thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Commentary: The Last Time Bill Gates Helped America Was Common Core

Twenty years ago , No Child Left Behind ( NCLB ) , the legislation intended to save American children from stupidity and the “ soft bigotry of low expectations , ” became law .
Ten years later , Common Core came to the fore .
They both failed .
Like all liberal ideas , they started with good intentions and government intervention and ended in cheating , lying , and wasted taxpayer money .
NCLB was passed in the Senate in June 2001 and ratified into law in January 2002 , with a bipartisan effort from George W. Bush and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Teddy Kennedy .
As far as government responses to tragedy go , NCLB got buried under an endless war , but like so many government programs continues to harm the public to this day .
When NCLB failed to produce desired outcomes , President Obama decided that the answer was more federal control , and more money .
Enter Bill Gates , the Gates Foundation , and Common Core .
But first NCLB ’ s failures from the Mises Institute : “ Those who control the schools control the future.
” More importantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program ?
One should keep in mind , however , what Kohn said regarding the scores : the higher test scores may come at the cost of learning .
However , in 2006 , for example , math and reading test scores dropped significantly , showing that only 32 % of high-school students were proficient in math .
What about high-school graduation rates ?
Surely the rate of graduations is reflective of school quality and efficiency , which No Child Left Behind was supposed to improve .
In 2008 , a report sponsored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was prepared by the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center , showed that schools in major cities in the United States had a horrible 52 % graduation rate after four years ; the national average is 70 % , which still isn ’ t good .
In areas like Baltimore , with a graduation rate of 34 % , Columbus , with a graduation rate of 41 % , and Detroit , with an awful rate of 25 % , their suburbs are at 80 % or higher .
These urban areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Child Left Behind would target .
In 2015 , the Obama administration replaced No Child Left Behind with the even more Orwellian program named ESSA : the Every Student Succeeds Act .
Like its forebear , ESSA ’ s outcomes were not great .
In fact , one of the promising provisions of NCLB , teacher competence — a teacher had to have mastery of the subject he or she taught — was stripped from ESSA .
Unqualified teachers “ taught ” children .
Now , in 2020 , Bill Gates , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his image , has new ideas for America .
This time , they involve vaccination , vaccination cards , and universal testing requirements .
It ’ s worth noting whether his old ideas have results worth emulating .
George W. Bush believed that American education was failing .
He was not wrong .
Student test scores were sliding .
There were great disparities between school districts and between states .
Like today , poor children were being left behind .
Politicians on the left agreed with George W. Bush .
Moreover , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , George W. Bush wanted to heal America with “ compassionate conservatism ” borne of Christian charity .
Bush , like Ted Kennedy in the Senate , was possessed of a certain noblesse oblige .
He came from a great American family and was tasked with glorious purpose , as Loki would say .
He wanted to heal the nation by reaching across the aisle for his first action in Congress .
No Child Left Behind was born .
NCLB would tie federal funds to schools improving test scores and successful outcomes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ school districts , especially districts with the most challenging student populations , to realize that to get the federal dollars , they ’ d need to game the system .
Test-taking scandals popped up across the country , most notably in Atlanta , Georgia .
Teachers and administrators were implicated in taking tests for students to goose averages and qualify for federal and private grants .
One teacher , Shani Robinson , refused to plead guilty to the crimes and wrote a book about the experience .
She says in an NPR interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Despite this debacle , the Obama administration decided that problem with No Child Left Behind was that the legislation didn ’ t go far enough .
NCLB let states and local school districts create the curriculum to teach to the standardized tests .
It was up to them to improve their scores .
Because primary education had always been the most local of politics , even introducing national testing was controversial .
But , according to the Obama administration , local school districts couldn ’ t be trusted to teach the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timing couldn ’ t have been more perfect .
Eight years of NCLB had resulted in lowered test scores .
President Obama would save education , and tech billionaire Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation would help him .
Philip Brand of Capital Research writes an excellent history of the program : No , Georgia was not picked to launch Common Core by accident .
And far from locally driven standards , Common Core was adopted almost wholesale from the Gates Foundation ’ s initiatives .
Gates Foundation grants and a snappy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Top , had school districts competing for foundation grants to teach struggling kids .
Did Common Core work ?
Did the millions of Gates Foundation dollars make a difference ?
Nope .
In 2019 , the New York Times blared , “ Reading Scores on National Exam Decline in Half the States.
” Far from being a success , national standards and financial incentives had made the weaknesses among American students universal and diminished any strengths they might have had .
Washington , D.C. , conservative intellectuals felt that the benefits of Race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the negatives .
Meanwhile , conservative activists hated both the substance of Common Core and the federal government taking over education .
In addition to opposition the bank bailouts , “ school choice ” became a Tea Party mantra .
The argument for school , and parent , choice in educating children is stronger today than ever before , despite over 20 years — and , if one goes back to Lyndon Johnson ’ s efforts , 50 years — of federal meddling in education .
If American teachers hate NCLB and Common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for good reason .
Both federal programs sought to modify more than just teaching standards .
They aimed to change the behavior of American parents , especially .
The underlying premise was that involved parents create smarter kids .
The solution , then , was to force parents to be involved .
Kindergartners were now coming home with homework , and parents were overwhelmed with ridiculous projects .
As more women entered the workforce and as more of them were single parents , the burdens were nothing short of discriminatory .
Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children run around and play for half the day , teachers were now cramming information into the heads of six- and seven-year-olds .
The theory was that a certain amount of learning had to be in a kid ’ s brain by third grade or he ’ d be left behind .
In practical effect , America ’ s children are now fatter and dumber .
They ’ re denied play time , they are full of pent-up energy and anxiety , and they ’ re doped up on ADD medicine to suppress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their growth is stunted .
Then there was the inane curriculum itself .
Math became a convoluted mess .
Parents are still teaching their kids the “ old ” way , and then teachers teach kids to the tests with Common Core math .
As the above test scores illustrate , the reading curriculum is no better .
One of the “ successes ” of Common Core was that the dropout rate declined and more kids graduated .
But school districts gamed that , too .
They wouldn ’ t count kids who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were moved to alternative private schools for difficult children .
These schools , often for-profit , would take the most at-risk kids , and then those kids would be “ off the books ” for school systems wanting to hit benchmarks .
Twenty years federalizing primary education has resulted in a dumber America .
Now , with big-city teachers unions rebelling against doing their jobs because of COVID , the most needy children aren ’ t being educated at all .
Since these unions control the Democrat party , don ’ t expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , the new Democrat craze is to get rid of standardized testing .
The answer to stupid children , evidently , is to not test them at all , as testing is “ racist.
” Getting rid of standardized testing means that schools may reduce their standards and not have any proof of success .
Meanwhile , America gets less competitive .
Why is all this important ?
Besides the obvious implications regarding the fruitless national educational standards , the players trying to enforce these standards are all back in power .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a third term .
They favor more government power .
The current COVID crisis plays into their governing biases .
The government must fix the COVID problem .
An older , still utopian , Bill Gates is back , too .
He has been funding vaccine research and vaccination programs around the world .
This is noble .
Just as funding education standards and attempting to help school districts educate children is noble .
These are objectively good motives .
But federal attempts and the public-private sector partnerships being created to attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and end up in places not intended .
Recently , Gates was on Jake Tapper ’ s show on CNN opining that America should be shut down , maybe through 2022 .
Two whole more years ?
This is insanity that only sounds sane to people who can afford to never leave their palatial homes again .
Already , Americans will be given vaccination cards ( which they can keep in their wallets ! )
to prove that they ’ re vaccinated .
Want to go to a concert ?
Better have an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Want to fly on a plane ?
Better have an app .
Activists are again warning against the possible implications of COVID government power grabs .
Like warnings about home loans and education , these sensible statements are getting lost .
Bill Gates has great incentive to push universal vaccination .
He funded the research into the vaccines .
He stands to profit if there are millions of buyers .
Americans are right to be concerned about federal pushes .
The consequences in the past have been disastrous .
Government intervention often leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week , liberalized home loans lead to bank bailouts and a near-total financial collapse .
Government intervention in education , with help from Gates , has resulted in dumber students , frustrated parents , and the desire to ditch all standardized testing .
These are bad outcomes .
When it comes to the COVID crisis , Americans are smart to be skeptical .
Government interventions pave the road to hell .
There ’ s no reason to believe that these interventions will be an exception .
Melissa Mackenzie is Publisher of The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBC and has appeared on Fox .
Her work has been featured at The Guardian , PJ Media , and was a front page contributor to RedState .
Melissa commutes from Houston , Texas to Alexandria , VA. She lives in Houston with her two sons , one daughter , and two diva rescue cats .
You can follow Ms. Mackenzie on Twitter : @ MelissaTweets .
Photo “ Bill Gates ” by Bill Gates .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Georgia Secretary of State Launches Statewide Signature Match Audits

Following a signature match audit for absentee ballots in Cobb County , Georgia will conduct a statewide audit .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced the decision on Monday .
According to the secretary of state ’ s office , the audit will review “ specific allegations ” relating to inadequate signature matching on absentee ballot applications ahead of June ’ s primary elections .
That audit will compare a sample of absentee ballot envelopes to signatures on file .
However , during a press conference , Raffensperger asserted that the audit was called not because of reported incidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to assuage the widespread lack of confidence in the integrity of the general election results .
“ Now that the signature matching has been attacked again and again with no evidence , I feel we need to take steps to restore confidence in our elections , ” stated Raffensperger .
Raffensperger has stated previously that the signature matching processes conducted in Georgia during the primaries and general election were stronger than ever before .
During an interview nearly a month ago , Raffensperger told a reporter that nothing went wrong with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted in defense of their state ’ s signature matching .
“ My team secured and strengthened absentee ballots for the first time since 2005 , ” Raffensperger wrote .
“ [ L ] et ’ s address this disinformation about signature match .
We strengthened signature match .
We helped train election officials on GBI signature match – which is confirmed twice before a ballot is cast.
” Georgia Governor Brian Kemp tweeted after the secretary of state ’ s office made the announcement , commending Raffensperger for his decision .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the November 3rd election , I am glad Secretary Raffensperger has finally taken this necessary step to begin restoring confidence in Georgia ’ s election process .
# gapol [ . ]
” Cobb County ’ s audit is expected to be completed within two weeks .
The secretary of state ’ s office didn ’ t establish when the statewide audit would take place .
Monday also marked the day that the Electoral College cast their votes for the presidency .
The votes indicated that Democratic candidate Joe Biden is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Background Photo “ Georgia Capitol ” by DXR .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .

by Scott McClallen
Sixteen Michigan schools have been awarded $205,028 to develop Great Lakes-based science, technology, engineering, and math – STEM – programs.
“These grants will support freshwater literacy programs and offer students access to real world STEM experiences,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “Our Great Lakes are our greatest asset, and we must empower young Michiganders to learn more about them and continue advancing conservation efforts. Michigan’s economic competitiveness depends on a workforce proficient in STEM and committed to solving our biggest challenges. Investments like these will help prepare our kids to lead our state into the future.”
Grant proposals were submitted and reviewed through a competitive process. Selected projects study freshwater conservation and real-world experiences.
Grant awardees and amount are as follows:
Alcona Community Schools: $6,892 to expand 3-P learning by studying coastal and wetland habitats.
Alpena Public Schools: $8,078 so students can work as scientific researchers collecting data and making observations to determine if environmental issues are impacting the Thunder Bay River Watershed.
Avron Township School: $5,000 to adopt two beaches so it can participate in science lessons.
Atherton Community Schools: $10,000 to engage 195 middle and high school science students in 3-P learning through its “Health in Our Hands” curriculum.
Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District: $20,000 for 3-P learning to support teachers.
Farmington Public Schools: $15,870 to incorporate “student voice” in water steward topics and activate 3-P teaching
Forest Hills Central Woodlands ⅚ School: $20,000 to provide 3-P learning students, including transportation for all students to visit the Inland Seas Schooner and engage in the remotely operated vehicle program through Inland Seas Education Association.
Grand Rapids Montessori, Grand Rapids Public Schools: $8,862 to help students identify and solve habitat loss for local pollinators, bird and turtle species through a partnership with the John Ball Zoo.
Harrington Elementary School: $12,000 for Marshall Public Schools to partner with Albion College to develop “outdoors at school” curricula for grades K-5.
Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency: $20,000 to support Southwest MiSTEM and the Kalamazoo Nature Center to establish a Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative hub to continue water stewardship education programs.
Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools: $15,000 to participate in the Flint River Green project, where students learn about the Flint River Watershed and its community impact.
Muskegon Area Intermediate School District: $15,000 to expand 3-P learning for 420 fourth grade students and 3-P training for 19 fourth grade teachers.
Pickfield Public Schools: $9,996 so students can gather water quality data from the local watershed.
Stanton Township Public Schools: $5,000 to train new teachers to carry out future Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative activities.
Washtenaw Intermediate School District: $20,000 to build a foundation for cross-district collaboration in support of freshwater-focused place-based education.
Wayne-Westland Community Schools: $13,330 to activate a 3-P learning program.
The grants continue the 2020 From Students to Stewards Initiative and the 2021 MiSTEM Transformative Playbook grants.
The Great Lakes account for over 20% of the world’s surface freshwater.
– – –
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--2020-12-16--‘Willful Disregard of the Law’: Minnesota Suspends Defiant Restaurant’s Liquor License

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety suspended the liquor license of Boardwalk Bar & Grill , a restaurant in East Grand Forks that reopened last week in violation of the governor ’ s coronavirus mandates .
The Polk County District Court granted Attorney General Keith Ellison ’ s motion for a temporary restraining order Friday to prevent the restaurant from remaining open .
The business also was issued a cease and desist order by the Minnesota Department of Health .
But the bar and grill “ failed to comply with the court ’ s order , ” according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement division .
As a result , the agency has suspended Boardwalk ’ s liquor license for 60 days , and any further violations will result in a “ five-year liquor license revocation.
” “ While we recognize the struggles that bars and liquor establishments have experienced , willful disregard of the law that puts Minnesotans in danger can not and will not be ignored .
People ’ s lives have to take precedent during this pandemic , ” Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said in a Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work with our local public safety and business partners to educate and provide advice to slow the spread of COVID-19.
” Jane Moss , owner of Boardwalk Bar & Grill , said “ the support from around the state and other states has been overwhelming.
” “ I am in a situation now where they want to take me to court for contempt of court , ” she told Action 4 Liberty ’ s Jake Duesenberg during a Monday interview .
“ We have to do this .
We have to stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this illegal and unlawful order.
” Moss said some business owners are probably scared to reopen because “ you don ’ t know what the state can throw at you.
” “ They ’ ll throw everything they can , ” said Moss , who noted that her local police are hesitant to enforce Gov .
Tim Walz ’ s executive order .
“ Please open up and stand up for what you know is right , ” she added .
“ It ’ s an illegal , unconstitutional order .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this.
” Action 4 Liberty launched a legal defense fund for Moss , which has already raised more than $ 10,000 .
Moss said Boardwalk Bar & Grill will be closed Tuesday pending a court appearance but she hopes to reopen Wednesday .
Hundreds of other businesses are reportedly planning to reopen this week in a mass protest of the governor ’ s orders .
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News .
He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform , and reported for The Daily Caller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by Boardwalk Bar & Grill .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Warnock and Ossoff Push ‘New Civil Rights Act’ on Bus Tour for Runoff Election

Democratic candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are promoting a new Civil Rights Act during their bus tour leading up to the January 5 Senate runoff election .
The proposed expansions on the current Civil Rights Act would include sexual orientation and gender identity .
The act ’ s reach would also expand to impact policing , prisons , and even private businesses .
Both Warnock and Ossoff support the Equality Act , which would prohibit business owners from not employing or denying their services to LGBTQ+ individuals .
There are no provisions within the bill excluding religious beliefs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights Act would prohibit all business discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals and government practices preventing transgender individuals from serving in the military .
Warnock has also mentioned that his efforts would tackle employment , housing , voting , and service discrimination against ex-convicts .
“ People get the stigma of being convicted , and in some cases they ’ re not even convicted – just arrested .
And housing discrimination is legal , job discrimination is legal , ” stated Warnock .
“ None of us wants to be judged by our worst moment.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would restrict the use of deadly force by police officers .
The candidate tweeted that the federal government should impose national standards for use of force .
“ We need to bring real accountability against individual officers , against police departments , against prosecutors , against judges , against jails and prisons where there is race and class bias in our criminal justice system , ” stated Ossoff .
“ [ W ] hen Ahmaud Arbery is shot to death in broad daylight in the street on camera , and the local police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look the other way , it makes a mockery of equal protection and it ’ s the job of Congress to pass legislation that will hold those local authorities accountable for that kind of misconduct.
” Despite Ossoff ’ s statement concerning the Ahmaud Arbery case , Georgia authorities investigated immediately and two prosecutors recused themselves of the case due to professional connections with one of the perpetrators .
Three men are facing charges currently for Arbery ’ s death .
Additionally , Ossoff ’ s platform recognized that the act would impose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He proposed demilitarization of local police forces , banning private prisons , ending cash bail , abolishing the death penalty , legalizing cannabis , and ending prison or jail time for nonviolent drug offenses .
Abolition of the death penalty resurfaced as a key issue this past week as the death penalty was exacted against two men convicted of murder .
Ossoff advocated for this portion of his platform in response to petitions for both men to be reprieved of their death sentence .
Early voting for the runoff election began Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Jon Ossoff ” by Jon Ossoff .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Virginia Hospitals Receive First Shipments of COVID-19 Vaccine

The coronavirus vaccine has finally arrived in the Commonwealth of Virginia .
Several hospitals in Virginia received initial shipments of the newly approved Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine this week , kicking off the state ’ s months-long plan for mass vaccinations and finally signaling a potential end to the pandemic .
“ These initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are a much-needed symbol of hope for our Commonwealth and our country , ” Governor Ralph Northam said in a statement .
“ With this remarkable medical achievement , we are beginning to see the light at the end of a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this moment of celebration , we must remember that this is the first step in a months-long process to receive , distribute , and administer the vaccine as it becomes available , ” the governor added .
“ I ask everyone to stay vigilant , take care of each other , and continue following the public health guidelines as we work to vaccinate Virginians in a safe , efficient , equitable manner.
” On Monday , Northam welcomed the first shipment at Bon Secours hospital in Richmond , while Sentara Healthcare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received their own supply of the vaccine .
A spokesperson for Bon Secours said the hospital had received 4,875 initial doses on Monday .
Sentara , one of the largest healthcare systems in the state with 11 hospitals , was sent 11,700 doses and will be sharing the limited supply across the entire system , Sentara spokesperson Lauren Patton told The Virginia Star .
Additionally , Virginia Commonwealth University ( VCU ) Health received approximately 4,000 doses of the vaccine for initial distribution on Tuesday , VCU Health Senior Public Relations Specialist Alexandra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and VCU are not the only ones to get the vaccine , however .
According to CBS 6 , the Virginia Department of Health ( VDH ) said 18 healthcare systems across the Commonwealth will receive shipments this week .
Those being facilities that have ultra-cold freezer capabilities to properly store the vaccine .
The VDH announced earlier this month that the state is supposed to be getting 72,150 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in these first shipments , which was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of December if Moderna ’ s vaccine is also given emergency-use authorization .
Under Virginia ’ s vaccination plan , front-line healthcare workers who are most vulnerable or have been directly treating patients with the virus as well as residents and staff of long-term care facilities are the groups with the highest priority for vaccinations .
The 480,000 vaccine doses would cover almost all of Virginia ’ s estimated 500,000 healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents and staff , according to the VDH .
Bon Secours said it started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noon on Tuesday .
Sentara said they set up a clinic and began vaccinating its COVID patient units , among others , early Tuesday afternoon and that employees at other sites will get their injections later this week .
VCU Health said its first vaccinations for workers will take place at noon today .
The entire first shipment will only go to healthcare personnel initially .
Then , as more shipments are received weekly , doses will be divided between the two priority groups .
Long-term care facility residents and staff will receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from CVS and Walgreens teams through a federal partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the VDH said .
Currently , Virginians are not required to receive a COVID vaccine .
For more information on the state ’ s vaccination response plan , visit : www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine .
The nationwide vaccination process in the United States officially began on Sunday when trucks carrying the vaccine left a Pfizer plant in Michigan .
Now , many other states besides Virginia have received shipments of the vaccine this week , such as Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the long journey toward herd immunity .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Joe Biden Stumps for Warnock, Ossoff in Georgia

President-elect Joe Biden spoke at a car rally in Georgia on Tuesday in support of Democratic candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff .
Biden ’ s message focused on how the nation would achieve progress and unity through Warnock and Ossoff , and how the nation would continue to fail under incumbent Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue .
The lineup of opening statements included failed gubernatorial candidate and Democratic activist Stacey Abrams ; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms ; and Congresswoman-elect Nekima Williams .
Both Warnock and Ossoff also took the stage before Biden .
In his opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her work to increase voter turnout in Georgia .
He also thanked those in attendance .
“ Let me start with two simple words : thank you .
Thank you for turning out in record numbers for the election .
Thank you for putting the faith in me and Vice President-elect Harris , ” stated Biden .
“ Thank you for standing strong and making sure your votes were counted , and counted , and counted again .
I ’ m starting to feel like I won Georgia three times .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You know , I think all of you just taught Donald Trump a lesson.
” Biden criticized Loeffler and Perdue for supporting challenges to the general election ’ s integrity , including their backing of the Texas lawsuit to overturn the election in Georgia .
“ They fully embraced nullifying nearly 5 million Georgia votes .
You might want to remember that , come January 5 , ” warned Biden .
“ I ’ m trying to be generous here , in the spirit of the season .
Maybe your senators were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represent Texas .
If you want to do the bidding of Texas , maybe you should be running for Texas , not Georgia.
” Over 4.8 million individuals cast votes in Georgia during the general election .
Biden asserted that the upcoming runoff election was a life-or-death event .
“ The lives of Georgian still depend on what you ’ re doing .
Yes , you still need to vote as if your life depends on it , because it does , ” stated Biden .
“ There ’ s no – no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason here why you should wait to vote .
So don ’ t wait !
” Then , Biden blamed Loeffler and Perdue for the lack of agreement in Congress over a second coronavirus relief bill .
“ Look what ’ s happening right now in the Congress .
The United States Senate should ’ ve passed the Coronavirus and Economic Relief package months ago .
People are hurting , ” stated Biden .
“ What ’ s the United States Senate doing ?
Nothing.
” However , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting until Biden took office before agreeing to the stimulus package .
Biden promised that the Democratic win in the two Senate seats would spur action to improve voting rights , health care , criminal rights , racial justice , and climate change .
Biden accused Loeffler and Perdue of being “ roadblocks ” that were “ just in the way ” who don ’ t support COVID-19 economic relief .
Biden ’ s speech became garbled as he discussed Ossoff ’ s potential contributions to Georgians .
“ A husband ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seeing this pandemic on the front lines .
A fresh voice that will only do the work of the people .
Who will always put the interests first .
And the only person ’ s interest , in fact , of the people of Georgia , ” he said .
“ That ’ s what he does .
That ’ s his heart .
Jon will always be for there -you – there for you .
And I promise you , and he ’ ll be there for the rest of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m looking forward to working with you , man .
I really am.
” Biden compared Warnock to Dr. Martin Luther King , calling him “ a man of God.
” He asserted that the two candidates aligned with his campaign ’ s focus on character .
“ Well , electing people of character is how you restore the soul of America .
People like Jon and Raphael and it matters , ” Biden said .
“ They know public service isn ’ t about them .
It ’ s about you.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words slurred again as he testified on how the two candidates presented qualities that were good for the country .
Biden shifted the topic to discuss the coronavirus .
He remarked that he empathized with the amount of losses faced this year .
“ I know how especially hard it is this time of year when you look across the table and see that empty chair at Christmas or New Year ’ s , ” stated Biden .
“ My heart goes out to all of you who ’ ve lost a loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or are suffering from the disease .
Yet , in this darkness you finally got some good news with this vaccine approval .
Still , it ’ s going to take time and money to scale up the manufacturing , distribution , and the element of injection of the vaccine.
” Then , Biden addressed the country , telling viewers that they need to unify with his administration .
“ It really is time to leave the anger , and bitter politics of division behind us .
It ’ s time for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start delivering on what we have to get done for the people of America .
This is the United States of America .
And , but , it ’ s ready to act .
So send Jon and Raphael to Washington , ” the president-elect said .
Biden finished his speech by promising that American ’ s lives would be exponentially better under the leadership of him , Warnock , and Ossoff .
“ The only thing that can tear America apart is America itself , ” he concluded .
“ So let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unity over division , science over fiction .
And yes , truth over lies.
” Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Joe Biden .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Cleveland Will Drop ‘Indians’ from Baseball Team Name

Cleveland ’ s Major League Baseball team will drop “ Indians ” as its nickname as early as this week , an official confirmed Sunday night .
move that comes after years of pressure and protest from Native American groups and others who viewed the name as racist and insensitive .
“ For the past 105 years , the team was called the Indians .
That will be no more as Cleveland has decided to change its name , ” New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt tweeted .
According to the report , the move comes after years of pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others who viewed the name as racist and insensitive .
He cited three sources who had spoken to him about the proposed change on condition of anonymity .
The official news could come as early as this week , however a full transition away from the name Cleveland ’ s American League team has used since 1915 might not be as immediate .
One source told Schmidt that the name and current logo would likely remain through the 2021 season with the change taking effect as early as 2022 .
The team moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when they stopped using their mascot , Chief Wahoo .
Cleveland follows the steps of the NFL ’ s former Washington Redskins , now known as the Washington Football Team .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Vaccines Arrive in Georgia, Healthcare Personnel First to be Vaccinated

A total of 5,850 doses of vaccines arrived in Georgia Monday , as part of a “ two-dose series.
” According to the Georgia Department of Public Health ( DPH ) , “ initial COVID-19 vaccine supply is limited , DPH is following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ( ACIP ) and prioritizing healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities for vaccination .
Vaccine will be given through closed points of dispensing or PODs .
These sites include public health clinics , hospitals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and are only accessible to individuals in defined priority groups.
” Shipments of the vaccine arrived in Coastal Georgia at two public health locations with ultra cold freezers required for storage and temperature control of the vaccine , according to a release from the Department of Public Health .
There will be additional shipments of vaccine expected later this week at facilities in other parts of the state , including metro Atlanta .
Vaccines are prioritized for healthcare personnel , as well as residents of long-term care facilities .
In Savannah , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Additionally , later this week , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) is expected to give Moderna ’ s COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorization .
If the FDA authorizes its use , shipments of the Moderna vaccine will arrive next week in the state of Georgia .
There will be additional information about distribution and first administration of vaccine released soon , according to the Department of Public Health , but for now , Phase One of the vaccination plan includes : • COVID-19 vaccine supply is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine response activities ( Phase 1 ) .
During this phase , vaccine efforts will focus on reaching defined critical populations who meet DPH defined Phase 1 criteria .
Vaccine administration will occur through closed POD sites , including , but not limited to , public health clinics , hospitals , long term care facilities ( LTCFs ) , emergency medical services ( EMS ) , etc .
The below list of Phase 1 populations is not all-inclusive and will be reviewed and updated throughout the response as needed : • None • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or treat people with COVID-19 • People at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 , including those with underlying medical conditions and people 65 years of age and older Tiffany Morgan is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Georgia Sheriffs Explain Why Georgians Shouldn’t Vote for Jon Ossoff or Raphael Warnock

Various Georgia sheriffs said at a press conference Tuesday that they don ’ t want voters to send Democrats to the U.S. Senate to boost Joe Biden ’ s agenda , especially since the party embraces ‘ Defund the Police ’ rhetoric .
These sheriffs spoke prior to Biden ’ s campaign event for U.S. Senate candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff , both of whom want to represent Georgia .
“ All we have heard for months from the Democrat Party is ‘ defund the police.
’ I understand Joe Biden is talking the other way now not wanting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ until after this election , ” said Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway .
“ But that doesn ’ t change anything .
You ’ ve got Reverend Warnock who doesn ’ t respect police .
He ’ s called us ‘ thugs.
’ I take that as a personal affront because I don ’ t know any thug police officers.
” “ They don ’ t want to work hard to make our country better .
They want to change our country .
They want to change the way we live .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Ossoff and Warnock want to make it easier for the criminal element .
They want to give them the upper-hand against what we do every day.
” Members of the Ossoff and Warnock campaigns did not return The Georgia Star News ’ requests for comment Tuesday .
As reported , U.S. Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) and U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) , are on the January 5 , 2021 ballot for the U.S. Senate against Ossoff and Warnock , respectively .
Conway said Tuesday that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important vote in my lifetime , and I have been voting since 1974.
” As reported this week , The Star News , quoting The New York Times , said Biden doesn ’ t want civil rights leaders to discuss defunding the police until after the Georgia U.S. Senate runoffs have concluded .
This , for fear that such rhetoric will scare off Georgia voters and prevent Democrats from controlling the U.S. Senate next year .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Georgia Sheriffs ” by Georgia Republican Party .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Michigan Electors Cast Unanimous Vote for Biden/Harris, Resistance Continues

The event transpired in the Senate chamber of the Michigan State Capitol on Monday afternoon , and was chaired by Lt. Gov .
Garlin Gilchrist .
The ceremony is a prelude to the Jan. 6 , 2021 , count of every U.S .
Electoral College vote by members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate .
If Biden and Harris receive 270 or more electoral votes , they will be declared victors of the 2020 national election .
Prior to electors voting , Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer delivered comments in which she declared the 2020 election “ truly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million ballots cast in Michigan alone .
Biden defeated incumbent President Donald Trump in the state by 154,000 votes , or 2.8 % of the total vote .
“ Just like every other presidential election year , Michigan ’ s 16 delegates came together to cast their ballots for the candidate who won the most votes in our state , ” Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich , D-Flint , said .
Addressing accusations of widespread election irregularities as well as allegations of voter fraud from President Donald Trump and a portion of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlike any other presidential election year , every step to get us to this point was fought by conspiracy theorists and people who put party over country .
“ I am genuinely hopeful that now that this election is more than a month behind us , we can move on and collectively root for the success of the incoming president.
” The vote occurred in the State Capitol on the same day the Michigan legislature ’ s offices were closed due to local law enforcement concerns .
“ The decision was not made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made based on credible threats of violence , ” Amber McCann , a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey , R-Clarklake , said .
While the electors gathered inside , police barred entry from a group of Republicans seeking to introduce their own slate of electors .
Suspicions regarding the integrity of the election stem in part from a malfunction in Antrim County in which Biden garnered 3,000 more votes than Trump .
A subsequent manual tabulation revised that tally and resulted in Trump defeating Biden by 2,500 votes .
“ Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Nov. 3 general election in Michigan and across the country was the most secure in the nation ’ s history , ” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in a statement Monday afternoon .
Benson was responding to a court ruling that grants Allied Security Operations Group permission to release publicly its forensic report on the Dominion software used in Antrim County .
“ There continues to be no evidence of widespread fraud , as affirmed by state and federal agencies including Attorney General William Barr , the Federal Bureau of Investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agency , ” Benson continued .
“ If the Trump campaign had any actual evidence of wrongdoing – or genuine suspicion thereof – they could have requested a hand recount of every ballot in the state , ” Benson added .
“ They did not , instead choosing to allow shadowy organizations claiming expertise to throw around baseless claims of fraud in an effort to mislead American voters and undermine the integrity of the election .
Their actions are a corruption of the courts and the rule of law , as the release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ’ s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom News .
Photo “ Michigan Capitol ” by Nikopoley .
CC BY-SA 3.o .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--One-on-One with Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro

Last week The Ohio Star reported on the Ohio Education Association ( OEA ) Position Statement , which called for schools to suspend in-person learning immediately until January 11 .
The document outlined four steps the union urges government leaders and schools to follow – reset , restart , reprioritize and resource .
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine held a COVID briefing the day the OEA statement was distributed to the press .
During the address , the Governor did not acknowledge the OEA document , but shared information on students and school districts around the state – showing that only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the classroom five days a week .
The OEA ’ s plea to Ohioans included requiring local health departments to gain more funding and authority – requiring local boards of health to approve school plans before allowing schools to re-open .
The press release accompanying the position statement – which can be found on the OEA website – quotes the organization ’ s President Scott DiMauro : “ [ p ] ublic health experts , not the elected politicians that serve on local school boards , should make the determination about whether schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gather in person.
” In the Position Statement that was unanimously approved by the OEA Board , the union writes “ OEA fully supports maintaining the authority of the Governor and Ohio Department of Health to implement and enforce efforts to contain community spread.
” Governor DeWine has been a politician since 1976 .
The current Director of the Department of Health is not a doctor , but an attorney who previously led the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation .
Direction from local health departments would come from the ODH and Governor Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill 311 passes – a law giving power back to the legislature and Ohioans .
OEA President Scott DiMauro accepted the invitation to talk with The Star in a one-on-one interview .
The Star asked questions submitted from Ohioans around the Buckeye State .
The Q & A are below .
Q : You mentioned January 11 .
How ’ d you arrive at that date as the point you could go back ?
Q : Your press release states that you are following the best science on this recommendation .
What science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the CDC says the conditions that put a school at risk – what they deem as highest risk for spread in the schools – two factors that they particularly call out : 1 ) the positivity rate is more than 10 % ; 2 ) the number of new cases over the last 14 days is at a rate of more than 200 per 100,000 people .
As of right now , the last time we checked , the state ’ s positivity rate was 15.8 % – in fact , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put Ohio on the list of states that you shouldn ’ t travel to without quarantining .
That ’ s well above that 10 % threshold .
There are only four zip codes in the entire state of Ohio that were at or below the 200 cases per 100,000 people level in terms of number of new cases .
So that ’ s looking even deeper .
Not to mention that we have more purple counties than ever before .
Most of the state is red and we are continuing to see huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing I ’ ll point out is that many school districts have already made that decision to transition to remote learning , either because of large numbers of students and staff that are contracting COVID or large numbers of staff that are being required to quarantine because of direct exposure – leading to shortages of classroom teachers , substitute teachers , and in some cases bus drivers .
So , what we ’ re saying is let ’ s take a timeout .
Let ’ s take a pause .
Let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get better , everybody who is quarantining time to get through that quarantine period .
Get through the holidays so that – the long-term goal is to make sure that we ’ re all back for in-person instruction and we can sustain that .
Right now , we ’ re just seeing so much volume of cases in the system that it is hard to sustain any type of continuity in terms of instruction .
Q : Here ’ s what we ’ re hearing and here ’ s what we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say since late July , and again in November , there is no evidence to support that transmission of COVID is happening in the schools .
We ’ re actually hearing anecdotally ( personal stories told to us ) that teachers and school workers are picking it up in their communities .
But the bigger issue we are hearing is that this testing , tracing and quarantining often times , even though they are exposed , there are healthy teachers and workers that are being quarantined – which is putting more pressure on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given all of that information – why would we want our kids remote when the transmission isn ’ t happening in the schools and really the larger issue seems to be that healthy teachers and people are being quarantined and that ’ s really causing the mass shortages ?
Keep in mind , we want to be in person with our instruction but in order to get there we have to make sure the conditions are safe .
The fact that there is testing , tracing and quarantining happening is a reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from what we can tell .
I will tell you I am hearing from members all across the state from our field staff that given the volume of cases , schools are having a very difficult time keeping up .
When they have cases , it is more and more difficult for people to identify exactly where they contracted the virus – so this claim that there is no spread in schools , can ’ t be proven .
In fact , there was a case just recently in Hudson in Summit County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , based on their contact tracing , the only way they were able to contract the virus was in school .
We think all over the state there are a lot of other people who just don ’ t know .
The other problem is that because of the volume it ’ s becoming harder and harder to keep up with the contact tracing .
The Marion County Health Department just announced they are no longer tracking and contacting people who are direct contacts with COVID-positive individuals because they are simply overwhelmed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the resources and staffing to keep up with that .
That is a major red flag .
That is why , temporarily , we need a timeout so that we can get everything under control and then get back to in-person instruction following the holiday break .
Q : Looking at what ’ s going on in different spots – you ’ ve probably heard about the Mason School District and the devastating thing that ’ s happened there , where 15 kids were on suicide watch and hospitalized .
We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off significantly , this seems to fly in the face of some of the very serious issues that our kids are facing .
So , if you ’ re talking to a pissed-off parent what do you say about that ?
We fully agree that we want our students in-person for instruction .
There is no substitute for the personal contact that exists between an educator and a student in the classroom .
That can happen when conditions are safe .
We have schools struggling to keep their doors open because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of people who are required to quarantine – and they should be required to quarantine in order to make sure the spread isn ’ t getting worse .
We have to make sure we are prioritizing keeping schools safe .
Now , part of that is we need everybody to be working together to be sure that out in public , everyone is wearing a mask .
That out in public we are avoiding large social gatherings .
That out in public we are making sure that safe schools is the priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly not essential .
When we hear stories like a nightclub having a concert and 500 people being in there maskless for a superspreader event the message is we don ’ t really care about safe schools because we ’ re not doing what we need to do to contain the spread of the virus in our community .
So let ’ s prioritize making sure our schools are safe – we ’ re seeing in Europe , where they ’ ve been able to keep schools open , sometimes they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities down .
You have to make tough choices .
When you try to be all things to all people then you don ’ t have things under control and in the long run it ’ s bad for everybody .
It ’ s bad for people whose lives are at risk .
It ’ s bad for school employees , teachers , education support professionals who do incredibly important work .
We need to make sure that we are prioritizing – protecting the health and safety of everybody while continuing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their learning .
Q : We ’ ve heard there ’ s a dangerous spike in COVID – and obviously cases have gone up 10-times .
Looking back to April there were 300-400 people being tested positive a day ; now we are 5,000/6,000 a day…10,000 on some days .
We know right now our high point in deaths was in April and it was 64 – back when we had 300 – 400 positive cases a day .
Our second highpoint ( deaths aren ’ t something to celebrate and I hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sucks but gives perspective ) we had 59 deaths on November 20 .
We have 10,000 people positive a day , or 6,000 a day depending on which one-week window of time you ’ re looking at , so even though cases have gone up 10X , the death rate has actually gone down .
A lot of people are saying “ we ’ re at 94 % masking compliance , 97 % social distancing compliance but you simply don ’ t stop the spread of the virus , ” does that give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % capacity – 71 % hospital beds being used , 77 % of ICU is full throughout the state .
So , we call these our worst days .
Cases are higher .
People are in the hospital and the virus is real .
How do you not combine all of that and say – hospitals are not overflowing , deaths have not been near where they were in April , despite cases up 10X and we have no indication that people complying with things the Governor has asked people to comply with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we just get kids back in school ?
I think the answer is we want kids to be in school .
We need to make sure the conditions are right to make sure that can happen in a way that is sustainable .
Even if you don ’ t have precautionary closure of in-person instruction and are simply reacting to the realities after the fact , which I don ’ t think is a very prudent approach , I think we want to be proactive and not reactive .
But even continuing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools that are struggling to just have enough people to make sure that classrooms are covered , that bus routes are covered , that there is enough under control so that you don ’ t have large numbers of students staying home and missing the instruction that ’ s happening in the classroom , we ’ ve got to get through a reset period so that we can start anew after the holidays and really get through this together .
I don ’ t think we ’ re disagreeing in terms of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying in the short term we ’ ve got a relatively small short-term sacrifice in order to get to a long-term position where we need to be in order to serve the needs of our students and our communities .
That means that all of us have to sacrifice to get there .
CDC Director Robert Redfield said in November “ [ t ] he infections that we ’ ve identified in schools , when they ’ ve been evaluated , were not acquired in schools .
They were actually acquired in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star analyzed the Ohio COVID School Dashboard and calculated that of the 1.66 million public school children and the nearly 50,000 private school kids , 17,143 students had tested positive for COVID – about 1 % of the total school population .
Teachers and staff accounted for 11,075 infections , which is 8 % of the 138,000 education workers statewide .
Brown University Professor Emily Oster has tracked infections in schools by kids and staff – over 8.7 million students and 1.3 million staff members .
Shereported 19 infections per 100,000 students and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The forecasted spike in cases and hospitalizations from Thanksgiving didn ’ t happen according to the Ohio COVID Dashboard , which assigns cases by onset date and hospitalizations by admission date .
Loss of time in the classroom has not only produced a learning and cognitive issue for students , although third grade reading correlates to high school graduation .
Education attainment correlates to life longevity .
The Journal of the American Medical Association ( JAMA ) reports missed education from COVID policies will result loss of life for children age 5-11 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ during 2020 could be associated with an estimated 5.53 million years of life lost .
This loss in life expectancy was likely to be greater than would have been observed if leaving primary schools open had led to an expansion of the first wave of the pandemic.
” Loss of life through education is not the only fatal consequence of kids not being in school .
Last week , KTSM in Brunswick , Maine told the story of a high school student who took his own life after being “ locked in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cope with not being able to play football and the restrictions that kept him socially distanced .
In October suicide deaths in Japan registered 2,153 – the one month total more than the number of COVID deaths in the country during the entire pandemic .
The National Center for Child Health and Development reported that 75 % of children in Japan showed signs of stress from the pandemic .
In November Mason City Schools Superintendent Jonathan Cooper told the story through video and a report in a Cincinnati newspaper of 15 students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to suicide ideation .
Right now we are purportedly sacrificing the education , emotional wellbeing and lives of our children to ostensibly save the health and lives of adults who , largely are not at grave risk .
According to the CDC the infection fatality rate of COVID per age group is as follows : That means the survival rate is 99.99 % , 99.98 % , 99.5 % and 94.6 % respectively .
Although it is grim to discuss death in statistics , public officials must make choices based on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups .
While long haul implications from COVID are still being studied , early discussions about mycarditis ( heart inflammation ) , encephalitis ( brain inflammation ) , myositis ( muscle inflammation ) , sepsis and organ failure are all hallmarks of influenza as well , according to the CDC .
Deciding what is safe will require more than a look at COIVD cases and hospitalizations when deciding public policy .
During Governor DeWine ’ s COVID briefing on Monday , December 14 he did not mention any pending guidance from the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Scott DiMauro ” by Scott DiMauro for OEA President .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Candi King Wins Democratic Nomination for Virginia’s 2nd House District, Will Face Republican Mitche

Candi King Wins Democratic Nomination for Virginia’s 2nd House District, Will Face Republican Mitchell in Special Election

Community leader Candi King won the Democratic nomination for the Virginia House of Delegates 2nd District on Sunday and will square off against GOP nominee Heather Mitchell in the January 5 special election .
King , who lives in Prince William County with her family , defeated four other candidates – Pamela Montgomery , Keisha Francis , Nyesha Wilson and Rozia Henson – in the firehouse primary , securing 380 out of 867 votes or 43.83 percent , according to the Virginia Public Access Project ( VPAP ) .
“ I was extremely overwhelmed and humbled , ” King said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I came into the race out of a sense of service and wanting to help .
I knew that it was a quick turnaround and I knew that we worked really hard.
” Now that the contest is set between King and Mitchell , both candidates have three weeks to campaign and convince the people of the 2nd District why they are the right person to represent the community in Richmond .
And so far , the two women have been using what little time they have to campaign as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been focusing on getting her message out to voters as well as spreading awareness on when the special election will be taking place because of the time constraints .
On the other side , Mitchell said he has been doing phone calls , door knocking and getting information about the election out to the public as well .
“ It is basically a sprint for the next three weeks , 21 days from today , and it ’ s all about getting the message out that the 2nd House District has an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Richmond because it ’ s not being heard right now , ” Mitchell told The Star .
“ People have a chance to tell Richmond that , hey , we deserve proper representation and we ’ re not happy with current leadership.
” Both Mitchell , a resident of Stafford County , and King say that their campaign has been received well by people from the respective communities and expressed confidence in their ability to win the election .
Having worked under the late state Senator Yvonne Miller , the first African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Sen. Lionell Spruill ( D-Chesapeake ) , King believes those past experiences will allow her to hit the ground running if elected .
Despite representing opposite sides of the political aisle , Mitchell and King have similar legislative priorities .
Mitchell said she is focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic , specifically regarding schools , as well as transportation and infrastructure , while King brought up post pandemic recovery efforts for those in need , a safe reopening for schools and transportation .
When asked about her opponent , Mitchell said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the same representation as before that , she argues , only focuses on the issues of one part of the district and ignores the other .
The 2nd District seat was left available after former delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy announced last week that she was resigning from the legislature to focus on her run for governor in 2021 .
The district is home to just under 80,000 people , according to Ballotpedia , and includes the eastern edge of Prince William County along the Potomac River and the northern part of Stafford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic .
Since 2011 , Republican candidates have won the district twice and the Democratic candidates have won three times , including Carroll Foy ’ s victories in 2017 and 2019 .
In the majority of those district races , the precincts in Prince William tended to vote blue while the precincts in Stafford mostly went red , with some slight variations depending on the year , according to VPAP .
Located not far from Washington D.C. , the 2nd District has pretty heavily favored statewide and national Democratic candidates for a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special election on January 5 could also play an important part in the efforts by House Republican to take back the chamber from the Democrats who gained majority control after the 2019 elections .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Candi King ” by Candi King .
Background Photo “ Virginia Capitol ” by Anderskev .
CC BY 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Tennessee’s November Revenue Exceeds Budget Estimate by $129M

Tennessee tax revenue exceeded the state ’ s budget estimate by $ 129.5 million in November , continuing a four-month streak of positive revenue after declines in April , May and June .
The Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration said overall state revenue in November was $ 1.1 billion – nearly 2 % more than a year ago .
In the first four months of the fiscal year , tax revenue collections exceeded budgeted estimates by $ 576 million .
“ The good news is that we are in a positive position relative to the state ’ s budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in line with revenue collections while continuing to maintain citizen services , ” Finance and Administration Commissioner Butch Eley said in a statement Monday .
“ We will continue to plan for the worst and hope for the best.
” Sales tax revenue grew at a rate of 7 % in November , boosted by the first collection of state sales tax on online purchases .
Gov .
Bill Lee signed legislation earlier his year allowing the state to collect sales tax on online purchases – a tax that already was levied by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The state started collecting sales tax Oct. 1 on online purchases through marketplace facilitators such as Etsy and Amazon that make more than $ 100,000 in sales to Tennessee customers .
November collections included the first revenue from the now-collected tax , accounting for about 3 % of sales tax growth , according to the department .
Revenue from the Hall income tax on interest and dividends in November came in $ 600,000 less than the budgeted estimate .
The Hall income tax is set to be eliminated completely at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tennessee and South Carolina for The Center Square .
Her writing has appeared in the Detroit News , The Hill , and publications of The Heartland Institute .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-16--Joel Pollak Talks About His New Book: Neither Free Nor Fair, The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election

On Tuesday ’ s 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 Joel Pollak who is a South African-American conservative political commentator , writer , and attorney .
Pollak also currently serves as the senior-editor-at-large for Breitbart News .
During the second hour , Pollak discussed the motivation behind and the arguments he makes in his new book , Neither Free Nor Fair : The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election .
He also argued that he felt the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Georgia Senate seats and the political violence by the left ignored by politicians and the media .
Leahy : We are joined now by my good friend and colleague for many years at Breitbart and I think the hardest working man in conservative media Joel Pollak .
Welcome to The Tennessee Star Report Joel .
Pollak : Hey !
How are you ?
Leahy : Well , we ’ re great .
You have a new book out that is I think fantastic .
Neither Free Nor Fair : The 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book , you argue that this was not a free and fair election .
Tell us a little bit about what you ’ ve discovered in your reporting .
Pollak : Well , this really wasn ’ t a free and fair election .
Having said that we have to accept the outcome .
It might sound a little contradictory .
But what I argue is that there were many cases of abuse in this election .
Whether it was the changing of rules halfway through to mass vote by mail and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or the use of political violence .
Or censorship by the social media companies when it came to the Hunter Biden story .
These are things that are not consistent with a free and fair election .
These are all violations of the principles of fairness and really of freedom .
Because when your censored and you can ’ t say what ’ s on your mind in an election , that ’ s really an abuse of our democratic ideals .
The difference here is , of course , it was carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government .
So a lot of what happened while objectionable was legal .
And we have to figure out ways to prevent it from happening again .
We don ’ t want to change our first amendment or have a government intrude in our elections that sort of thing .
But we have to develop an ethic as a society that says certain kinds of behavior during an election are really out of bounds .
And there was almost no pushback when the media centered the Hunter Biden story to take one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it and thought it was great .
And the idea of journalists celebrating anybody restricting anybody else ’ s right to report or to express themselves is kind of nutty .
But that ’ s what happened .
And we ’ ve got to make sure it never happens .
Again , if the Democrats win in Georgia , which is really my preoccupation at the moment , you ’ re going to see some of the abuses that we experienced in November become nationwide because they ’ re going to pass the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bill to permanently change our elections in ways that Democrats basically can exploit and make it almost impossible for Republicans to win again .
So as much as people might be frustrated by what happened in November we have a lot to learn from that .
And we ’ ve got to make sure it does not happen again .
and the first step to making sure it doesn ’ t happen again is hoping that there isn ’ t Democratic control of the Senate .
In other words , winning Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen in this 2020 election .
Is it just this whole long list of things that were unfair or was there one that really turned the table in your view ?
Pollak : Well , the most important one to me was the political violence .
I mean from where I sit the idea that you could have hundreds of riots around the country and the media would call them peaceful protests , it ’ s very damaging to a society .
It ’ s the most damaging thing in my experience .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseas I lived in South Africa and I ’ ve studied in Israel and so forth .
And the worst thing that a society can allow is political violence .
Once you have violence involved in politics , you can ’ t really have Democratic dialogue anymore .
People can not think past the violence .
And society starts to break down .
Decision-making in a democratic way can ’ t happen anymore .
So I was really alarmed by the degree to which the media condoned , defended , and covered up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .
And almost all of it was on the left .
You know , we heard a lot about Proud Boys and that sort of thing .
That was mostly an illusion .
You know , Joe Biden last night in his speech when he won the Electoral College he talked about the intimidation of poll workers and so on .
I ’ ve never heard him say one thing about the intimidation of ordinary Americans .
I ’ ve never heard him say one thing to defend Trump ’ s lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recounted challenge process .
I ’ ve ever heard him say one thing to defend the Trump supporters who were brutally attacked in Washington D.C. a few weeks ago when they had a rally .
So there ’ s this complete refusal on the left to denounce political violence when it comes to what their own supporters are doing .
And in fact , Joe Biden frequently called it falsely peaceful protests .
So to me , that ’ s the most important one .
But the ones that are easier to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have trouble maybe convincing a leftist that there was a lot of violence on their side because they ’ re media just doesn ’ t show it to them .
But the one that ’ s easiest to prove is the Hunter Biden laptop .
I mean there you ’ ve got media now forced to report that he ’ s under federal investigation whereas just a few weeks ago before the election they told us it was a baseless conspiracy theory .
And you look at that and you say come on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Republicans have been reporting on Hunter Biden ’ s connections and the exploitation of his father ’ s office to make himself wealthy for years .
It was a big topic during the impeachment inquiry that came up and yet the media pretended it was all just a conspiracy theory and then oops !
After the election , it turns out it was right .
Now , there ’ s a big investigation .
Turns out Joe Biden lied to us .
But we ’ re not going to even ask him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to hold them accountable for that .
I mean , that ’ s just one example .
But the idea that you would have a story that ’ s about one of the main candidates running for president and goes to his credibility to his corruption questions of honesty and that you would suppress that during an election during the three weeks before an election , it ’ s completely ridiculous .
But that ’ s what our media did and they didn ’ t suffer for it .
And I mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accountable or each other .
And they ’ re not asking Joe Biden why he lied .
So it ’ s pretty egregious what happened .
And you know , the only thing I think one can say is that at least it wasn ’ t done by the government .
But these companies that suppressed the story have more power than the government .
So we have a lot to be concerned about .
Having said that I don ’ t think people should give up the fight .
You know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making sure there is accountability is winning those Senate seats in Georgia .
Because if again Democrats win both Senate seats are going to pass HR1 .
They ’ re going to make D.C. a state and maybe Puerto Rico as well .
They ’ re going to stack the Senate with their own members because D.C. is never going to send a Republican to the Senate .
So they ’ re going to make it almost impossible for Republicans to get a majority ever again .
They ’ re going to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re going to vote for Democrats forever .
And it ’ s kind of a slippery slope after that .
That ’ s why Republicans really have to kind of pick themselves up and fight another day because as upset if people are about November the point of being upset is not just to say well you should have gone the other way .
The point of being upset has to do something about it .
Leahy : The book is Neither Free Nor Fair : The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was published on December eighth .
Is Amazon the only outlet presently with the book Joel ?
Pollak : That ’ s right .
I ’ m publishing it through the Kindle select program which means Amazon for a while at least is the exclusive outlet .
But it ’ s a great forum in which to publish books .
I mean , thankfully they haven ’ t started really cracking down on conservative thought on Amazon .
And who knows maybe that will happen eventually , but you can pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had discussions with Amazon beforehand believe it or not .
I said would you publish a title about the election that said the election was unfree and unfair you know because YouTube is censoring that kind of content ?
And they said yeah , so you know we just published a book and we ’ ll be fine .
So hopefully they ’ ll keep to that way of doing things .
But yeah , you can get it at Amazon.com .
Leahy : Now I saw a report that you were interviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : Was it about this book ?
Pollak : It was about this book .
And he challenged YouTube to take down the video under their new policy .
He said if you guys are going to take down videos that mention the idea that the election was fraudulent .
You know as a possibility .
I mean , I don ’ t discount the possibility .
I think it ’ s unlikely that fraud tilted the outcome .
But anything ’ s possible .
And certainly , there is a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I mean the fact that there are 19 Bellwether counties in America that almost always go with the presidential winner and Trump won 18 of them .
There were 27 toss-up House races .
Republicans won all 27 .
And yet Trump lost the presidency .
It doesn ’ t seem to make much sense .
So it ’ s possible that there was something happening in the system .
I doubt it .
We haven ’ t seen the proof of it because sometimes when you look at this , you just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you funny expectations .
I mean funny outcomes .
I mean you sometimes have to take what you get .
The electorate is not always going to do things in a line or predictable pattern .
So you got to take things as they are .
But there could be other explanations for it .
And you can ’ t rule them out .
So Dershowitz and I talked about that a little bit .
And he said he dared them to take it down .
And so far they haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s so prominently challenged them to do so .
Leahy : Yeah .
By the way , Alan Dershowitz is a great guy .
He was your professor at Harvard Law School , right ?
Pollak : He was indeed .
He was a great great Professor .
Committed to open debate and committed to fair debate .
And really really just a fantastic American and a one of a kind who really believes in the First Amendment in a way that few others do .
I mean he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too .
Leahy : He sure does .
He gave a Zoom speech to the kids at the National Constitution Bee that we held here back in October and he mentioned that exactly and that he wasn ’ t getting enough in but it wasn ’ t getting any invitations to dinner .
One of the kids said well come on down to Nashville and we ’ ll take you out to dinner .
Pollak : Well there you go .
Leahy : This is perhaps the most insightful analysis that I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 presidential election .
So we appreciate you getting it done .
How did you do this so quickly ?
Pollak : Well , you know when you have a lot on your mind , sometimes it just pours out onto the page .
I think anything can be done as long as you break it down into small enough pieces .
So I just was taking a walk one weekend and thought you know what ?
I have something to say about this election .
And in my mind , I planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we got it done .
Leahy : Wow !
Congratulations on that .
Now Joel you are one of the few people that have been at Breitbart longer than I have .
I started full-time in 2012 .
You ’ ve been there since I think 2011 and you were hired personally by Andrew Breitbart .
Pollak : I was .
And this has been almost now 10 years since I ’ ve been here .
So it ’ s been a really fantastic ride and I ’ m looking forward to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to the next fight to fight .
It ’ s the most important one ever .
Obviously , we would have liked this election to go a little differently .
But this is the moment that our website was in a sense designed for .
To stand up to the left and to stand up to the powerful interests .
Leahy : Tell us a little bit about Andrew Breitbart because people are always fascinated by Andrew .
He passed away in 2012 .
What would Andrew say to Americans today looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ?
Pollak : What would he say ?
Well , I think this election showed everything Andrew tried to warn us about .
The collusion of the mainstream media Hollywood and the Democratic party .
I think the fact that they censored the Hunter Biden story .
It would have shocked Andrew but not surprised him .
I mean , this is the kind of thing they used to get away within a more subtle fashion .
Now , they ’ re just being quite open about it .
And I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says it was .
There ’ s kind of a Democrat media complex that operates to try to control this country .
And the only hope that Americans have to take our country back is independent media .
and you know , he didn ’ t necessarily limit that to conservative media .
He thought that we needed independent voices and oddly enough he often found common ground with people on the left who we ’ re trying to get their voices out there outside and around the mainstream media .
Though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot more institutional support .
I mean just to take an example these knuckleheads from the Obama administration started a podcast Pod Save America .
They instantly get sponsorship and support from HBO .
They go on nationwide tours and that sort of thing .
And that doesn ’ t happen if you are conservative .
Leahy : No , no , no , no .
Pollak : You basically have to fight every day because people try to make your life miserable .
And you know , I refuse to be miserable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bad stuff that happens when you speak out as a conservative , you know , we almost choked .
It ’ s so easy to be a Democrat .
Why wouldn ’ t you be ?
I mean , you just get all kinds of opportunities .
You know sponsorships and that sort of thing .
If you ’ re on the left life is easier .
But on the other hand , You ’ re also walking hand-in-hand with the devil a lot of the time .
So you got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s worth fighting .
It really is .
The best people are the people you meet on this journey .
Leahy : Well , You ’ ve been fighting the good fight for quite some time Joel .
Here ’ s more of a personal question .
I know you ’ re out there in the Los Angeles California area .
It seems to be just going into chaos out there .
I will make a personal pitch to you .
A lot of folks seem to like the idea of moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a great place to live .
And let me invite you to come out here and visit sometime soon .
And I ’ ll give you a tour of Nashville and Middle Tennessee and show you why it ’ s in my view the greatest state in the union .
Pollak : Well , I look forward to visiting .
But I do like my ocean here .
Leahy : Ah ha !
You like the ocean .
Well , you grew up in Cape Town right in South Africa ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago , but I was born in Johannesburg .
So very very far from the ocean .
But I lived for many years in Cape Town .
Leahy : So you lived in Cape Town ?
Leahy : And so you have an affinity for the oh I can understand that .
it is physically beautiful out there in California .
What advice do you give to our listeners now who look at this and are disappointed and discouraged ?
What do you what would you suggest that our listeners do going forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , there are some great opportunities to take the country back in a way that I think preserves the best of President Trump ’ s legacy .
The House majority that Democrats have is very narrow , which means Republicans are in a great position to win the House in 2022 .
Republicans have held most of the state legislatures so they ’ re going to redraw the congressional districts .
The Democrats had hoped to win in many of these legislatures and take over and basically redraw the districts to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not going to happen .
So there ’ s a lot for Republicans to do with those state legislatures .
Republicans can also change some of these voting systems .
And get away from the abuses of vote-by-mail and get back to a traditional system of election day polling places .
Showing up in person .
And if that can ’ t happen then we need to create technologies that allow people to vote remotely , but without the kind of potential for cheating that I think really worries people .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of good work to do .
It becomes a lot harder if Democrats win in Georgia .
And I ’ m getting messages from people who feel discouraged .
Why bother ?
Why donate ?
And that sort of thing .
If you do that and if you think that way you ’ re basically giving up the country .
I know people are upset .
Very upset at the Republican establishment that sort of thing .
The Republican establishment is not on the ballot in Georgia .
America is on the ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take it from a guy who spent a lot of time fighting the Republican establishment .
You do not want to lose these Georgia Senate seats out of spite .
It ’ s going to be a generation before we fix the damage that ’ s done if we lose these Georgia Senate seats .
Leahy : Yeah .
Last question .
Will the potential Biden administration harm our American sovereignty in our relationships with China beyond repair during the next several years ?
We got 30 seconds for that big question .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would just ask people to focus on the positive .
I mean think about everything this President has done .
He ’ s not happy to be leaving office the way this is happening and shaking out obviously .
And I think he ’ ll be remembered in a sense as a tragic hero .
You know , what are the heroes from the westerns as Victor Davis Hanson likes to say where he kind of saves the town and then is forced to leave in a way .
But I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good that can be preserved in what he did and the beginning of preserving that Legacy is really just keeping a positive focus on the future .
There are a lot of good things happening .
Leahy : Joel Pollak , the author of Neither Free Nor Fair : The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election is available on Amazon.com .
Joel , thanks so much for joining us .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Joel Pollak ” by Joel Pollak .
Photo “ Neither Free nor Fair : The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election ” by Amazon .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-17--Metro Nashville Council Signs Off on Mayor Cooper’s $1.6B Transportation Plan

The Metro Nashville Council on Tuesday voted to approve Mayor John Cooper ’ s $ 1.6 billion transportation plan .
The move will help Nashville to apply for federal grants to implement the plan , WPLN reported .
Cooper wants to invest in the WeGo bus system even though ridership fell by half this year during the pandemic .
The Metro Council agenda is available here .
The plan is under Resolution No .
4. Cooper tweeted a self-congratulations on the plan ’ s passage and took the opportunity to give a shout-out to Pete Buttigieg , whom Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Congratulations @ PeteButtigieg !
Excellent choice by President-elect Biden .
Mayor Pete , we have a new transportation plan here in Nashville that is ready for federal funding ” .
Councilmember Colby Sledge ( District 17 ) has been critical of the plan .
He tweeted , “ We ’ re passing a $ 1.6 billion transportation plan without ensuring that even our current @ WeGoTransit funding levels are maintained next year ( to say nothing of actually increasing service after raising taxes 34 percent ) .
My attempt to give us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sledge also tweeted , “ Two more meetings would have given us five weeks to receive more monthly revenue/expense reports and get a clearer picture on our transportation funding .
Right now , we have $ 0 in Metro funds committed to transit .
( @ WeGoTransit is being funded by federal coronavirus relief funds . )
The Metro Nashville Transportation Plan is available here .
The plan says that Metro Nashville held 11 public listening sessions and spoke with “ targeted stakeholders and all 40 Metro Council members.
” Metro Nashville ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investment that reflect our communities ’ and the region ’ s stated priorities : Mass transit , neighborhood infrastructure ( sidewalks , bikeways , greenways ) , a “ state of good repair ” for roads and bridges , traffic operations and signals , and safety/Vision Zero .
Projects within the plan will be advanced via individual , opportunistic funding strategies , while more comprehensive , dedicated revenue streams—via the IMPROVE Act ’ s authorizing mechanism for referendums , or other available legal framework—can be pursued in a future year once America ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This plan offers the transportation choice and options for any post- COVID-19 scenarios that may develop .
• An increase in frequency and span of service for the bus system , as outlined in WeGo ’ s Better Bus proposal — including up to ten Neighborhood Transit Centers that would enable access to new crosstown routes ; • 13 miles of Bus Rapid Transit on Murfreesboro Pike , from downtown to Antioch/Hickory Hollow ; • 6.9 miles of Rapid Bus on Clarksville Pike , from downtown to Bordeaux/King ’ s Lane ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a smoother ride on the WeGo Star commuter-rail line In July 2018 , the Beacon Center of Tennessee released a suggested Nashville transportation plan in response to then-Mayor Megan Barry ’ s $ 9 billion plan that relied heavily on light rail .
The Beacon Center ’ s plan included : • Build an adaptive traffic control system ( ATCS ) that enables traffic signals to immediately respond to traffic demand in real time .
• Eliminate government bans on private transportation companies ’ ability to compete and innovate , particularly shuttle companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing bus routes , and outsource service to lower demand areas and routes to private ride-sharing companies .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Mayor John Cooper ” by Nashville.gov .

by Eric Lendrum
On April 7th, an amicus brief was filed in favor of Florida’s current ban on using state funds to support “transgender” treatments, with 17 state attorneys general voicing their support for the law.
According to the Daily Caller, the brief’s filing was part of an ongoing legal battle in the state of Florida, where far-left, pro-transgender activists have teamed up with several pseudo-medical organizations to file a lawsuit against the law. The groups involved include the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The law in question states that Medicaid funds cannot be used to cover any transgender operations, including sex change surgery, cross-sex hormones, and puberty blockers.
The 17 states that have filed in support of Florida are: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. In their filing, the AGs argue that the organizations involved in the lawsuit have “prioritized politics over science.”
“The amici States submit this brief in support of Florida’s right to regulate medicine and determine appropriate treatments for Medicaid coverage,” the brief states. “Moreover, there is particular reason to be suspicious of the interest groups in this case.”
Their brief goes on to point out that several European countries, including the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, and Sweden have taken similar steps to crack down on transgender treatments, declaring that “transitioning treatments for minors are experimental.”
The case has already seen a judge order the three organizations to comply with subpoenas ordering them to turn over documents related to their guidance for children suffering from gender dysphoria, the official name for the condition of transgenderism. In addition, Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Biden Administration demanding access to similar internal documents related to the administration’s gender transition policies.
– – –
Eric Lendrum graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was the Secretary of the College Republicans and the founding chairman of the school’s Young Americans for Freedom chapter.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-17--Commentary: Reckless Courts Codify Chaos

Flagrant election cheating in several swing states , it seems , is of no interest to the self-appointed watchdogs of American democracy or even to those specifically tasked with investigating such unlawfulness .
The U.S. Department of Justice , despite its preachy corporate motto , is thus far blind to it .
Journalists and professional pundits on both sides of the aisle downplay talk of what has happened as “ baseless conspiracy theories ” pushed by cult-like Trump loyalists .
Most Senate Republicans are eager to move on while ignoring provable instances of voting fraud in their own states and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the good of the country.
” Even with a potentially power-shifting Senate election on January 5 , no one seems particularly motivated to quickly remedy how absentee ballots have been mishandled , manipulated , and doctored in the 2020 presidential election .
And the entity usually considered the final and most impartial arbiter of injustice in the country—the court system—now , too , is in on the election fix .
Using COVID-19 panic as the pretext , election officials across the country turned a once-venerated quadrennial tradition into a rogue farce .
Nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 presidential election , double the number from 2016 ; the overwhelming majority were for Joe Biden .
Numerous lawsuits have detailed how state election laws , particularly those related to mail-in ballots , were broken .
One would think that given Biden ’ s slim margin of victory in three states—only about 250,000 votes separate Biden from President Trump in Wisconsin , Michigan , and Pennsylvania—judges sworn to uphold the rule of law might exhibit at least a passing interest in exhausting all the evidence .
After all , if Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department or their state attorneys general , Democrats in those three states , or even local Republican leaders to come to the rescue , surely the black-robed referees perched on the bench will step up , right ?
Wrong .
Not only are the courts dismissing lawsuits , judges are setting dangerous precedents that will have more election-eroding consequences later .
Let ’ s start with the U.S. Supreme Court .
In a terse , unsatisfying two-sentence statement on Friday , the court refused to consider the lawsuit filed December 7 by Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by his colleagues in 19 states as well as 126 Republican congressmen and the Trump campaign .
“ The State of Texas ’ s motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied for lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution , ” the court order read .
“ Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections.
” Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas disagreed , commenting the court “ do [ es ] not have discretion to deny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a case that falls within our original jurisdiction.
” Constitutional experts lauded the ruling as appropriate and described the Texas lawsuit as “ dangerous ” and “ reckless.
” Voters in Texas and other aggrieved states , the legal eagles warned , have no “ standing ” to challenge how other states administer their elections under the Elector ’ s Clause established in Article II of the Constitution .
But the notion that one state does not have an “ interest ” in how another state elects the president of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take it a step further : What if Pennsylvania in the future allows noncitizens to vote legally in presidential elections ?
What if Michigan decides to give people of color two votes to compensate for past election “ disenfranchisement ?
” What if Wisconsin allows people under the age of 18 to vote for president ?
Those laws , which seem far-fetched but become closer to reality each election , clearly favor Democrats and would pose an insurmountable hurdle for Republican candidates in swing states .
The rest of the country would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic politicians and bureaucrats in decisive states .
Americans are entitled to a better explanation from the court about how arbitrary election rules don ’ t in fact violate the 14th Amendment , as the Texas petitioners also charged .
Administering fair elections with similar laws that honor the Constitution is part of the compact between states ; once that deal is off , only the Supreme Court can calibrate the balance .
The court in October also declined , without explanation , to reverse a lower court ruling that let Pennsylvania count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day , including ballots in envelopes without postmarks .
Further , the Texas lawsuit didn ’ t challenge the right of states to write their own election laws .
The petitioners argued , correctly , that government officials , both elected and unelected , broke the laws .
As I summarized here , rules approved by state lawmakers , per the Constitution , were ignored or changed without permission .
Elections workers in two states pre-canvased and “ cured ” ballots weeks before they were legally allowed .
Michigan ’ s Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7.7 million mail-in ballot applications to registered voters .
Election workers in Wisconsin actually filled in missing addresses on certification envelopes .
Without approval by Wisconsin ’ s legislature , appointed members of the Wisconsin Election Commission on October 19 instructed local election clerks to “ resolve any missing witness address information prior to Election Day if possible , and this can be done through reliable information ( personal knowledge , voter registration information , through a phone call with the voter or witness . )
” Although that guidance contradicted state law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channeling Bill Clinton , disputed the meaning of the word “ address.
” “ While a witness address must be provided on the certification for the corresponding ballot to be counted , the statute is silent as to what portion of an address the witness must provide.
” Never mind that every person with a functioning brain understands an address to involve a street number , city , state , and ZIP code ; since the Wisconsin legislature didn ’ t spell out what is generally accepted as common knowledge , election workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present to verify it was correct and without the voter ’ s knowledge .
Not to be outdone , the highly partisan Pennsylvania Supreme Court quibbled about the term “ observers.
” Once again using COVID-19 as the excuse , the court accepted “ social distancing ” barriers set up in the Philadelphia Convention Center that confined poll watchers to at least 15 feet away from canvassing tables and behind a “ waist-high security fence.
” Trump campaign officials could not verify that the more than 370,000 mail-in ballots processed at the huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to one election data portal , only 232 mail-in ballots were rejected in Philadelphia County in the 2020 general election . )
Even though Republican observers couldn ’ t see the information on the envelopes , the fact that they could see the entire canvassing operation , albeit from a distance , satisfied the 5-2 majority Democratic Pennsylvania Supreme Court .
“ Given that observers are directed only to observe and not to audit ballots , we conclude , based on the witness ’ s testimony , that the Board of Elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the court ruled November 17 .
So , while most Republican leaders cower to the mob , the Justice Department remains ( in President Trump ’ s words ) “ missing in action , ” and Georgia election officials prepare to administer the same faithless election next month as they did last month , federal judges toy with words and pass the buck .
And that , not a few lawsuits , is both reckless and dangerous to democracy .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-17--Former State Rep Nina Turner Announces Ohio Congressional Bid

Former state representative and Sen. Bernie Sanders ally Nina Turner officially announced her bid to succeed Ohio Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge Tuesday .
Turner , a native Ohioan who has held multiple elected offices in her home state , developed a national profile after backing Sanders during his first presidential bid .
Fudge was recently nominated to serve as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in President-elect Joe Biden ’ s administration , and if confirmed by the Senate she will vacate her Cleveland-based congressional seat .
“ I grew up here .
I raised my family here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The time is right , ” Turner said during her announcement , according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer .
“ I certainly congratulate Congresswoman Marcia Fudge for being picked by President-elect Biden and I certainly want the opportunity to build on a very strong legacy of the 11th Congressional District.
” Turner , a former Ohio state senator and Cleveland City Councilwoman , led Our Revolution , a national progressive organization , before becoming a national co-chair of Sanders ’ 2020 campaign .
She has vocally supported progressive policies including Medicare-for-All and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officially announced her campaign she already had support from some progressive lawmakers , including Democratic Representative-elect Cori Bush and Rep. Ro Khanna , who endorsed her Tuesday afternoon .
Should Fudge be confirmed by the Senate and her seat becomes vacant , Turner would likely be elected to Congress in a special election if she wins the Democratic primary in Ohio ’ s heavily-Democratic 11th District .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Nina Turner ” by DarrellNance .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .