thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Commentary: The North Face’s Absurd, Hypocritical Virtue-Signaling

Virtue-signaling , and the hypocrisies that inevitably accrue to it , are nothing new .
Neither is it new that those who virtue-signal while engaging in or benefiting from those things that they decry are deeply self-deluded about their hypocrisy .
In the middle of a pandemic , we ’ re seeing more than our fair share , from the mayor of Austin lecturing his citizens on the virtues of staying home while he himself was on vacation in Mexico , to the newly inaugurated mayor of Baltimore locking down businesses across his city and then finding himself caught shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more “ relaxed , ” to Dr. Deborah Birx , one of the architects of America ’ s “ You Should Stay Home ” policy , traveling to see family over the holidays .
It ’ s not just COVID-19 pandemic policy , either .
Recently , The North Face , an outdoor-apparel company based in tony Alameda , California , refused to fulfill an order for Innovex Downhole Solutions , a West Texas–based firm that provides services to the oil and gas industry .
It was a fairly straightforward proposition : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarded for its all-weather capabilities , gear whose capabilities are , in no small measure , made possible by the fruits of the petrochemical industry ’ s labor ( both directly and indirectly ) .
Innovex , wanting to provide a nice and useful Christmas gift for their employees , sought out customized gear from a business that , during the nation ’ s economic crisis , could probably use some additional business .
But The North Face refused Innovex ’ s business .
Their justification was rather vague ( and The North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , simply stating that their company has certain standards in terms of whom they ’ re willing to do business with , and Innovex did not meet those standards .
Since Innovex isn ’ t accused of doing anything unethical or illegal in terms of its business conduct , one can only assume that The North Face ’ s refusal was based on their “ stated ” corporate mission policy of seeking to do business in a way that is “ sustainable ” and “ environmentally responsible.
” While it is well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to refuse to do business with anyone for any reason , the very existence of their business is dependent upon the products and labor of the oil and gas industry .
It is base hypocrisy to suddenly declare that a business in that industry is unacceptable as a customer .
Ponder that for a moment .
The North Face would not be the company it is today without the petrochemical industry .
Its most successful apparel lines could not have historically existed without the petrochemical industry , since chemicals like polyurethane , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ derived from oil .
Yet when approached by a company involved in servicing the industry essential to The North Face ’ s success , it drew a bright line saying that Innovex did not meet its standards for acceptable customership .
The incident , and the justification provided by The North Face , is the kind of elitist virtue-signaling that would have found its home in the absurdist topsy-turvydom of a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta .
It is , in fact , very reminiscent of the kinds of hypocritical virtue-signaling that undergird Gilbert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which the Mikado ( i.e.
, the height of society ) has created a rule in which flirtation by non-married couples is outlawed , upon penalty of death .
To express how “ great ” the Mikado is , one character sings : This is the essence of absurdist virtue-signaling such as that The North Face is engaged in .
It makes zero sense given the realities of The North Face ’ s business operations ( and how they make their all-weather clothes ) , but it allows its employees to feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Innovex out to be bad actors .
In The Mikado , part of the absurdity is that the town of Titipu appoints condemned flirt Ko-Ko to the role of “ Lord High Executioner ” — but says that Ko-Ko can not cut anyone else ’ s head off until he cuts off his own ( which he , one imagines , is not likely to do ) .
In America in 2020 , we have that very prospect being illustrated — The North Face quite literally wants to see destroyed an industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its own .
Either The North Face understands this or it doesn ’ t .
If it does , then its refusal to do business with , its condemnation of , Innovex is hypocritical virtue-signaling .
If it does not , then it really is faced with a dilemma straight out of a Gilbert and Sullivan comedy .
Andrew Langer is President of the Institute for Liberty .
Photo “ The North Face – performance wear ” by The North Face .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Little-Known Georgia Runoff Election Could Play Role in Utility Rates

More than just the two U.S. Senate runoff elections will be on the ballot in the Jan. 5 election for voters in north Georgia .
In a District 4 runoff for public service commissioner , Republican incumbent Lauren “ Bubba ” McDonald Jr. faces Democratic challenger Daniel Blackman .
The Georgia Public Service Commission ( GPSC ) oversees utility rates in the state .
District 4 includes more than three dozen counties in north Georgia .
McDonald was appointed to the GPSC by former Gov .
Zell Miller in 1998 .
He remained on the commission until 2002 and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge from Blackman in 2014 .
Before serving on the commission , McDonald served as a state representative for two decades after years as a local elected official .
According to McDonald ’ s campaign page , he gained insight into the energy industry during his tenure on the GPSC .
He has pushed for solar power in Georgia , resulting in the state becoming one of the five fastest-growing states in the nation for solar energy , his campaign said .
“ He has accomplished this through a conservative and thoughtful free-market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and without state-sponsored financial incentives , ” McDonald ’ s campaign website reads .
Blackman also has experience in addressing energy concerns .
He has worked as an energy policy adviser for former President Barack Obama and other political , religious and governmental leaders and boards and nonprofit organizations .
In 2015 , Blackman was invited to Vatican City to discuss the global effect of the climate crisis ahead of the Paris Climate Accords , according to his campaign .
If elected , Blackman said he would work closely with the utility industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the current energy workforce .
He also plans to “ build a pipeline of skilled Georgians to take on ” future energy challenges .
McDonald said his priority always has been protecting ratepayers , keeping regulated companies in check and maintaining low energy costs in Georgia .
Georgia is the eighth-most energy-expensive state in the nation , according to a recent report by WalletHub .
Monthly electricity costs average $ 154 , according to the finance website .
If elected , Blackman also said he would champion for lower rates for residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistance programs for seniors and low-income Georgians .
Nyamekye Daniel is a regular contributor to The Center Square .
Photos “ Daniel Blackman ” by Daniel Blackman and Bubba McDonald is by Bubba McDonald .

by Peter Hasson
Twenty-eight congressional Democrats signed a letter Wednesday condemning the Department of Education for ruling that public schools that allow biological males who identify as transgender to play girls’ sports are violating Title IX civil rights legislation.
Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined 27 House Democrats in signing the letter, which charged that the department’s order “discriminates against transgender youth” by restricting girls’ sports to biological females.
“The decision of the Department of Education to issue a determination targeting transgender student athletes on the eve of Pride Month is not coincidental. It is a transparent example of their campaign against the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ children,” Connecticut Rep. Jahana Hayes, the letter’s lead signer, said in a press release.
The DOE on May 15 issued a ruling stating that public schools that allow biological males into girls’ athletics are violating Title IX, which protects women’s access to education and athletics.
The Department of Justice previously backed a lawsuit filed by high school girls in Connecticut who said the liberal state’s transgender policies violated their rights.
Sports across the country are on hold due to the novel coronavirus, but biological males who identify as transgender have previously racked up accomplishments in female athletics.
Franklin Pierce University runner CeCe Telfer, for example, won an NCAA DII women’s track championship in May 2019. Telfer is a biological male who identifies as transgender.
University of Montana runner June Eastwood, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, was named the Big Sky Conference’s female athlete of the week in October 2019. Both Eastwood and Telfer previously competed on their university’s men’s team before switching to the women’s team.
Rachel McKinnon, a biological male who identifies as transgender, won women’s cycling world championships in both 2018 and 2019.
Wednesday’s letter isn’t the first instance of Democratic politicians arguing in favor of allowing biological males into female athletics.
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar in February 2019 called for an investigation into USA Powerlifting for barring biologically male athletes from women’s events.
A piece of Democratic legislation called the Equality Act, which passed the House with unanimous support from Democrats, would require schools to allow biologically male athletes into girls’ sports, if the male athletes identify as transgender.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, pledged to get the Equality Act passed into law within his first 100 days in office, if he wins the November election.
“Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time,” Biden wrote in a January tweet. “There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights.”
– – –
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Virginia AG Herring to Court: Ban ‘Ghost Guns’

Attorney General Mark Herring has joined 19 other attorneys general asking the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to force regulation of so-called “ ghost guns ” – partially assembled firearms kits that can be completed by consumers without the serial numbers law enforcement uses to track the weapons .
Herring and the other attorneys general signed an amicus brief as third parties to Syracuse v. ATF , a lawsuit that says the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , and Firearms ( ATF ) was too lenient in its 2015 interpretation of the Gun Control Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s December statement notes , “ ATF ’ s improper reading of the GCA effectively gave the green light for unlicensed online retailers to sell nearly-complete firearms that can easily be converted into fully-functioning weapons.
” The lawsuit was filed in August by cities Syracuse , New York ; San Jose , California ; Chicago , Illinois ; Columbia , South Carolina ; and non-profit Everytown for Gun Safety , according to Mountain States Legal Foundation ( MSLF ) .
The attorneys general are not part of the case , but filing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information to the court to help shed light on the case .
Other attorneys general signing the brief include those from Maryland , North Carolina , and Washington , D.C .
The case focuses on several common gun parts , including receiver blanks , partially-manufactured frames , and 80 percent frames .
“ These ‘ ghost guns ’ are incredibly hard to trace , which makes them much easier for dangerous individuals to get their hands on , ” Herring said .
“ The ATF ’ s reckless interpretation of the law and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ untraceable guns on our street , potentially putting Virginians and their families at risk .
As attorney general , my number one responsibility is to protect Virginians , which is why I am joining my colleagues in fighting to stop the proliferation of dangerous , untraceable guns into our communities.
” Virginia ’ s political bodies are controlled by Democrats who have used their power in 2020 to increase gun regulation in Virginia .
However , Syracuse v. ATF and Herring ’ s press release reveal a gap in their power to legislate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearms parts are nearly untrackable , politicians have no way to monitor the products in Virginia .
Herring argues that leaves a loophole to be exploited by criminals .
But the MSLF said the ability to build firearms at home is part of fundamental American freedom and self-sufficiency , not a flaw in regulation .
“ Americans have always valued ingenuity and self-sufficiency over the culture of control , ” the legal firm said in a case summary .
“ Americans also have the right to self-manufacture those arms that they deem necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and their property.
” “ What gun owners view as a virtue , gun-control advocates have come to see as a vice , arguing that the non-regulation of self-made and hand-crafted weapons hampers the apprehension of criminals and opens a “ loophole ” that gangs will exploit to flood the black market , ” MSLF adds .
MSLF filed a motion to intervene on behalf of several firearms parts retailers who would be affected by a change in the regulations .
The MSLF says that calling the products “ ghost guns ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear and opposition to otherwise legal products .
“ While these objects vary widely , what they all have in common is that they are not “ firearms ” as defined by the GCA , nor can they be readily converted into firearms .
Instead , just like a raw block of aluminum in the hands of a machinist , individuals can fully manufacture firearms from these non-firearm objects using their own experience , know-how , and machining equipment .
Because they are not firearms , the ATF and the federal government lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the MSLF states .
However , Herring ’ s press release argues , “ Ghost guns are prohibited by federal law : The GCA requires “ firearms ” to include serial numbers and purchasers of those weapons to pass a background check , among other requirements .
Specifically , the statute defines “ firearm ” as “ any weapon which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projective by the action of an explosive ” or “ the frame or receiver of any such weapon.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempting to stop Americans from building and customizing certain types of legal of firearms as they see fit , for personal use , free from government intrusion into that process , ” the MSLF states .
“ They want to force the ATF to regulate raw materials of all kinds – materials that may possibly be used to manufacture a firearm in the future – simply because individuals , through their own knowledge , skill , and ingenuity , can manufacture them into firearms for personal use.
” Eric Burk is a reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Delegate Mark Levine Announces Run for Lieutenant Governor in 2021

Virginia State Delegate Mark Levine ( D-Arlington ) announced last Monday that he was officially running for lieutenant governor and joining the crowded contest .
Levine , 54 , is the 12th contender to enter into the race so far and , if elected , he would become Virginia ’ s first openly gay statewide elected official .
“ I want to transform the lieutenant governor position to be one that helps connect the government to the people , ” Levine said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ I have pledged that I will visit every one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities during my four years as lieutenant governor , and that is not just some pledge .
I want to sit down with folks all over the Commonwealth , from Galax to Petersburg to Norfolk to Northern Virginia , and really talk to people about what we can do to make their lives better.
” When comparing the lieutenant governor with the other two statewide positions of attorney general and governor , Levine admits there are not many responsibilities for the job under the constitution – only presiding over the Senate and taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – but has plans to expand the role .
“ I would make the [ lieutenant governor position ] a full-time job , ” Levine said .
“ Be kind of the people ’ s advocate , someone who will go around listening to folks and then bring that back to the governor and the General Assembly , and help us move forward and bring us together because there should be no disconnect between the government and the people.
” Levine also hopes to be an especially active lieutenant governor .
One that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a legislative agenda in the Senate every year , he said .
Due to that disconnect between politicians and the citizenry , Levine believes he is the perfect person for the job based on past actions and willingness to listen to the struggles of Virginians .
Examples of those efforts include co-founding the transparency caucus , which argued for live streaming sessions and archiving committee meetings , and hosting monthly meet-ups with constituents that have continued online through the COVID pandemic .
Levine said he wanted to hear from the people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but promised to keep fighting for things like access to job opportunities , healthcare , paid family medical leave and sick leave , and both criminal justice reform or racial justice .
Specifically , it is Levine fight for the voiceless and against injustice that matters most to him .
And that is perfectly exemplified by Levine ’ s 10-year effort to get justice for his sister who was killed by her husband in 1996 that involved getting a Tennessee law on parental rights and custody changed , and eventually ended with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nashville and then educated at Harvard University and Yale Law School , Levine has served in the House of Delegates since 2016 .
If Levine does not secure the Democratic primary this summer , he intends to run for his House seat again , which is possible this year because of redistricting combining with the four-year terms of statewide positions , he told The Star .
Other Democrats vying for the party nomination are Del .
Sam Rasoul ( D-Roanoke ) , Del .
Elizabeth Guzman ( D-Prince William ) , Del .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman Paul Goldman , Norfolk City Council member Andria McClellan , lobbyist Xavier Warren as well as former NAACP President Sean Perryman .
The Republican candidates are Del .
Glenn Davis ( R-Virginia Beach ) , former Delegate Tim Hugo , veteran Lance Allen and lobbyist Puneet Ahluwalia .
Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman has been rumored to be entering the race .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Ohio Moves Up School Employees for Vaccines to Get Students Back in Classrooms

Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine plans to offer vaccines to all schools in the state that want it by mid-January in an effort to get children back to in-person learning in districts that want to return .
At his regular news conference Wednesday , DeWine announced new phases of vaccine distribution that included adults in school districts , those 64 years old and older , along with those with severe medical conditions .
“ We hope schools will be able to go back , ” DeWine said .
“ One of the concerns that have kept children from being able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are exposed to a lot of children throughout the day .
What we hope to do is say to schools that if that is what has held you back from going back , then we have an answer for this.
” At the same time , though , DeWine encouraged all school districts in Ohio to extend the holiday break by a week or offer remote learning the first week of return to try to mitigate what he said would likely be significant COVID-19 exposure over the holidays .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would ask schools to take a look at this , and if it would work for them , I would encourage them to do that , ” DeWine said .
“ It ’ s a great way to create a buffer from the holiday exposure.
” DeWine intends the school vaccine program to be for schools that want to return to full-time , in-person learning .
However , he said he is open to discuss those districts in some type of hybrid model .
“ What was in our mind was full-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeWine said .
“ Schools can make a decision any time to go back .
That ’ s their decision .
If a school tells us we want to be back in person , then the people who work in that school will be eligible for the vaccine .
When that kickoff date is , we don ’ t know yet .
“ The school vaccine plan is an adjustment to the state ’ s original idea of the order of vaccine distribution .
“ These people are very valuable and are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in school .
If a school doesn ’ t want to do go back then there ’ s no reason to [ do their vaccines ] , ” DeWine said .
The state reported 7,790 news cases over the most recent 24-hour period , significantly lower than the latest 21-day average .
However , the 109 deaths , 431 hospitalizations and 52 ICU admissions were well above the same 21-day average .
“ The good news is we have the vaccine .
The bad news is we don ’ t have enough of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Davidson is a regular contributor to The Center Square .
He is veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in Ohio , Georgia , Alabama and Texas .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Minnesota’s Henry Sibley High Drops Literary Classic ‘Of Mice and Men’ After Complaints

Henry Sibley High School recently set aside “ Of Mice and Men ” and “ Montana 1948 ” from its curriculum after receiving complaints from parents .
Henry Sibley High School , which will have its name changed to drop the name of Minnesota ’ s first governor , has put a “ pause ” on the use of multiple books .
The school board sent out a letter to parents explaining why the books were set aside .
“ We wanted to provide some additional information about the use of the text Of Mice and Men in the 9th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the letter sent to parents .
“ The school district has not banned the teaching of this novel nor has it requested that the novel be removed from the current English Language Arts curriculum .
Recently , we received communication from families and staff expressing concerns about racist stereotypes and slurs used in the novel , ” it continues .
“ As we sought an answer for concerned families , we asked the teaching team to pause teaching of the novel.
” While not banned in Henry Sibley High , the two books @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times before .
“ Of Mice and Men ” has been repeatedly removed from classrooms over sexual overtones and profanity , particularly racial slurs .
The book “ Montana 1948 ” has been challenged for similar reasons .
“ Recently , we received concerns about the content of Montana 1948 from our American Indian community .
Administration responded by asking the department to pause the use of that novel and provide background to our students from our American Indian cultural liaison .
For the remainder of the semester , students will be provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides instruction on the same skills that were being taught , ” reads a message to parents .
Carrie Ardito , the school board ’ s director of communications , expanded on the school board ’ s intentions .
“ At the core of the message is our need to develop a board policy that clearly outlines how we will address the reconsideration of instructional materials going forward , ” Ardito told Alpha News .
Judah Torgerud is a freelance journalist working with Alpha News to keep the people informed and bring the @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Data Recovery Center in Vicinity of Nashville Bombing No Longer Owned by Silver Lakes – the Parent C

Data Recovery Center in Vicinity of Nashville Bombing No Longer Owned by Silver Lakes – the Parent Company of Compromised SolarWinds

Following the Nashville bombing , a viral post alleged a connection between SunGard , a nearby data facility , and SolarWinds ’ parent company , Silver Lake .
However , Silver Lake only owned SunGard from 2005 until 2015 .
After that , Fidelity National Information Services ( FIS ) assumed control once SunGard filed for bankruptcy .
Since 2017 , Silver Lake hasn ’ t held any shares in FIS .
“ Please help dig on Solar [ W ] inds , SunGard data center , and 211 Commerce Street in Nashville , ” wrote Ron Watkins , former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correlations between these subjects.
” Watkins also posted excerpts of news coverage on the original acquisition of SunGard by Silver Lake in 2005 .
In the past ten years , SunGard has changed hands several times to settle with debtors and reorganize its company .
Some of those proceedings occurred up until last year .
SolarWinds gained national attention after it was discovered that hackers had breached the leading IT management software provider .
Investigators determined that the hackers originated from Russia .
Additional malware was discovered earlier this week , although it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hackers .
Nashville ’ s SunGard is a data center involved in colocation , hosting , enterprise cloud services , remote IT services , messaging and collaboration , and network and managed security services .
Colocation means that the center allows other businesses to rent space for their own servers or other computing hardware .
Enterprise cloud services allow other businesses to pay to use virtual IT resources .
The intrigue over SunGard ’ s past ownership arose after it was discovered that its operations were located on 3rd Avenue and Commerce Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the site of the explosion .
Speculations arose that the data center might have connections with SolarWinds , which was an rumored provider of at least one service for Dominion Voting Systems ( Dominion ) .
Dominion has since denied the claim that they used the compromised Orion software from SolarWinds .
However , Dominion hasn ’ t addressed their usage of SolarWinds ’ Serv-U software , which hasn ’ t been reported as compromised .
As The Tennessee Star reported , a large explosion occurred in downtown Nashville in the early morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local authorities continue to investigate the incident .
Following the explosion , the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ) classified Nashville ’ s skies as temporary “ National Defense Airspace.
” The penalties for breaching the airspace range from civil charges to deadly force .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .

by Thomas Catenacci
A group of 27 Republican congressmen urged President Donald Trump to order a Justice Department-appointed special counsel investigation of “legitimate questions” about election irregularities.
The Republican congressmen asked Trump to direct Attorney General William Barr to appoint the special counsel, according to a letter obtained by Politico that was sent to the White House on Wednesday. Reps. Lance Gooden, Paul Gosar, Louie Gohmert, Scott Perry and Jody Hice were among the 27 congressmen who signed onto the letter.
“The American people deserve a definitive resolution to the uncertainty hovering over the outcome of our election, but legitimate questions of voter fraud remain unanswered,” the congressmen wrote.
Barr said on Dec. 1 that the Department of Justice has yet to find any evidence of election fraud that could sway the result, sparking criticism from conservatives. Trump hesitated when asked if he still had confidence in Barr.
“The Department of Justice has been asked on multiple occasions to launch an investigation into this matter, but inaction from the Department along with public comments made by the Attorney General indicate a lack of willingness to investigate the irregularities your campaign and other elected officials across the nation have alleged,” the Republican congressmen continued.
“The appointment of a Special Counsel would establish a team of investigators whose sole responsibility is to uncover the truth and provide the certainty America needs,” they added.
Several news organizations including The Associated Press and Fox News declared former Vice President Joe Biden the winner of the election on Nov. 7. Trump’s campaign has filed numerous lawsuits alleging widespread fraud, but courts across the country have handed the campaign many defeats.
Texas filed a new lawsuit against Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin Tuesday arguing the states altered their election procedures illegally. Alabama and Louisiana have expressed interest in joining the suit, according to Newsweek.
“Our Country stands at an important crossroads,” the lawsuit said. “Either the Constitution matters and must be followed, even when some officials consider it inconvenient or out of date, or it is simply a piece of parchment on display at the National Archives.”
“We ask the Court to choose the former,” it continued.
– – –
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-29--Tennessee Man Arrested After Feared Copycat Vehicle Attack

Police in Rutherford County arrested a man Sunday afternoon when they feared he was about to perpetrate a copycat attack similar to the Christmas day bombing in downtown Nashville .
“ Sheriff ’ s deputies in Rutherford and Wilson Counties are investigating a box truck parked at a store playing audio similar to the Christmas explosion in Nashville .
The driver was stopped by deputies and detained .
Residents evacuated .
Investigation active , ” the Rutherford County Sheriff ’ s Office ( RCSO ) said on Twitter .
The suspect , identified as James Turgeon , 33 , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a false report and one count of tampering with evidence , according to WZTV .
RCSO dispatchers received a call Sunday morning about a suspicious truck playing a similar audio to the one played by Anthony Quinn Warner in the Christmas day bombing in Nashville .
“ During the course of the investigation , it was revealed Turgeon made a similar announcement at Kings Chapel Independent Missionary Baptist Church at Jefferson Pike and Dunaway Chapel Road while church was in service , ” according to RCSO Detective Sgt .
Steve Craig .
Turgeon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County where he was detained .
WSMV captured a tense , hours-long investigation into the truck and its contents , which were conducted by a robot .
Eventually , police confirmed that the truck did not contain any explosives .
Authorities in Tennessee remain on high alert just days after Warner , a reclusive 63-year-old from Antioch , parked his recreational vehicle on Second Avenue in Nashville where it exploded on Christmas morning .
Warner died in the blast , according to police .
Three people were injured .
Just before the explosion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loudspeaker , telling nearby residents and pedestrians to evacuate the area .
With the help of six Nashville police officers who are being hailed as heroes , residents were able to leave the area before the explosion .
Authorities are now working to establish Warner ’ s motive .
Pete D ’ Abrosca is a contributor at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network .
Follow Pete on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Stopped Box Truck ” by Jimmy Corn .

by Scott McClallen
First, COVID-19 disrupted classes in 2020, and now it’s teachers keeping kids out of class in 2022.
More than 29,000 Minneapolis students couldn’t attend class Monday as a teachers’ union strike entered its 10th school day.
The striking teachers are seeking a “living wage,” smaller class sizes, and “safe and stable schools.”
The strike began March 8 with the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) and Education Support Professionals (ESP) saying the groups were demanding “a living wage” for ESPs, smaller class sizes, and “safe and stable schools,” the union posted on Facebook.
In a video posted on Facebook page Sunday, union officials said they want ESPs to have a minimum $35,000 annual salary.
Teacher Chapter President Greta Callahan said parties have been negotiating.
“This contract needs to get settled,” Callahan said. “We want kids back in school and it feels like we are the only ones acting like that right now.”
Average teacher salaries in St. Paul are $85,000, compared to the average Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) teacher salary of $71,535.
World Population Review says the average Minnesota teacher makes $59,221.
The Sahan Journal reported that despite the high teacher salary, raises for the Minneapolis district have lagged in recent years.
MPS said it shared its “last, best, and final” offer on Sunday that includes: 2% cost of living increases, with up to 12% raises for new teachers, in year one of the contract and 2% increases for all in the second year.
Increase starting wages for 85% of current ESPs to $23 per hour or more, bringing most full-time ESPs close to $35,000 annually.
Increase wages over two years between 8.2% and 34.6% (depending on job classification), with an average increase of 15.6%.
Move the lowest-paid ESPs from $15.45 per hour to $18 per hour.
Pay ESPs $6,000 in bonuses ($3,000 in each of the next 2 years).
$3.5 million to additional hours for ESPs.
Four additional paid duty days for professional development.
“We know that our students want to be back in school with their teachers and ESPs and our staff desperately want to see our students,” Minneapolis School Board Chair Kim Ellison said in a video. “We believe this is the fastest way possible to get our students back to school.”
The proposal would cost $9.3 million in the first year and $13.4 million in the second.
“MPS is reaching beyond its financial means on behalf of our ESPs and will need to make more than $10 million in reductions for the next school year as a result,” the MPS website says.
“We’ll be back out on the line tomorrow fighting for safe and stable schools!” the MFT tweeted Sunday.
The state’s education funding formula is based on enrollment, which has declined at MPS from 32,732 in 2019 to in 2022, 29,100.
The school doesn’t have data on where the roughly 3,632 kids who left went, MPS media coordinator Crystina Lugo-Beach told The Center Square in an email.
MPS said all pre-K through 12th classes would be canceled “for the duration of the strike.” Axios reported that the district is facing a a $21.5 million budget deficit for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
– – –
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.
Photo “Minneapolis Public Schools” by Minneapolis Public Schools.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-29--Commentary: What’s Next in the Liberal Lockdown Playbook?

Count me among the Pollyannas who was sure that when the election was done the pandemic would be “ done , ” too .
November 4 would dawn bright and clear , the thunderheads of contagion looming on the horizon dissipated by a dry air mass of political reality .
And I was not alone .
None other than President Trump was with me , as were pols and pundits across the conservative landscape who speculated that the draconian restrictions on liberty were as much a political tactic employed by the Left as they were a public prophylactic against viral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats would stumble into sanity and downplay the potency of the virus — we need only protect vulnerable populations , those with comorbidities , they would say ; everybody else can return to normal .
Or they would adopt more amenable metrics for analyzing the crisis — the number of cases doesn ’ t matter , because practically everybody recovers ; it ’ s deaths caused by COVID alone that are important .
They would urge a return to normalcy , and a few months later claim credit for a booming economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the futility of their political gambit and back off — I told you I was a Pollyanna .
I mean , they wouldn ’ t keep this up for four more years .
Would they ?
The result , either way , would be kids streaming into classrooms and fans flooding into NFL stadiums .
We could get back to where we were before China dispatched its ambassadors of death .
But it didn ’ t happen .
The election is nearly two months into our rearview mirror , and the lockdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramped up in Democrat strongholds like California SSR .
What ’ s more , there is very little hand-wringing from liberal politicians and their media minions .
Lockdowns have retained their pre-election cachet and journalistic imprimatur .
Those protesting the ruination of their professional lives by overreaching governmental diktats are still cast as enemies of the state , crazy , self-absorbed reactionaries unconcerned about the health of the body politic .
It makes you wonder why .
What are the libs getting out of this ?
First off , if you squint really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Liberals seem far more fearful of COVID than conservatives .
A Gallup poll from October charts a 40-to-50-point gap between Republicans and Democrats when asked whether they were afraid of contracting the virus , with lesser but still substantial differences regarding anti-spreading behaviors ( masking , social distancing , et al. )
.
The most telling finding : only 5 percent of Democrat men favored returning to normal activities right now , versus 64 percent of Republican men .
Liberals also believe lockdowns work ; they retard the spread .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at present , a lockdown is required .
Once they take that step , they enter the Escher staircase of COVID : imposing a lockdown — lifting the lockdown when cases flatten — imposing the lockdown again when cases spike — lifting the lockdown again when cases flatten — and so on , ad infinitum .
The fact that lockdowns don ’ t seem to work — witness California : opprobrious lockdowns and spiking numbers — doesn ’ t matter .
The lockdown Kabuki salves liberal anxiety about the virus .
They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t work .
But the Left could also see coronavirus as the MOAC ( mother of all crises ) , one it would be politically negligent to let go to waste .
There may be additional lockdown benefits for the Left , but I see four .
1 .
Control , we know , is an aphrodisiac for the Left .
It ’ s part of their history — the New Deal , the Great Society , Obamacare .
All of it , at bottom , is about control .
And what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gullible populace than a plague ?
Lockdowns permit elected officials , or at least government officials , to control what you do , how you do it , where you do it , and for how long you do it — all with the putative goal of preserving your health .
Liberals believe they know better than you do how about you should live your life .
But you be the judge .
This lockdown has offered myriad case studies .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo inserts COVID patients into nursing homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pens a book extolling his leadership style .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom bans even outdoor dining , when not even liberal “ science ” says it helps curb viral spread .
The governor of Michigan requires people to stay at home and then makes big-box stores ( Home Depot , Menards ) close their flooring sections , garden centers , and nurseries .
She prohibits Michiganders from sailing their own boats , in summertime .
She caves on banning high school football but then requires players to mask up while playing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they couldn ’ t go to their offices but then prohibited them from playing golf .
Governors in blue states close churches but keep casinos open ; mass gatherings of protesters are permitted , even sanctioned , but all sorts of limitations are placed on family Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers .
And these people want to run our lives ?
Actually , yes , they do .
And the more we lock down , the more chance they get to do just that .
Maybe the coronavirus was unleashed to launch the Great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And maybe the Illuminati , the Anunnaki , black helicopters , chemtrails , and the frozen envelope at the 1985 NBA draft lottery are all real , too .
Couldn ’ t tell you .
What is real is that lockdowns cause pain , pain requires relief , the government provides that relief , and the recipients of that relief are overwhelmed by warm fuzzies about the role of government in their lives .
Now , sane people possessed of logic would see that the pain of lockdowns is best alleviated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s not the world we ’ re living in .
We reside in a world where government intervention creates problems , which are then “ solved ” by more government intervention .
When it ’ s over , the massive government intervention in this pandemic will likely be viewed as positive , if inadequate .
More intervention was needed .
What many will take away from this pandemic is that government is the answer .
Millennials , a troubling number of whom favor , or at least are tolerant of , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic with a lot of governmental bailouts , and will be even more favorably disposed toward collectivism .
3 .
Lockdowns benefit big business and hurt the little guy .
Blue state governors have largely shut down small businesses while allowing big stores , as “ essential ” businesses , to remain open .
Big-box America thanks them kindly .
And why shouldn ’ t they ?
Shuttering the little guy means fewer competitors for the big boxes , more customers , and even a larger and more qualified pool of potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to seek work ) .
Libs have always been against independent types , the guy who starts his own business or works for himself .
Why ?
Entrepreneurs are independent , self-starting people who are willing to brave whatever odds to go it alone .
They don ’ t want government help .
Government , in fact , hurts them with its rules and regs .
Also , coming back to point one , entrepreneurs are tougher to control .
It ’ s not dissimilar to the government attitude toward homeschooling .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ way for future lockdowns .
Look at how willing the population has been to comply with these attacks on liberty .
Scattered protests have erupted , true , but such have usually been met with severe backlash from the mainstream media .
Even those generally opposed to lockdowns have , via peer pressure or vaguely enforced government ukases , fallen in line .
If it can be done once , it can be done again .
New emergencies — almost certainly new viruses — loom on the horizon , to be met by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ll lock down for the sake of the climate .
One leading economist lays out the scene : “ Under a ‘ climate lockdown , ’ governments would limit private-vehicle use , ban consumption of red meat , and impose extreme energy-saving measures , while fossil-fuel companies would have to stop drilling , ” opined Mariana Mazzucato , a member of the UN Committee on Development Policy .
“ To avoid such a scenario , we must overhaul our economic structures and do capitalism differently.
” Most troubling , though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how a lockdown fosters an attitude of acceptance .
Writes Fraser Myers about the effect of the lockdown : These lockdowns are yet another case where something that is bad for America is good for the Left .
Tom Raabe is a writer and editor living in Tempe , Arizona .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-29--Berkeley Cheating Allegations Spike Nearly 400 Percent with Online Classes

According to the University of California-Berkeley student newspaper , The Daily Cal , the university ’ s Center for Student Conduct has seen a 400 percent increase of alleged academic misconduct compared with last year , amounting to more than 300 reports of misconduct as of early November .
The Berkeley Campus Code of Student Contact manual states that academic misconduct includes “ cheating , fabrication , plagiarism , or facilitating academic dishonesty.
” Campus spokesperson Adam Ratliff told the newspaper that the increase in academic misconduct is occurring nationwide , and not just at UC-Berkeley .
He also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Code of Student Conduct for the fall semester while remote learning is in place , and stated that the Center for Student Conduct is making evaluations on allegations of academic misconduct on a case-by-case basis .
While the university hasn ’ t changed its policies , some professors and instructors have .
Sabeeha Merchant , a plant and microbial biology professor , told the student newspaper that any form of academic misconduct in her class will result in a zero on the particular assignment and a one-letter drop in the student ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t think students should be able to walk away from the misconduct , but it need not be an F in the class , ” Merchant told the student newspaper .
“ I can imagine that the financial picture has changed for many students and perhaps this should be taken into account this year in terms of consequences that involve suspension.
” Megan Wang , a UC-Berkeley sophomore , told Campus Reform that students should not be able to get away with cheating just because they are learning remotely .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ students are demanding a lot from the professors because this ‘ isn ’ t a normal semester , ’ Wang said , adding , “ which is true , but I think it isn ’ t a normal semester for the professors either .
This shouldn ’ t be an excuse for students to be able to get away with fraudulent acts.
” During the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic , Campus Reform reported on a study by the National College Testing Association , which found that students are more likely to cheat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found that the overwhelming majority of students in online classes -70 percent – had admitted to cheating .
Meanwhile , Harvard University professors were being encouraged to “ trust ” their students not to cheat as the Ivy League school , like most colleges , transitioned to online learning .
Ashley Carnahan is a California Campus Correspondent with Campus Reform .
She is student at the University of California Berkeley , Haas School of Business , majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Russian .
Ashley is also a member of Berkeley @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-12-29--US-Backed Forces Raiding ISIS Cells in Syria

The Syrian Democratic Forces are executing a new series of raids against active ISIS-affiliated militants in eastern Syria with the support of the U.S. , VOA News reported Sunday .
The new campaign targets ISIS remnants in the Deir al-Zour province near Iraq , VOA News reported .
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) military alliance is focusing on ISIS cells in the northern part of the province .
“ On December 26 , our Special Forces and International Coalition Forces arrested a member of a terrorist cell north of Deir al-Zour , during a joint raid operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SDF ) said in a statement , VOA News reported .
The alliance also seized ammunition from the cell , VOA News reported .
The SDF along with the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat IS performed other raids on Sunday , VOA News reported .
Recently , ISIS cell activity has increased , an explosive device targeting an SDF vehicle killed one person and injured another in the province on Saturday , VOA News reported .
ISIS fighters have increasingly targeted Syrian troops and allied militias in central Syria .
SDF counterterrorism units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ al-Zour and Hasaka provinces , according to VOA News .
The U.S.-led coalition said local allies are important in the fight against ISIS cells .
“ As our partners continue to show their capabilities in the fight , it is important for the Coalition to continue to build relationships as part of ( its ) support ( for ) stabilization , ” the coalition said in a statement .
ISIS militants continue to attack civilians and SDF forces in eastern Syria despite losing physical territory in March 2019 , according to VOA News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory in Syria or Iraq , it ’ s likely that the group will continue plotting major attacks in both countries , experts say .
President Donald Trump began withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria in December 2019 after declaring victory over ISIS , the Daily Caller reported .
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Operation Inherent Resolve ” by CJTFOIR .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-29--Telecommunications Attorney David Vicevich Discusses Legalities and Insurance Issues Related to Nash

Telecommunications Attorney David Vicevich Discusses Legalities and Insurance Issues Related to Nashville Disruption of AT&T Services

Live from Music Row Monday morning on a Special Edition of The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Attorney David Vicevich who specializes in telecommunications law to the newsmakers line .
At the end of the third hour , Vicevich outlined the legal and insurance issues that could be directly related to a telecommunications service like the AT & T data center that was struck by a bomb early Christmas Day in Nashville .
He later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing insurance product and although costly can support small businesses and professionals .
Leahy : We ’ re joined now by an expert in telecommunications law David Vicevich .
Do I have that right , David ?
Leahy : Okay , David .
So you have a very interesting background .
You live in Butte , Montana ; but you went to Gonzaga or you went to another law school ?
Where did you go to law school ?
Leahy : Oh , yeah fantastic law school .
We saw that in your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got an LLM in telecommunications law at the University of Nebraska .
So if anybody knows about telecommunication law , I think you ’ d be the guy .
Leahy : Hopefully .
So the news here in Nashville , we ’ ve talked a little bit about some of the telecommunications infrastructure things .
What are some of the legal issues and the insurance issues related to this bombing and the disruption of AT & T service that hit the AT & T data center you could tell us about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would consider a perfect storm in terms of liability .
You have a situation where the perpetrator isn ’ t going to be liable and doesn ’ t have the resources to recoup those that are damaged .
Many insurance policies for example in businesses that were damaged by the loss of service , most of the insurance policies that they will carry will exempt acts of terrorism for one .
Acts of war which they may argue this is .
Physical cause .
And internet outage .
So an individual cyber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an exemption or exception to covering an incident like this .
It may be that AT & T is covered and has a sophisticated policy for something like this .
But otherwise , I doubt there ’ s much coverage out there in terms of insurance .
Leahy : So there are a huge number of businesses in downtown Nashville .
Restaurants and things of that nature were impacted .
41 buildings were hit by this .
And so your take on it from a legal perspective is that there may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money to cover the damages .
Is that what you ’ re saying ?
Vicevich : That ’ s what I ’ m saying .
Yes .
There are many fire policies or liability policies that will exclude the loss of data .
At the same time , many policies that cover data will exclude lots of data caused by a physical cause .
It sounds like from AT & T that there ’ s flooding and potentially fire damage and things like that .
So we also got a number of potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen after hurricanes , for example , the insurance industry will pick the cause that best suits them under their policy .
Leahy : So in your view would this be a situation David where it would be appropriate for federal or state action here from a compensation perspective ?
Vicevich : Yes , it would be .
I think it ’ s damage to basic infrastructure .
No different than if the interstate was down .
And that would make it appropriate .
Leahy : How would that happen ?
Obviously we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The federal government , the state government of Tennessee , and the Metro Nashville Davidson County government .
What would be the appropriate action step that perhaps legislators would consider in this particular circumstance ?
Vicevich : Well , I think most likely would come either from the federal or state .
In fact , it may be that there is some federal funding available .
If AT & T had an insurance policy that would cover something like this it ’ s most likely backstopped by what ’ s called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed after 9/11 when buildings in Manhattan could not obtain insurance .
The federal government came in and said if you have a loss over a certain cap , then the federal government will come in and make up the difference .
So that ’ s one way there could be federal resources employed .
Emergency resources are the other .
And it appears from what I was reading that a state of emergency was declared .
And then there could be straight legislative action perhaps from Tennessee .
Leahy : So going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re a business and you ’ re located near a data center or I don ’ t know an electricity hub or power station or substation .
Is there anything that can be done to anticipate this kind of possibility or are you just kind of stuck ?
Vicevich : I think you ’ re stuck .
If someone came to me and asked should I be worried about this ?
This is an anomaly .
At least we hope it is .
And usually what we ’ re more concerned about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flood , and perhaps criminal activity .
And if you think through the risk management process with respect to those , the location that you have is actually better served for fire service , police service , HVAC contractors , and things like entities that protect you if you ’ re in one of these unsafe locations in terms of somebody that would have a car bomb .
Leahy : People who want to reach you can at www.vicevichlaw.com .
You are from Butte .
Your offices are in Butte , Montana is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phenomenon .
I ’ m originally from upstate New York and I have a couple of friends that actually are involved in intellectual property law and they ’ re able to have sort of a lot of foreign clients because people think because of the New York address that they are a New York City law firm and they ’ re not .
Are you able to basically conduct sort of a national practice out of Butte and compete with the big boys ?
Is that your plan ?
Vicevich : Yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here .
That ’ s why I ’ m here .
But we do have a multi-state practice and we ’ re able to do specialized work like this all over .
I would say there is one answer , which is you got to look at your insurance policies and get some help with insurance because there is a way to cover for this .
So you need to be reading the policies and getting help with that .
Leahy : When you say a way to cover for it , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interruption ?
What is the best way that businesses that have been put out of business because of this bombing and downtown Nashville or have had their business disrupted would be able to go about to recover some damages with insurance coverage ?
Vicevich : Through cyber insurance .
And then you just have to make sure that you would want business interruption , business continuity , loss of data protection , and then third party coverage , which is the trick .
So that you ’ re covered if your AT & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the rub and you ’ re going to pay more for these policies and then it becomes a business decision .
They ’ re extremely expensive and something at the tune of three times what a regular fire policy would cost you .
Leahy : You said cyber insurance .
I have actually never heard that term but it makes sense now that you ’ ve mentioned it .
How long have cyber insurance policies been around ?
Vicevich : Essentially since 9/11 .
The insurance companies split off cyber insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of concern and also to make sure that they qualified for federal backup through the trip program .
Leahy : How many businesses currently have cyber insurance ?
Vicevich : Not many , but it ’ s growing .
A lot of professional practices , accountants , and lawyers do because they can get a rider on malpractice insurance that ’ s fairly affordable .
I would guess about a third of large businesses would .
Maybe a tenth of small businesses .
So it ’ s a growing field but a difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to me that it would be very difficult .
And of course , as a small business just from a practical perspective , you said that cyber insurance would be three times what normal Insurance business insurance would be in terms of costs ?
Leahy : You say about ten percent of small businesses have it .
Do you see over the next decade a dramatic increase in cyber insurance ?
Vicevich : Yes , it ’ s been and is anticipated to continue to be the fastest-growing sector in the insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the web at www.vicevichlaw.com .
Thanks so much for talking with us today .
I really appreciate it .
It ’ s very early out there in Butte but I appreciate you taking the time to be on the Tennessee Star Report .
Vicevich : Thanks for having me .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nashville Christmas Morning Explosion Damage ” by Nashville Fire Department .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-29--Andrew Yang Wants ‘Barcode’ to Prove Coronavirus Vaccination

Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang proposed the idea of a downloadable barcode program for people ’ s phones to prove if they have been vaccinated for the coronavirus .
“ Is there a way for someone to easily show that they have been vaccinated – like a barcode they can download on their phone ?
There ought to be , ” Yang wrote on Twitter .
“ Tough to have mass gatherings like concerts or ballgames without either mass adoption of the vaccine or a means of signaling , ” he continued .
The tech entrepreneur and former presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ happy-go-lucky and tech-friendly ” nature , told Yahoo Finance Live in November he would eagerly accept a role in Biden ’ s Cabinet .
He also wants to run for office again .
“ We all know if I ran again , it would be a lot more fun than the first time .
Because the first time , you know , I was kind of climbing out of anonymity .
The second time , you know , we ’ d have a blast from day one .
I would 100 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Yahoo Finance .
“ You know , not sure which office , but the problems again are getting bigger now , not smaller .
And I ’ m happy to say I feel like my ability to help has also gotten bigger .
I ’ m just going to keep on helping until some of these problems actually get better.
” Other progressives are floating another type of verification scheme .
Wisconsin ’ s WISN reported Anit Mukherjee of the Center for Global Development said “ some sort of technology is needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the vaccine ” and is “ almost a certainty for a return to normal.
” “ There would be gatekeepers , as I call them , at different places , be it at your workplace or your office when you go in , or a stadium to watch the ( Milwaukee ) Bucks play , ” Mukherjee said .
“ They would require some form of assurance that you have been vaccinated.
” He argued such a mandate is needed “ for the greater public good.
” “ We need to think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very careful manner , but also understanding that this is the future , ” Mukherjee told the news station .
“ There will be other pandemics and we need to be prepared.
” He said he developed such a scheme when he worked in India ’ s Department of Finance and could be imposed in America “ in a matter of months .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-12-29--Commentary: Biden’s Immigration Agenda

Commentary: Biden’s Immigration Agenda

A lasting legacy of President Trump ’ s immigration policies will be his administration ’ s willingness to acknowledge and address the broad scope and wide spectrum of how immigration—both legal and illegal—impacts American life .
Our political debates tend to regress into entrenched and cyclical discussions of border security and amnesty for illegal populations , a polarized framing that ignores how significantly our labor policies , law enforcement practices , and even the shape of our congressional representation , are affected by the choices we make concerning immigration .
In a series of 400 executive orders over the course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sought to cast a wide net over the various facets of American life touched by our migration policy , both at the border and beyond .
From the Border , To the Boardroom , To Congress At the border , the administration addressed the perverse incentives baked into our outdated asylum laws—an area where every administration has been compelled to act , because Congress will not .
Previous administrations have chosen to continue a practice known as “ catch and release.
” The policy , which releases asylum-seekers into the interior of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years away , incentivizes illegal crossings and directly facilitates the horrific exploitation of women and children by drug cartels .
Rather than perpetuate it , the Trump Administration ended it .
Under a policy known as “ Remain in Mexico , ” asylees await processing in Mexican border towns .
The policy , along with measures designed to speed up the hearing process as well as asylum cooperation agreements with other South American countries , has dramatically reduced the number of illegal crossings at the border .
It is imperfect for a variety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to actually solve the problem , it is the most effective set of protocols to reduce both crime and crossings at the border , to date .
In a cooperative effort between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor , the Trump Administration initiated regulatory action to clarify that the H-1B highly skilled guest worker program should compliment , rather than replace , the American workforce .
These regulations will make it harder for large corporations to fire their American workers and replace them with underpaid foreign labor—long an area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also took the step of limiting apportionment—the process for redrawing congressional districts after each U.S. Census—to populations of only American citizens .
While a state ’ s total population will still be used to generate distribution of federal resources , the administration argued that congressional representation should be exclusively accountable to American voters in the same way that jury service , the draft , voting , and financially participating in the election process is exclusive to citizens .
Failing to make this distinction allows states who take “ sanctuary ” status—that is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their law enforcement from working with immigration officials—to benefit politically from incentivizing illegal immigration .
California , for example , is a sanctuary state estimated to have four additional congressional seats due to their illegal immigrant population .
That so much of the changes in our immigration system are done by the executive speaks to congressional unwillingness to address complicated and politically perilous issues .
But it also throws the country ’ s policies into regular periods of whiplash : what is done by one president can , and generally is , undone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears that Joe Biden intends to undo most of Trump ’ s actions .
Though the media often fail to provide an accurate relative comparison , the Obama-Biden Administration wasn ’ t too far a departure from the Trump Administration on several key issues .
The Obama Administration deported more illegal crossers than Trump , detained minors in the same cage-like structures used by the Trump Administration , and tried to reduce illegal crossings by telling migrants “ do not send your children to the borders.
” Biden , however , has signaled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicated he would reinstate and bolster the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) program , seek amnesty for America ’ s roughly 11 million to 20 million illegal immigrants , stop construction of Trump ’ s border wall , and end the Remain in Mexico policy—a move one recently retired Border Patrol chief said “ will invite chaos.
” Biden ’ s language around immigration policies is reflective of the polarized trenches in which our national dialogue takes place .
It ’ s moralizing , focused on “ human dignity ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messier consequences of Biden ’ s immigration policy choices : the uptick in trafficking that will necessarily follow reduced border enforcement , the exploitation of women and children , and easy , repeat return of those who would do Americans harm .
Biden has also said very little about how he will handle the domestic elements of Trump ’ s immigration agenda , which modified guest worker programs to prioritize American workers over the corporate industry ’ s preference for cheap foreign labor .
Though the campaign hasn ’ t been specific , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties to corporate America and Silicon Valley , suggesting that those policies may be deemphasized , if not rendered ineffective or completely undone .
Whether or not one agrees with the actions of the Trump Administration , his four years reflected a willingness to ask critical questions and raise fundamental truths about the interplay between our immigration policies and our self-government .
Immigration policy is generally couched in values-driven language .
And , yes , humanity and compassion do play a role .
America , for decades , has accepted more refugees than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even under President Trump ’ s lowered refugee caps , the United States remained a top country in the world for refugees in need of resettlement .
But our policy choices echo further than the sheen of moral gloss .
They redefine what it is to work and live in America as a citizen .
Too often , attempts at this aspect of the discussion are dismissed with shrieking allegations of racism .
But it ’ s a disingenuousreaction , to avoid having an actual policy discussion about the trade-offs involved with corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fiscal implications of allowing a shadow population of undocumented people to coexist alongside legal residents , and the implications this has on how our government acts , and for whom .
These used to be carefully considered questions .
In the past , generations of foreigners became Americans because they wanted to—and because American society demanded it of them .
Millions of immigrants , including those in my own family , aspired to be part of America and be granted the “ privileges and immunities ” of its citizenship .
But today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to cheapen citizenship .
What was once cherished as a privilege is now merely a political chit .
Illegal immigrants are less likely to be considered future citizens , in the full sense of the American tradition , than to be seen as clients who can be granted voting rights in exchange for political support .
Donald Trump was hardly a philosopher , but he seemed innately to grasp that the process of coming to America—of electing to join the uniquely liberal Western tradition and the respectful but fierce independence of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special and should mean something ; That America itself should be a nation that first and foremost acts for its citizens and their shared conception of liberty and justice for all .
The Trump Administration had policy blunders and imperfections , to be sure , but its pursuits were not meaningless , and reflected a willingness to grapple with the fullness of what our immigration policy choices mean for America , and what they more broadly should require of those who seek to become links in the great chain of America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to a great extent , lose this resonance under a Biden presidency .
It will sink back into polarized corners , where lazy virtue signaling takes the place of rigorous debate about the trade-offs of our most significant policy choices .
Whatever lessons we take away from Trump ’ s immigration policy legacy , first among them should be that our immigration policy should have as its focus the dogged preservation of America ’ s free-thinking , free-praying , free-speaking , and free-opportunity traditions as the greatest global ideal .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privileges and immunities ” granted to its citizens is among our worthiest pursuits .
Rachel Bovard is senior director of policy at the Conservative Partnership Institute and Senior Advisor to the Internet Accountability Project .
Beginning in 2006 , she served in both the House and Senate in various roles including as legislative director for Senator Rand Paul ( R-Ky. ) and policy director for the Senate Steering Committee under the successive chairmanships of Senator Pat Toomey ( R-Penn . )
and Senator Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) , where she advised Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and policy matters .
In the House , she worked as senior legislative assistant to Congressman Donald Manzullo ( R-Il . )
, and Congressman Ted Poe ( R-Texas ) .
She is the former director of policy services for the Heritage Foundation .
Follow her on Twitter at @ RachelBovard .
Photo “ Citizenship Paperwork ” by Grand Canyon National Park .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-29--Pandemic Delays Democrats’ Plans to Expand Health Care

Democratic state leaders around the country who planned on introducing expanded health care measures such as a public option have now been forced to delay those plans as a result of pandemic budgetary difficulties .
The coronavirus pandemic has led to significant budget shortfalls as state and local government spending has increased and revenue has plummeted .
Expanding health care coverage is an increasingly tough sell as states attempt to face their budget shortfalls , Politico reported .
“ The collision of budgets and Covid will make it hard to think creatively , but budget crises create opportunities , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director Trish Riley told Politico .
Lawmakers in Colorado , Washington and Kansas have faced significant setbacks to health care expansion and reform legislation that had been written prior to the pandemic , according to Politico .
Despite holding majorities in both the state House and Senate , Colorado Democrats ’ plans to pass a public option bill have all but derailed amid the pandemic , according to the bill ’ s sponsor state Sen. Kerry Donovan ( pictured above ) , Politico reported .
“ It ’ s a hard vote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I were to open a betting line on Draft Kings , it ’ d be a pretty tight line.
” The bill originally would ’ ve mandated rates for medical procedures and doctors visits for patients that opt into a public option , according to Politico .
The public option rates would ’ ve been lower than rates paid by private insurance enrollees .
But , Donovan told Politico she is mulling rewriting the legislation , making it less strict in terms of which hospitals participate in the public option .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decide if they ’ d like to participate rather than being forced .
In Washington , the first state public option in U.S. was implemented in the fall , according to Politico .
However , the state was only able to implement it in one-third of its counties due to budget issues .
“ I don ’ t say it ’ s taken off like we hoped , ” Washington state Rep. Eileen Cody , an author of the bill , told Politico .
“ We don ’ t have the money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she added .
In addition to public option legislation in Colorado and Washington , an agreement to expand Medicaid in Kansas has been crushed by the pandemic , according to Politico .
While he previously agreed to the expansion with Democratic Gov .
Laura Kelly , State Senate majority leader Gene Suellentrop said the high price tag of the program is now a concern , insisting the money is given to small businesses instead .
“ If there is some additional cash available , it needs to go to small businesses , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That ’ s going to get the most benefit to the most people.
” Thomas Catenacci is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Imaga “ State Sen. Kerry Donovan ” by State Sen. Kerry Donovan .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-29--Ecomp Consultants Principal Ivan Zatkovich Describes Structure of Nashville’s ATT Data Center and Po

Ecomp Consultants Principal Ivan Zatkovich Describes Structure of Nashville’s ATT Data Center and Possible Intended Target

Live from Music Row Monday morning on a Special Edition of The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Principal Consultant of eComp Consultants , Ivan Zatkovich who specializes in intellectual property consulting for telecommunications to the newsmakers line .
During the second hour , Zatkovich discussed the reasoning for the type of construction of the AT & T building in downtown Nashville and why it is positioned centrally in the city and easily accessible .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be struck below the street surface of the explosion was the heart of the data center known as the cable vault .
Leahy : Ivan Zatkovich , welcome to the Tennessee star report .
Zatkovich is a telecommunications expert with eComp Consultants .
Welcome , Ivan .
Thanks for joining us today .
Zatkovich : Thank you , Michael .
I ’ m glad to be here .
Leahy : Well , I ’ m not a telecom guy , but perhaps you can address this issue that I ’ ve raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised .
How is it that a huge data center for AT & T was located at a place in downtown Nashville where it was vulnerable to an attack like this ?
Zatkovich : In general the AT & T transmission building has to be located centrally because it contains all the switching equipment for all the business lines and residential lines to connect to the telephone network .
So you have to locate that building where the most traffic is .
If you put it outside of the downtown area and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it very secure but it ’ s very inefficient for routing telecom from traffic .
That ’ s the main thing .
Leahy : So tell us a little bit about your background and experience with telecom Ivan .
Zatkovich : Sure .
I ’ ve worked for telecom companies including Verizon and GTE .
I primarily do consulting work on telecommunications and in e-commerce including serving as an expert witness for patent litigations in the telecom area .
Leahy : So what do you look at something like this the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country vulnerable to these kinds of attacks ?
Zatkovich : Yes , they are .
I mean they are built in very secure facilities .
Primarily the safety concern with these facilities is mainly to protect against natural disasters .
So they have things like cable vaults which are literally concrete vaults housing cable and coming into the building to protect against floods and hurricanes .
They also have extreme security to prevent unauthorized people from coming into the building and tampering with the equipment .
I would say protection against terrorists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the list .
But again , they are built to be secure primarily against acts of God for the most part .
Leahy : Now this is AT & T .
You ’ ve worked for a lot of clients .
Have you ever worked for them in a consulting capacity at all ?
Zatkovich : Yes .
I have worked for AT & T both for developing business projects as well as testifying in patent litigation .
Leahy : Now , how does AT & T go about looking at addressing security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Zatkovich : That ’ s an excellent question .
The most interesting aspect of this is the van was parked right in front of the AT & T building .
The blast went into the building because it was so close to the building .
Ironically the most damage was done with the blast entering down into the pavement that blasted a hole into the street and into the infrastructure below which is where all the cabling that comes into that building resides .
So in this particular case , I guess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cable involved under the infrastructure within the streets to protect vulnerable aspects from the street levels .
Leahy : Ivan , I didn ’ t know that .
So most of the damage was from the downward thrust of the explosion and not upwards ?
Zatkovich : Correct .
If we look at the holes in the which looks quite devastating that ’ s not where the critical equipment was .
The critical aspect was the cabling that went into the building which comes underneath the street .
Leahy : So it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : Interesting , interesting .
I know we got started a little bit late .
Can you hold through the break Ivan with us ?
Leahy : Thank you so much .
I really appreciate this very very helpful .
I didn ’ t know any of this .
Leahy : We are joined by telecommunications expert Ivan Zatkovich who is the principal consultant with a company called eComp Consultants .
He ’ s consulted with many of the leading telecommunication companies in the country .
And Ivan just told me what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority of the damage of this blast on Christmas Day in downtown Nashville in front of the AT & T transmission center came from the downward thrust of the explosion .
What does that cabling vault below the street there right in front of the AT & T building , what did that look like ?
What were the levels of protection there ?
Zatkovich : If you have ever been inside of a cabling vault , it literally looks like a mausoleum .
Thick concrete walls with these pipes coming in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is a central location that has all the cables coming from all the local businesses and residential zones as well as all the connections to the cell towers .
So it contains the mobile switching center as well as the power coming into the building .
So the two most vulnerable parts of this would be the cable coming into the building which is why it ’ s located underground in a vault and the electrical equipment that does the switching which would not be at street level .
It would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular case , the vulnerability was the blast into the street of the cables coming into that cable vault .
I would venture that the cable vault survived with much less damage than the street itself .
So that was the vulnerable aspect of this .
Leahy : Interesting .
Now that the risk assessment people at AT & T I guess were aware of this possibility did they prepare sufficiently for this ridiculously unexpected possibility ?
Zatkovich : I can ’ t imagine that you can protect against all scenarios .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge thick secure cable vaults speaks to the fact that liability is the most significant aspect of this planning .
But I don ’ t think it ’ s possible to plan for every aspect such as huge explosions .
And again , I believe that internally to the AT & T transmission building , the damage was much less than visible from the outside .
And again , I think the most vulnerable aspect of this was the cables coming into the building as opposed to in the building itself .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be of a different concern and a different planning operation .
Leahy : Yeah , exactly .
So if AT & T were to call you and ask for your advice now on how to plan going forward , What would be the top two or three things you would do ?
Would you move the facility or keep it and reinforce the cable vaults below ?
Zatkovich : And that ’ s an excellent question .
Again , we learn in every aspect , I am sure they ’ re thinking very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider possibly extending the cable vault into the infrastructure perhaps underneath the streets .
Again , there will always be vulnerable points in the network because it ’ s such a large network .
But yes , I would say that would be the most obvious thing to extend the cable vault out into the infrastructure underneath the street .
Leahy : And so moving it to another location .
I guess you said it would be somewhat impractical ?
Zatkovich : It would be definitely problematic .
You would have to re-cable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infrastructure .
It would make for less efficient communications .
I am sure that ’ s an option that that ’ s considered .
The central offices located throughout many different neighborhoods .
In fact , they ’ re generally the one-story plain brick buildings with no windows .
When you see those buildings , you ’ ll understand that most of the infrastructure is underground .
So again , these facilities are designed to be very safe and very protective against mostly natural disasters .
But again , I think they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors such as terrorism and bombings into account going forward .
Leahy : Now , did you take a look at all at the force of this blast ?
And what were the materials used to create this blast ?
They seem to be very very powerful from what we ’ ve seen .
Zatkovich : We know that today we are capable of doing homemade bombs and using techniques to make very powerful blasts .
And we can see the damage .
I ’ m looking at a picture of the outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowing how strong that building was constructed , it was an extremely powerful blast .
If the building was located on the other side of the street to the normal old buildings , the damage would have been much more extensive than what we see to the AT & T building .
Leahy : It ’ s very very interesting .
Now on these matters , how many data centers of this size exist in the United States right now ?
50 , 100 , 200 ?
Zatkovich : Every metropolitan area such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
So we ’ re talking thousands of facilities like this throughout the United States .
Leahy : Interesting .
Interesting .
Who would be the person at AT & T who ’ s making these decisions about how to deal with it ?
Is there a VP of risk assessment ?
Or what ’ s the level of decision making and how do they interact with local federal and state officials in making these decisions ?
Zatkovich : It ’ s definitely a group effort .
Within telephone companies , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the VP of Information Technology would be one .
We have safety & security department ’ s working on this .
So I am sure they are having non-stop meetings today as we speak .
First to determine how to recover from this particular disaster .
And they apparently have been doing a very good job on that to make sure how to plan for a future event like this .
Leahy : It strikes me that the recovery from the outages that happened at the time of the bombing was at 6:30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you know 7 am on Monday .
And from what I can tell we ’ ve got about 80-85 percent of capabilities restored .
That seems to me to be a remarkably fast recovery period of time .
If these cable vaults have been damaged so severely in the blast how have they accomplished that ?
Zatkovich : Well , there ’ s redundancy within the network .
And they set up as you probably know they set up temporary mobile towers and they are probably rerouting a lot of the traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because this blast was only in one spot of the building and again , there would be multiple cable accesses to that building .
So they ’ re probably rerouting a lot of the traffic .
Leahy : There are some reports that the perpetrator who is now-dead is apparently a suicide bomber .
His remains and DNA have identified him as Anthony Quinn Warner .
There are some reports that he was ‘ paranoid about 5G technology.
’ Are you familiar with those concerns ?
Did this particular facility have any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Yeah , I was aware of that particular rumor about the 5G network .
The transmission building would have held as I mentioned before the mobile switching center which would have .
And I ’ m sure they ’ re starting to migrate that to the 5G network .
So there were probably aspects of the mobile switching center that were operating and integrating with the 5G network .
So if that was his intent I ’ m sure he had some idea in mind of attacking the mobile switching center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you can explain we got about two minutes left here either and thanks so much for being available to talk about this .
It ’ s very helpful .
What ’ s the difference between the 5G technology and the current technology that ’ s being used in telecommunications ?
Zatkovich : Well a true 5G network has multiple aspects to it .
There are things called metro cells and microcells where a tower will cover a much wider area because it ’ s a much higher frequency and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to plug into mobile networks and other internet connections and routing traffic to many different hubs throughout the country .
It ’ s much more flexible and much more high speed and a much wider range than normal 5G or 3G networks that we ’ re used to .
Leahy : Are there concerns about the misuse of 5G technologies at all out there ?
Zatkovich : Again , there are concerns from China and Huawei implementing back doors into the 5G networks .
That ’ s a possibility .
Of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different ways of transmitting control technology to control perhaps people ’ s minds or spread COVID .
Naturally , these are all unfounded rumors .
So yeah as you see new technology coming out you ’ re going to see just as many rumors about what type of control technologies might be incorporated into that .
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 on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by Midom CC2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-29--Commentary: Zoom School Gets an ‘F,’ But Some Online Learning Providers Excel

Students in 40 percent of school districts across the country haven ’ t been inside a classroom since last spring , and others are now returning to virtual “ Zoom school ” as coronavirus cases rise .
Remote public schooling as a response to school shutdowns has been a disaster for many children , with a record number of F grades issued this academic year .
Both parents and kids are fed up with Zoom school , and teachers are frustrated with it as well .
The Washington Post ran a headline this month saying we must finally admit that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s important to make a distinction here : Remote pandemic public schooling may be a failure , but remote education more generally is flourishing .
Many private , online learning providers are seeing their enrollment numbers climb , as parents search for high-quality , virtual education options for their children and teens .
Here are three remote education programs that are excelling during the pandemic : My Tech High was launched 12 years ago by entrepreneur and educator , Matt Bowman , and it has experienced rapid growth .
With the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s popularity surged , growing 150 percent over last year to serve nearly 20,000 students in eight states .
Most of the students attend tuition-free , accessing My Tech High through innovative partnerships with charter school networks and some school districts that allow for a more personalized , home-based education for young people ages 5 to 18 .
It ’ s been a particularly big hit with military families who move around a lot and value the program ’ s consistency and customization .
“ We have seen that when it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zoom-schooling all day ) , students can truly thrive in a personalized education program like My Tech High , ” says Bowman .
Entrepreneurship is a cornerstone principle at My Tech High , and children of all ages are encouraged to be creative and inventive .
“ With our focus on tech and entrepreneurship , ” says Bowman , “ we have students as young as 5 years old learning the basics of coding and we ’ ve had 8 year old students start their own profitable businesses.
” ASU Prep Digital is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Arizona State University that offers a particularly innovative program for high school students across the country .
Fully online and self-paced , the ASU Prep Digital high school program is high-touch with regular , live , online check-ins with teachers and mentors .
It is fully accredited and students can receive a high school diploma if they choose .
They can also enroll as a part-time student , taking a la carte classes to supplement other learning .
A key benefit of ASU Prep Digital is that it allows enrolled students to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University , accumulating college credits while still in high school and dramatically reducing the cost of college when those credits are ultimately transferred to a four-year university .
Moreover , students who do well academically at ASU Prep Digital automatically meet the admission requirements to attend Arizona State University .
The best news ?
ASU Prep Digital is tuition-free for Arizona residents and , at just under $ 7,000 a year , an affordable option for many out-of-state high school students as well .
When parents consider that the tuition includes college credits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs , it becomes even more appealing .
Sure enough , enrollment at ASU Prep Digital skyrocketed 700 percent this year over last year , to 4,500 students .
The school ’ s CEO , Julie Young , led the Florida Virtual School from its inception in 1997 as the nation ’ s first public , fully online school .
She told Inside Higher Ed that school shutdowns and related remote learning plans are responsible for ASU Prep Digital ’ s recent enrollment surge .
“ We are definitely hearing from families that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth , ” she said , acknowledging that many parents were uncertain about the quality of their school district ’ s remote learning approach and valued more well-established , reputable online learning options .
Galileo is an online , self-directed learning program for homeschoolers , unschoolers , worldschoolers and other students who are seeking a bit of structure , access to more classes , and a lot of community .
Daily , virtual check-ins with a teacher and small groups of students around the globe offer opportunities for consistent social connection , goal-setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Classes are offered throughout the week on a wide range of topics , from history , math , and foreign languages to debate clubs , music clubs , book groups , and entrepreneurship incubators .
Tuition plans start at $ 2,000 per year , or parents can choose a monthly option that allows them to cancel at any time .
Launched in the summer of 2019 by a group of parents , educators , and software developers , Galileo has grown from 20 students in its inaugural group to 159 students this fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a director at Galileo , says that while some of these students likely would have joined Galileo regardless of the pandemic , school shutdowns and remote learning have boosted enrollment .
“ Some former public and private school families who were disillusioned with the traditional school system and wanted a change anyway did enroll , are enjoying this new ( to them ) way of learning , and plan to stick around , ” Quain told me in a recent interview .
“ Some of those parents were so aghast at how their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realized that their kids weren ’ t getting a good education , decided to look for a better online learning environment , and found Galileo.
” Quain believes that the trend toward remote learning was already emerging before 2020 and that parents will continue to seek enriching and effective virtual education models for their children .
“ The future of online learning was happening pre-pandemic .
The pandemic just brought it to the forefront and to the masses , ” says Quain .
“ Unfortunately traditional schools don ’ t know how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovative edtech companies such as Galileo are being created to disrupt the traditional education model by truly engaging students , making learning fun again , and allowing for individualized learning , for students to pursue their passions and to create life-long , independent learners.
” Pandemic Zoom school may be a short-lived failure , but online learning is set to soar .
Families have grown more comfortable with virtual interactions this year , more parents will telework post-pandemic , and many students appreciate flexible , customizable education approaches—particularly when they offer an accelerated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Innovative , private online learning providers will continue to emerge and expand , offering more high-quality , low-cost , individualized education options for students and families .
As Quain says : “ Once students get a taste of the freedom to choose what they want to learn , it ’ s not the easiest transition to return to a top down , authoritarian , and institutional learning environment.
” Kerry McDonald is a Senior Education Fellow at FEE and author of Unschooled : Raising Curious , Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is also an adjunct scholar at The Cato Institute and a regular Forbes contributor .
Kerry has a B.A .
in economics from Bowdoin College and an M.Ed .
in education policy from Harvard University .
She lives in Cambridge , Massachusetts with her husband and four children .