thetennesseestar--2020-10-10--Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act: Jim Roberts Gives Important Updates to the Status of Getting the

Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act: Jim Roberts Gives Important Updates to the Status of Getting the Referendum on the Ballot

Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Nashville based attorney Jim Roberts to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Roberts gave details on the status of the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum making it on the December ballot and the illegal and disingenuous actions of the election committee and Metro government .
Leahy : We are joined now on our newsmaker line by our good friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jim .
Roberts : Good morning , sir .
How are you doing on this beautiful day ?
Leahy : We ’ re doing great .
So I think you have some news to report about legal actions taken in the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum issue .
Tell us what ’ s happening .
Roberts : Well , as you probably know and your listeners know , about two weeks ago the election commission voted to hire outside counsel and to sue the 27,000 citizens who had prepared and filed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been sitting on their hands .
And so last night since time was running out we filed or I filed on behalf of 4 Good Government a complaint and chancellery court for mandamus to force the election commission to get off their tail ends and put this measure on the ballot as they ’ re legally required to do .
Leahy : Well they are legally required to do it .
They have a ministerial duty to do that .
the Tennessee Supreme Court so ruled in 2004 .
What happens next ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see if they would actually take action , and I think they just chickened out be honest with you .
I think they realize the optics of suing the citizens was a bad move and they decided they would just wait it out .
And so their idea was we ’ ll just do nothing and let the time run out .
So we filed a lawsuit .
The next step along with a lawsuit is a motion for an expedited hearing , and really sometime this morning I need to be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s office .
I don ’ t know which judge has gotten the case yet .
To make sure the judge knows about it and get this hearing set .
Hopefully , we can get it set Monday or Tuesday of next week .
There ’ s no reason to delay this .
People ’ s rights are being violated .
And get this matter measure put to bed and back on the ballot .
Carmichael : So and will it be on the ballot on December fifth , as you had it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the petition ?
Roberts : That ’ s what we sued for .
Further research has given me the belief that I had already but affirmed the belief that there ’ s no legal basis to move the state .
That they don ’ t have a right to do that just because they did it doesn ’ t make this right .
And they need to be forced to do what the people told them , one , and also it sets a bad precedent giving the election commission more authority and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea .
But they don ’ t seem to be able to use it well to begin with .
Leahy : Yeah , the Metro Charter is crystal clear on this that the petition prescribes .
And that ’ s a legal term that means , legally sets the date for the election .
And you did so for December 5th .
And we finally got the election commission administrator to send us the legal justification .
And I look I ’ m not the attorney but you looked at it as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move it to December 15th .
That was my take on it .
What was yours ?
Roberts : So I don ’ t think there ’ s any legal basis for it .
Unless there is some law out there that allows the election commission to move certain types of elections .
And that has to do with recall elections and things like that .
But not ballot initiatives .
They don ’ t have that authority and they need to be called out for that .
Leahy : So at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County election commission , they did two things .
They postponed the election to a conditional date of December 15th , which you argue is They didn ’ t have the authority to do .
but they also decided to hire a law firm to file for declaratory judgment in Davidson County chancellery court to basically tell them we think this is illegal .
But they haven ’ t done that yet , have they ?
They haven ’ t filed that declaratory judgment have they ?
Roberts : No , they didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I did get an email from the attorney that they hired and he seemed to think that this cave was would take months to move through the court system .
And I ’ ve been involved in election lawsuits and they take days generally to freeze .
even a week at the most because they have such importance .
I mean , this is not just about me in any way .
It ’ s about the fact that 27,000 people signed a petition telling the government to do something , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ballot .
They didn ’ t say they had to do it .
I mean about the people still get a chance to vote yes or no on it .
But this is really clear .
I mean the 27,000 citizens said I want the rest of this city to have a chance to vote on this .
nd the election commission doesn ’ t get to just say we don ’ t think it ’ s a good idea or we don ’ t think they deserve to vote .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that discretion .
Leahy : In essence , they are of denying the voting rights to 27,000 residents of Davidson County .
Carmichael : Well and all the other residents .
And all the others .
Leahy : Yeah , all the others .
Yeah , very good point .
Roberts : They are denying every single registered voter in this county .
They are violating their civil rights .
Federal case law is very clear on this .
It ’ s unconstitutional from the United States Constitution to do what they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leahy : So when you have this hearing , Monday or Tuesday whichever judge or chancellor court picks it up , what ’ s going to happen who will be there ?
What will you say ?
And what will the election commission say ?
Roberts : Well fortunately my argument is going to be pretty simple .
I ’ m going to hand the judge a copy of the charter .
And I will point out that we ’ ve done everything we ’ re supposed to do .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge and say now it ’ s time for you to tell the government to get off the tail end and do their job .
I ’ m waiting to see what Metro is going to say about this .
They ’ re going to hem and haw and they ’ re going to have a lot to say about it .
But in the end , they are failing to do their job because they just simply don ’ t want to .
Leahy : Now did you sue anybody in it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court to rule and hold a hearing ?
Roberts : Well technically you can ’ t really see through the election commission because it ’ s part of the Metro Government .
So you sue the Metropolitan government in general .
So they are the defendant in the case .
And I think that may have been why they had some trouble deciding what they were going to do .
They wanted to follow a lawsuit , but they didn ’ t really know who to sue .
And the only people they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Davidson County .
Leahy : So in this hearing who will represent the Metro Government .
Will they be at this hearing on Tuesday or so with the judge ?
Roberts : Oh , I ’ m sure Bob Cooper and the normal team of lawyers will be there .
This isn ’ t my first election case .
And in fact , I suspect it ’ ll be Laura Fox who is an attorney for Metro .
She was on the case I will on 12 years ago .
And over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ballot .
I suspect they ’ ll send her back down because she ’ s experienced at it .
Leahy : What will her argument be ?
Roberts : I think her argument will try to be that we think the meaning Metro legal , thinks that somehow this is unconstitutional .
Leahy : That ’ s a referendum itself is unconstitutional ?
That ’ s right .
The content .
Leahy : But the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled on that in 2004 and said you got no place to make that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Roberts : You know that and I know that but apparently Metro legal didn ’ t get a copy of that opinion .
Leahy : Yeah , I think I got a copy of the opinion .
Roberts : This is disingenuous .
You have to understand that unfortunately Metro legal will take the position of whatever the mayor wants whether it ’ s accurate or not .
And it ’ s been my experience that they play the tune of the piper that for the person who pays them .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple .
Leahy : So after this hearing on Tuesday , you make your case .
The lawyer for Metro makes their case .
What happens ?
What does the judge do ?
Roberts : Well , the normal language of the judge would issue a mandamus ordering the election commission to meet and to vote and the places on the ballot .
I suspect that they will go in there and start claiming that now there ’ s not enough time .
That they can ’ t do it on the fifth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around and now it ’ s my fault that I didn ’ t sue them sooner .
That ’ s what they ’ re going to argue .
Leahy : Really ?
That ’ s what they are going to argue ?
They could but it ’ s so ridiculous , Roberts : But I think they still have time to put it on December fifth .
I think there is some lead-up time to do that because this is a single-issue measure .
It ’ s not like putting together the November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ races and all these different things .
This is one issue .
Leahy : It ’ s like 56 days from now .
So yeah , that ’ s plenty of time .
I think .
Roberts : It is plenty .
They should be preparing for it if they ’ re these folks are competent .
They ’ re going ahead and doing the things that they need to do to be ready for this ballot .
I think they know what ’ s going to be there ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the fifth or the 15th , there ’ s going to be an election because they have to know they ’ re wrong .
They just don ’ t care .
Metro does not care because they want this off the ballot .
They so want your tax dollars that they will say and do anything .
Carmichael : It ’ s a comment and as a comment to get your comment .
In the pure essence of this .
This is the city of Nashville the government of Nashville suing its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law .
I mean the battle is between the government and the people .
Roberts : That ’ s right exactly what the battle is .
And the government threatened to sue the people and then I decided to sit on their hands so the people just sued them .
Leahy : Jim Roberts a great attorney a great American and a great Nashvillian .
Thanks for being with us .
Listen to the third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ TN Supreme Court ” by Reading Tom .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-10--Busted: Judge Rules Virginia House Speaker Filler-Corn Violated the Freedom of Information Act

Richmond General District Court found Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn ( D-Fairfax ) guilty of violating the Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA ) on Friday .
Filler-Corn must pay a civil penalty of $ 500 and a partial reimbursement of attorney fees .
The filing attorney , Timothy Anderson , told The Virginia Star that this court ruling was a big win for Virginians .
Anderson also shared that the judge had expressed doubt during the trial that Filler-Corn didn ’ t know about the documents .
“ For the judge to say that , he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s even an email back in July from the House clerk that said the Speaker directed the removal .
So , she had to have known .
[ We discovered ] 120 documents when all was said and done , ” stated Anderson .
“ When the Speaker wrote back [ to my client ] and said ‘ the documents do not exist , ’ the only way to interpret that is that they don ’ t exist.
” Anderson stated that his client , David Webster II , was the real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s pursuit of the truth , there wouldn ’ t be a case at all .
In an interview with The Virginia Star , Webster said that it was his honor to take on the matter .
“ Although , God help any Virginians who wants to right any wrong : it cost me thousands of dollars just to file a lawsuit .
At least it ’ ll teach public officials that they can ’ t ignore a valid FOIA request.
” According to Webster , he first filed an FOIA request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked Filler-Corn for documentation that showed who she ’ d hired , what she paid , and where the monuments are placed currently .
Filler-Corn replied that all of the requested records were nonexistent .
Dissatisfied , Webster filed suit against Filler-Corn a little over a week later .
He later discovered some of the documents that Filler-Corn stated didn ’ t exist .
According to the documents , Filler-Corn paid over $ 83,000 for a company to conduct overnight removal of the historical monuments .
Although the court ruled in Webster ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s more information he still desires .
“ She still has yet to say where the artifacts from the Capitol are .
We asked the judge to ask her where they are , but we couldn ’ t get that information .
At the very least , she should make a public statement on what she did , who she hired , how much she paid , and where [ the artifacts ] are now.
” The spokesperson for Filler-Corn didn ’ t respond with comment by press time .
Corinne Murdock is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Eileen Filler- Corn ” by Eileen Filler-Corn .

A 17-year-old student allegedly opened fire Friday at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas, killing 10 people and wounding another 10, authorities said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said police found explosive devices, including a Molotov cocktail, at the suspected shooter’s home and a vehicle, as well as around the Santa Fe High School where the shooting took place.
Law enforcement officials said the suspect, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a junior at the school, was being held without bond on a capital murder charge.
Abbott said the suspect originally intended to commit suicide following the shooting but told law enforcement officials after he was arrested that he didn’t have the courage to go through with killing himself.
The governor said two guns were used in the attack — a shotgun and a .38-caliber revolver. He said the suspect’s father legally owned both guns.It was not clear whether the father knew his son had taken the weapons.
Abbott said there were “one or two” other people of interest being interviewed about the shooting.
Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset said, “Injured students and staff have been transported to local hospitals.” He also said an officer from the Santa Fe Independent School District was among those shot.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the shooting as an “absolutely horrific attack,” one of many that have “been going on too long in this country.” Trump told the victims and their families that “we’re with you in this tragic hour and we will be with you forever.” He vowed to get guns “out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others.”
An unidentified male student described fleeing the school during an interview with KHOU-TV in Houston. He said that after he heard three shots, “we all took off in the back, and I tried to get into the trees. I didn’t want to be in sight. I heard four more shots, and then we jumped the fence to somebody’s house.”
An unidentified female student said tearfully on cable channel CNN, “Nobody should have to go through this. Nobody should have to feel that pain.”
Facebook post
Pagourtzis had posted an image on Facebook of himself wearing a “Born to Kill” shirt, but the motive for Friday’s attack wasn’t known.
Abbott saidthat unlike previous school shootings, “there were not those types of warning signs” about the Santa Fe suspect. The governor saidthe early investigation had found no prior criminal history for Pagourtzis.
“The red-flag warnings were either nonexistent or very imperceptible,” Abbott said, though he acknowledged Pagourtzis’ posting of the photo on Facebook.
That same Facebook profile described Pagourtzis as planning to enter the U.S. Marine Corps next year, but the Marine Corps told The Associated Press it had reviewed its records and had found no one by that name as either a recruit or a person in their delayed entry pool.
Classmates described Pagourtzis as quiet and an avid video game player who routinely wore a black trench coat and black boots to class. He had played football on the school’s junior varsity squad and danced as part of a church group. Those who know him expressed shock he might be involved in the killings.
Calls for action
The latest incident came about three months after a shooter with a semiautomatic rifle killed 17 students and school staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was the third-deadliest school shooting in American history.
The Democratic leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said urgent action was needed to prevent gun violence.
“Congress must show as much courage as they have, and act now to ensure that no other community or family must endure the unthinkable horror of gun violence. Our children deserve real leadership: a vote to prevent gun violence now.”
Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said Congress must implement reforms that lawmakers recently passed “to make schools safer and keep deadly weapons away from those who should not have them.”
“Our hearts are filled with grief over this horrific loss of life,” he added.
Santa Fe is located in southeastern Texas between the cities of Houston and Galveston.
– – –
Some information for this report came from Associated Press.
VOA News


thetennesseestar--2020-10-10--Fear Drives Record Gun Sales

Fear Drives Record Gun Sales

Virginia is setting records for gun sales this year ; the FBI has processed 617,472 firearms background checks , already beating 2019 ’ s total of 512,766 .
Bob Marcus owns Bob ’ s Guns in Norfolk .
He said the increase in sales began a year ago .
“ We saw it after the General Assembly turned over back in November .
It started with the election , and then the General Assembly went into session .
And there were threats of the so-called assault weapons ban , and other restrictions , so it continued through January , February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Just as soon as that was finished , Covid-19 kicked in and the stimulus money that went along with it .
So we ’ ve just seen month after month of increasing sales.
” Marcus said he ’ s seen a lot of urban , first-time gun buyers .
“ They had disposable income to spend , they had concerns , and they had fear , and all three of those things seem to create the perfect storm.
” Wavy.com reports that the FBI processed 80,228 Virginia firearms background checks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly broken in June , with 81,204 background checks .
“ People are buying guns in record numbers because they ’ re scared of what ’ s happening across the country .
They are scared of looters and rioters ; they are worried that police may not be able to protect them , ” Gun Owners of America Senior Vice President Erich Pratt said .
“ People want the ability to defend themselves , because they intuitively realize that guns save lives .
In an environment where the police are outnumbered , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will acquire firearms for their own self-defense .
They are doing this at an unparalleled rate , despite efforts by Virginia Democrats to inhibit them from exercising their constitutionally-protected rights , ” Pratt added .
Delegate Mark Levine ( D-Alexandria ) agrees that fear is driving the increase in sales .
“ I think it ’ s the scare tactics gun manufacturers have been using for decades now in order to try to increase gun sales , ” Levine said .
“ It ’ s a very successful thing to do and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do.
” Levine added , “ Franklin Delano Roosevelt said the only thing we have to fear is fear itself .
And I do fear fear .
I fear this intentional causing of people to be angry , causing people to be racist , causing people to hate immigrants , causing people to fear the other and it leads to violence.
” Virginia Citizens Defense League President Philip Van Cleave said , “ Nobody is fear mongering , nobody has to .
All you have to do is turn on your television .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ every time I ’ m watching the news , we had cities burning , including in Richmond .
We had fires , arson , people getting killed.
” “ The people we ’ re seeing riot , it ’ s really on the left , that are out busy burning cities and attacking people that have different views .
It ’ s only mostly coming from one side , ” Van Cleave said .
“ They ’ re the ones that are creating the fear .
And the rest of America is saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MAGA hat , I could have somebody come up and put me in the hospital.
’ That ’ s generating fear because there ’ s a reason to be afraid.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-10--Steve Bannon Encourages the Trump Campaign to Forget the Big Rallies, Use the Surrogates, Knock on D

Steve Bannon Encourages the Trump Campaign to Forget the Big Rallies, Use the Surrogates, Knock on Doors, It’s Time to Get People Out to Vote

Live from Virginia Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed political strategist Steve Bannon to the show to talk about his recommendation for the Trump campaigns new ground game .
Fredericks : Joining us now without further ado is Stephen K. Bannon the host of War Room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America .
Except for today .
Today Donald Trump is going to be the number one rated show as he hosts Rush Limbaugh .
Steve , great to have you .
Bannon : Let ’ s call that a rally .
He ’ s having a three-hour rally .
I don ’ t want to seem like he ’ s auditioning for his next gig .
It ’ s just it ’ s a three-hour rally .
So I know I think President Trump is taking to the airways .
Saturday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we got tremendous feedback from all the ones we ’ ve done with the Young Republicans across the country .
They ’ re at the vanguard of really this whole volunteer effort to not just poll watchers but election officials .
People are going to be in the room .
If everybody does their job according to plan right now President Trump will have a massive lead late in the evening on the third of November .
And that bold red predicate has to be held .
And so that ’ s got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to be into counting rooms .
Absolutely essential that we have young , vigorous , tough people understanding that traditionally many of the people have done that .
Our senior population is rightfully concerned about the CCP virus so we need young people .
Because this is going to be a knife fight in each one of these rooms to appropriately certify and make sure that the ballots that came in are certified and certifiable .
It absolutely should count and that ’ s a vote .
But if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count .
And that ’ s where the fights are going to be .
And so Saturday night we ’ re going to have a partner ’ s discussion .
You ’ ll get super inside baseball .
And John , I got so much positive feedback from the event in New York and particularly your radio interview afterward .
So the John Fredericks radio network continues to resonate throughout the country in the world .
One of the things you need to understand that we have a massive Chinese audience because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subtitled in mandarin but also broadcast live in mandarin now .
And it ’ s interesting .
As tough and as gnarly as our democracy is , we ’ re actually teaching a working lesson for people that don ’ t have freedom like the Chinese about Reagan .
When I first heard Reagan ’ s statement that freedom is only one generation away from losing .
You kind of dismissed it at the time because back in the 70s and 80s obviously it didn ’ t look like anything like that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire republic is on the line here on November third .
It ’ s no longer a theoretical debate .
It ’ s not a philosophical debate .
There ’ s no commercial or 30-second spot that ’ s going to change this .
This is all about mobilization .
This is all about the ground game .
This is all about the nitty-gritty of just physically getting people out to exercise their right to vote .
And that ’ s what this is all going to come down to .
Fredericks : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couple of weeks ago .
Then there was the debate .
Which as you know I was not happy and I made that clear .
I didn ’ t think it was a good idea to not let Biden talk and to interrupt him .
And I thought for a lot of people it was just annoying .
So I wouldn ’ t have done that .
But now you look at some of these national polls and I know we went through this in 2016 .
But you look at these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming out showing Biden up by 15 , 18 20 , 23 .
I mean these are absurd numbers .
What is the deal with this ?
Bannon : Well look it ’ s about it ’ s about momentum .
And I think the president ’ s got a very compelling case .
We ’ re not called War Room Pandemic for nothing .
We always assumed that this pandemic because it ’ s driving the financial it ’ s driving an economic crisis it ’ s driving a financial crisis of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had Betsy McCoy on who was former I think lieutenant governor of New York .
She ’ s a right fire breather and New York Post columnist and she makes the most compelling argument which I ’ ve been saying .
Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic is so much more powerful than the to-do list that Harris and Biden put up .
I would be diving into that and pivoting into that hard .
I think you ’ ve got to get out .
You ’ ve got to make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of going and doing these rallies right now .
Right now I think you got to look at operating leverage .
You ’ ve got amazing people that can go out there .
You ’ ve got Lara Trump and you ’ ve got Donald Trump Jr. , Kimberly Guilford , Corey Lewandowski , and Rudy Giuliani .
You ’ ve got 10 to 15 great surrogates .
Bannon : We could spread the country and the battleground states with key people doing mini rallies .
And then beam the president in for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaking .
And each one has a news item so you force the mainstream media to cover you .
All they ’ re gon na be covering in a rally is they ’ re gon na be covered how many people don ’ t have masks on .
how many people are sick .
And it ’ s just so much time to fly down and to get there .
And I don ’ t want people waiting five hours .
The Trump people are fabulous .
The Trump base is great .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I want to do , knock on doors .
Bannon : Knocking on doors .
I love rallies .
I could go to rallies every day .
But that ’ s not where we are .
so we need those people knocking on doors or the ones that can knock on doors working phone banks .
we ’ re now into grinded out time .
And I think that there ’ s some disconnect .
Particularly I would be taking down what we did in ’ 16 .
Take down the spots he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something .
Take down the spots .
You ’ re getting outspent eight to one anyway .
And there are no spots here they ’ re gon na make a difference and stop chasing suburban women and suburban housewives .
It ’ s just not there .
I ’ ve said this in the beginning .
you ’ ve got Hispanics .
You ’ ve got African-Americans .
You ’ ve got African-American males .
You ’ ve got Hispanic males .
You ’ ve got people that resonate with the economic nationalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the votes are , and I would pound that .
And I would do pay chase .
It ’ s the time you ’ ve got to shift your resources to have people .
You ’ ve got an advantage .
You see Pelosi these people are panicked .
They ’ re trying to get out the vote for the third .
They realize they don ’ t want to be outvoted on the game day .
They ’ re trying to shift the resources .
It ’ s very difficult for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just their low information voters they traumatized their elites too .
None of them want to go out they all got fear .
So we got to leverage off that and get our people out going door to door .
You ’ ve got to get paid chase .
This is all going to come down .
That ’ s what the story in The Hill John will look at today but the early vote in a b vote is going to come down to local density voters .
You got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low propensity voters love President Trump but their local penalty for a reason .
They don ’ t vote okay .
You got to go curate that .
Fredericks : So you got to go to that you got to go to them to get the low propensity voters out .
You got to go to them .
Bannon : You ’ ve got the data and you know where they are .
You got to go knock on a door .
You got to physically knock on a door you got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go back .
It ’ s not one time .
You got to go right .
So forget it .
We ’ re past the nice philosophical talk .
This is about physically getting people to go vote .
And I think that that ’ s got to be a thing .
And I ’ m adamantly just against these rallies because you can do 10 digital or streaming .
You ’ ve got 15 fabulous people .
Fabulous .
Biden ’ s got nobody .
He literally has nobody that can go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even have a vice president that can go out there .
I ’ m actually pretty high on her .
I thought her staff did a terrible job of getting Senator Harris ready .
Listen to the full show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-10-10--Perspective on Ohio Governor DeWine’s Trip Around Ohio to Talk ‘COVID Spread’

Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine made his rounds in Ohio on Friday – among other spots , stopping near Toledo and Youngstown to talk about “ COVID spread.
” The Ohio Star covered one of the briefings , during which DeWine said if Ohioans don ’ t mask , distance , and follow mandates then schools and colleges will inevitably go remote and businesses will likely shutter because people will be afraid .
“ The biggest threat to our economy is not wearing masks , ” said DeWine at outside Toledo Express Airport .
Then he cited funerals and family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For now , the state dashboard shows COVID cases in Ohio peaked on July 13 –10 days before the mask mandate .
According to the state ’ s COVID-19 dashboard , Ohio has experienced 156,480 confirmed cases and 141,162 people have recovered as of Friday .
The Buckeye State is testing more than ever , administering 43,506 as last reported on October 7 .
For perspective – the highest case count on July 13 was the result of 5.6 % of 20,466 cases being positive .
On Friday , the Centers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported a national average positive test average of 4.9 % – Ohio is currently at 3.4 % .
The survival rates per the CDC are as follows : The CDC indicates that masks may “ help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the mask coughs , sneezes , talks , or raises their voice.
” However , according to Swiss Policy Research there is evidence to support the inefficacy of masks .
And although there is no scientific evidence from studies yet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiences from medical workers – claiming that renal failure is on the rise as a consequence of masking .
Health professionals have asked to remain nameless for protection .
Ohio ’ s COVID dashboard can be found here to research cases , hospitalizations and deaths .
Ohio Public Health Advisory System ( OPHAS ) can be found here .
The OPHAS was designed as a tool to give local officials control to make decisions about schools , businesses , life and restrictions in their own communities .
DeWine and the OPHAS co-creator Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an early weather warning system – it is a “ what if ?
” The Star has reported on OPHAS and you can find the reports here : • Report on Richland Co. that covers all indicators Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Mike DeWine ” by Mike DeWine .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-10--Northam Announces More Money for Closed Schools

Governor Ralph Northam is sending an additional $ 220 million of Coronavirus Aid , Recovery , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act funds to Virginia ’ s schools , according to a Thursday press release .
The money is intended to help purchase testing supplies , personal protective equipment , sanitation , and virtual learning technology .
The Virginia Star asked Northam ’ s spokesperson Alena Yarmousky why extra funding is needed even though most schools are in a largely virtual setting .
“ School divisions can use the funding as needed — including for technological upgrades for distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the AP , the money is $ 20 million more than proposed by the House of Delegates in a recent budget .
“ The governor recently warned lawmakers that he won ’ t sign a budget that constricts his ability to spend federal relief funds , ” the AP states .
“ The Governor doesn ’ t give us a heads-up on anything like this , so he just makes an announcement , ” Delegate Glenn Davis ( R-Virginia Beach ) told The Virginia Star .
Davis thought the funds could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment to a hybrid model .
However , Davis said , “ [ Continued school closures ] disproportionately hurt poorer communities .
It disproportionately hurts minority communities , which have less access to high speed bandwidth.
” Davis added , “ I do think the Governor is ignoring the significant and immediate needs of our students.
” The press release adds , “ Governor Northam was one of the first governors in the country to close schools for in-person instruction when COVID-19 began to spread quickly during the 2020 spring semester.
” Davis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s critical of the way the governor made the decision to close schools .
Davis said Northam should have gathered teachers , doctors , and other professionals for a discussion : “ Here ’ s the problem .
Now let ’ s all put our heads together and figure out the best way to make sure that we are able to fully give a quality years-worth of education to our students , but in a safe manner , ” Davis suggested .
“ That ’ s a conversation that needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what occurred.
” “ A lot of what we ’ re seeing today is due to poor planning prior to the school year , ” Davis said .
“ And you can talk to almost any superintendent and they ’ ll share the frustration about the continual change of positions by the Governor that really caused them to be ill-prepared for this school year.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-10--Gov. Walz Calls Special Session Monday to Extend Emergency Powers

Gov .
Tim Walz announced Wednesday a special session will take place Monday , Oct. 12 , during which he intends to extend his peacetime emergency declaration for the seventh time .
In the governor ’ s Proclamation for Special Session , issued Oct. 7 , Walz said an “ extraordinary occasion ” has ensued , and , therefore , “ it is necessary to extend the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency.
” Because Walz intends to extend his powers for an additional 30 days , the Legislature has been called into session .
Both the GOP-led Senate and DFL-led House will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Senate may again try to end Walz ’ s emergency declaration , but successfully stripping the governor of his powers would require the approval of both chambers .
Last special session , Rep. Jim Nash , R-Waconia , said , “ Walz is making all the coronavirus calls in a system where the executive , legislative and judicial branches are all part of government.
” “ It ’ s causing a huge amount of frustration to see the governor making these types of executive orders that affect businesses and people ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no voice in it , ” Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen , R-Glencoe , added .
Walz ’ s emergency powers were first granted March 13 and have since been extended six times .
Under his emergency powers , Walz has been able to unilaterally close down churches , schools and businesses , and institute a mask mandate .
Walz said in a previous statement , “ It ’ s imperative that we have the tools necessary to respond to this rapidly-evolving virus quickly and decisively in order to safeguard the health and well-being of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has noted that the peacetime emergency powers are “ consistent with the ongoing national emergency declared by the President and the emergencies declared in every state in the U.S. ” Senate Republicans have removed two of Walz ’ s cabinet members over the last two special sessions , presumably in retaliation for the governor ’ s continued use of emergency powers .
This special session will be the fifth of 2020 , and the 13th since 2010 .
Rose Williams is a reporter for Alpha News .
Photo “ Tim Walz ” by @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--State Sen. Kerry Roberts Recovering from Aneurysm

State Sen. Kerry Roberts ( R-Springfield ) is reportedly recovering from an aneurysm .
Lt. Gov .
Randy McNally on Friday night tweeted , “ My thoughts and prayers are with Senator @ kerryeroberts tonight .
Senator Roberts was taken to the hospital this afternoon after suffering an aneurysm .
He is currently stable and alert .
He will be kept at the hospital for observation as he recovers.
” Darlene Schlicher , Senate Republican Caucus press secretary , said in a statement , “ Senator Roberts is resting comfortably today .
Although preliminary tests look good , he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff in the coming days .
The Roberts family is very grateful for the excellent care that he has received from first responders and hospital staff .
They are also very thankful for the outpouring of concern and for the thoughts and prayers lifted on his behalf.
” Roberts has made frequent appearances on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m .
Most recently , on one episode in June , the senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and COVID-19 liability bill as well as John Bolton ’ s new book and President Donald Trump ’ s decision-making tendencies .
In another recent episode of The Tennessee Star Report in June , Roberts and Leahy discussed how Nashville Mayor John Cooper made it difficult for the Republican National Convention to come to Nashville .
Roberts said , “ We are not going fix this world .
Sorry for saying this if this offends somebody , but we ’ re not going to fix this world until people come to know Jesus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You don ’ t hate your neighbor .
You don ’ t wish ill on them .
You want good for other people.
” Roberts is married to Dianne , and the couple has three children , according to his Legislature biography .
He is a 1983 graduate of Lipscomb University and is president of Resource Network LLC .
His committee assignments include the chairmanship of the Senate Government Operations Committee .
His most recent honors , from earlier this year , are the 2020 Taxpayer Hero award from Americans for Prosperity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the National Federation of Independent Business .
According to his campaign website , Roberts said , “ When you elected me to be your state senator in 2014 and again in 2018 , you hired me to serve and represent you .
During these past few years , I ’ ve had the blessing of helping folks with local , state , or federal government .
Whether teachers dealing with the repeated failures of TNReady , single mothers struggling with TennCare , elderly folks losing SNAP EBT cards , veterans trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farmers fighting the EPA , or commuters calling out TDOT for needed road repairs , our office has become the “ help desk ” for Tennesseans in Robertson , Cheatham , Dickson , Hickman , and Humphreys counties .
It is truly an honor to serve.
” Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Background Photo “ Tennessee General Assembly ” by the Tennessee General Assembly .

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


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--#WalkAway Rescue America Event in Nashville Doubles as a Trump Rally

NASHVILLE , Tennessee – A # WalkAway Campaign event held in Nashville Saturday at Legislative Plaza was every bit as much a Trump Rally , considering the attire of the attendees and their overwhelmingly enthusiastic reactions to mentions of the President .
Despite the downpours caused by tropical storm Delta , about 100 people turned out Saturday afternoon for the # WalkAway Rescue America Rally .
Before the official start of the event , music was playing that attendees danced to , sang along with and intermittently joined in patriotic changes such as U-S-A .
# WalkAway Campaign is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gay former Democrat , Brandon Straka .
The campaign was launched with a powerful six-minute YouTube video detailing Straka ’ s perspective , “ Why I Left Liberalism & The Democratic Party.
” The campaign encourages and supports others to also # WalkAway .
Many of its nearly 493,000 Facebook members from all walks of life have shared their own # WalkAway stories .
While Straka voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and didn ’ t start the # WalkAway Campaign to support a particular candidate , he himself supports Donald Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ event demonstrated their support for President Trump with their red Make America Great Again and Keep America Great hats , various supportive messages on shirts and Trump flags .
Part of Straka ’ s journey was learning that it is not Donald Trump that is the enemy , but the media .
In fact , as a gay man , Straka learned through his research that Trump supports the LGBT community .
Straka relayed that at a small meet-and-greet with conservative LGBT Republicans the night before that included former openly gay Acting Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that event , President Trump called the group .
With a note of sarcasm , Straka told the audience he thought that was weird .
“ I thought he was the most anti-gay president that we ’ ve ever had , ” which was met with some boos from attendees .
“ So , I thought it was really weird that he called group of gay men to tell us he loved us .
He ’ s behind us 100 percent , ” relayed Straka before his voice was drowned out by cheers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daytime soap operas with his mother in the 1980 ’ s , Straka said the Democrats are starting to remind him of a daytime soap opera .
“ When Nancy Pelosi came out and announced she was going to try to push a bill to imply that President Trump is not fit , this is like Days of our Lives.
” “ I am ashamed that I used to be a Democrat .
I am embarrassed that I used to be a Democrat , ” added Straka .
Then he went into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I went out and early voted , ” Straka said , because he is going to be on the road every day until the election .
“ We ’ ve got to go out in person to vote.
” “ They are going to cheat , cheat , cheat , cheat .
We must do everything that we can to stop them !
” warned Straka .
Straka then introduced the first of several guest speakers , organizational psychologist , writer , speaker , compulsive knitter and accidental political commentator , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She spoke about her own # WalkAway experience , after having been a Democrat for 20 years in Vermont – home of Bernie Sanders , she pointed out .
As part of the knitting community , Borysenko shared that the bullying by hundreds of people for what she has referred to as innocuous offenses caused one man to have a nervous breakdown and be admitted to the hospital on suicide watch .
An article Borysenko wrote about her experience attending a Trump rally in Manchester , New Hampshire , went viral with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and got her featured on Fox News , Glenn Beck and Dennis Prager among others .
A gay and conservative Trump supporter , David Leatherwood , told the story of how he was fired from his job because of his political beliefs .
After being outed for his then anonymous @ realbrokebackpatriot Twitter account , Leatherwood was fired by his employer of four and a half years due to the demands of progressive leftists .
The incident did not hinder Leatherwood ’ s support for President Trump .
In fact , it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package from the Trump campaign along with a personalized note which he shared with an emotional reading on social media .
Political commentator Shemeka Michelle opened her remarks by making a jab at Presidential candidate Joe Biden , whom she referred to as “ Lyin ’ Biden.
” Michelle said she had to take time off from work to be at the rally , and that was a challenge for a black woman who keep the grocery shelves stocked .
That was a reference to Biden saying , “ The reason I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is because Black women were able to keep the grocery shelves stocked.
” One of Michelle ’ s encounters with a member of Black Lives Matter was detailed by RedState in August .
As the rally wrapped up , which was a happy and uplifting event , Straka made an exciting announcement to the attendees .
For some time , Straka has been challenging members of the left to participate in a debate .
“ The LGBT Throwdown , ” as it ’ s been named , will be held in Fort Lauderdale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live event will feature Straka , transgender YouTuber Blaire White and gay YouTuber Mike Harlow on the right versus Black non-binary queer Tyesha Best , Rev .
Dr. Durrell Watkins Senior Pastor of Sunshine Cathedral and Dr. Tai Houser , English Professor and Broward College on the left .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Commentary: Health Professionals Say Lockdowns Were a Massive Mistake

President Trump caused a bit of a commotion this week when he didn ’ t die from the coronavirus .
Much to the dismay of many folks on the left , he seems to be making a nice recovery from his illness .
Perhaps what has offended people more than his continued life is the bravado that he is projecting post-hospitalization at Walter Reed .
On Monday , he tweeted in part , “ Feeling really good .
Don ’ t be afraid of Covid .
Don ’ t let it dominate your life.
” You can almost imagine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over at CNN and MSNBC .
In these politically polarized times , while half the country mourns the commander-in-chief ’ s apparent survival , perhaps it ’ s worthwhile for all Americans ( and indeed , folks all around the world ) to reconsider the level of pure panic and fear that our governments and the media have instilled in us .
Trump shoots from the hip and often pisses people off .
No shock there .
Of course responsible citizens should be concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2 , but should they be irrationally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly in a small percentage of people who become infected , primarily those with advanced age and comorbidities ( i.e .
folks like Donald Trump ) .
No one is denying that fact , and no serious medical professional would do so .
With time comes data , and with data comes a responsibility for the soothsayers to gaze backwards for a change .
True , some said early on that unfocused , unilateral lockdowns were detrimental , but those opinions were mostly viewed as outliers .
Not so anymore .
The “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a meeting of world-renowned epidemiologists , economists , and journalists , sponsored by the American Institute for Economic Research .
The original signers and co-signers are an impressive group of academicians , including well-respected professors from Harvard , Stanford , and Oxford , to name a few .
As I write this , 5,201 public health scientists and 10,217 medical practitioners have signed this petition .
The petition calls for what the authors call “ focused protection.
” Per the declaration : As the authors point out , It ’ s worthwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , politicians have sanctimoniously scoffed at those of us who didn ’ t support drastic lockdowns because we supposedly weren ’ t “ following the science.
” Well , this is a declaration from many of the world ’ s leading epidemiologists who recognize that lockdowns were a mistake .
This document with its ever-growing list of co-signers has important implications for the future .
We have to decide what kind of world we are going to live in .
Most states still have shutdowns of various flavors in place .
Already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of New York City , is starting the second wave of shutdowns in that city in response to a spike in cases .
What does case number even matter if most everyone who contracts the virus survives it ?
And isn ’ t there a certain amount of risk that living a free life requires ?
The notion of locking down completely and going into hiding in response to a virus has never been attempted ( at least not to this scale ) , and it ’ s important that those of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our assessment of government ’ s actions over the past year : they have been terribly misguided , they have harmed our lives and livelihoods greatly , and we should never allow this to happen again .
Never .
It turns out that President Trump was mostly ( but not entirely ) correct in his recent Twitter escapade .
COVID-19 can be serious and , in very rare cases , unpredictably so .
We should all have a reasonable level of fear concerning this virus .
We should all take reasonable precautions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not , however , ruin our lives and continue to destroy the engines of the world .
It isn ’ t warranted .
The morbidity and mortality rates don ’ t support it , and a focused approach is far less destructive to the economy and to our overall emotional and physical health .
It ’ s nice to see that increasing numbers of the world ’ s preeminent public health scientists are finally starting to look at the data and come down on the side of common sense for a change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bureaucrats and others who are hell-bent on politicizing this situation indefinitely to reconsider .
More and more people ( scientists and non-scientists alike ) will continue to understand just how ridiculous and immoral these shutdowns really are .
Logic will eventually triumph .
I believe that it always does .
Reed Spaulding IV , MD , is a practicing pathologist who grew up in rural Kentucky and now splits his time between Kentucky and Indiana .
All opinions expressed are his and not those of his employer .
Follow him on Twitter @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--More Than 40 Tennessee Residents Charged in Federal Domestic Violence Cases

The U.S. Department of Justice announced it has charged more than 500 domestic violence cases involving firearms this fiscal year , and 44 of those cases originated out of Middle and Western Tennessee .
This , according to two press releases that officials with the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and the Middle District of Tennessee emailed this week .
Attorney General William P. Barr created the Department of Justice ’ s first ever-Domestic Violence Working Group in 2019 , both press releases said .
These charges are the result of the critical law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives , led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo .
Lombardo has made domestic violence firearms-related investigations a priority , according to the two press releases .
“ Of the more than 500 cases charged , 19 cases have been brought in Middle Tennessee .
Of those 19 cases , firearms were used in 10 of the incidents .
This announcement follows the recent conviction of a Chapel Hill , Tennessee man , on federal firearms charges , after he assaulted his estranged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rounds from an assault rifle as she hid in a bedroom closet , ” according to the Middle Tennessee press release .
“ Though not included in the FY 2020 statistics , Laqueston Goff , 33 , was convicted late last month , after a 3-day bench trial in U.S. District Court.
” And federal Western District of Tennessee officials have brought more than 25 cases this fiscal year , said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant in his respective press release .
“ Here in the Western District of Tennessee , the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of defendants charged with domestic violence-related firearms offenses over the last three years , ” according to the Western District of Tennessee press release .
“ Under federal law , individuals with domestic violence misdemeanor and felony convictions , as well as individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders , are prohibited from possessing firearms , ” according to the Middle Tennessee press release .
“ The data shows that offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a high risk of homicide .
In fact , domestic violence abusers with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times more likely to kill their partners.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Delta Adds Insult to Injury in Hurricane-Ravaged Louisiana

LAKE CHARLES , Louisiana ( AP ) — The day after Hurricane Delta blew through besieged southern Louisiana , residents started the routine again : dodging overturned cars , trudging through knee-deep water to flooded homes with ruined floors and no power , and pledging to rebuild after the storm .
Delta made landfall Friday evening near the coastal Louisiana town of Creole with top winds of 100 mph ( 155 kph ) .
It then moved over Lake Charles , a city where Hurricane Laura damaged nearly every home and building in late August .
No deaths had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said people were not out of danger .
While Delta was a weaker storm than Category 4 Laura , it brought significantly more flooding , Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said .
He estimated that hundreds of already battered homes across the city took on water .
The recovery from the double impact will be long , the mayor said .
“ Add Laura and Delta together and it ’ s just absolutely unprecedented and catastrophic , ” Hunter said .
“ We are very concerned that with everything going in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be on the radar nationally like it should be.
” Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards said no fatalities had been reported as of Saturday , but a hurricane ’ s wake can be treacherous .
Only seven of the 32 deaths in Louisiana and Texas attributed to Laura came the day that hurricane struck .
A leading cause of the others was carbon monoxide poisoning from generators used in buildings without electricity .
“ Everybody needs to exercise a lot of caution even now , and really , especially now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25th named storm of an unprecedented Atlantic hurricane season , was the 10th named storm to hit the mainland U.S. this year , breaking a record set in 1916 , Colorado State University researcher Phil Klotzbach said .
It rapidly weakened over land and slowed into a tropical depression Saturday morning .
Forecasters warned that heavy rain , storm surges and flash floods continued to pose dangers in areas from Texas to Mississippi .
Large swells and rip currents closed beaches down to the Mexican border .
Remnants of the storm also could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , and flash floods could hit the southern Appalachians , the National Weather Service said .
Louisiana avoided one feared scenario : that the winds would pick up the debris left by Laura – piles of soggy insulation , moldy mattresses , tree limbs and twisted metal siding – and turn it into projectiles .
In at least some neighborhoods , the small mountains stood on curbs more or less intact .
Delta inflicted most of its damage with rain instead wind .
It dumped more than 15 inches of rain on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 10 inches on Baton Rouge .
Southwest parishes such as Cameron , Jefferson Davis , Vermilion and Acadia that sustained heavy blows from Laura took the hardest hit .
The governor cautioned that it would be difficult to distinguish the damage Delta caused from what was leftover from the August hurricane .
More than 9,400 people were being sheltered by the state Saturday , but only 935 were Delta evacuees , Edwards said .
The others were still displaced by Laura .
Edwards said 3,000 Louisiana National Guard soldiers were mobilized to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tarps , and 10,000 utility workers were working to get power restored to nearly 600,000 customers .
With the water knee-deep along Legion Street in Lake Charles , resident Patrick King had to wade through the water Saturday to get to his home after he returned from spending the night in Beaumont , Texas .
“ I was hoping and praying that it didn ’ t get into the house , but it did .
It rose up close to the furniture , ” King said .
Before evacuating , he had put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep water out of his one-story brick house .
Pulling them back upon his return , he saw worms and spiders scurrying about inside .
“ Look at that , look at that , ” he said .
“ Worms !
My wife sees that , she ’ s going to cry.
” “ It ’ s totally frustrating and in fact , it makes you want to give up , but you have to keep on pushing , ” King said .
“ Me and my wife , we are praying people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let things happen for a reason.
” The damage also stretched inland , with trees shorn of leaves and falling onto streets in Louisiana ’ s capital of Baton Rouge .
The storm blew down two homes under construction in Galveston , Texas , and toppled the steeple of a church in Jennings , Louisiana .
Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso told KPLC-TV that the vehicles overturned on Interstate 10 should give pause to anyone thinking about rushing back to the disaster area .
“ Rising water with all the rain is the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s still dangerous out there , and we ’ re just going to have to start over from a few weeks ago.
” The U.S. Gulf Coast is no stranger to hurricanes , and its people are resilient , Lake Charles resident Katie Prejean McGrady said .
But the double punch of the back-to-back storms — on top of the pandemic — has left many in the community reeling , she said .
“ I ’ m taxed out .
And I think that ’ s most people in town , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a mental exhaustion that sets in and then there ’ s a fear of ‘ Does anybody outside this region care ?
’ ” she said .
“ The reality is our town won ’ t be the same for a year , if not longer.
” McGrady and her family had just returned to their home for the first time since evacuating ahead of Hurricane Laura when she was nine months pregnant .
They arrived back in Lake Charles last weekend , got a new roof on Monday and had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hadn ’ t even unpacked his suitcase , ” McGrady said , who works for a Catholic publisher .
“ I had just put away my daughter ’ s toys.
” Rebecca Santana , Stacey Plaisance , Alanna Durkin Richer are reporters for The Associated Press .
AP contributors include Rebecca Santana in Jennings , Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge ; Gerald Herbert in Lake Charles ; Seth Borenstein in Kensington , Maryland ; Alanna Durkin Richer in West Harwich , Massachusetts and Sophia Tulp in Atlanta .
About the Headline Photo : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lake Charles , La.
, following Hurricane Delta on Saturday , Oct. 10 , 2020 .
( Chris Granger/The Advocate via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Trump Voters 20 Percent More Likely Than Biden Voters to be Excited About Their Candidate

President Trump voters are more excited to vote for their candidate than Joe Biden voters are for theirs , according to a new Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen .
Among a sample of likely voters , 82 % of Trump supporters said they were “ excited about [ their ] candidate.
” Sixty-seven percent of Biden voters felt that way .
Just 17 % of Trump voters consider the Republican candidate the “ lesser of two evils , ” compared to 31 % of Biden voters who applied that label to the Democratic presidential challenger .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from their pre-debate levels , Rasmussen said .
“ Prior to the first debate , on Sept. 29 , 83 % of Trump supporters were excited , ” he said .
“ After , that number held steady at 82 % But the number supporting Trump declined slightly.
” “ As for Biden , 72 % of those supporting him before the debate were excited , ” Rasmussen continued .
“ That slipped to 67 % after .
It ’ s basically a shift within the margin of error , but it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comparison on the stage in Cleveland.
” The survey of 1,200 Registered Voters was conducted by Rasmussen using a mixed-mode approach from October 1-3 , 2020 .
The sample included 763 Likely Voters were defined as those who say they are “ Definitely going to vote ” or “ Very Likely to Vote ” and who know how they will vote .
The Likely Voter sample was 37 % Republican , 39 % Democrat , and 24 % Independent .
Click here to see this poll question ’ s methodology and sample demographics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question ’ s methodology and sample demographics .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Yelp Will Alert Customers of Businesses Accused of Racism

Yelp announced Thursday that it is launching a consumer alert to inform users if a business has been “ accused of racist behavior , ” The Daily Caller reports .
The crowdsourced web and mobile-based review service will allow reviewers to identify and warn others of what they believe is racist behavior at businesses .
According to a statement on the company ’ s blog , Noorie Malik , Yelp ’ s vice president of user operations writes , members of Yelp ’ s User Operations team will apply a new label called the “ Business Accused of Racist Behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s resounding evidence of egregious , racist actions from a business owner or employee , such as using overtly racist slurs or symbols.
” The new alert aims to keep the businesses informed of negative reviews and let customers know what they might be walking into .
“ Now more than ever , consumers are increasingly conscious of the types of businesses they patronize and support .
They are ‘ voting with their dollars , ’ so to speak , ” said Malik .
“ We needed a better solution to inform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , racially charged actions to help people feel comfortable patronizing a business , ” Malik added .
Reviews of alleged racist actions will be added after Yelp determines the presence of such “ resounding evidence ” and “ must reflect an actual first-hand consumer experience , ” the statement noted .
The action has come as consumers have been increasingly using the platform to call out behavior they deem racist , amid a broader ‘ Black Lives Matter ’ movement that alleges ‘ systemic racism ’ in America .
According to Yelp ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 the company placed over 450 alerts concerning racist behavior .
“ We ’ re often alerted of discrimination occurring at local businesses across the country on a daily basis and often in smaller towns where they may not even make the news , ” Malik says .
The new feature has been criticized by those who argue that the new alerts could easily be abused .
Former California congressional candidate Beatrice Cardenas , wrote in a tweet : “ This is such a subjective accusation to make against someone .
You are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives destroyed when this new feature gets abused and weaponized , and people lose their businesses .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Tennessee Officials Warn of COVID-19 Scams Throughout State

The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance ’ s Securities Division this week encouraged state investors to proceed cautiously on new investment opportunities .
Fraudsters , TDCI officials said , continue to take advantage of the buzz surrounding companies promoting products and services related to the COVID-19 pandemic .
This , according to a press release that TDCI officials published on their website .
“ With the world focused on the pandemic , scammers are preying upon unsuspecting investors by continuing to peddle supposed ‘ miracle ’ cures or purportedly innovative technologies , ” TDCI officials said in the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the coronavirus currently exist .
Investors should be wary of schemes they see on the Internet and social media that claim to be raising money for companies promising new health care products that can detect , treat or cure the coronavirus .
While some of these claims could be legitimate , many will ring hollow , leaving investors with nothing but broken promises and empty pockets.
” TDCI Assistant Commissioner Elizabeth Bowling said investors who have questions about either an investment opportunity or the salesperson should immediately contact TDCI ’ s Securities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ These pitches may include offers to invest in medical technology or healthcare companies by purchasing membership units in general or limited partnerships , stocks or ‘ penny stocks , ’ or through other investment vehicles , including private placement offerings , initial coin offerings or other cryptocurrency-related investors or crowdfunding , ” according to the TDCI press release .
“ State and provincial securities regulators recently launched an enforcement initiative to disrupt investment schemes related to the pandemic .
Many of the schemes shared common characteristics.
” • They focus on fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the stock market and the economy .
• They exploit trendy assets such as cryptocurrencies or complex investment programs involving foreign currencies .
While they may sound new or exciting , these types of products are also very unfamiliar to most inexperienced retail investors .
• They claim to give “ passive income ” or “ cash flow ” and promise to pay it on a monthly basis , which may appeal to unemployed retail investors or others negatively impacted by changes in the economy .
• The often misrepresent the risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ webpages to attempt to add legitimacy to the fraudulent offerings .
“ Even when investment offerings are made in accordance with the law , many are highly speculative and subject to the forces of market demand and competition , ” the TDCI press release said .
“ Be wary of optimistic offers , especially when made during a crisis.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--‘The Swamp’: Debate Commission Packed with Trump Critics from Both Parties

The leadership of the Commission on Presidential Debates , which organizes the general election debates , includes many Trump critics from both parties .
While the commission is officially nonpartisan and includes a mix of both Republicans and Democrats , it is overwhelmingly made up of members of the political establishment who are opposed to President Donald Trump .
Majorities of both the commission ’ s chairmen and board members include people who have either taken aim at the president in the past or donated to Democratic political candidates , a Daily Caller News Foundation review found .
Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to conduct the second debate virtually , which Trump cited as a reason to boycott the event .
“ The people who make critical decisions about the country ’ s presidential debates—events that impact how Americans will vote or if they vote at all—are , for the most part , elites who are part of the D.C.-New York clique known as the swamp , ” journalist Yashar Ali noted in his newsletter Thursday night .
Kenneth Wollack , one of the commission ’ s three co-chairs , donated to former President Barack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Federal Election Commission ( FEC ) records show .
Wollack , previously led a liberal think tank , previously donated to other Democrats , including Virginia Sen. Mark Warner , FEC records show .
Co-chair Dorothy Ridings , the former president of the League of Women Voters , also donated to Democratic candidates in the past , according to FEC records .
The commission ’ s lone Republican co-chair is Frank Fahrenkopf , who led the Republican National Committee in the 1980s before working as a lobbyist as president of the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until 2013 .
The commission ’ s ten board members include a mix of Republicans and Democrats , as well as former ABC News reporter Charlie Gibson and University of Notre Dame President Rev .
John Jenkins .
Both Democrats and Republicans on the commission have been vocal critics of Trump .
Former FCC chair Newton Minow , who served in former President John F. Kennedy ’ s administration , urged the five living former presidents to speak out against Trump in an October 2017 Washington Post op-ed .
“ You can speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional values .
You can lead the nation to explore informal and formal next steps , ” Minow wrote .
“ For the sake of the United States of America and our values , we need your voices now , ” he added .
Board member Jane Harman , a former Democratic congresswoman , called Trump “ disgraceful ” during the early stages of his 2016 campaign .
Former Citigroup chairman Richard Parsons , one of the commission ’ s Republican board members , said in 2018 that Trump is “ ill-equipped to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and isn ’ t “ good for any America.
” Parsons donated to former Florida Gov .
Jeb Bush ’ s unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign , FEC records show .
Former Republican Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe , who was known for opposing Trump in 2016 , is also on the commission .
Snowe , like Parsons , donated to Jeb Bush ’ s campaign in 2016 , FEC records show .
The commission didn ’ t return the DCNF ’ s request for comment for this story .
Former Republican Kansas Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even the Republican board members don ’ t support Trump and questioned the commission ’ s impartiality .
“ I know all of the Republicans [ on the commission ] and most are friends of mine .
I am concerned that none of them support @ realDonaldTrump , ” Dole tweeted Friday .
“ A biased Debate Commission is unfair.
” Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Frank Fahrenkopf ” by Fox News .
Background Photo “ Presidential Debate Stage ” by Gage Skidmore .
@ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Commentary: Trump Warns Spygate Investigation Will ‘Be Dismissed’ Under Biden ‘If We Don’t Win This

Commentary: Trump Warns Spygate Investigation Will ‘Be Dismissed’ Under Biden ‘If We Don’t Win This Election’

“ If we don ’ t win this election , that whole thing is going to end .
Okay ?
And you just remember that… [ T ] hat whole thing is going to be dismissed.
” That was President Donald Trump co-hosting the Rush Limbaugh Show on Oct. 9 with host Rush Limbaugh , stating the obvious in responding to news reported by Axios that Attorney General William Barr and U.S. Attorney John Durham will not be releasing any comprehensive report or conclude their investigation before the election into abuses by the Justice Department and intelligence agencies spying on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsely accusing the President and his team of being Russian agents .
This column has called the scandal Spygate .
It started during the Obama administration , and then the top secret investigation was carried over into the Trump administration — undermining the peaceful transfer of power in 2016 and perhaps doing irreparable damage to the Constitution and civil society .
According to the Axios report by Alayna Treene , “ Attorney General Bill Barr has begun telling top Republicans that the Justice Department ’ s sweeping review into the origins of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election , a senior White House official and a congressional aide briefed on the conversations tell Axios… Barr has made clear that they should not expect any further indictments or a comprehensive report before Nov. 3.
” Now , with the election just weeks away , this is not surprising .
What would have been surprising would be a lengthy report being dropped on the eve of the election or major prosecutions announced .
If any major bombshells were going to happen , they would ’ ve happened months ago .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience of millions , “ I ’ ll probably be disappointed because this stuff should ’ ve come out a year ago.
” On the progress of the investigation , the Axios report added that the ongoing criminal investigation is seeking prosecutions , “ Barr is communicating that Durham is taking his investigation extremely seriously and is focused on winning prosecutions .
According to one of the sources briefed on the conversations Barr said Durham is working in a deliberate and calculated fashion , and they need to be patient .
The general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , is that Durham is not preoccupied with completing his probe by a certain deadline for political purposes.
” In other words , the investigation will be done when it ’ s done .
In Durham ’ s eyes there is no rush .
But he ’ s wrong .
President Trump is right .
If former Vice President Joe Biden wins this election , he will never allow this investigation to continue .
It simply hits too close to home for Biden .
Consider , after all , Biden attended the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting with former President Barack Obama , former FBI Director James Comey and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates that a now fully declassified letter former National Security Advisor Susan Rice wrote to herself on Jan. 20 , 2017 , memorializing the meeting , showing the investigation was ordered by Obama to be carried over into the Trump administration .
Per Rice ’ s summary “ On January 5 , following a briefing by IC leadership on Russian hacking during the 2016 Presidential election , President Obama had a brief follow-on conversation with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Sally Yates in the Oval Office .
Vice President Biden and I were also present.
” This was the Russian interference into the 2016 election briefing given a day before then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper issued the joint intelligence assessment on the same .
However , the version that was given to former President Barack Obama and then-President-Elect Trump on Jan. 5 , 2017 included some of the phony allegations leveled by former British spy Christopher Steele ’ s dossier , paid for by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian agent .
This was the same dossier that led to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants aimed at former Trump campaign advisor Carter Page beginning in Oct. 2016 , his contacts in the campaign , and his contact ’ s contacts in the campaign and into Trump ’ s inner circle .
The allegations were eventually debunked by none other than Special Counsel Robert Mueller , who in his March 2019 report stated , “ [ T ] he investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interference activities , ” and “ the evidence does not establish that the President was involved in an underlying crime related to Russian election interference.
” After the core intel briefing on Jan. 5 , 2017 , former President Obama did nothing to stop the investigation into the incoming administration : “ President Obama began the conversation by stressing his continued commitment to ensuring that every aspect of this issue is handled by the Intelligence and law enforcement communities ‘ by the book ’ .
The President stressed that he is not asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a law enforcement perspective .
He reiterated that our law enforcement team needs to proceed as it normally would by the book .
From a national security perspective , however , President Obama said he wants to be sure that , as we engage with the incoming team , we are mindful to ascertain if there is any reason that we can not share information fully as it relates to Russia.
” Obama could have stopped it right then and there .
Instead , Obama directed Comey to continue with the witch hunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the book.
” And if it was necessary , to conceal classified information from the incoming Trump administration .
The memo continued , with promising to carry on the probe : “ Director Comey affirmed that he is proceeding ‘ by the book ’ as it relates to law enforcement .
From a national security perspective , Comey said he does have some concerns that incoming NSA Flynn is speaking frequently with Russian Ambassador Kislyak .
Comey said that could be an issue as it relates to sharing sensitive information .
President obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NSC should not pas sensitive information related to Russia to Flynn .
Comey replied , ‘ potentially.
’ He added that he has no indication thus far that Flynn has passed classified information to Kislyak , but he noted that ‘ the level of communication is unusual.
’ ” In the interview with Limbaugh , Trump blasted the entire investigation , calling it a “ coup ” : “ I was under investigation illegally… We caught them in the act .
They were spying on my campaign and they went for a coup.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ come out to the public if he wins the election ?
The answer is it will never come out .
President Trump is right .
If Biden wins , the Justice Department will immediately squash this investigation .
Which is why President Trump is urging his supporters to get out and vote , declaring , “ That ’ s another thing I ’ m fighting for , because these people have to be brought to justice.
” Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .
Photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Souza .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--UNC Asheville Locked Down After Email Threat Demands BLM Mural Be Painted Over

The University of North Carolina Asheville locked down after an email threat demanded a Black Lives Matter mural be painted over , according to a school alert .
The first alert was sent Friday at 7:30 a.m , according to the school alert .
The email sent the night before to multiple school offices not only had sent a “ threat to the safety of members of our UNC Asheville community ” , but also demanded a Black Lives Matter mural from the campus be painted over , according to an alert update from the Office of the Chancellor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ place , all non-essential personnel should return home .
We will provide updates as they become available , ” according to the school alert .
In-person and virtual school activities were cancelled Friday because of the threat .
The school dispatched an alert to shelter in place for “ all faculty , staff and students…until further notice , ” according to the Office of the Chancellor ’ s message .
“ A decision has been made to send a Bulldog Alert to all faculty , staff , and students to shelter in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees , other than essential personnel , stay away from campus today .
We will keep the community apprised as information becomes available and we will reopen campus as soon as possible .
But no earlier than tomorrow morning , ” the message continued .
“ Chief Eric Boyce and the EoC are working with senior staff and state and local authorities and we will keep you updated .
Please discontinue any and all in-person and virtual classes , practices and activities throughout today , ” the message continued .
State and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent the school into the lockdown , according to a 10:37 a.m. update .
The school was still locked down at 10:00 a.m and urged anyone on campus to continue being “ sheltered in place until further notice , ” according to an update .
“ While all mandatory meetings , classes , University scheduled conversations , and forums are canceled , including those to be conducted virtually , we support any optional one on one or small group virtual connections that folks want to have to support one another , ” according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided other resources for students and expressed that the school will be sending further updates .
Manager of News & PR Steve Plever told the Daily Caller News Foundation they aren ’ t doing media interviews and that the investigation is still underway and the school is still on lock down .
Eric Boyce , Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety/Chief of Police , did not immediately respond to the DCNF .
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ University of North Carolina Asheville ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Facebook Will Remove ‘Militarized’ Calls for Unauthorized Poll Watchers

Facebook said Wednesday it will remove posts that use “ militarized language ” to call for people to participate in poll watching or when the intent behind the posts is to intimidate voters , according to a CNN report .
The policy change comes after Donald Trump Jr.posted a video online last month and called on people to “ enlist ” in an “ army ” for his father ’ s “ election security operation.
” Throughout this election year , Facebook has been criticized for being too lenient on posts with military-style language .
Last month , Facebook and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s video pointing to accurate information about voting , but neither company said the video was eligible for removal under their guidelines .
“ We are training our teams in applying those policies , and it ’ ll be my team looking at that content as we make those decisions , ” Bickert said .
Facebook also said it would temporarily stop running political ads in the United States after polls close on Nov. 3 .
The restrictions will also apply to political ads that began running prior to Election Day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 , we ’ re going to stop running all political and issues ads to reduce opportunities for confusion or abuse , ” said Guy Rosen , Facebook ’ s vice president of integrity .
Facebook ’ s action is similar to one that Google adopted last month for ads on its services , including YouTube .
It is unclear how long the moratorium could last .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--South Carolina Senate Candidate Suggests Amy Coney Barrett Might Allow Racial Segregation to Return

South Carolina Senate candidate Jaime Harrison suggested Wednesday that Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett might allow racial segregation to return , video shows .
Harrison spoke Wednesday at a Post and Courier Pints and Politics event in Columbia , South Carolina , where he discussed whether he would vote for Barrett ’ s confirmation to the Supreme Court .
“ I would love to have an opportunity to ask her some questions , ” he said .
“ Are you going to roll back the civil rights of folks ?
” “ We need to move closer to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and being treated equally in this country , ” he continued .
“ And if the way that you interpret the law is to roll back on those civil rights gained by folks ?
Then I can ’ t be supportive of that.
” Harrison also said that he does not support packing the court .
“ There are ramifications for what you do when you open up Pandora ’ s box , ” he said .
“ And so I don ’ t wan na change filibusters , I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court at this point in time .
And so I don ’ t want to open that Pandora ’ s box.
” “ And so if folks are starting to say Plessy v. Ferguson needs to be established law again , well let me tell you , as a black man who grew up in the South , I ain ’ t gon na let that happen , ” he continued .
“ Right ?
So let ’ s be clear about that .
I don ’ t look good in chains , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to that.
” The South Carolina senate candidate added that he does not think “ we would ever go back to that.
” Harrison did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Jamie Harrison ” by Post and Courier .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Pompeo: More Hillary Clinton Emails Could Be Released Before Election

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday the State Department is working to release emails from Hillary Clinton ’ s private server , and that the documents could be published before the November election .
“ We ’ ve got the emails , we ’ re getting them out .
We ’ ll get all of this information out so the American people can see them , ” Pompeo said in an interview on Fox News .
Earlier Friday , President Donald Trump called for the release of emails from Clinton ’ s server , which she used throughout her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama administration .
It was not immediately clear what emails are poised for release .
The State Department has already published the more than 30,000 emails that Clinton turned over to the agency in late 2014 .
Clinton said she deleted a similar number of emails from her server because they were unrelated to government business .
Hundreds of the emails stored on Clinton ’ s server contained classified information , some of it at the highest classification level .
Many of the classified emails involved correspondence with her closest aides , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mills .
Information in the emails is still considered classified and has not been made public .
Pompeo did not describe what new information , if any , would be disclosed in any future email dump .
But he said he expects to release some of the information before the election on Nov. 3 .
“ We ’ ll do it as far as we can .
I think there will be more to see before the election , ” he said .
The FBI investigated whether Clinton mishandled classified information by using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case without pursuing criminal charges .
Trump ’ s renewed focus on Clinton ’ s emails comes as he has pushed for the declassification of documents related to the FBI ’ s investigation of his campaign in 2016 .
The Republican said earlier this week that he has authorized the “ total ” declassification of documents that he says will expose what he called the “ Russia hoax.
” During the 2016 campaign , Trump repeatedly questioned what happened to the emails that Clinton deleted from her server .
Trump and his allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the hands of foreign hackers .
In one now-infamous speech , Trump called on Russians to search for the deleted emails .
“ Russia , if you ’ re listening , I hope you ’ re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing , ” he said at a rally on July 27 , 2016 .
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Mike Pompeo ” by Fox News .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Trump Official Says Vaccine Expected Starting in January

A Trump administration official leading the response to the coronavirus pandemic says the U.S. can expect delivery of a vaccine starting in January 2021 , despite statements from the president that inoculations could begin this month .
And a growing , bipartisan chorus of lawmakers , experts and public health officials says the country is ill prepared for a projected winter surge of COVID-19 .
Dr. Robert Kadlec said in an email Friday that the administration “ is accelerating production of safe and effective vaccines … to ensure delivery starting January 2021.
” Kadlec is the Department of Health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and response .
HHS says a vaccine could be approved before the end of the year but will take time to distribute .
President Donald Trump has said at rallies , debates and press conferences that a vaccine could arrive within weeks .
“ We think we can start sometime in October , ” Trump said at a White House press briefing last month .
Kadlec wasn ’ t the first health official to counter the president ’ s optimistic timeline .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Thursday that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of the year “ pending FDA authorizations.
” And Dr. Moncef Slaoui , who is leading the government ’ s vaccine effort , told Marketwatch on Friday that researchers could know “ by late October , or November , or in December ” whether one of the vaccines in development is effective , but that it would then take weeks to get emergency authorization to administer it .
When asked about the disparity , the White House was not specific on a date but said Trump ’ s priority is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible.
” Kadlec said , without elaborating , that it wasn ’ t correct to conclude that this meant the country couldn ’ t see a vaccine sooner than January .
Kadlec was responding to a series of questions from The Associated Press and FRONTLINE about the administration ’ s response to the pandemic and , in particular , about shortages of critical medical supplies .
The AP and FRONTLINE reported earlier this week that a breakdown in the supply chain for critical medical equipment including masks , gloves , gowns and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was likely a factor in the country ’ s death rate , which is higher per capita than almost every other country in the world .
Experts say those shortages could now extend to the syringes , needles and glass vials that are vital to a future nationwide vaccination program .
Kadlec agrees that supply chain disruptions led to shortages .
He said the administration needs more , consistent , flexible funding from Congress to shore up the Strategic National Stockpile of medical supplies and drugs and expand domestic manufacturing .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both sides of the aisle in Congress , from the health care sector and from the manufacturing base , that it is critical to move from a just-in-time manufacturing model to a more flexible and resilient domestic manufacturing capability , ” he said .
Health experts have called for the same changes but say there ’ s a vacuum of federal leadership to implement them right now .
“ Having a single national coordinated strategy would help ensure that states , hospitals , physician offices and other facilities have a single , centralized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal protective equipment , ” American Medical Association President Dr. Susan Bailey told the AP and FRONTLINE on Thursday .
“ The burn rate of personal protective equipment and medical supplies has been far greater than anything that we have experienced and for a far longer time , and the need for PPE and testing supplies will continue for the foreseeable future.
” The collapse of the medical supply chain wasn ’ t unexpected : For decades , politicians and corporate officials ignored warnings about the risks associated with America ’ s overdependence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adequate preparation at home .
Of the hundreds of COVID-19 related bills introduced in Congress this year , only a handful seek to resolve supply chain issues ; none of those has reached the president .
“ We need to claw back our medical supply chain back to the U.S. , ” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn , R-Tenn. , who has sponsored bills to bolster the U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing base .
Roughly nine months into the pandemic , health care workers and even the Government Accountability Office report there still isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adequate coordination from the federal government .
And although there are emergency preparedness and response plans in place , implementation has been inconsistent .
“ We went into this pandemic unprepared , and we remain so months later , ” said Boris Lushniak , former acting surgeon general in the Obama administration .
“ It is time to reevaluate the complete medical supply chain in the U.S .
The federal government needs to take on the leadership role here.
” Across the country , public health leaders are warning about the coming months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equitably distributing PPE has still not been proposed , let alone implemented , ” said Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Andrew T. Chan , who found Black , Hispanic and Asian health care workers had the highest risk of contracting COVID-19 .
“ Thus , we will continue to fly by the seat of our pants with our fingers crossed for the foreseeable future.
” Michael Lu , dean of University of California , Berkeley ’ s school of public health , said one important part of the solution lies in a bipartisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would rebuild the Strategic National Stockpile and strengthen U.S. manufacturing of medical masks , gowns and other protective gear .
“ We weren ’ t ready for the pandemic , ” Lu said .
“ And we are still not ready.
” Martha Mendoza and Juliet Linderman are reporters for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : In this March 3 , 2020 file photo , Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dr. Robert Kadlec testifies before a Senate Education , Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kadlec said in an email Friday , Oct. 9 , that the Trump administration “ is accelerating production of safe and effective vaccines … to ensure delivery starting January 2021.
” ( AP Photo/Andrew Harnik )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-11--Virginia Wants to Pay Nearly Half a Million or More in Commonwealth Funds to Remove and Replace U.S.

Virginia Wants to Pay Nearly Half a Million or More in Commonwealth Funds to Remove and Replace U.S. Capitol Lee Statue

The Commonwealth will pay nearly $ 500,000 or more to remove and replace the Robert E. Lee statue in the U.S. Capitol .
In charge of the project is the Commission for Historical Statues in the United States Capitol , created for the sole purpose of removing the Lee statue from the National Statuary Hall Collection .
The projected costs total $ 498,500 – funds the commission says could total more or less in the coming months .
Its estimate comes from other states ’ costs for similar projects .
“ This includes the costs to design , construct , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the transport of the Robert E. Lee statue , and/or the unveiling of the new statue , ” explained Julie Langan , the commission ’ s ex-officio member and Virginia Department of Historic Resources Director/State Historic Preservation Officer .
Additionally , the Virginia Museum of History and Culture ( VMHC ) will receive the statue .
Langan shared that the statue must be removed “ over the weekend and at night ” so as not to disrupt the U.S. Capitol proceedings .
Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn ( D-Fairfax ) undertook similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the State Capitol .
Filler-Corn was found guilty of violating the Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA ) for untruthful statements about the existence of documents relating to the removed monuments .
According to the bill creating the commission , Filler-Corn was also responsible for appointing one of the commission members .
Public commentary reflected desires to reconsider removal of the statue , removal only and no replacement , and specific suggestions for replacements .
Many letters asked that the Lee statue not be removed .
Otherwise , some suggested replacement monuments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marshall , and Booker T. Washington .
The commission didn ’ t select a replacement during their meeting .
Instead , they plan to spend several months reviewing nominations .
The commission released a draft of values and attributes to serve as criteria for the replacement monument .
The nomination must represent one individual with significant association to ideals , writings , intellectualism , and/or historical impact .
Additionally , the nomination must exemplify valor , patriotism , and bravery , and must be a Virginia resident or impactful to the state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in conflict with current prevailing values.
” The commission doesn ’ t explain further the values referenced .
The commission also passed a motion to allow school-aged children to submit nominations .
Senator Louise Lucas ( D-Portsmouth ) is the Chair of the Commission for Historical Statues in the United States Capitol .
Lucas is also facing felony charges for her role in a protest this past June , in which protestors critically injured a man when they pulled down another monument .
In an interview with The Virginia Star , Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole purpose of the commission .
“ They ’ ve put a fox in the henhouse .
Look , if Senator Lucas is so concerned about helping the minority , then maybe she should invest in people who are living instead of inanimate statues .
I reject any attempt to censor our history – I think it ’ s not representative of ‘ we the people , ’ who I ’ m talking to across Virginia .
I think it ’ s important to protect and defend our history , ” stated Chase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with career politicians .
It ’ s time to support my legislation to limit terms for these career politicians.
” Spokespersons with the Commission for Historical Statues in the United States Capitol didn ’ t respond by press time .
Over the next two months , the commission will conduct the selection process for the replacement statue .
The commission will begin accepting public comment from October 16 until November 13 .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] .
Background Photo “ Robert E Lee Statue Defaced ” by Mk17b .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .