thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Democrat Crossover Voting Prompts Contest to Tennessee Republican Party Over House District 18 Prima

Democrat Crossover Voting Prompts Contest to Tennessee Republican Party Over House District 18 Primary Results

One of the candidates from the House District 18 Republican primary has notified Chairman Scott Golden and State Executive Committee ( SEC ) of the Tennessee Republican Party ( TRP ) that they are contesting the results , because of crossover voting from Democrats .
A member of the SEC , who wished to remain unnamed until it was discussed with the chairman , provided The Tennessee Star with a copy of the emailed letter from House District 18 Republican primary candidate Gina Oster dated August 18 .
In the two-way race , Oster lost the August 6 Republican primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 99 votes .
With a total of 6,833 votes cast in the race , according to the Tennessee Secretary of State , the 99 vote difference represents 1.45 percent .
A third candidate , SEC member James Corcoran , withdrew from the House District 18 Republican primary after Mannis was deemed to be a bona fide Republican by the party chairman , The Star reported .
The basis for Oster ’ s contest is set out in state law under T.C.A .
2-17-104 as well as the Rules and Regulations contained within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the number of votes by Democrats , based on their voting history in the previous four primaries dating back to March 2016 , surpassed the margin of Mannis ’ victory .
The SEC voted overwhelmingly in December 2018 for closing the primaries , Oster pointed out , “ to prevent Democrats from deciding the outcomes of Republican primaries.
” In 2019 , two bills were filed in the Tennessee General Assembly in response to the SEC vote .
The “ Political Party Registration Act ” filed under HB 1273 / SB 1500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-Dresden ) and Sen. Joey Hensley ( R-Hohenwald ) , respectively , and HB 1398 / SB 1303 , sponsored by Rep. Tim Rudd ( R-Murfreesboro ) and Sen. Mark Pody ( R-Lebanon ) , would require a person to declare a statewide political party affiliation before voting in a primary election .
Both failed in the House Local Committee before being taken up by the Senate State and Local Government Committee .
Functioning as the state Republican Primary Board “ with the power to correct this wrong , ” Oster asked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deciding the outcome of the District 18 Republican primary.
” The next meeting of the Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee , during which Oster ’ s contest is expected to be taken up , is Saturday , August 29 at 2:30 p.m. at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs , 700 Cool Springs Blvd.
, Franklin .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .
Photo “ Gina Oster ” by Knoxville County Republican Pary .

The Arizona U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) recently revealed that 22 Arizonans have been indicted for drug-related charges following a multi-year investigation of a South Phoenix criminal street gang.
“According to the criminal complaints filed last week, in January 2020, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) began an investigation targeting a drug and firearms supplier in South Phoenix. In February 2021, in conjunction with the DPS investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Violent Street Gang Task Force began investigating the Lindo Park Crips (LPC), a criminal street gang operating in South Phoenix,” according to a press release from the USAO.
The release outlined that DPS and FBI investigators targeted LPC members and drug suppliers, ultimately leading to a major bust. Investigators reportedly found over 2,000 grams of cocaine, 35,000 counterfeit pills suspected to contain fentanyl, 26 grams of methamphetamine, four and a half grams of crack, 32 doses of MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy or XTC), and weapons, including 17 firearms and eight Glock conversion devices.
All 22 defendants are charged with either conspiracy to distribute cocaine or fentanyl, and some are charged with actual possession of the drugs. Furthermore, several are charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm in relation to drug trafficking.
According to the release, these charges incur heavy fines and jail time if convicted. For the drug charges, a conviction for conspiracy to distribute or intent to sell the amount of cocaine charged in the complaint carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine, while a conviction for the amount of fentanyl can be up to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Moreover, a conviction for illegally possessing a firearm carries jail time up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine.
Most of the 22 individuals come from Phoenix, but others hail from cities across Arizona, including Avondale, Florence, Buckeye, and Goodyear. The youngest defendant is Jesus Salazar, 24, of Avondale, while the eldest is 62-year-old Terry Lee King of Phoenix.
The USAO stated that this case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCFETF) operation which seeks to dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States.
All defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
As The Arizona Sun Times reported, Border Patrol agents recently seized 4.2 kilograms of fentanyl and 2.1 kilograms of heroin at a highway checkpoint at the El Centro Station. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBS) said the drugs confiscated had an estimated street value of $190,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states that as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on the person’s tolerance. Based on that statistic, this bust alone involved enough fentanyl to kill over 2 million people.
According to statistics from CBS, 3,513.15 kilograms of illicit fentanyl were confiscated in May, which would hypothetically be enough to kill 1,756,575,000 people under the DEA’s metric.
– – –
Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Phoenix Police Department” by Phoenix Police Department.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Commentary: Unlike Joe Biden, President Trump Actually Puts America First on Jobs, Trade and Immigra

Commentary: Unlike Joe Biden, President Trump Actually Puts America First on Jobs, Trade and Immigration

This past week at the Democrat ’ s low energy Zoom convention , we heard a lot about what a good guy former Vice President Joe Biden is , that he ’ s a man of “ faith ” and “ character.
” We heard almost nothing about his accomplishments .
That ’ s because after fifty years as a politician , Biden has accomplished almost nothing of significance .
In contrast , President Trump has done more for the American people in almost four short years than any president in my lifetime .
Love him or hate him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden is a man of words .
Where Trump gets things done , Biden promises to get things undone .
Biden ’ s entire campaign platform is a promise to undue nearly every one of Trump ’ s accomplishments .
Let ’ s talk about jobs .
Under the Obama-Biden economy it took almost five years to recover the 8 million jobs lost in the Great Recession .
In contrast , the Trump economy was so strong when the Chinese coronavirus pandemic struck that 10.1 million jobs have been recovered in just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely reopen the economy .
Under President Trump , 65 percent of Americans got to keep more of their hard-earned money thanks to his historic tax cut , according to the Tax Policy Center .
For 29 percent , taxes stayed about the same , and 6 percent paid more on the higher end of the income spectrum .
Biden has promised to raise taxes .
As a part of his tax reform , President Trump repealed the Obamacare individual mandate forcing Americans to purchase health insurance .
Biden has vowed to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public option “ like Medicare.
” The President has been undoing the Obama-Biden regulatory knots that had tied up growth and job opportunities for years .
President Trump and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson ended the Obama-Biden era Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing regulation that conditioned $ 3 billion of annual community development block grants to more than 1,200 counties and cities on making changes to local zoning along income and racial guidelines .
And Trump has established Opportunity Zones that have helped particularly black Americans in urban areas to find work—and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the pandemic .
President Trump supports the police and wants to restore law and order to our cities .
Biden ’ s running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) , supported cutting $ 150 million from the Los Angeles Police Department .
Trump pulled America out of the economy-killing Paris Climate Accord and has brought forth American energy independence .
Obama and Biden were the ones who put us into the Paris Climate Accord , and Biden would put in place the Green New Deal .
On top of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA ) with the badly needed , renegotiated U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement ( USMCA ) .
President Trump also successfully negotiated a phase one trade deal with China while leaving in place existing tariffs of 25 percent on $ 250 billion of goods and another 7.5 percent on the remaining $ 300 billion of goods that are needed to ensure China complies with the deal — taking on China ’ s unfair trade practices .
President Trump also got phase one trade deals with Japan and South Korea .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1993 and permanent normal trade relations with China in 2000 .
He ’ s horrible on trade , particularly for those Rust Belt households who helped put President Trump over the top in the Electoral College in 2016 .
Trump ended the Obama-Biden era 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement .
Biden has said he would bring it back .
President Trump moved the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and secured the historic normalization of relations agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates .
Obama and Biden never did .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accomplishment , he is a man of slim judgement and intellect , as well .
As former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said of Biden , “ I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.
” President Trump has placed more than 200 constitutionalist judges on the federal bench including two Supreme Court Justices .
Biden would put more liberal judges and justices into federal courts , undermine religious liberty and take away the American people ’ s Second Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump will have added 450 miles of new border wall by the end of this year and wants to do away with chain migration .
Biden has said there will be “ not another foot of wall ” if he wins .
And Biden supports “ creat [ ing ] a roadmap to citizenship for the nearly 11 million people who have been living in and strengthening our country for years.
” Finally , on the Chinese coronavirus , President Donald Trump has taken unprecedented actions to save almost 2 million lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses have been saved by Payroll Protection Plan , and as noted above , 10.1 million jobs recovered since labor markets bottomed in April , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics household survey .
President Trump built up our economy once and he will do it again .
Biden has never built anything .
He seeks only to take down , destroy and undue .
Any Republican thinking about voting for Biden should turn in their voter registration card and just switch parties .
Trump put America first .
Biden never did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Communications for Americans for Limited Government .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Portland Police Arrest Man Accused of Beating Motorist After Truck Accident, Kicking Him in the Head

Portland police arrested a man who ’ s accused of violently beating a motorist whose pick-up truck crashed near a Sunday demonstration .
Marquise Love , 25 , has been charged with felonious assault , coercion and riot participation , and was transported to the Multnomah County Detention Center early Friday morning after he turned himself in , according to a Portland Police news release .
Love has been apprehended in connection with a Sunday incident where rioters surrounded Adam Haner ’ s truck , ripped the man from the vehicle and bloodied him on the street , Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referred to as “ Keese Love , ” was identified by police as the man who allegedly assaulted Haner earlier in the week , according to the release .
The 25-year-old appears to punch Haner in the head several times as the middle-aged man attempts to sit upright in the road , video showed .
Love later can be seen taking a running start and kicking the man in the side of the head from behind .
“ I ain ’ t tryna hurt no one , ” Haner told the protesters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was trying to get out the way , ” the man added .
Love is being held on a $ 260,000 bail , according to jail records .
Jake Dima is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Steve Bannon Presents: Hong Kong and the Death of the CCP

An all new LIVE STREAM of War Room : Pandemic starts at 9 a.m. Central Time on Saturday .
Former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon began the daily War Room : Pandemic radio show and podcast on January 25 , when news of the virus was just beginning to leak out of China around the Lunar New Year .
Bannon and co-hosts bring listeners exclusive analysis and breaking updates from top medical , public health , economic , national security , supply chain and geopolitical experts weekdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ET .
The show ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voice News , the John Fredericks Radio Network , Salem Media Group , and Newsmax TV and the podcast is available on Apple , Spotify , Stitcher , SoundCloud , and Google Play .
You can watch past episodes here .
Previously , Bannon hosted a series of three , two-hour long special programs entitled Descent into Hell : The Chinese People Confront the CCP .
The groundbreaking specials aired live on the John Fredericks Radio Network , America ’ s Voice Network , Dish TV Channel 219 , The Epoch Times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mandarin .
For more information , visit www.pandemic.warroom.org and @ WarRoomPandemic .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--DNC Features Rapper with Ties to Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan

The Democratic National Convention ’ s final night will feature a performance from the rapper Common , who has long-standing ties to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan .
Farrakhan has repeatedly referred to Jewish people as “ satanic , ” blamed them for both the Holocaust and the Sept. 11 , 2011 , terrorist attacks , and once praised Adolf Hitler as a “ very great man.
” Farrakhan has also denounced interracial marriage , which he said has “ mongrelized ” the black race .
Common , whose real name is Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr. , will perform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President Joe Biden ’ s acceptance of the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination , according to the DNC schedule .
Common has appeared in photos with Farrakhan and promoted Farrakhan on social media .
He was one of several rappers featured on a music compilation project that Farrakhan released in February 2018 .
Later that year , Common approvingly posted a clip of Farrakhan on his Instagram page .
The rapper tagged Farrakhan in the October 2018 post , captioning it : “ Wise words being spoken !
” Common promoted Farrakhan on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Nation of Islam livestream .
“ Peace & Blessings .
Minister Farrakhan is speaking LIVE now to talk about these troubled times , ” Common wrote , adding a link to the livestream .
Common was also pictured with Farrakhan at an event in 2006 .
Photos from the event show the two men embracing and posing for pictures together .
The rapper ’ s ties to Farrakhan go back decades .
Common , who was then performing under the name “ Common Sense , ” was one of several rappers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Farrakhan , according to a contemporary report from The Washington Post .
The rapper also praised the Nation of Islam ’ s Chicago arm in a 1995 interview on BET ’ s “ Rap City.
” “ The Nation of Chicago .
Real strong in the crib , man .
They just opened up Salam restaurant .
I went to Saviors ’ Day back in April .
It was real phat [ sic ] , man , ” he said .
Common ’ s representative , United Talent Agency , didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The DNC also did not return an email seeking comment .
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Common ” by Common .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Loughlin, Giannulli Get Prison Time in College Bribery Plot

BOSTON , Massachusetts ( AP ) — Apologizing publicly for the first time for crimes their lawyers insisted for months they didn ’ t commit , “ Full House ” star Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband , Mossimo Giannulli , were sentenced to prison Friday for using their wealth and privilege to cheat their daughters ’ way into the college of their choice .
The two-month prison sentence for Loughlin and five-month term for Giannulli bring to a close the legal saga for the highest-profile parents ensnared in the college admissions bribery scheme — a scandal that rocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lengths some wealthy parents will go to get their kids into elite universities .
Fighting back tears , Loughlin told the judge her actions “ helped exacerbate existing inequalities in society ” and pledged to do everything in her power to use her experience as a “ catalyst to do good.
” Her lawyer said she began volunteering with special needs students at an elementary school .
“ I made an awful decision .
I went along with a plan to give my daughters an unfair advantage in the college admissions process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intuition and allowed myself to be swayed from my moral compass , ” Loughlin , 56 , said during the hearing held via videoconference because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Hours before in a separate hearing , Giannulli , whose Mossimo clothing had long been a Target brand until recently , told the judge he “ deeply ” regrets the harm to his daughters , wife and others .
“ I take full responsibility for my conduct .
I am ready to accept the consequences and move forward , with the lessons I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Giannulli , 57 , said in a stoic statement .
In her lawyer ’ s own words , Loughlin became the “ undisputed face of the national scandal ” thanks to her fame .
Her arrest shattered her clean image and destroyed her acting career .
“ Lori lost the acting career she spent 40 years building , ” attorney BJ Trach said .
“ She has become intertwined with the college admissions scandal.
” Attorneys for the couple described them as devoted parents motivated by a love for their children .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughters , including Olivia Jade Giannulli — a social media star who has a popular YouTube channel — since the charges were made public .
The bullying forced the family to hire security for their daughters , Trach said .
U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton expressed outrage at the couple ’ s greed , calling Loughlin ’ s life “ charmed ” and a “ fairytale , ” with success and plentiful wealth .
“ Yet you stand before me a convicted felon and for what ?
For the inexplicable desire to grasp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both Loughlin and Giannulli were ordered to surrender Nov. 19 .
Under the plea deals with prosecutors — unusual because the proposed terms were binding once accepted , instead of granting the judge sentencing discretion — Giannulli will also pay a $ 250,000 fine and perform 250 hours of community service .
Loughlin will pay a $ 150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service .
Loughlin , who gained fame for her role as the wholesome Aunt Becky in the sitcom “ Full House ” that ran from the late 1980s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 people charged last year in the case federal prosecutors dubbed “ Operation Varsity Blues , ” which uncovered hefty bribes to get undeserving kids into college with rigged test scores or fake athletic credentials .
Nearly 30 parents have pleaded guilty while 10 are headed to trial .
Unlike other prominent parents charged in the case who quickly admitted to the charges — including “ Desperate Housewives ” actor Felicity Huffman — Loughlin and Giannulli fiercely fought the allegations for more than a year , with their lawyers accusing prosecutors of withholding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The duo made no public comments about the allegations in the months after their arrest and guilty plea and — unlike other parents in the case — did not submit letters expressing regret or notes of support from family and friends to the judge in the days leading up to their sentencing , although Gorton said the defense provided two letters in support of Loughlin on Friday .
Prosecutors described Giannulli as “ the more active participant in the scheme , ” though they said Loughlin “ was nonetheless fully complicit.
” Assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a complete disregard for right and wrong , ” which “ deserves a meaningful sentence of imprisonment.
” The couple worked with the admissions consultant at the center of the scheme — Rick Singer— to pay half a million dollars in bribes to get their daughters into USC as crew recruits .
Singer , who has also pleaded guilty , was expected to testify against them had they gone to trial .
Investigators recorded phone calls and emails showing the couple worked with Singer to secure admission with fake athletic profiles depicting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the couple allowed the girls “ to become complicit in crime , ” instructing them to pose on rowing machines for photos — Singer told them he needed a picture of their older daughter looking “ like a real athlete ” — and warning their younger daughter not to say too much to her high school counselor .
Giannulli angrily confronted the counselor for questioning their crew credentials , according to court documents .
Loughlin ’ s lawyer said she had little direct communication with Singer and never saw the fraudulent athletic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of all the parents charged , not a single one had less active participation in the scheme than Lori , ” Trach said .
Giannulli ’ s and Loughlin ’ s prison terms are in line with the sentences other parents have gotten so far .
The harshest punishment has gone to Douglas Hodge , a former CEO of a top investment company , who got nine months for paying bribes totaling $ 850,000 to get four of his children into the University of Southern California and Georgetown University as athletic recruits .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year after admitting to paying $ 15,000 to have someone correct her daughter ’ s entrance exam answers .
Also Friday , prosecutors announced charges against another parent , who authorities said has also agreed to plead guilty .
Mark Hauser , a California insurance and private equity executive , agreed to pay $ 40,000 , to rig his daughter ’ s ACT exam , prosecutors said .
An attorney for Hauser declined to comment .
Alanna Durkin Richer is a reporter for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo , actress Lori Loughlin , front , and husband , clothing designer Mossimo Giannulli , left , depart federal court in Boston after facing charges in a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal .
The famous couple pleaded guilty to charges in May 2020 , and are scheduled to be sentenced on Friday , Aug. 21 , 2020 .
( AP Photo/Steven Senne , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Crom Carmichael Draws Striking Parallels to Bannon and Lai Arrests and the Violence Across America

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 the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
During the third hour , Carmichael weighed in on Steve Bannon ’ s recent arrest and compared it to the arrest of billionaire publisher Jimmy Lai in Beijing citing their similarities .
He later discussed the violence that has been sweeping the nation and the Democrats ’ blatant ignorance of it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaking news about my good friend Steve Bannon .
As you know he was arrested yesterday on charges of fraud and made bail .
And as I said in my statement at 6:30 , I stand by Steve Bannon .
Steve Bannon is an honest man .
This is a politically motivated prosecution who ’ s purpose is to try to take him off the stage prior to this presidential general election .
Here is the breaking news .
Steve will be on his War Room Pandemic podcast and radio program this morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can listen to it on The John Fredericks Radio Network .
John Fredericks as it turns out is our affiliate .
he is the owner , publisher , and editor and chief of our newly launched The Virginia Star .
TheVirginiaStar.com .
but my guess is he ’ s going to come out guns a-blazing .
Carmichael : We ’ ll see on his podcast whether or not he sticks to the subject of his podcast or whether or not he talks about his trial .
My guess is they ’ ll slap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s generally what they do .
I want to take Steve Bannon ’ s story and I want to read a little bit from a book that I am reading .
And then I want to talk about what ’ s happening to Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong because they all kind of tie together .
The book I ’ m reading is called Hitlers First 100 Days .
The scope of violence appalled .
This is after Hitler had become chancellor .
But before the election which took place just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chancellor .
The scope of violence appalled those Germans who realized that Nazis sowed the very violence from which they promised to protect peaceful citizens .
Yet , precisely the fighting spirit of the Nazis and the fact that they were consequential and will not so much to restore old peace as to impose a new order made them attractive .
Nazis by the way Michael were not popular among the working class .
They were popular among the college-educated in Germany .
And then it goes on to say that Hitler knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he defended violence .
I want no softies in my movement he affirmed to the reporter at The Daily Mail .
I want fanatics .
So let ’ s look at where we are today in the world in our own country .
And then in the world .
Jimmy Lai is a publisher in Hong Kong .
He was born in China .
He was born into very poor circumstances .
He moved to Hong Kong and became a billionaire .
He has a British passport .
If Jimmy Lai wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong/China .
He could move to Great Britain and live the rest of his life in whatever manner financially that he wanted to .
But he didn ’ t do that .
He chose to stay in Hong Kong and continue to use his publishing company to criticize the Beijing government .
For his trouble , he ’ s now been arrested .
He was put in handcuffs along with a bunch of other people .
And what you see in Hong Kong is that Beijing is breaking all the promises that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of Hong Kong .
How they would treat the area that constitutes Hong Kong .
So if we then fast forward to our own country , what we see is violence all across the country .
We see Democrats who ignore the violence .
They literally ignore it .
Leahy : Yes .
No mention of it Crom at the Democratic National Convention .
And it ’ s violent .
Carmichael : The violence is terrible .
President Trump to his great credit and this is why Jon Meacham , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve read his books .
He ’ s a very good historian .
But I ’ ll tell you what , you ’ ve got to be a partisan hack to say what Jon Meacham says in the face of what is actually going on .
So let me talk about this just for a second .
There was a child in Chicago named Legend .
A four-year-old Black child .
Carmichael : He was asleep in his bed and a drive-by shooting took place and a stray bullet killed him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ They don ’ t care .
There are thousands of Black people being killed across the country .
And the Democrats don ’ t care .
Violence is up .
81 percent of Black people want more police presence in their neighborhoods .
81 percent .
And Joe Biden says he cares about Black people .
He doesn ’ t care about Black people .
He sees Black people as a stepping stone and then they need to stay the stepping stone .
That ’ s how he sees them .
So what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiated not long ago Operation Legend .
They ’ ve now arrested in the last three or four days about 1500 of these violent people .
And Bill Barr says and there are many more arrests to come .
And these are federal law enforcement who are handling these arrests because the local law enforcement officials are handcuffed by these mayors .
Leahy : The mayors won ’ t have them enforce the law .
Carmichael : No no .
They won ’ t let them enforce the law .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over there .
Let the lawlessness happen .
And this is what the Democrats now stand for .
You even had CNN , it was so silly .
This one CNN reporter was standing there looking at the camera a couple of weeks ago in Portland saying there was no violence while he ’ s standing there with a building burning right behind him .
And he was saying these are peaceful protests .
Then you watch the coverage of the Democratic convention and the statements that they make .
Ebola never got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heck did Joe Biden do anything to protect Americans against Ebola ?
H1N1 turned out to be a disease that was very very commutable but it wasn ’ t deadly .
And so what did the Obama-Biden administration actually do ?
They didn ’ t do anything even though the WHO said that this was a disease that could destroy all of humanity or something hyperbolic like that .
Then you see in Hong Kong a man with the character of Jimmy Lai and the fortitude of Jimmy Lai who could do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said no .
There are certain things you must stand up for .
And he is standing up to the Communist Party in China .
He ’ s been arrested for it and he may spend the rest of his life in jail .
This is somebody who is more akin to the Founding Fathers of this country and the people who stand against the swamp .
Leahy : The other thing about this is , who is standing with the Chinese ?
Leahy : They are all standing with China .
Carmichael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money .
Leahy : It ’ s all about the dough ray me .
It ’ s not about principles or rights .
Carmichael : No .
It ’ s just about money and it ’ s just about power .
We are truly at a tipping point .
I thought the last election was .
And it ’ s true the most consequential election so far .
Because the Democrats assumed that they would retain power and they didn ’ t .
So then they concocted the Russia Hoax story and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coup .
That ’ s what they attempted to do .
The media just looks the other way .
And the election is going to come up .
And if Trump gets re-elected , they are already setting it up that he cheated to win .
And if Republicans get the House and the Senate and retain the Senate and Trump wins then they will have to use their position of power to try to right the ship .
I ’ m not exactly sure what they ’ ll need to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would do if I could is I would pass legislation saying that no government employee can become a member of a union .
Government employees were allowed to become members of unions through congressional legislation .
So I assume the congressional legislation could repeal that .
you free up the Democrats from the vice grip of the five or six thugs who run the unions .
There are a lot of wonderful wonderful people in the government .
They are scared to death .
Listen to the full third hour here : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Steve Bannon ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act: Attorney Jim Roberts Reaches 19,500 Signatures, Expects More to C

Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act: Attorney Jim Roberts Reaches 19,500 Signatures, Expects More to Come

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 attorney Jim Roberts to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Roberts gave updates on his Taxpayer Protection Act petitions revealing that they ’ ve already reached 19,500 signatures .
He added that next week they will be hand delivering the signed petitions to the Metro Clerk ’ s office sometime next week .
Leahy : It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the newsmaker line Jim Roberts .
Good morning Jim !
Roberts : Good morning sir .
How are you all doing today ?
Leahy : We can ’ t wait .
We are anticipating where you stand with the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act petitions .
You need at least 11,000 .
How many do you have ?
When are you going to turn them in ?
And what are the prospects of getting this on the ballot in December ?
Roberts : Well , we just crossed the 19,500 threshold .
Our goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a nice round number .
And so we ’ ll probably be turning those into the Metro Clerk , Monday , Tuesday , and Wednesday of next week .
We want to go back and count them and make sure everything is right .
We feel very confident and very excited about it .
So look for those to be turned into the clerk next week .
Then we start getting on the ballot from that point on .
Carmichael : So you are going to turn these in .
Obviously , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are keeping a copy of each of the signatures that you are turning in .
Carmichael : You ’ ve reviewed them .
So you are confident that you will pass the threshold .
And lets just for purpose of discussion let ’ s assume the threshold is 11,000 .
So you are going to be well passed that .
What if Metro just decides to ignore you ?
Roberts : Well , that ’ s always a risk .
We are getting some pushback .
They clearly don ’ t like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would probably require a lawsuit to force the clerk to actually count the signatures like they are required to do by law .
I don ’ t think they ’ ll do that .
I think they really believe that people want this tax .
And there are people who are out there .
It ’ s not going to win 100 percent .
But Metro government really thinks these people want this property tax initiative .
Leahy : You said Jim that you ’ d been getting some pushback .
What exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Roberts : It ’ s clear that Metro has no intention of respecting this ballot if it gets passed .
I think they are trying to decide whether they want to fight it on the front end or allow it to get loaded on by the people and hoping it will overwhelmingly pass and then fight it at that point .
I just have a bad feeling that they have no intention of respecting the people ’ s wishes on this .
Leahy : But is there anything concrete that you could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeling ?
Roberts : Not really .
Having 25 years of dealing with Metro and I think Mayor Cooper ’ s decision to advance a $ 1.5 billion transit plan on top of all that is going on right now is clearly a sign that he ’ s in the , we ’ re just going to spend every penny we get mode .
There have been attempts by council folks to lower that tax increase based on higher tax revenues .
And Mayor Cooper has pretty much said no .
I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think that attitude is going to change between now and December 5 .
Carmichael : I guess what I ’ m trying to understand is that everything that you are doing is based on the Metro charter is that correct ?
Carmichael : OK. so the Ballot initiative there is in the Metro Charter the opportunity for voters if they go through the process that you are going through to have a ballot initiative put up for the voters to vote on .
And the Charter says , I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correct it if I ’ m wrong .
And the charter says that if more than a majority of voters approve or a majority approve the ballot initiative then the ballot initiative shall become law .
Is that correct ?
Carmichael : Because I ’ m looking at how other things are now happening across the country where essentially big government people just kind of ignore what the law is or what the courts say .
Or what the police might do and then they just tell the police not to do anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see when you turn them in and they just try and ignore you and say we ’ re not even going to have a ballot initiative .
It would be interesting to see if they tried that and what that would mean .
Because I ’ m not sure if the media in this town cares whether or not our local officials follow the law .
Roberts : No .
That ’ s been my observation as well .
And in some ways , I think the local media has shown that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large tax increase .
They don ’ t seem to want to have any meaningful discussion about the effect that it ’ s having on the people or the businesses .
Or just the fact that it ’ s an unprecedented increase .
It just seems like business as usual for the local media .
They are going to have to notice this when it passes though .
Leahy : Well Jim and Crom I will point out that there is at least one media outlet in Tennessee called The Tennessee Star that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of this .
Jim here is my question on this following up on Croms .
What might they do if they wanted to ignore you ?
And how would you respond ?
Roberts : I think the most likely thing Metro will do is when this passes .
And it ’ s going to pass overwhelmingly .
Leahy : Even before that .
When you submit the petitions next week ?
Roberts : I think we ’ ve got way to many signatures for them to disqualify enough to keep it off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crom ’ s question was could they just ignore it ?
Roberts : No .
No .
We ’ d sue them .
Roberts : If they refused to count the ballots and there is no legal basis for them to do that and we would force them to do that .
Honestly , I don ’ t think they are that foolish to try to keep it off the ballot .
Roberts : I shouldn ’ t say that .
( Leahy chuckles ) But it would hard for me to believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election commission is going to have to put it on the ballot .
Metro might try to file some preemptive lawsuit to keep it from being voted on .
That is just not likely to work based on historical precedence .
But again , I think Metro is going to be desperate on this .
Look for the most vicious personal attacks on me and personal attacks on you .
There is not going to be a substantive debate on this .
The people defending this 34 percent tax increase are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day one .
They don ’ t want to defend the tax .
They are going to attack me and I ’ m just a regular citizen trying to help my community out .
It ’ s not about me .
I ’ m not trying to be famous .
I ’ m trying to fix what I see as a major problem with our Metro government which is it doesn ’ t care about its people .
Carmichael : Assuming that they do put it on the ballot .
Give me the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ends up in the courts for one reason or another , what court ultimately decides the outcome ?
Roberts : Well remember the ballot initiative has more than just one thing .
So I think Metro is probably going to focus on the repealing of the 34 percent property tax .
They are probably going to try to refuse to implement that repeal or they ’ ll litigate that its unconstitutional or something like that .
It will probably go to the Tennessee Supreme Court .
This is a fundamental issue of whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will we have the power to control this government .
And there is a balance in our system which I believe the way the legislation set up the Metro government that the citizens have the power to control it .
And Metro thinks they don ’ t .
And it ’ s just a question of how far they want to push that .
I ’ m willing to take it to the Supreme Court .
We will go all the way on this because I think people do have this power .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ being a citizen in this town .
And that ’ s the side of this lawsuit I ’ d want to be on .
Carmichael : So the Tennessee Supreme Court would be the ultimate arbiter .
There ’ s not some other court that ’ s higher than that court .
So that would be the one that you would go through .
That ’ s interesting .
And is there any personal liability on anybody who assuming the ballot initiative goes on and the ballot initiative passes and people , human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it and force people to pay their money anyway .
Is there any personal liability that those people would have for essentially imposing a law that if after the fact was proven to be legal ?
Roberts : I don ’ t know .
You ’ re getting a little deep in the weeds on this .
I don ’ t know if Metro is going to force to enforce the tax as now illegal .
Or if they will capitulate and resend out tax bills .
I think it ’ s going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does .
I don ’ t want to predict their actions .
But most likely they ’ ll continue to ignore us until we sue them .
Listen to the third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Job Creators Network President and CEO Alfredo Ortiz Sounds Off on Joe Biden’s America of New Taxes

Live from Virginia Friday 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 President and CEO of Job Creators Network , Alfredo Ortiz to the program .
During the segment , Ortiz weighed in on the last three days of the Democratic convention citing Joe Biden ’ s new four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Democrats have no policies but only radical platforms that they are running on while the mainstream media calls them moderates .
Fredericks : Let ’ s get to our good friend Alfredo Ortiz .
He ’ s the president and CEO of the Job Creators Network .
He ’ s been on overdrive .
I know we saw Biden ’ s speech last night .
In this segment with Alfredo Ortiz .
I have to tell you I ’ m very excited Alfredo about your 10 for 20 Take the Pledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pledge like Ann and I did .
And all it says is I pledge to vote in 2020 and send 10 more people I love and care about to take the pledge and to make a difference in the 2020 election .
Sign the pledge .
Take the pledge .
Go vote .
Take your friends there .
Alfredo Ortiz , president and CEO of the Job Creators Network .
Great to have you , man .
Fredericks : You know what ?
I feel better today about Trump ’ s prospects of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alfredo he is going to win again .
No doubt in my mind .
We got an internal poll last night .
We are tied in Minnesota .
This is a state that we lost in the last election by about 1,500 or something .
We are tied in Minnesota .
We are in striking distance in Michigan .
We are down a couple in Pennsylvania .
Down a couple in Wisconsin .
Ahead in North Carolina .
Ahead in Florida .
Now pulled way ahead in Georgia , Texas , and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play .
They are not in play .
Alfredo right now after that speech from Biden last night I ’ m feeling really great .
Ortiz : You know what John , and we ’ ve talked about this .
This election is going to be and I know people here this about every election .
But it really is going to be the most consequential election of our lifetimes .
It really really is .
This convention and Biden ’ s speech yesterday clearly showed is that there is the America that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us here where we are today .
Talking about the American dream and enjoying the American dream .
And then there ’ s Biden ’ s America which is literally the antithesis of what we are loving and experiencing .
First of all what he ’ s recommending about taxes .
But think about it $ 4 trillion in new taxes John .
New income taxes .
New payroll taxes .
Taxes on businesses .
Large medium and small .
It doesn ’ t matter .
Taxes on capital gains .
New death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does that even make sense after trying to get out of the pandemic ?
The last thing we need is another round of taxes to slow down the economy .
Only in Joe Biden ’ s America does that make sense .
We like to say this is about a new line for Joe Biden should be read my lips .
All new taxes .
Right ?
Because that ’ s what he ’ s about .
Then on top of that , outside of new taxes , you have again in only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense .
As we are trying to come out of this pandemic , peaceful protests ?
They call this peaceful protests ?
( Fredericks chuckles ) Just look at what ’ s happening in Portland , Seattle , and Chicago .
Those are not peaceful protests .
Again , only in Biden ’ s America would you call that a peaceful protest .
Defunding the police .
We need safe communities .
Think about these small businesses out there .
I talk to a ton of these small businesses .
They are closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors now .
They are afraid they may say something or upset somebody and they ’ ll have Antifa and looters coming through their doors .
Again , only in Joe Biden ’ s America would they only think of defunding the police while we have all this lawlessness on the streets ?
School lockdowns John .
I mean , how does that make sense here ?
And then taking choice away from our parents .
You know how many parents out there that I get phone calls now from that say please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Our kids are suffering .
They are miserable .
They are sad .
They are depressed .
Right ?
And they ’ re taking away the choice .
Some of the parents I ’ ve been talking to are saying we don ’ t know how we are going to do it so we are going to send our kids to private schools because the public schools refuse to open .
Again only in Joe Biden ’ s Ameria .
And they call that somehow a moderate platform .
Sorry , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fredericks : Look , Alfredo .
This election is about mobilization , not persuasion .
And we ’ ve got to get our people out .
That ’ s what they did last night with Biden ’ s speech .
They have no policies .
The guy didn ’ t outline a single thing .
The only policies he has and you mentioned it is we are going to raise your taxes like crazy and you are going to mandated to wear a mask , outside and inside and we are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their plan .
They have no policies .
Orange man bad .
Get rid of him .
Vote me in .
I ’ m grandpa .
That ’ s it !
Ortiz : And you know what John too , I ’ m so sick and tired of Joe Biden honestly and the Democrats laying out what they would have done differently on the coronavirus .
Seriously ?
The Monday Morning Quarterback knows that ’ s the easiest thing to do .
When you are in the middle of the actual event that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can with the information that ’ s provided at the very time .
And it changes constantly .
And I ’ m kind of reminded a little bit John of Captain Sully the guy who crash-landed the plan thank God very safely and nobody got injured out in New York ?
Ortiz : Remember the movie that talked about the NTST guys that were like you could have gone here and you could have gone there .
And you could have landed there .
And he was like yeah , you weren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birds hit .
And those 30 seconds were the most crucial 30 seconds and it was judgment calls that saved all those of people right ?
And it ’ s the same thing here .
Could we of done things differently ?
Sure .
It ’ s very easy to look retrospectively about things that could have been done .
that we did do like close China off for inbound travel .
That saved millions of lives .
But they don ’ t like an admission of that because that doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s all about fitting their narrative .
Alfredo , you look at these four days that the Democrats had .
And taking God out of the Pledge of Allegiance .
The first three days were just depressing .
We were told by a number of people that if you voted for Trump you are basically an imbecile and you should be ashamed of yourself .
We were scolded .
And they went on to tell us how bad America is .
And I just want to get your take on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats have invented two words .
Not invented , they ’ ve overused two words and I could put it now in front of any noun .
Existential and systemic .
Climate is an existential threat .
Putin is an existential threat .
Our democracy is under an existential threat .
There is systematic racism .
There is systematic this .
Systematic that .
Not one thing !
So their whole campaign is to get rid of Trump he ’ s bad we hate his tweets .
Can you win on that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re obviously hoping .
That ’ s why they kept him in the basement .
I like calling him Basement Biden .
I don ’ t know why Trump hasn ’ t caught that one yet .
Mr. President , if you are listening , call him Basement Biden because that ’ s all its been .
Keep him out of the public eye .
Keep the entire Democratic Party basically out of any conversations with the press .
Any real conversations because they haven ’ t laid out any clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve heard from the entire Democratic Convention actually came from Bernie Sanders .
Many of the ideas we fought for that just a few years were considered radical are now mainstream .
That ’ s pretty much the only policy that we heard .
And that ’ s what it was .
Radical policies are considered mainstream policies .
And the liberal media is trying to portray the Biden-Harris ticket as moderate .
I mean , my God .
Again , only in Joe Biden ’ s America would that platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but a platform would be considered moderate .
( Chuckles ) Listen to the full show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Low Rates and Heavy Buyer Demand Send U.S. Home Sales Surging

SILVER SPRING , Maryland ( AP ) — Spurred by ultra-low mortgage rates , home buyers rushed last month to snap up a limited supply of existing houses , causing the pace of purchases to jump by a record-high 24.7 % .
The July surge in sales reported Friday by the National Association of Realtors marked the second straight month of accelerating home purchases .
The back-to-back increases have helped stabilize the home buying market , which all but froze early this spring when the viral pandemic erupted across the United States .
With July ’ s increase , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , purchases of existing homes are now up 8.7 % from a year ago .
Near record-low mortgage rates have made homes more affordable for buyers , and many are acting to capitalize on them .
The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is now 2.99 % , the mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday .
A year ago , it was 3.55 % .
The figures also point to a persistently unequal recovery : Many higher-paid white-collar workers , who have disproportionately kept their jobs and can work remotely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some cases far from their employers ’ headquarters .
By contrast , renters are more likely to work in lower-paying service jobs at restaurants , hotels , gyms , and hair salons , where layoffs have been rampant and their ability to pay rent is declining .
The expiration of a federal moratorium on evictions has also raised their risk of losing their home .
In a few of the country ’ s most expensive housing markets — notably New York and San Francisco — real estate professionals say they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy homes in outer suburbs .
The loss of urban amenities and concern that the risk of infection is higher in denser areas may be contributing to that trend .
But nationally , an analysis by Zillow has found , urban and suburban areas are showing similar strength .
Many suburbs are become hot home sellers ’ markets , Zillow said , but so have many urban areas .
“ There is some localized evidence of a softer urban market , particularly in the highest-priced markets , San Francisco and Manhattan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but no evidence of a widespread flight to suburban pastures , ” said Jeff Tucker , an economist at Zillow .
“ The primary issue in much of the country , ” Tucker said , “ is the inventory drought , both urban and suburban , that ’ s failing to meet the surprisingly robust demand from buyers eager to lock in record-low mortgage rates.
” In the midst of the pandemic-inducted recession , housing has emerged as one of the few resilient sectors of the U.S. economy .
An unusually sparse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand and keeping sales lower than they might otherwise be .
The supply for sale in July was down 2.6 % from June and off 21 % from a year ago .
At the current sales pace , there is a 3.1-month supply of houses — down from 3.9 months in June and the 4.2 months a year ago .
The result is that homes put up for sale are vanishing quickly .
Homes were on the market for an average of 22 days in July , down by two days from June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faster than in the same month last year .
The NAR said more than two-thirds of homes sold in July had been on the market for less than a month .
Economists say the aggressive buying reflects , in part , pent-up demand from the spring , when the usual surge in sales was blocked by the coronavirus outbreak .
“ A lot of people are making up ground for the lost spring home-buying season , ” said Odeta Kushi , an economist at First American , a title insurance company .
Kushi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and homeowners has widened sharply .
Typically , unemployment among renters is about 4.4 percentage points higher than among homeowners .
Since the pandemic has intensified , that gap has jumped to 6.4 percentage points .
And even as home sales grow , so do mortgage delinquencies .
The proportion of homeowners who are 30 days or more behind on their payments jumped to 8.2 % in the April-June quarter , up from 4.4 % in the first three months of the year , according to the Mortgage Bankers ’ Association .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the MBA said .
In the meantime , the lack of homes for sale is sending prices up .
The median price for a home has topped $ 300,000 for the first time on record , settling at $ 304,100 .
That ’ s up a sharp 8.5 % from July 2019 .
“ With only 3.1 months of existing supply on the market , even with the recent pickup in the pace of home building , the lack of inventory is going to continue to be a hurdle by limiting some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchasing power , ” said Mike Fratantoni , chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association .
Builders have been responding to rising buyer demand .
Construction of new homes surged 22.6 % in July .
Housing starts have now risen for three straight months after plunging in March and April .
In its report Friday , the NAR said that sales exploded in every region in the country in July , led by the Northeast and West , where purchases jumped more than 30 % .
The Midwest was close behind , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19.4 % in the South .
The surge in home sales , or closings , jibe with a report on pending home sales from May , when signed contracts jumped a record 44.3 % .
That report is a barometer of finalized purchases over the next two months — in this case , the record setting months of June and July .
Matt Ott is a reporter for The Associated Press .
AP Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : This Monday , April 27 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pending sign on a home in Mount Lebanon , Pa .
The coronavirus pandemic helped shape the housing market by influencing everything from the direction of mortgage rates to the inventory of homes on the market to the types of homes in demand and the desired locations .
( AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Joe Biden Gives Shortest DNC Acceptance Speech in Decades

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden gave the shortest Democratic National Convention acceptance speech in four decades Thursday night .
Biden ’ s speech lasted just under 25 minutes , according to C-SPAN .
An acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention ( DNC ) hasn ’ t been that short since Walter Mondale ’ s 32-minute speech in 1984 .
“ Let history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness begin here , tonight .
As love and hope and light join in the battle for the soul of the nation , ” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And this is a battle we will win , and we ’ ll do it together .
I promise you.
” The DNC concluded Thursday after a variety of Democratic leaders from around the country addressed the convention , endorsing Biden for president .
The four-night convention was the first virtual political convention in American history .
The convention featured 49 live speakers and 287 on-camera speakers , according to Jeffrey Nussbaum , a partner at speech writing firm West Wing Writers .
That means there were about twice as many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , the average speech length at the DNC was 2 minutes , 30 seconds , according to senior Biden adviser , Addisu Demissie .
Former President Barack Obama , former First Lady Michelle Obama and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris gave speeches over 10 minutes long .
The Republican National Convention will begin on Aug. 24 .
The convention , which was originally set to take place in North Carolina , was moved to Florida before Trump announced in July that it would be moved to an online convention .
Thomas Catenacci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News Foundation .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Joe Biden .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Parent Says Nashville Public Schools Teach His Daughter that White People Are Bad

A parent who said his daughter attends the Metro Nashville Public Schools tweeted that an English lesson plan tells her that White people are appalling racists .
That man , who uses the name GrantB911 on Twitter , also said he ’ s pulling his second grade daughter out of the public school system immediately .
“ Her first ‘ English ’ lesson of the year is teaching her that White people are bad , mean & racist against African-Americans & Mexicans .
My daughter , 7 , is not a racist nor is her family , ” the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will always be taught that everyone is equal .
She will not be ashamed of her skin color.
” In another post , the man , referring to a story in an English lesson , said the White kids in it “ told the Mexican girl to ‘ Go back to the Mexican school !
’ ” “ The Mexican kids were sent away and forced to sit in the dirt with flies around them and an electric fence that shocked them because White people are bad .
This is NOT a civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fake White privilege , ” GrantB911 tweeted .
GrantB911 then posted a photo of another passage from a book , although he did not say if it was a part of his daughter ’ s English lesson .
“ There has been no slavery for a long time .
But are White people and black people treated equally ?
No.
” The Tennessee Star contacted the Twitter user — whose name is apparently T Grant Benson — several times this week .
Benson , however , did not respond to any of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents of students who attend nearby Rutherford County Schools ( RCS ) had to agree not to monitor their child ’ s online classroom sessions .
Officials at all county schools asked parents to sign forms agreeing not to watch these virtual classes .
RCS spokesman James Evans addressed the matter in an email to The Star this week .
“ We are aware of the concern that has been raised about this distance-learning letter that was sent to parents .
The intent was not to prevent parents from being involved with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was intended to protect the academic privacy of other students in the classroom who are visible during certain virtual class sessions , ” Evans said .
“ We have issued new guidance to principals that parents can assist their children during virtual group lessons with permission of the instructor but should refrain from sharing or recording any information about other students in the classroom.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Chicago Mayor Defends Ban on Protesters in Her Neighborhood Citing a Right to Safety

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot defended the heavy police presence outside her home where protesters are being blocked , claiming she has a right to safety .
“ Given the threats that I have personally received .
Given the threats to my home and my family , I ’ m gon na do everything to make sure that they are protected .
I make no apologies whatsoever for that , ” the Democratic mayor said .
“ I think that residents of this city , understanding the nature of the threats that we are receiving on a daily basis , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a right to make sure that my home is secure , ” Lightfoot said , according to the Chicago Tribune .
Comparisons to how the Police Department has protected previous mayors ’ homes , such as Rahm Emanuel ’ s Ravenswood residence , are unfair because “ this is a different time like no other , ” Lightfoot told reporters .
Superintendent David Brown was asked for more details regarding a Tribune report on the police order to ban protesters from demonstrating on Lightfoot ’ s block in the Logan Square neighborhood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave .
Supt .
David Brown noted that “ protesting in neighborhoods is not legal , ” referencing a law that declares residential picketing “ inappropriate in our society.
” According to that legislation people “ have the right to quiet enjoyment of their homes ; that the stability of community and family life can not be maintained unless the right to privacy and a sense of security and peace in the home are respected and encouraged.
” The order did not distinguish between the peaceful protesters Lightfoot regularly says she supports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destructive , but ordered that after a warning is given to demonstrators , “ It should be locked down.
” Photos shared online show dozens of officers guarding her home and her block with barricades in fortress-like fashion .
Chicago Sun Times reported Lightfoot appears more preoccupied with her security issues than most .
Even before the pandemic and recent protests the mayor posted officers in the lobby to screen people before they get on the elevators .
Police sources in the Shakespeare district say it has frequently been undermanned because so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Lightfoot ’ s home .
Officers from other districts have been brought in to cover for those manpower shortages in the Shakespeare district , according to the Chicago Sun Times report .
.
According to Fox News “ more than 100 people have been arrested in recent weeks after looting downtown on Aug. 10 that Lightfoot characterized as a “ planned attack.
” Officials said “ car caravans full ” of people stormed Chicago ’ s Magnificent Mile , Irving North and Gold Coast neighborhoods that Sunday night.
” City officials were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lift all bridges to downtown into the following morning .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Commentary: The Democratic Party Is Unwell

A healthy political party—just like a healthy individual—has certain traits and habits that nourish overall wellness .
A diversity of interests , a sense of humor , a curious mind , a measured temperament , and an occasional endorphin-release from physical activity are just a few things that contribute to the fitness of a human being .
The same kind of characteristics should be found on a collective scale in a thriving , muscular , and stable political party .
None of those qualities , however , can be detected in the present-day Democratic Party .
For all the squawking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for office and insistence that the Republican Party is populated with zombie-like Trump cultists , in reality it is the Democratic Party that needs an extended stay at a detox facility to cleanse its sickly mind and body .
The party ’ s ailments have been on full display this week .
Look no further than the freakish music video that closed out the first night of the Democratic National Convention .
Billy Porter , a gay black Broadway star , and geriatric Steven Stills of Crosby , Stills , and Nash teamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ For What It ’ s Worth.
” The video was a performative display of the party ’ s schizophrenia : A white ’ 60s counterculture icon and a Dracula-costumed POC LGBTQ activist offering an inharmonious version of a Vietnam-era tune as the official anthem for the candidacy of a feeble establishment codger and his unaccomplished cackling sidekick quickly shredding their faux moderate façade in fealty to the party ’ s lunatic fringe of America-hating nihilists .
The Democratic Party is not well .
Joe Biden is neither mentally nor physically healthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party remains in denial .
Biden ’ s conduct should raise all sorts of red flags but party stalwarts are hellbent on dragging him across the finish line in November in an almost cruel act of selfishness .
While Democrats willfully ignore Biden ’ s fragility , the party is fixated on every move , utterance , and tweet from Donald Trump in a way that any mental health professional would diagnose as obsessive .
Their rage often is expressed in alarming public outbursts .
From tearing up a State of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the motherfucker ” and calling for “ unrest in the streets ” against Trump supporters , the Democratic Party is controlled by emotionally unstable people who behave more like mad stalkers than rational adults .
They have one hallucination after another .
For three years , Democrats rocked back and forth wrapped in a collusion straightjacket mumbling about the Russians ( ! )
and lighting candles for Special Counsel Robert Mueller .
One Democratic leader made up phone conversations between Trump and the Ukrainian president ; one presidential candidate pretends to be Native @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before their very eyes .
Even the party ’ s aristocracy is ailing .
Why exactly are the Obamas so angry ?
Barack Obama continues to escape any culpability for the rampant corruption that occurred on his watch , not the least of which was using the sweeping powers of the federal government to target his political foes both before and after the 2016 election .
Michelle Obama recorded her dark convention message from their 30-acre , $ 12 million estate in Martha ’ s Vineyard .
The pair signed a joint book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 50 million gig with Netflix .
I suppose Trump ’ s dismantling of Obama ’ s legacy might sting a bit , but it hardly justifies the doomsday scenarios both Obamas presented to the American people this week .
Yes , Mrs. Obama , many people believe this election will have serious consequences for America ’ s future but it has nothing to do with climate change or Trump ’ s tweets and everything to do with the threat posed by a lawless Democratic Party intent on tearing out the underpinnings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just the big party names who need sedation .
The rank-and-file are just as disturbed .
On a lovely summer Sunday last weekend , a large group of “ protestors ” gathered outside the North Carolina home of the U.S. postmaster to harass Louis DeJoy for his purported scheme to make the postal service unmanageable before the election .
( Yes , that ’ s a joke . )
Some agitators held signs that read “ Protect Our Boys in Blue !
” referring not to police officers but to mailmen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend a Sunday afternoon .
Hounding public officials and their families , however , has become political chic in the Trump era .
On a Sunday in July , crackpot Democrats congregated in the Virginia neighborhood where Chad Wolf , acting director of the Department of Homeland Security , lives with his family .
The agitators were furious over Wolf ’ s comment to enforce federal law in unruly cities such as Portland .
The rank-and-file Democrats are as much to blame for the toxic political climate as the news media or party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the doors of the Supreme Court , forcing their kids to attend Black Lives Matters marches , and posting Adam Schiff ’ s latest absurd conspiracy theory on their Facebook pages .
Trump-hating Democrats are like junkies ; they need a daily fix from the Washington Post and Rachel Maddow just to get through the day .
Teachers ’ unions are a perfect example .
Most schools were preparing plans to reopen this fall—until the Bad Orange Man weighed in .
“ Trump ’ s aggressive , often bellicose demands for reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many educators that it would be unsafe—and give their powerful unions fodder to demand stronger safety measures or to resist efforts to physically reopen , ” the New York Times reported August 13 .
“ As the president has pushed for schools to reopen , key constituencies—parents and educators—have largely moved in the other direction.
” Now , think about that .
The president correctly concluded that tens of millions of children must return to in-person classrooms after five months of isolation and irreversible educational setbacks but grown adults are so consumed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sacrifice the well-being of our kids to score political points against him .
Not healthy , not compassionate , and not sane .
Healthy people thrive on good habits and routine ; unhealthy people sow chaos for themselves and for others .
The Democratic Party is the home of monument-destroyers , Magnificent Mile looters , urban center occupiers , cop abusers , and thugs of all ages .
Democratic leaders are enablers of this mob-like behavior ; in fact , they want more .
Lawmakers pledge to defund local police , dismantle border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If those promises are kept , the country as we know it will be gone for good .
Democrat-run big cities are already disintegrating in rapid fashion due to failed leadership and policies ; expect to see it in a small city or suburb near you if they get control in November .
The whole of the Democratic Party should be in a rubber room not anywhere near the levers of power .
The only cure for what ails the Democratic Party is for voters to turn them out of office so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As Trump said Thursday about the opposition party , “ There was a certain sense of sanity 4 years ago .
These people are insane.
” Julie Kelly is a political commentator and senior contributor to American Greatness .
She is the author of Disloyal Opposition : How the NeverTrump Right Tried―And Failed―To Take Down the President .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Ohio Representative Jena Powell: ‘Ohioans Deserve Better Than They Are Getting Now’

Representative Jena Powell ( R-Arcanum ) is a freshman legislator from Ohio ’ s 80th District with the tenacity of a rookie and the strategic thinking of a veteran .
During a Friday afternoon phone call with The Ohio Star , Powell said “ everyone can speak on things , but it takes a plan to get there .
I am not the kind of person that says ‘ open Ohio ’ and doesn ’ t have a plan – you have to have a plan to get to the endpoint.
” Powell laid out a plan she believes will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – an open Ohio .
Her plan is comprised of seven legislative priorities – initiatives crafted after talks with District 80 business owners , non-profit directors , church leaders and families .
“ These changes will be good for our district and they also make sense for all of Ohio , ” she said .
The 26-year-old has taken an aggressive posture toward the Ohio Department of Health and Governor Mike DeWine with respect to their COVID policies .
“ Whether you agree with Governor DeWine or not , the governor has taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be involved – to get bills into committees and onto the floor to debate and then get them passed on behalf of our constituents , ” she said .
Powell continued “ I can ’ t get 99 people to change their minds , but I believe a frank discussion needs to happen in the House on these points.
” The freshman representative has encouraged Ohio Speaker of the House Bob Cupp ( R- Lima ) to call representatives back before their scheduled September date .
Once back , Powell believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most pressing needs facing Ohioans .
Powell thinks Ohioans are not getting all the information on a myriad topics and masks happen to be one .
“ It comes down to personal responsibility – people can exercise their right to make their own choices .
They will make good choices.
” Powell said .
“ I will be very clear , I believe we must care for our most vulnerable – I love my grandparents .
I also believe we can do that on a local level without the administration stepping in.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered a 23 % increase in permanent restaurant closures from June to July , while 55 % of all business closures from March 1 to July 10 are now permanent .
“ The heart of our communities and the state is small businesses – the losses are astronomical and these are not short-term problems , they are long-term sufferings , ” Powell said .
She also stressed that businesses need relief from anxiety stemming from the threat that the government is going to step-in again and pull the carpet out from under their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hands of bureaucrats “ The Ohio Revised Code ( ORC ) needs to be changed to put a time limit on the emergency authority – legislators need to draft and pass a law that has a time limit on pandemic powers , ” the representative said .
What started out as 14 days to slow the spread has turned into 165 days of mounting regulations with consequences much broader than COVID health-related issues .
“ Messaging from the governor and department of health has totally changed since March .
Then it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t get overloaded , but we don ’ t even hear about that today .
Now , the governor says we must kill the virus .
We are not going to kill it and the community needs to understand this – we need to make sure we can live with it around us , ” she said .
There is a lot at stake .
The toughest fallout from the 2008 financial crisis was the increase in suicides , which studies uncovered were caused by job losses .
According to a Kaiser Family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reported that COVID has negatively impacted their mental health .
Consequently , halting that trajectory requires giving adults free rein to operate their businesses without heavy restrictions that stack the deck against survival .
A University of Wisconsin-Madison study found “ approximately 68 percent of the 3,243 student-athletes surveyed reported feelings of anxiety and depression at levels that would typically require medical intervention.
” Getting back to school and work are critical for our overall health and wellness and it is essential to remove legal liabilities for schools and businesses fighting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 55 would eliminate the criminal penalties for violating state COVID orders and lower fines for non-compliance with the mandates .
Powell believes DeWine has overstepped and even if people disagree , it is the people of Ohio who should decide – “ this bill gets the legislature involved so debate and policies can happen to create laws that allow the people across the state to weigh in , instead of one person representing all 11.7 million Ohioans.
” CDC Director Robert Redfield has repeatedly stated the greatest risk posed by COVID to kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its policies that are causing them to battle depression , substance abuse and suicides .
Redfield also said that there is no evidence to support the idea kids are transmitting the virus to teachers .
“ Kids being in school is huge .
I talked with one superintendent who said that at the end of last year 20 % of kids never logged in to start online learning , ” Powell said .
“ We already have choices like charter schools and private schools – additional choices need to be available .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but other families may need the bricks-and-mortar location and they should have the option.
” Having a choice is a resonant theme for Powell who said “ Secretary of State LaRose already said it is safe to vote in person .
People can opt to go vote the day of the election – but if someone isn ’ t comfortable that person can vote absentee or vote early.
” When asked if DeWine and Cupp have either responded or reacted to her open letter and legislative priorities , Powell said “ the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ll continue making sure they hear the voice of my district .
From the beginning it was clear , the governor didn ’ t care what legislators had to say – regardless , I will continue to do my job even though he feels how he feels.
” Regarding the speaker , Powell said “ Speaker Cupp and I have been in discussion .
I said ‘ here ’ s what my district is seeing and what ’ s going on.
’ He got my open letter and understands my legislative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powell was adamant that not everyone in the legislature will agree but the important matter is being in the game – being permitted to play the role legislators are elected to fulfill .
“ I ’ ve asked supporters of the mandates and the ongoing state of emergency ‘ how long can the governor do it ?
’ ‘ How long can he use the ORC to put orders on the entire state ?
’ ‘ How is he doing that from his position ?
’ and I don ’ t get answers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all be asking , ” Powell said , and then she continued “ these are the conversations legislators should be having and debating.
” The most frustrating aspect of the State of Ohio ’ s response to COVID is the lack of full disclosure , according to Powell .
“ We are being lied to .
The information I am getting from doctors , healthcare workers and people inside nursing homes – that information on the ground is not the information Ohioans are getting from the administration , ” she said and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We deserve information and the right to make choices based on the information.
” Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Detroit Teachers Authorize Strike Over in-Person Education Concerns

The Detroit Federation of Teachers ( DFT ) voted Wednesday to authorize a strike if an agreement can ’ t be reached over COVID-19 concerns .
The vote , with 91 percent in favor , authorizes DFT leadership to call a strike if the union and the Detroit Public School Community District ( DPSCD ) don ’ t reach an agreement .
“ Over the past few months , our members have raised concerns regarding the District ’ s reopening plan , ” DFT President Terrence Martin said in a statement .
“ Choice on whether to work remotely or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with signatures and guaranteed for all our members .
It is imperative that the District puts protocols in place to protect both staff and students.
” Although teachers strikes are illegal in Michigan , the strike authorization means that members agree to teach remotely .
“ The action we took today isn ’ t one that we wanted to take .
It ’ s an action that we had to take , ” Martin said after the vote .
Martin said 80 percent of his members want to teach online only while 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Academy of Pediatricians ( AAP ) has urged local governments to reopen schools .
Long periods away from school , the AAP says , interrupts support services for children and often results in social isolation .
These factors make it “ difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse , substance use , depression , and suicidal ideation , ” the academy adds .
“ This , in turn , places children and adolescents at considerable risk.
” The Centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen safely if safety protocols are followed .
The DFT has said members fear they may be forced to teach in-person even if they are uneasy or have pre-existing health conditions .
Every DPSCD school will offer families the option of online learning or in-person instruction .
The district said 75 percent of its 51,000 students will learn online while 25 percent will learn in-person .
“ Teachers Have Options .
No Teacher is Required to Teach Face to Face .
Most students are selecting online learning , ” the district tweeted Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local school districts to decide whether to hold instruction in-person , online , or a hybrid version .
DPSCD Superintendent Nikolai Vitti tweeted : “ Conversations with DFT have increased over the past week and we are both bargaining in good faith .
The reopening process is very hard , on multiple levels , but we will get this right for our students , families and employees.
” DFT is a part of the American Federation of Teachers union , which released 10 reopening demands in July .
The DFT will now return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we acknowledge the action taken today by DFT , we are also confident the School Board and the District in discussion with DFT will result in a safe reopening of schools , ” Vitti and the DPSCD School Board said in a joint statement .
DPSCD ’ s first full day of planned in-person instruction begins Sept. 8 , with safety precautions .
Masks will be required , temperature checks for students and faculty , and high-touch surfaces will be frequently disinfected , according to DPSCD ’ s website For in-person instruction , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with smaller class sizes , of 20 or fewer students in one classroom .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .
Previously , he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Minneapolis City Council Reinvests in Police Department: $1.2 Million for New Precinct

The Minneapolis City Council has approved the reinvestment of $ 1.2 million into a new department for Third Precinct police .
The investment will be pledged annually for the next three years .
The council decided in their Policy & Government Oversight Committee meeting on Thursday afternoon .
The decision to reinvest millions in a three-year lease for precinct is opposite to the council ’ s recent precedent .
Earlier this summer , City Council President Lisa Bender ( Ward 10 ) promised to “ dismantle policing ” in favor of a “ new model of public safety.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this month after the Charter Commission opted to delay their vote .
Background analysis on the matter omitted the fact that rioters burned down the Third Precinct building three days after George Floyd ’ s death .
Their analysis only reported on the officers ’ current operations locations : remotely , or in the Minneapolis Convention Center basement .
Prior to the meeting , Minneapolis Police Federation President Bob Kroll blamed the city ’ s leadership for officer shortages and worsening crime rates .
Kroll also mentioned there was no word about establishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They haven ’ t found a building to put it in .
That ’ s another thing – we don ’ t know what they ’ re going to do with that precinct , and it ’ s been how long now ?
The officers are working in the basement of the convention center , in horrible working conditions , ” he said .
Again , failed leadership.
” Council member Cam Gordon ( Ward 2 ) dismissed Kroll ’ s criticisms , questioning whether the union leader had “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-depth understanding ” of the city ’ s problems .
Police data published in the same council meeting recorded nearly double the number of gunshot victims and homicides compared to last year , and a four year high of aggravated assaults .
The council is scheduled to finalize the decision next Friday .
If fully approved , the Third Precinct will move into their new building in October .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Virginia Republicans Wary of Proposals Facilitating Absentee Ballots

Republican legislators in Virginia are sounding the alarm about risks with new provisions providing prepaid postage and drop boxes for absentee ballots .
The provisions come as part of a budget amendment proposed by Governor Ralph Northam .
The amendment provides $ 2 million to create the ballot drop boxes and to pay postage so that voters do not have to pay to return their ballots .
The General Assembly will consider the amendments sometime near the beginning of next week .
Virginia state Senator Scott Surovell ( D- Fairfax ) warned that no matter what Democrats do to allay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud .
The Republican concerns and the Democratic responses around voter fraud are common messages across the nation .
Virginia state Senate Minority Leader Press Secretary Jeff Ryer detailed three Republican concerns about the proposals : First , ballot drop boxes create a potential for ballot harvesting .
Ballot harvesting is when someone hands out absentee ballots to voters .
Then , after the ballots are filled out , the harvester collects the ballots and files them .
Adding an extra person into the process increases the risk of tampering with the ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Second , Ryer said that prepaid mail is usually not postmarked , but the postmarks are used to determine if a ballot is filed on time .
Without them , it would be hard to prevent late voting .
“ The state board of elections ruled that if the postmark is not clear – in other words they can ’ t tell exactly what the date is ( which happens with a decent percentage of postmarks , ) or if it doesn ’ t have a postmark , the presumption would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryer said .
Third , Ryer is concerned that increased absentee voting will overwhelm Virginia ’ s elections systems .
Ryer mentioned the problems in New York City ’ s Democratic primary .
The New York Post reported that the primary saw 21 percent of its absentee ballots rejected in the June primary due to factors including voter error , a lack of a postmark , or the ballot arriving late .
Ryer warned about confusion between the terms “ universal mail-in voting ” and “ absentee voting.
” Absentee voting already exists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absentee ballots this year might be higher than normal .
Universal mail-in voting is a system that sends ballots to all voters , not just absentee voters .
Universal mail-in voting would be difficult to implement in less than two years , according to Ryer .
On Thursday afternoon some members of the assembly said they were waiting for legislation on universal mail-in voting , Ryer said .
Hearing that , the Republican caucus began to fear that Democrats were going to sneak in a last-minute bill .
Ryer said the comments were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not about universal mail-in ballots .
Such a large last minute change to the election would be dangerous .
Ryer did not think the Democrats would destroy election integrity .
Surovell expressed frustration over the misinformation .
He said that the only ballot-related provisions being considered are the provisions for prepaid absentee ballots and ballot drop boxes .
He warned that these kinds of fears are nothing new .
“ Sounds like the same conspiracy theories being peddled by Russian Facebook trolls , ” Surovell said .
Eric Burk is a reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Michigan Fines Businesses More Than $33,000 for Coronavirus Safety Violations

Six Michigan businesses were fined more than $ 33,000 after they failed to follow safety protocol designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , the state announced on Friday .
The businesses were fined under “ general duty ” citations through the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( MIOSHA ) , rather than through any of Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s executive orders .
The “ general duty ” clause requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized harms and carries a fine of up to $ 7,000 .
“ The MIOSHA investigations determined that these six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps to protect employees and their communities from the spread of COVID-19 , ” MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman said in a statement .
“ These citations are meant to reiterate the employer ’ s duty .
Precautions are necessary to establish and maintain a work environment where everyone can return home safe and healthy.
” The state has received more than five times the number of monthly complaints compared to before the pandemic , rising from 200 complaints per month to 1,000 , according to The Detroit News .
“ We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did in calendar years ’ 18 and ’ 19 , ” Pickelman told the outlet .
The six businesses that received citations were : The highest fine was $ 7,000 and was given to a UPS distribution facility in Livonia , while the lowest was a $ 2,100 fine to Coop ’ s Iron Works in Saginaw .
The total fines came to $ 33,400 .
The citations included failure to have employees properly socially distance when it was possible , not wearing masks when in the same room , not alerting other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed case of COVID-19 who had visited the office and not requiring customers to wear masks , among other citations .
The companies will have 15 working days to contest the violations .
They must also provide proof to MIOSHA that the problems have been fixed .
“ We ’ re focused on education first so employers know what they must do to safely reopen .
But a failure to follow guidelines puts everyone at risk , ” said Michigan COVID-19 Workplace Safety Director Sean Egan in a statement .
“ While these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness , they are not a reflection of the tremendous cooperation we have seen from employers and their workers across the state.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter at The Michigan Star and Star News Digital Media .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Two Arrested as Richmond and State Police Clash with Locals Outside Jackson Ward Bar

Richmond and Virginia State Police got into a confrontation with a group of people and arrested two individuals Thursday night for obstructing justice by not showing identification , according to Richmond resident Jimmie Lee Jarvis who witnessed the event firsthand .
Yet another incident between police and locals has taken place in Richmond , this time outside of GWARbar , a local heavy-metal themed bar in the Jackson Ward neighborhood .
In an interview with The Virginia Star Jarvis recounted the situation with police that eventually turned violent , creating a timeline of events that took place in just under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state police officers arrived , Jarvis and some friends were at GWARbar having drinks on the restaurant ’ s back patio/parking lot a little before 10 p.m. , Jarvis said .
According to Jarvis , officers began arriving outside the bar around 10:15 p.m. but did not immediately approach or speak with Jarvis , his friends or other people there .
“ At first , I counted 15 RPD officers and a half dozen vehicles show up , and then shortly after that many more RPD officers came as well as a couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gear , ” Jarvis said .
Police officers came to GWARbar because of a flyer , picture below , that had circulated on social media , which said that a Black Lives Matter protest was going to start at the bar at 10 p.m. , according to Jarvis .
Jarvis , who posted a photo of the flyer online , said he was skeptical of whether the poster was authentic or not , noting that he estimated there were about 15 people present when the protest was supposed to begin .
The Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization asking if there were any protests scheduled for Thursday in Richmond , but did not get a response .
The actual physical confrontation began shortly after officers walked onto GWARbar property to speak with the small crowd , Jarvis said .
“ About ten officers ended up walking onto the GWARbar property in that combined patio-parking lot area and started demanding that everybody there provide IDs , ” Jarvis said .
“ The lead officer , who would not give his rank or badge number or name , he just seemed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ that officer ] said that because the flyer had gone out and because there had been previous nights of property damage that he was investigating a crime and that he had justification to make everybody there produce their identification.
” Once officers asked the group to produce their IDs and they did not comply , the lead officer singled out one man among the crowd .
After that man still did not comply with the officer ’ s demands to see identification , the lead officer said he was under arrest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Jarvis ’ account , the officer then grabbed the man and took him into police custody .
Once this happened , other people in the crowd began reacting .
That is when more police officers came up to the group , tackling , handcuffing and then taking two people away , Jarvis said .
In a release sent to The Star , Richmond police said that officers arrived at the scene at 10:20 p.m. , giving accuracy to Jarvis ’ timeline , to monitor the area because they were aware of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with officers , two women , Knisya Johnson and Alice Minium ( pictured above ) , were arrested .
Police charged Minium with conspiracy to incite a riot and charged Johnson with assault on a law enforcement officer , police said .
Video taken by Jarvis from the crowd and posted to Twitter show an officer grabbing a woman and Jarvis himself being pushed to the ground by police .
It is unclear if the woman in Jarvis ’ video is Minium .
After the initial altercation between Richmond and state police and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left and then came back , eventually standing on the street outside the bar , according to Jarvis .
“ At the height of police presence , I counted 60 and there were officers around the corners and stuff that I couldn ’ t see , ” Jarvis said .
“ So , there were at least 60 combined RPD and Virginia state police officers.
” At 11:58 p.m. the officers standing outside the bar property left , but continued to drive around the block in their vehicles , according to Jarvis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midnight .
GWARbar did not respond to a request for comment from The Star .
This incident occurred not far from Richmond Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Kim Gray ’ s home , where protestors have gathered in large numbers in the past to voice their displeasure with Gray ’ s actions and opinions .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--DeWine Calls on Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to Send $1.5 Billion in Dividend Payments

Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine wants the board of directors for the Bureau of Workers ’ Compensation ( BWC ) to approve sending up to $ 1.5 billion in dividend payments to employers across the state .
If approved , it would be the second dividend of $ 1 billion or more since April , DeWine said during a Thursday press conference .
The $ 1.5 billion totals the premiums paid during the 2019 policy year , and officials say the payout is possible because of several factors , including a lower number of claims and strong returns on investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 1.3 billion to businesses and $ 184 million to local taxing districts .
The agency anticipated providing a dividend next year , but , if approved , it could start sending checks in late October .
“ Employers told us after the April dividend that these dollars certainly can be lifesavers for business , ” DeWine said during a news conference .
“ I made the decision to ask the board to do this and to do it now and not wait because we know there are some businesses out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money now.
” In May , the BWC said it would defer premium payments for employers , and installments for June , July and August would instead be due on Sept. 1 .
The governor also said he plans to ask the BWC board to distribute a second round of face coverings to Ohio employers and their workers as part of the agency ’ s “ Protecting Ohio ’ s Workforce – We ’ ve Got You Covered ” program .
“ They ’ ve already shipped 20.6 million masks to 197,000 employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeWine said on Twitter .
“ This second round will consist of approximately 23 million masks to employers and are meant to replace any masks that have exhausted their effective use.
” On Thursday , Ohio reported 112,003 “ confirmed and probable ” COVID-19 cases and 3,650 “ confirmed and probable ” deaths from the virus , which originated in China .
“ Ohio continues to see a shift in virus spread .
In urban areas , where residents have been wearing masks longer , we ’ re seeing spread decline , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” DeWine said in a news release .
“ The best ways to stop the virus continue to be staying home when you can , wearing your mask and social distancing when you go out , and washing your hands often.
” Todd Defeo is a contributor to The Center Square .
Photo “ Ohio Capitol ” by Mj .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-22--Bill to End Mandatory Minimum Sentences Blocked by Virginia Senate Committee

Legislation that would have banned the enforcement of mandatory minimum sentencing in Virginia was killed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday after some Democrats joined Republicans in their opposition .
Senate Bill 5046 , sponsored by Sen. John Edwards , D-Roanoke , effectively would have ended all mandatory minimums in Virginia by halting their enforcement for offenses committed on or after Jan. 1 , 2021 .
Although reforming mandatory minimum laws has bipartisan support , SB 5046 did not provide exemptions for violent crimes , such as murder or rape , which led to it ultimately failing .
Voicing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obenshain , R-Harrisonburg , criticized it for painting a broad brush .
He asked why there were not any exemptions for the most serious of crimes , such as the rape of a child .
One woman provided testimony against the bill , citing the murder of her husband as an example .
Sen. Joe Morrissey , D-Richmond , defended the bill , arguing that when lawmakers begin to add exceptions , they will never stop .
Sen. Scott Surovell , D-Mount Vernon , said a special session is probably not the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill was passed by indefinitely on a 10-3 vote , effectively killing the legislation .
The bill will be referred to the Virginia Crime Commission to be studied further .
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and West Virginia for The Center Square .
He previously worked for the Cause of Action Institute and has been published in Business Insider , USA TODAY College , National Review Online and the Washington Free Beacon .