senate rules change to allow confirmation by a majority of the 100 senators , rather than the 60-vote threshold traditionally needed to advance high court nominees over objections .
With a 53-47 GOP majority , Barrett ’ s confirmation is almost certain .
By pushing for Barrett ’ s ascension so close to the Nov. 3 election , Trump and his Republican allies are counting on a campaign boost , in much the way they believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate to consider President Barack Obama ’ s nominee in February 2016 created excitement for Trump among conservatives and evangelical Christians eager for the Republican president to make that nomination after Justice Antonin Scalia ’ s death .
Barrett was a professor at Notre Dame Law School when she was tapped by Trump in 2017 for an appeals court opening .
Two Democrats joined at that time to confirm her , but none is expected to vote for her in the days ahead .
Lisa Mascaro is a reporter for The Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington , Meg Kinnard in Columbia , South Carolina , and Becky Bohrer in Juneau , Alaska contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : Judge Amy Coney Barrett , President Donald Trump ’ s nominee for the Supreme Court , arrives for closed meetings with senators , at the Capitol in Washington , Wednesday , Oct. 21 , 2020 .
( AP Photo/J .
Scott Applewhite )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Federal Agency Secretly Offered FBI Documents on Trump Officials, Senate Report Says

The federal agency that stores records for presidential transition teams volunteered to provide documents to the FBI regarding the Trump presidential transition team in early 2017 , in possible violation of an agreement with the Trump campaign to destroy the records , according to a Senate report released on Friday .
The report from Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee says that officials at the General Services Administration ( GSA ) contacted the FBI on Feb. 15 , 2017 to inquire whether they should preserve documents related to Michael Flynn .
Flynn had just resigned as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone calls he had with a Russian diplomat during the presidential transition period .
The FBI accepted the offer from GSA , according to the Senate report .
Republicans say GSA violated the terms of its agreement with the Trump campaign to destroy campaign and transition records at the beginning of Donald Trump ’ s term .
They also said the GSA ’ s actions “ called into question ” its role as a “ neutral services provider ” to presidential campaigns .
“ At bottom , the GSA and the FBI undermined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team records contrary to the terms of the memorandum of understanding , hiding that fact from the Trump transition team , and refusing to provide the team with copies of its own records , ” the report says .
It is unclear why GSA officials would have thought to contact the FBI regarding Flynn records .
At the time the officials reached out to the FBI , it was not publicly known that the bureau was investigating Flynn and others on the Trump campaign .
According to the Senate report , the special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preservation request to GSA in August 2017 .
The special counsel ’ s team requested preservation of Flynn ’ s records and those of 12 other transition officials , including then-CIA Director Mike Pompeo , and White House adviser Jared Kushner .
That request was submitted by then-FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith , who has since pleaded guilty to altering a document regarding Carter Page .
The report says that GSA did not tell the White House or lawyers for the Trump campaign that it was providing the records to investigators , despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to the transition team would not be retained .
“ Future presidential transition teams must have confidence that their use of government resources and facilities for internal communications and deliberations will not expose them to exploitation by third parties , including political opponents , ” the Republicans say in the report .
“ Government officials who break those promises compromise faith in the system and risk the effectiveness of the transition process.
” The report quotes multiple emails involving GSA officials and members of the special counsel ’ s team discussing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the GSA ’ s associate general counsel , wrote in a June 9 , 2017 email to Brandon Van Grack , a prosecutor on the special counsel ’ s team , that he had told the Trump transition team that “ GSA deletes the records when the Transition is over.
” Greenfeld spurred the outreach to the FBI , according to emails cited in the report .
He wrote in the email that GSA decided “ given the news cycles ” to ask the GSA inspector general whether it would be prudent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition records .
The report says that Ed Martin , the general counsel for GSA ’ s inspector general , told the Senate panel that the news cycle Greenfeld referenced was Flynn ’ s resignation .
GSA did not reply to a request for comment about the report .
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Michael Flynn ” by Michael Flynn .
Photo “ FBI Building ” by Ken Lund CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Republicans Want to Know Whether Amtrak Have Any Perks to Biden

Republicans on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee want to know whether Amtrak gave Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden special treatment .
In a letter to Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer William Flynn , the lawmakers ask whether the former vice president ’ s use of a chartered Amtrak train for a recent campaign trip disrupted Amtrak service or interfered with freight train operations .
They also want to know how many employees were “ taken off their regular duties to staff the Biden campaign charter train , including any overtime hours worked.
” “ We are concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Amtrak ’ s charter train redirected Amtrak ’ s scarce resources during a time of record losses , employee layoffs , and service cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic , ” the lawmakers wrote .
“ We are concerned that the apparent use of a struggling , resource-deprived , publicly-run service for political gain does not serve the best interests of Amtrak or the American taxpayers at this time , ” they added .
“ Given that the Biden campaign declined to disclose what it paid to use Amtrak ’ s resources , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid a full , non-discounted rate.
” U.S. Reps. Bob Gibbs , R-Ohio ; Scott Perry , R-Pennsylvania ; Lloyd Smucker , R-Pennsylvania ; and Rick Crawford , R-Arkansas , sent the letter .
Earlier this month , Amtrak said it needs more than $ 4.8 billion for the 2021 fiscal year to help it recover from COVID-19 .
Amtrak says it might need to eliminate 2,400 jobs and curtail service if it doesn ’ t get the money .
Biden is a longtime proponent of the taxpayer-funded Amtrak .
Biden chartered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of the so-called “ Build Back Better Express Tour.
” An Amtrak spokesperson told USA Today the campaign did not receive any preferential treatment .
“ There were no discounts or scheduling preferences , ” the newspaper quoted Kimberly Woods , a spokesperson for Amtrak , as saying .
“ The railroad industry has a long history of operating special trains for public officials on both sides of the aisle , and Amtrak has been part of that.
” According to a New York Times reporter , the Biden campaign reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ train lease in September .
According to Amtrak ’ s website , the price of a chartered train starts at $ 30,000 .
“ Anyone can charter a train with Amtrak , ” a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter quoted Matt Hill , a spokesman for Biden , as saying in a statement .
“ Last time we checked , no one can charter the White House South Lawn for a political convention .
Instead of wasting time on political stunts , congressional Republicans should stop ignoring Donald Trump ’ s blatant abuses of taxpayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a reporter for The Center Square .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0 .
Background Photo “ Amtrak ” by Stanley Wood CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Dems With Power Flex Their Muscles Ahead of Election Day to Push Agendas, Punish Trump Supporters

As Election Day draws near , Democrat business owners and politicians are increasingly flexing their muscles to push their politics into peoples ’ faces and punish those who have opposing views .
There have been multiple reports in the past year about Trump supporters being fired for expressing their support for the president .
In the past couple of weeks , two more Trump supporters have been fired and a CEO of a major software company has sent a mass email to millions of customers telling them to vote for Joe Biden .
A Republican music publicist in Nevada was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pictures of herself at a Trump rally onto social media , the Federalist reported .
When Danielle Reiss ( pictured above ) attended President Trump ’ s campaign rally in Henderson , Nevada , on Sep. 13 , she had no idea it would cost her job .
Reiss is a music publicist partnered with Pop Off , a Boston-based advertising agency that connects publicists like Reiss with artists .
She signed a contract in August under which Pop Off would refer artists to her , and she would give the agency a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping referred artists with publicity .
In early September , Pop Off connected her with her first client .
But on Sept. 13 , Reiss went to a campaign rally for President Trump .
Afterward she posted on social media a photo of herself with a “ Make America Great Again ” sign and the caption : “ I saw our president speak in Anaheim , California in 2016 .
Yesterday , I watched him speak in Las Vegas , Nevada .
God Bless America.
” Four days after the rally , Reiss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Off announcing the agency ’ s plans to terminate their business relationship as soon as their contract ended .
“ We saw your latest Instagram post in which you held a ‘ Make America Great Again ’ poster , ” the email said .
“ From this , we infer that you support the policies and ideologies of Donald Trump ’ s administration , which blatantly undermine the values we uphold at Pop Off.
” The email , which appears to be from Pop Off President and Chief Financial Officer Ben Silvers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Reiss until February 2021 , but after that “ we will be terminating our professional relationship with you and will cease all partnership activities.
” Earlier this month , a police chief in Lancaster , Pennsylvania was reportedly forced to resign after his wife posted comments on Facebook praising President Trump .
Mayor Danene Sorace told Chief Jarrad Berkihiser to resign because his wife posted comments on facebook saying she planned to vote for President Trump because of his support for law enforcement , said John Fiorill , the previous president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This was an unjust situation that he was placed in , a clear violation of his rights , ” Fiorill said .
“ He was advised by the mayor that she wanted his resignation , based on those statements made on Facebook , not by Chief Berkihiser , but by Chief Berkihiser ’ s wife.
” Chief Berkihiser went to the FOP for help and was advised to retire under his conditions .
“ He retired under his conditions , not the conditions of the mayor , not a termination .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid and he wanted to avoid that turmoil , ” Fiorill said .
Fiorill believes the mayor , who is a Democrat , made the decision based on politics .
“ Which in my opinion is totally unjust and unfair , not only to Jarrad Berkihiser , but it ’ s an insult to law enforcement officers because Jarred dedicated his life and his career to serving the citizens of Lancaster city , ” Fiorill said .
In another apparent abuse of power , the CEO of a software management company decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company ’ s mailing list who to vote for .
Expensify CEO David Barrett sent out the mass email earlier this week urging his customers to vote for Joe Biden for president because “ anything less than a vote for Biden is a vote against democracy.
” “ I know you don ’ t want to hear this from me .
But we are facing an unprecedented attack on the foundations of democracy itself , ” CEO David Barrett wrote .
“ If you are a U.S. citizen , anything less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against democracy.
” In his half-baked letter , Barrett attempted to make a business case for voting Trump out of office .
“ At every layer , democracy is our core competitive advantage—both as a company , and as a nation , ” he wrote .
“ But that advantage is only as strong as the clarity of our rules and the fairness of their application .
Any attempt to disrupt the rules or apply them unfairly is a direct threat to the strength of our company , and the strength of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ obligated ” to take this drastic political step .
“ As CEO of this business , it ’ s my job to plot a course through any storm—and all evidence suggests that another 4 ( or as Trump has hinted—8 , or more ? )
years of Trump leadership will damage our democracy to such an extent , I ’ m obligated on behalf of shareholders to take any action I can to avoid it .
I am confident our democracy ( and Expensify ) can survive a Biden presidency .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
It ’ s truly as simple as that , ” he argued .
He went on to accuse the Trump administration of trying to suppress voter turnout and of making false claims about voter fraud .
“ I wouldn ’ t be sending this email if this election were just about ‘ normal issues ’ — taxes , legislative priorities , healthcare , etc.
, ” Barrett wrote .
“ But it isn ’ t .
This election is a referendum on what limits , if any , we place on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fair and representative way .
This election will decide if widespread voter suppression is an acceptable governing tactic.
” Not surprisingly , many recipients of the letter did not appreciate Barrett ’ s unsolicited lecture .
Daniel M. Rothschild , the Executive Director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University , responded to Barrett with his own letter accusing the CEO of violating the trust of his customers .
“ David , last night you chose to violate the trust your company has built up and politicize your company , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end .
“ That is , I suppose , your right .
But this country can not endure without trust and apolitical spaces.
” Another twitter user said : “ Our entire company just received this email from Expensify .
How dare you use our email addresses for your personal political action !
Are you giving our contact information to Democratic organizations ?
” Micah Jones suggested that it seemed like a bad business decision to alienate half of your customers over politics .
“ This is horrible , ” wrote Twitter user @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bleeding of politics into every personal and business transaction in the country .
If you think this will end well , you have deluded yourself.
” “ Our company just received the same email , ” Dan Fitzpatrick tweeted .
“ Completely over the line .
I don ’ t care what an individual ’ s political beliefs are or how they vote .
However , I care very much about a vendor telling its customers who to vote for .
No place in business for emails like this one .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Joe Biden to Harvard in 2014: ‘There’s Nothing Special About Being American’

During a 2014 speech at Harvard University , then-Vice President and current Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said that there is “ nothing special about being an American ” and that one can not define “ what an American is.
” According to the Obama White House ’ s official transcript of the event , Biden said , “ America ’ s strength ultimately lies in its people .
There ’ s nothing special about being American – none of you can define for me what an American is .
Can ’ t define it based on religion , ethnicity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America is that we are a group of people who agreed on – whether we say it , whether we ’ re well-educated or not , whether we say it in terms of basic agreements but we really do believe without saying it , ‘ We the People.
’ ‘ All men are created equal , endowed by their Creator.
’ Sounds corny .
But that ’ s who we are .
That ’ s the essential strength and vibrancy of this country.
” Biden spoke at Harvard University for the school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The school ’ s description of the event notes that he “ spoke of the importance of America ’ s international role , discussing conflicts in the Middle East , Russia , and Asia .
He also emphasized the need for a stronger American economy and greater trade.
” The unearthed comments come in the wake of renewed controversy over Hunter Biden ’ s ties to foreign nations .
The New York Post released a report detailing how Biden ’ s son , Hunter Biden , introduced the Vice President to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question advises the board of Ukrainian energy firm Burisma , which reportedly paid Hunter Biden up to $ 50,000 per month , despite his lack of experience in the energy sector .
As the report notes , this directly contradicts the former Vice President ’ s claim that he had “ never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings.
” The Post learned this information from Hunter Biden ’ s discarded hard drive , an alleged copy of which The Post obtained .
A few days later , The Post discovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy executive , which mentioned payment of “ 10 ” being “ held by [ Hunter ] for the big guy.
” At the final presidential debate , Joe Biden repeatedly dismissed the allegations , calling Giuliani a “ Russian pawn.
” “ He is being fed information that is Russia , that is not true , and then what happens ?
” Biden .
“ Nothing happens , and then you find out everything that is going on here is about Russia is wanting to make sure that I do not get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States because they know I know them , and they know me.
” Campus Reform reached out to the Biden campaign for comment and will update this article accordingly .
Benjamin Zeisloft is a Pennsylvania Senior Campus Correspondent , reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform .
He is studying Finance and Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania .
Image “ Vice President Joe Biden ” by the University of Harvard .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Constitutional Scholar Alan Dershowitz Spoke, Fielded Questions at the 2020 National Constitution Be

Constitutional Scholar Alan Dershowitz Spoke, Fielded Questions at the 2020 National Constitution Bee

Leading constitutional law scholar Alan Dershowitz spoke during the 2020 National Constitution Bee on Saturday .
All contestants had the opportunity to join the video call and ask questions afterwards .
Dershowitz touched on topics including the Electoral College , impeachment , equal protection , and Supreme Court justice term limits .
To begin , Dershowitz leaned into a popular argument concerning the Constitution .
He stated that the Constitution is both a living and dead document , not one or the other .
He used a hypothetical example of Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY-14 ) wanting to run for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she doesn ’ t qualify due to her age .
“ You have to be 35 years old .
That is ‘ dead.
’ There is no way of changing that , other than through a constitutional amendment .
But what if the next president were to decide to appoint Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez to the Supreme Court ?
He could do that !
Even though she ’ s not a lawyer , and she would be thirty-something years old , he could appoint her because the Constitution says nothing about the qualifications for being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court .
So , partly alive and partly dead.
” Then , Dershowitz discussed the Electoral College , and whether states could create laws forcing electors to cast their votes aligned with the popular vote .
He made the point that Texas electors would ’ ve had to cast all votes to reflect the popular vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
“ It would be a way of circumventing the Electoral College .
Would that be constitutional ?
There ’ s nothing in the Constitution that says specifically that the electors have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who won in their state , but I suspect the Supreme Court would find that unconstitutional .
It would find it to be a circumvention of the Constitutional text that demands that the Electoral College be the deciding factor , not the popular vote.
” On the topic of the presidency , Dershowitz asked if the impeachment provision in the Constitution is alive or dead .
He argued that it is dead , because it definitively lists treason , bribery , or other high crimes and misdemeanors as the grounds for impeachment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” indicates crimes that are similar to treason and bribery .
Then , Dershowitz discussed the meaning of “ equal protection under the law ” in its original context .
“ Equal protection is living .
Due process of the law is living .
Cruel and unusual punishment is living .
Those are phrases that need to be interpreted – the realities of interpretation are open to dispute .
But you ’ re not bound by the dead hand of the law .
One of the reasons our Constitution has endured more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world – it ’ s the longest living , enduring constitution in history – is because it is both dead and living .
It is because it has provisions in it that are unchangeable.
” An additional point he made concerned the length of Supreme Court justice terms .
Dershowitz opined that there should be an amendment to change the language from “ good behavior ” in order to set explicit term limits .
Overall , Dershowitz stated that the biggest issues are determining which of the constitutional provisions are living and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels and modalities of interpretation .
The analysis was decisively nonpartisan as Dershowitz critiqued both parties for their attempts to use the court for backing partisan interests .
Near the end , contestants were given the opportunity to ask questions of their own .
Contestant Benjamin Barry asked Dershowitz about his thoughts on lifetime appointment for justices .
Dershowitz stated that the framer ’ s intent when drafting the constitution was to have “ lifelong ” appointments – but at that time , justices were usually appointed in their 40s and the average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than age limits , Dershowitz stated that justice terms should have a span of 18 or 20 years .
“ I don ’ t like age limits .
Let me tell you why : let ’ s assume the age limit were to be 72 , as it is for the Israel or Canadian Supreme Courts .
That just incentivizes the presidents to pick younger and younger people .
At the age of 72 , they ’ re going to pick someone at 35.
” Dershowitz added that term limits for presidency weren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The amendment only came about when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ran for a fourth term .
The final question came from contestant Grace Estes .
She asked about Dershowitz ’ s experience defending President Donald Trump during the impeachment trials .
Dershowitz shared that it was difficult and strained some of his friendships .
He added that his role wasn ’ t to defend Trump – it was to defend the office of the president .
“ If you ’ ll notice , I did not mention the word ‘ Trump ’ in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Senate .
Because I was there defending the presidency of the United States against unconstitutional provisions of the House impeachment .
They impeached him on two grounds that are not included in the Constitution : obstruction of Congress and abuse of power , which almost every president can be accused of.
” Dershowitz added that he didn ’ t develop a relationship with Trump : he only met the President a few times in preparation for the trial and spoke once afterwards .
He remarked that he ’ d also defended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Had Hillary Clinton been elected president and had she been impeached – which she probably would ’ ve been – I would ’ ve represented her as well.
” As a gesture of thanks , The Tennessee Star Report host Michael Leahy invited Dershowitz to have dinner with the contestants .
Dershowitz promised to come after the pandemic ends .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Image “ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Facebook Demands Academics Disable Ad-Targeting Data Tool

BOSTON , Massachusetts ( AP ) — Academics , journalists and First Amendment lawyers are rallying behind New York University researchers in a showdown with Facebook over its demand that they halt the collection of data showing who is being micro-targeted by political ads on the world ’ s dominant social media platform .
The researchers say the disputed tool is vital to understanding how Facebook has been used as a conduit for disinformation and manipulation .
In an Oct. 16 letter to the researchers , a Facebook executive demanded they disable a special plug-in for Chrome and Firefox browsers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States and delete the data obtained .
The plug-in lets researchers see which ads are shown to each volunteer ; Facebook lets advertisers tailor ads based on specific demographics that go far beyond race , age , gender and political preference .
The executive , Allison Hendrix , said the tool violates Facebook rules prohibiting automated bulk collection of data from the site .
Her letter threatened “ additional enforcement action ” if the takedown was not effected by Nov. 30 .
Company spokesman Joe Osborne said in an emailed statement Saturday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving forward with a project to scrape people ’ s Facebook information would violate our terms.
” The company has long claimed protecting user privacy is its main concern , though NYU researchers say their tool is programmed so the data collected from participating volunteers is anonymous .
The outcry over Facebook ’ s threat was immediate after The Wall Street Journal first reported the news Friday considering the valuable insights the “ Ad Observer ” tool provides .
It has been used since its September launch by local reporters from Wisconsin to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 3 presidential election .
“ That Facebook is trying to shut down a tool crucial to exposing disinformation in the run up to one of the most consequential elections in U.S. history is alarming , ” said Ramya Krishnan , an attorney with the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University , which is representing the researchers .
“ The public has a right to know what political ads are being run and how they are being targeted .
Facebook shouldn ’ t be allowed to be the gatekeeper to information necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The NYU Ad Observatory is the only window researchers have to see microtargeting information about political ads on Facebook , ” Julia Angwin , editor of the data-centric investigative tech news website The Markup , tweet in disappointment .
The tool lets researchers see how some Facebook advertisers use data gathered by the company to profile citizens “ and send them misinformation about candidates and policies that are designed to influence or even suppress their vote , ” Damon McCoy , an NYU professor involved in the project , said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of transparency on political ads Facebook ran ahead of the 2016 election , a sharp contrast to how ads are regulated on traditional media , the company created an ad archive that includes details such as who paid for an ad and when it ran .
But Facebook does not share information about who gets served the ad .
The company has resisted allowing researchers access to the platform , where right-wing content has consistently been trending in recent weeks .
Last year , more than 200 researchers signed a letter to Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public-interest research and journalism that would permit automated digital collection of data from the platform .
Frank Bajak is a reporter for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : In this March 29 , 2018 , file photo , the logo for Facebook appears on screens at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York ’ s Times Square .
Academics , journalists and First Amendment lawyers are rallying behind New York University researchers in a showdown with Facebook over its demand that they halt the collection of data on political ads-targeting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform .
( AP Photo/Richard Drew , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--College President Publicly Condemns Prof’s ‘Hateful,’ ‘Vile’ Tweets Exposed by Campus Reform

After Collin College received backlash from a story by Campus Reform regarding a professor calling Vice President Mike Pence “ a demon ” and to “ shut his little demon mouth up , ” the college president publicly came out and condemned the comments .
President Neil Matkin wrote in a public statement on the school ’ s website that the professor ’ s comments were “ hateful , vile , and ill-considered.
” During the Vice Presidential debate , History Professor Lora Burnett posted on Twitter , “ The moderator needs to talk over Mike Pence until he shuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VPDebate ” along with , “ me : is Pence ’ s eye still bleeding ?
Mr. B : Yeah .
That ’ s what happens when you ’ re a demon .
# VPDebate.
” The story by Campus Reform was picked up by Fox News , creating more backlash for Collin College .
In the letter that Matkin sent to faculty , he stated , “ Emails , complaints to the Board , calls and contacts from legislators , and voicemails poured in over the weekend .
Most of the emails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member although a handful are encouraging us to uphold ‘ academic freedom ’ and ‘ free speech ’ or are writing me to tell me that the faculty member in question is an amazing scholar.
” The letter continues , “ The faculty member ’ s expressed views are not consistent with the values of Collin College , particularly our Core Values of dignity and respect .
Further , the views were not conveyed in any manner we wish members of our faculty and staff to express themselves.
” Burnett stated on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throwing me under the bus , while the college president sends out an email saying that personnel decisions will not be played out in public.
” She has since written an op-ed piece for The Chronicle of Higher Education titled , “ Right-Wing Trolls Attacked Me .
My Administration Buckled : On the cravenness and cowardice of the corporate university.
” Burnett describes her experience with the backlash she received over her comments and continues to discuss how the administration handled it .
“ He threw me under the bus .
The college @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls demanding that the administration and the board engage in cancel culture and punish my exercise of free speech by firing me—including , apparently , calls from government officials demanding that I be punished for exercising my First Amendment freedoms ( is that even level ? )
—was to malign not just my writing but my character .
I was stunned.
” The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has since gotten involved and sent a letter to Matkin stating , “ Collin College can not punish a faculty member for commenting as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if others—whether colleagues , the public , or their representatives in the halls of the legislature—find her comments offensive.
” Collin College responded to the FIRE letter by clarifying that the college “ did not terminate — nor threaten to nor imply termination ” of the professor , and said that the college “ did not state that it would even consider terminating ” the professor .
The college also said that they have a right to “ address Prof. Burnett ’ s conduct.
” Matkin hasn ’ t commented on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burnett ’ s statements is still on the school ’ s website .
Campus Reform has previously reported on Burnett stating that President Trump “ wants Americans to die , ” and another professor at Collin College comparing Trump to serial rapist and murderer Ted Bundy .
When asked for comment , Collin College stated , “ The college has no further comment at this time.
” Campus Reform has reached out to Matkin , Burnett , and FIRE for comment and hasn ’ t received a response .
Haley Worth is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is a junior at Saint Cloud State University , majoring in Political Science .
On campus , Haley was the President of the Turning Point USA chapter .
Photo “ L.D .
Burnett ” by L.D .
Burnett Twitter .
Background Photo : “ Demon Tweet ” by L.D .
Burnett Twitter .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--‘Brian’s Song,’ ‘Roots,’ ‘Purple Rain’ Screenwriter William Blinn Dies

LOS ANGELES , California ( AP ) — William Blinn , a screenwriter for the landmark TV projects “ Brian ’ s Song ” and “ Roots ” and the Prince film “ Purple Rain , ” has died .
He was 83 .
Blinn ( pictured left ) died Thursday of natural causes at an assisted living community in Burbank , California , his daughter , Anneliese Johnson , said Saturday .
He won Emmy and Peabody honors for the 1971 TV movie “ Brian ’ s Song , ” which dramatized the friendship of Chicago Bears players Brian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hit when it aired and is a enduring favorite with sports fans and critics .
Last month , Hall of Fame running back Sayers died at age 77 .
Blinn ’ s work on “ Roots , ” the blockbuster 1977 miniseries adapted from Alex Haley ’ s book about his African American ancestors in slavery and freedom , won an Emmy and a Humanitas Prize .
“ He was a master of his art and a gentleman of the first order .
Rest easy , my friend , ” actor Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supernatural ” ) posted on Twitter .
Johnson described her father as a “ pioneer who went against the grain and wrote and created what he felt .
… He wanted to create what really felt organic and authentic .
He never acquiesced to the industry.
” Blinn was modest about his accomplishments and the accolades he received , she said , with a “ humble , grounded view of life ” that he imparted to his family .
A native of Toledo , Ohio , Blinn ’ s early TV credits included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Bonanza ” and “ My Favorite Martian.
” He went on to create and produce shows , among them “ Starsky & Hutch , ” “ The Rookies ” and “ Pensacola : Wings of Gold , ” in a career that spanned five decades .
“ Brian ’ s Song , ” starring James Caan as Piccolo and Billy Dee Williams as Sayers , portrayed the two bonding when they became roommates on the road , rare at the time for Black and white players .
They drew closer when Piccolo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1970 .
Besides his daughter , Blinn ’ s survivors include his son , Chris , and his grandchildren .
Lynn Elber is a reporter with The Associated Press .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Ohio Boat Parades, Road Rallies Buoy Trump and His Supporters Across the Country

TOLEDO , Ohio ( AP ) — When a flotilla of pontoon and fishing boats decked out with “ Trump 2020 ” flags cruised past him this summer , Dale Fullenkamp got an idea .
“ I figured I don ’ t have a boat , but I do have a tractor , ” he said .
Soon he was leading nearly 300 combines and tractors pulling hay wagons and manure spreaders through the western Ohio village of Fort Recovery , one of many parades nationwide organized by a swell of grassroots supporters for President Donald Trump .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before , ” said Fullenkamp , a 19-year-old who graduated from high school just last spring .
“ I thought it ’ d be just me and my buddies.
” These Trump parades — whether by boat , pickup truck or tractor — have become a show of strength for the president ’ s supporters and a way to make themselves visible in a year when the coronavirus pandemic has upended traditional campaigning and put a stop to huge arena rallies and picnic fundraisers .
Thousands of cars , minivans and motorcycles on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many more road rallies were held around the U.S. Another dozen are on tap for the campaign ’ s final week in Ohio alone .
Campaign strategists and analysts say the parades are a reflection of the president ’ s populist appeal , but they have varying thoughts on whether they will help his chances of winning .
Some think they ’ re revealing an underestimated amount of enthusiasm for the president and buoying his fans in the face of polls showing him trailing in many battleground states , while others dismiss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are enthusiastic in ways I haven ’ t seen , ” said Pennsylvania-based Republican political strategist Charles Gerow .
“ These are people who feel they haven ’ t been taking seriously , and they want to make a strong and visible statement.
” Trump campaign officials say they ’ ve had almost no involvement in the parades , but they gleefully point out that their Democratic opponents aren ’ t seeing the same groundswell when it comes to parades for Joe Biden — much like Trump himself likes to mock and contrast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s socially distanced gatherings .
Campaign field offices have seen that the parades are bringing in new volunteers to help with get-out-the-vote efforts , said Daniel Lusheck , a spokesman for the Trump campaign in Ohio .
“ It ’ s very organic in nature , but it ’ s really driving the enthusiasm on the ground , ” he said .
Trump , too , has noticed , saying at a rally in Florida this summer that “ nobody has seen anything like it , ever .
And we have that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bikers and everybody.
” Parades and marches in the streets have had a place in American politics since the nation ’ s earliest days .
Once a staple of campaigning in the 1800s , they eventually gave way to more effective ways of reaching the masses .
But campaigns big and small have been challenged to come up with anything clever this year because of the limitations imposed by the pandemic , said Brandon Scholz , a veteran GOP strategist in Wisconsin .
He thinks the parades are good for keeping Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re driving votes .
And they do get a lot of attention although it ’ s not always positive — like the time in September when five boats sank during a Trump rally on a lake near Austin , Texas .
David Niven , a University of Cincinnati political scientist , agreed that the parades aren ’ t about spreading the message as much as they are reassuring the president ’ s backers with “ a sea of Trump flags whether they ’ re on the road or the river.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we would have stadium rallies .
There ’ d be so many different outlets for people to express themselves , ” he said .
“ In the world of COVID , it ’ s bumper stickers , tweets and boat parades.
” There ’ s definitely a high school pep rally feel to the Trump parades , with participants flying their colors and chanting in unison .
In eastern Tennessee , spectators in mid-October lined a 4-mile stretch of road through the town of Rutledge to cheer dozens of tractors , antique cars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flags and banners celebrating the conservative cause .
“ It was bigger than any Christmas parade we ever had , ” said Mike Cameron , Grainger County ’ s GOP chairman .
“ And that ’ s the biggest thing that happens in Rutledge.
” Biden ’ s supporters have countered with a few car rallies of their own , but his campaign has stayed away from such events to avoid spreading the virus , running an almost entirely virtual strategy of reaching voters .
The difference has been notable to Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the parades .
“ It ’ s really got to deject the other side , ” said Blaise Greco , who organized a Trump parade near Hazleton , Pennsylvania , that drew more than 400 cars and motorcycles in early October .
“ Where ’ s their enthusiasm ?
Where ’ s their flags ?
Where ’ s their cars ?
” John Seewer is a reporter with The Associated Press .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Rand Paul, Ted Cruz Stump for Virginia Republican Candidates

It was cold and rainy , but approximately 150 people attended the Chesterfield GOTV Rally in a covered arena at Keystone Acres on Sunday afternoon .
Senators Rand Paul ( R-Kentucky ) and Ted Cruz ( R-Texas ) headlined the event .
Virginia candidates Nick Freitas , Daniel Gade , and Leon Benjamin appealed to supporters to not only vote , but to encourage friends and community members to vote .
Paul said , “ I was watching CNN last night or maybe it was MSNBC , and they said that in Virginia , ya ’ ll are just ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to trade your freedom because you want to be safe .
You ’ re going to trade your liberty , you ’ re going to trade your freedom for security ?
Hell no !
” Paul played off the excited crowd , who responded to his cues with boos and applause .
He described a leftward slide of the Democratic Party into socialism , called for the economy to reopen , said there is no national security reason for the U.S. to remain in Afghanistan , and questioned claims of institutional racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t hate each other , ” Paul said .
Paul and Cruz both said they came to support Freitas .
“ I want you to commit to vote for Nick Freitas ten times , ” Cruz said .
“ Now look , we ’ re not Democrats .
I can see some of the reporters pull out their notepads , ‘ Ooh , I got a story here , voter fraud.
’ No , I ’ m not urging voter fraud , ” Cruz said .
“ What I am urging is if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , and you find nine other people that wouldn ’ t have voted otherwise , and you get them to come out and vote , you ’ ve just voted ten times , ” Cruz said .
Gade is running for U.S. Senate , Benjamin is running for Virginia ’ s 4th congressional district , and Freitas is running for the 7th congressional district .
The three candidates reminded the crowd of the heritage of the Republican Party and Virginia .
“ With respect to George Floyd by the way , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans to be part of the solution to the racial injustice that we see in our country .
Remember , we ’ re the party that freed the slaves .
We ’ re the party of the civil rights act .
We ’ re the party that believes in individual liberty , so don ’ t ever let the left capture that narrative , because it ’ s a lie , ” Gade said .
Benjamin said black voters are returning to the Republican Party .
“ We ’ re coming home to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is core to the success of any community , ” Benjamin said .
“ We ’ re coming to the party that says we will protect our country , peace through strength , we will protect our borders , we will protect anyone , whatever religion you are .
We will protect you .
We ’ re coming home to the party that says we will no longer allow this to be a nation that hides their conservative values.
” Freitas said , “ I ’ m watching people succumb to fear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gentleman , we come from finer stuff .
We ’ re not just Americans , we ’ re Virginians .
We ’ re the home of Jefferson , we ’ re the home of Madison , we ’ re the home of Washington .
We ’ re the home of people that stood up in the face of the most powerful army in the world at that time , and took a barefoot army across the Delaware in the dead of winter in order to gain success , because we knew that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important , it was so special , it was so unique that it was worth it.
” “ And that is , to be quite honest , that is the fire that we need to have right now.
” Freitas said , “ The question is , honestly : What kind of a people are we , what kind of a people do we want to be , and what sort of a people do we want to project to future generations ?
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Email tips to [ email protected ] Photos by Eric Burk/The Virginia Star .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Gov. Walz Activates National Guard after Chauvin’s Third Degree Murder Charge Dropped

Gov .
Tim Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard on Thursday to assist local law enforcement in protecting the greater Twin Cities .
“ In light of developments in the George Floyd case , we ’ ve taken the precautionary step of asking the Minnesota National Guard to prepare to help ensure safety for Minnesotans , ” Walz said in a statement .
“ I want to remind Minnesotans that today ’ s ruling marks a positive step in the path toward justice for George Floyd.
” The mobilization follows a request made by the city of Minneapolis , influenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A. Cahill dropping a third-degree murder charge against former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin , but sustaining charges of second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter .
Cahill denied a motion to dismiss the charges for the three other former police officers named in the case : J. Kueng , Thomas Lane , and Tou Thao .
Cahill sustained the following charges against the following defendants : The four former officers were fired after the May 25 death of Floyd , and a widely watched video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd ’ s neck for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , Walz called the ruling an “ Important step toward justice for George Floyd.
” The Minnesota National Guard is currently mobilizing 100 National Guard soldiers and is providing equipment and facilities to support public safety services .
The Minnesota State Patrol has mobilized an unspecified number of state troopers as part of a coordinated response to aid local law enforcement .
Riots following Floyd ’ s death have cost taxpayers $ 13 million for the original National Guard deployment , $ 11 million for repaying state agencies through a bonding bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses caught in the middle of an estimated damage total of $ 500 million .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Gov. Whitmer Near Bottom of Economic Freedom Report

According to a report from a center-right organization The American Legislative Exchange Council ( ALEC ) , Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer earned a fifth-to-last ranking among all 50 governors in the United States .
The 2020 Laffer-ALEC report on Economic Freedom ranks all 50 governors by results and policy .
Whitmer ranked 43rd for results , 41st for policy and 46th overall .
“ State executives implement policy and respond to crisis in dramatically different ways , ” economist Arthur B. Laffer said in a statement .
“ At such a critical decision point , voters need fact-based , nonpartisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them accountable .
The objective data voters need is all about economics , and it ’ s all found in this ranking.
” The report said Whitmer ’ s COVID-19 response was “ the most draconian ” of any governor , and noted the state wasn ’ t financially prepared for the pandemic , which exacerbated struggles to balance the budget deficit .
“ Gov .
Whitmer ’ s propensity to rely on shutdown orders to fight the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in one of the most acute revenue shortfalls of any state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan legislature to close their budget deficit , ” the report said .
ALEC explains the top 10 states were managed well before and during the COVID-19 pandemic , a group including Texas , Georgia and South Dakota .
“ The Federally supported , state managed and locally executed response to COVID-19 provides a clear look at different styles and approaches to executive leadership , ” White House Advisor Stephen Moore said in a statement .
“ Government lockdowns and unclear timetables have proven to be harmful to the health and economy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , states where governors mandated strict lockdowns and restricted individual freedom are in far worse shape than states that remained safely open.
” The report also ranks other criteria such as tax policy , spending policy , and more .
“ No state budget is managed like the other , but that ’ s because of the diversity in our states ’ needs , ” Donna Arduin said in a statement .
Arduin is a former budget official and consultant for Michigan , New York , Florida , California , Illinois , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and nonpartisan data is critical to compare state leaders ’ performances , built and backed up by empirical criteria .
Any person should be able to see how their governor has led across the board without bias or agenda , and this scorecard ’ s methodology was designed to do just that.
” Nine of the top 10 governors are Republicans , while eight of the bottom 10 are Democrats .
“ President Trump wisely respected the principle of federalism and empowered elected state leaders to make critical decisions and shape their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” ALEC Chief Economist Jonathan Williams said in a statement .
“ Unsurprisingly , the 50 governors took very different approaches to policymaking .
Some reduced taxes , regulations and enhanced their economic competitiveness , while others took a very different policy strategy .
That ’ s why it is important to use reports like this one to compare and contrast the widely different results.
” Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Mass Data Collection of License Plate Numbers Upheld by Virginia Supreme Court

The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled Fairfax County ’ s mass collection of vehicle license plate numbers does not violate legal privacy protections in a decision criticized by civil liberty advocates .
The Fairfax County Police Department won a lawsuit that challenged its use of automated license plate readers , which tracks times and locations of drivers .
Because the court ruled the information the readers compile is not legally protected as personal , identifying information , Fairfax Police and other police departments in the commonwealth can continue to use them .
The automated cameras , which can be mounted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road signs , collect and store the data even if a driver is not suspected of committing a crime .
Police can access the data for 364 days after its entry into the system .
“ Security and privacy can both be protected without giving police the unregulated power to collect private information ‘ just because ’ and ‘ just in case , ’ ” Claire Gastañaga , executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia , said in a statement .
The ACLU litigated the case on behalf of Harrison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ license plate data was collected despite not being suspect of any criminal activity .
“ Where we go and when is personal , ” Gastañaga said .
“ Use of [ these readers ] and other surveillance technology without a warrant or even the active intent to identify a particular person suspected of a crime means that police can track people who are going to protests , medical clinics and houses of worship , and this personal information sits in a database for a year whether you ’ re suspected of a crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ruling , the data collection is legal because it does not include the name or personal or other identifying particulars of a person , which would be prohibited by law .
The ruling overturned a lower court ruling that would have prohibited the use of the readers .
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and West Virginia for The Center Square .
He previously worked for the Cause of Action Institute and has been published in Business Insider , USA TODAY College , National Review Online and the Washington Free Beacon .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--TRUMPDATE: Latest From the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 26

Welcome to the Monday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update !
We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 ( and after…if need be ! )
.
It ’ s officially eight days until the election on November 3 – and five days until early voting in Virginia closes .
President Trump spent the weekend speaking at rallies in battleground states as we enter the final week of the 2020 presidential campaign .
On Sunday , the president appeared in front of crowds in New Hampshire .
Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tomorrow he ’ ll be in Michigan , Wisconsin and Nebraska .
The president casted his own ballot in this year ’ s election over the weekend , voting early and in person in West Palm Beach , Florida .
Mr. Trump moved his residency from New York City to Florida last year .
In Virginia the Team Trump campaign was busy with get out the vote efforts .
On Sunday , the Team Trump bus was in Chesterfield County .
Voters heard from Nick Freitas , state Republican Party Chairman Rich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This week the get out the vote efforts continue with eight days until the polls close .
Over the weekend , John Fredericks , chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation , spoke to voters with a video that dispelled much of the polling that indicates Democrat Joe Biden holds a comfortable lead over President Trump in the commonwealth .
This comes on the heels of a Washington Post poll out recently showing the former vice president with a 52-41 lead among voters in Virginia .
The polling has been consistent in carrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is losing big in Virginia already , and that the president will lose big when all the votes are counted .
But as John noted in his video , the Biden campaign has knocked on zero doors , or connected with voters in a person to person situation .
And with early voting still ongoing , the Team Trump Virginia campaign is confident that like in 2016 , the poling data leading up to the election will be proven completely wrong when the last vote is counted .
Check back every day for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want to join the volunteer team or if you need signs email Fredericks or Justin Rice .
To Donate to our Virginia campaign click here .
For more information , or to sign up to become a volunteer , click here .
The Trump Campaign in Virginia Needs Poll Watchers !
Don ’ t let them steal the election !
Get paid , too !
John Fredericks is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star .
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation @


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--The Committee Shaping Policy and Curriculum at Loudoun County Public Schools

Behind the scenes at Loudoun County Public Schools ( LCPS ) , many of the policy and curriculum changes reflecting social justice initiatives are driven by the Minority Achievement Advisory Committee ( MSAAC ) .
MSAAC is an advisory committee under Superintendent Eric Williams and the LCPS School Board .
MSAAC was formed in 1994 to advise the LCPS board and administration on minority student achievement .
MSAAC was designed to ensure “ advantages in academic , vocational , physical , cultural , and social education ” for all students .
Much of MSAAC ’ s work has already impacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MSAAC ’ s handbook includes LCPS ’ s plans to institute a “ culturally responsive instruction.
” This type of instruction is mentioned in the comprehensive equity plan that MSAAC helped draft .
It is a three-year plan to incorporate a version of critical race theory ( CRT ) that LCPS calls “ Culturally Responsive Education Framework ” ( CREF ) .
MSAAC is also leading the charge to artificially increase the diversity of admitted students , and enforcing “ racial consciousness ” amongst staff .
LCPS School Board faced severe public backlash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limiting staff free speech in their personal life .
The policy would prohibit individuals from criticizing or eliciting speech contrary to LCPS equity practices .
Last Wednesday , MSAAC hosted an “ Anti-Racism Town Hall.
” The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ( NAACP ) Loudoun Branch President Michelle Thomas was in attendance .
Loudoun NAACP has worked closely with MSAAC and LCPS since it requested an investigation into the school system last year .
During the virtual meeting , Thomas accused LCPS of not hiring enough Black or Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students .
Earlier this year , MSAAC pushed for resignation of ex-school board member John Beatty .
In a small-group discussion , Beatty stated that African Americans lost certain benefits following emancipation .
“ It was worse for African Americans after reconstruction because they did not have the patronage of a master.
” Immediately after emancipation , some African Americans had little apart from freedom .
According to the University of Richmond , their prior reality as slaves meant most were uneducated , poor , and subject to new laws like Black Codes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to rent land from former slave owners .
Historians , such as Jim Downs , estimated that a quarter of the freed slaves died due to illness or starvation .
However , MSAAC argued that Beatty ’ s remarks on history were proof of white supremacy and racism .
Though Beatty later insisted he “ abhorred slavery ” and that his remarks were taken out of context , he was ultimately forced to resign from his positions on the Equity and Disciplinary Action committees .
Current Executive Board members are Keaira Jennings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paulina-Marie Ransom , Vice Chair ; Claudia Matteo , Secretary ; Katrece Nolan , Advisor and Past Chair ; Sofia Saiyed , Communications Committee ; and Morgan Smith , Membership Committee .
MSAAC is currently forming committees for their equity awards ceremony in the spring .
Their next meeting will be held November 18th .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Keaira Jennings ” by Loudoun County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schools Building ” by Loudoun County Schools..


thetennesseestar--2020-10-26--Justin Fairfax Says He is Poised to Help All Virginians as the Next Governor

If elected governor , Justin Fairfax is determined to bring the Commonwealth and its residents out from underneath the current issues plaguing Virginia brought forth by the coronavirus pandemic and a destructive political landscape .
Last month Lt. Gov .
Fairfax ( D ) officially announced his entrance into the 2021 gubernatorial election , hoping to follow in the footsteps of former state governor L. Douglas Wilder and become the second black man elected to the Executive Mansion .
“ I am running for governor because I want to provide more justice , fairness and opportunity for all Virginians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Virginia Star .
“ I think we ’ re in a critical moment in the history of Virginia and of our nation .
We see the challenges that are before us around issues of racial justice , economic security and opportunity and allowing everyone the opportunity to rise.
” Fairfax continued : “ Right now I think we need a voice with courage .
I think we need someone with statewide experience to be able to create the change that will lift up all eight and a half million Virginians.
” Assuming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , Fairfax touted the role he has played alongside Governor Ralph Northam in helping lead Virginia both before and during COVID-19 , while also highlighting a uniting style of leadership that he would bring to the Commonwealth .
“ I am the kind of leader that reaches out to people across the spectrum , ” Fairfax told The Star .
“ [ One that ] says we are people first , we are Americans and we are Virginians , and we ’ ve got so much more in common than we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it ’ s a leadership style that brings people together , allows us to reach those kinds of productive compromises , that brings progress.
” When asked what policies he would implement as governor , Fairfax focused on five subjects : policing and criminal justice reforms , housing , health care , the economy and education .
Specifically , Fairfax brought up fixing the high eviction rate in Richmond and other areas of the state , ensuring that Virginians will have access to quality health insurance , making community colleges free and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historically black colleges and universities .
The Lt. Gov .
also outlined his “ 40-30-10 ” education plan that would help rebuild and revitalize all public schools in Virginia that are at least 40-years-old by allocating $ 30 billion in the next ten years , according to Fairfax .
The news of Fairfax ’ s bid for the governorship comes nearly two years after the former federal prosecutor was accused of sexual assault by two women in separate incidents , during one of the more chaotic weeks in recent Virginia politics history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fairfax has vehemently denied both as false , lacking evidence and part of a politically motivated effort to prevent him from becoming governor had Northam to stepped down after facing backlash over a racist photograph in a school yearbook .
Fairfax also maintains that he did not receive adequate due process because many Democratic colleagues immediately called for his resignation at the time , and has repeatedly called for investigations by the relevant district attorneys .
“ It ’ s an incredibly difficult thing to go through personally , professionally and I wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go through that , ” Fairfax said .
“ I learned that the fight for justice , fairness , fair treatment is more important now than ever , because sadly there is a history in Virginia and in our nation , particularly in cases involving African Americans , where there is a rush to judgment.
” One Democratic politician who agreed that Fairfax did not receive fair due process and waited to pass judgement until more evidence was presented was Sen. Joe Morrissey ( D-Richmond City ) .
The Star contacted the Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fairfax , but Morrissey said he has not made a decision yet .
Overall , Fairfax is confident that he can win the election next fall and that he believes in Virginians to make the correct choice .
“ I ’ m very confident in the people of Virginia , ” he said .
“ Every time that I have put my name on a ballot and have put forward a positive vision , they have always responded with tremendous support .
That is how we feel in this election.
” As of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates – Sen. Jennifer McClellan ( D-Richmond City ) and Del .
Jennifer Carroll Foy ( D-Prince William County ) – and Republican candidate Sen. Amanda Chase ( R-Chesterfield .
Former governor Terry McAuliffe ( D ) and Del .
Kirk Cox ( R-Colonial Heights ) have filed paperwork , but have not officially announced yet .
“ Now is the moment in time where we need that bold transformational leadership that moves us forward and not backwards , ” Fairfax said .
“ That ’ s why I ’ m running for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Justin Fairfax ” by Justin Fairfax for Governor Facebook .
Background Photo “ Virginia Governor ’ s Mansion ” by Doug Francis CC BY 2.0 .