thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--John Durham Sought Christopher Steele’s Notes from a Meeting with The FBI in Which an Agent Said the

John Durham Sought Christopher Steele’s Notes from a Meeting with The FBI in Which an Agent Said the Ex-Spy ‘Wasn’t Truthful’

John Durham , the U.S. attorney investigating aspects of the Trump-Russia probe , has sought notes that former British spy Christopher Steele took during his interviews in 2016 with the FBI regarding a since-debunked dossier he penned that accused the Trump campaign of colluding with the Russian government .
An FBI agent who took part in one of the interviews with Steele told Justice Department investigators that the ex-spy “ clearly … wasn ’ t truthful ” regarding his contacts with members of the media .
Politico reports that Steele and his attorneys have rebuffed the request from Durham , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s notes from meetings he had with FBI personnel on July 5 , 2016 , and on Oct. 3 , 2016 .
According to Politico , Durham ’ s office enlisted a private law firm in London , where Steele is based , to obtain the documents .
The law firm filed a motion to unseal Steele ’ s notes , which were disclosed in a defamation case that the owners of the Russian bank Alfa Bank filed against Steele over allegations he made in the dossier .
Steele ’ s attorneys offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his witness statements in the Alfa Bank case , but have not turned over notes he took during the FBI meetings , according to Politico .
A prosecutor for Durham ’ s office requested an interview with Steele in February , but he declined the request , Politico also reported .
Durham , the U.S. attorney for Connecticut , has been investigating the FBI and the CIA ’ s intelligence-gathering activities against the Trump campaign since May 2019 .
His investigation appears to have tracked closely with the findings of a Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report released on Dec. 9 , 2019 , that blasted the FBI over its handling of the Steele dossier .
The Politico report indicates that Durham is investigating aspects of the dossier , which Steele compiled on behalf of the the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign .
Politico cited anonymous sources who speculated that Durham is looking into whether FBI agents disclosed classified information to Steele during the 2016 interviews .
Steele ’ s meeting on July 5 , 2016 , was with his longtime FBI handler , Michael Gaeta .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the dossier in which he alleged that the Kremlin was blackmailing Donald Trump with video of him with prostitutes in Moscow .
A team of agents met with Steele again in October 2016 , months after the bureau had opened its investigation of the Trump campaign , dubbed Crossfire Hurricane .
FBI agents who took part in the meeting told the IG ’ s office that they were troubled to learn later that Steele had talked to members of the media prior to that meeting .
Steele , who was hired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Yahoo !
News , The Washington Post , The New York Times and The New Yorker in September 2016 .
Yahoo !
News published a story based on the meeting with Steele on Sept. 23 , 2016 .
The article cited Steele ’ s allegations about Carter Page , which the FBI also used in its applications for surveillance warrants against the former Trump adviser .
Gaeta , who was Steele ’ s handling agent , told the IG that it “ blew his mind ” that Steele had talked with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source network in danger .
Another FBI agent told the IG ’ s office that Steele “ clearly … wasn ’ t truthful with us ” regarding his contacts with the media .
“ Clearly , ” the agent reiterated , according to the IG report .
The IG report said that FBI agents told Steele during the interview that they were investigating Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos .
That information had not been publicly disclosed at the time .
The FBI relied heavily on information from Steele as part of its investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia .
Investigators extensively cited Steele ’ s information in applications to surveil Trump campaign aide Carter Page .
The Justice Department IG report excoriated the FBI for relying on Steele ’ s information without first verifying it .
U.S. lawmakers have accused Steele of lying to the FBI in 2016 regarding his meetings with journalists to discuss the dossier .
Sens .
Chuck Grassley and Lindsey Graham asked the Justice Department and the FBI in January 2018 to investigate whether Steele provided misleading statements to the bureau regarding his contacts with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties with Steele on Oct. 31 , 2016 , after he served as a source for a story published by Mother Jones that details allegations from the dossier .
Steele testified that he deleted many of his dossier-related communications in January 2017 .
A State Department official who worked with Steele on the project , Jonathan Winer , told the Senate Intelligence Committee that Steele directed him to delete their correspondence on the topic as well .
Notes from Steele ’ s interviews in September 2017 with the FBI as part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he did not disclose that he met with journalists in September 2016 .
According to the FBI employees ’ notes , Steele apologized for going to the media , but said that he found himself “ riding two horses ” — the FBI and his client , Fusion GPS .
The notes say that Steele explained that he went to the media at Fusion GPS ’ s direction after then-FBI Director James Comey announced he was re-opening the investigation into Hillary Clinton ’ s emails .
“ We had to pick ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business ‘ horse ’ vs. the ‘ FBI ’ horse – hence , we followed what our client wanted and spoke to the press , ” the notes describe Steele saying .
Steele failed to disclose that by the time Comey announced reopening the Clinton probe , on Oct. 28 , 2016 , he had already met with multiple other journalists and served as a source for the Yahoo !
News story .
There is no indication from the FBI notes that the agents asked Steele whether he was a source for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s report debunked the core thesis of the dossier that the Trump campaign conspired with the Russian government to release emails hacked from Democrats in order to influence the 2016 election .
The special counsel ’ s report said that prosecutors found no evidence that Trump associates conspired with Russia or played any role in hacking Democrats ’ emails .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Biden’s Secretary of State Pick Led ‘Biden Center’ at UPenn, as School Allegedly Accepted Millions i

Biden’s Secretary of State Pick Led ‘Biden Center’ at UPenn, as School Allegedly Accepted Millions in ‘Anonymous’ Donations from China

Antony Blinken — former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s choice to become Secretary of State if he is inaugurated president in January — was the director of the University of Pennsylvania ’ s Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement , which recently faced criticism for accepting $ 22 million in “ anonymous ” funds originating in China .
The Biden Center , which the University of Pennsylvania officially launched in February 2018 , “ engages Penn ’ s students and partners with its faculty and global centers to convene world leaders , develop and advance smart policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American global leadership in the 21st century.
” It is located in Washington , D.C. Blinken worked as the center ’ s managing director until 2019 when he began serving as a foreign policy adviser for the Biden presidential campaign .
In May 2020 , Campus Reform reported on allegations from the National Legal and Policy Center , which said that the University of Pennsylvania accepted more than $ 70 million from China — $ 22 million of which was listed as “ anonymous ” — since the Biden Center opened its doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaint , “ federal law requires the disclosure of the source of all donations over $ 250,000.
” Accordingly , the complaint requested a referral to the Department of Justice .
Of the donations to the University of Pennsylvania that were $ 250,000 or greater , Campus Reform was able to identify more than two dozen examples in which the individual donor names were not listed , amounting to about $ 26 million in undisclosed gifts from China .
According to the complaint , “ the name of the donor is required by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number.
” The complaint pointed out that the Biden Center co-sponsored an event called the “ 2020 Penn China Research Symposium , ” which featured remarks from Huang Ping , Consul-General of the People ’ s Republic of China in New York , even as the Chinese Communist Party was in the process of covering up the COVID-19 pandemic .
University of Pennsylvania Vice President of Communications Stephen MacCarthy told Campus Reform that the school “ has never solicited any funds for the Penn Biden Center .
Since its inception in 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three unsolicited gifts totaling $ 1,100 .
There have been no gifts to the Penn Biden Center from anyone in China.
” One University of Pennsylvania junior , who spoke with Campus Reform on the condition of anonymity , said that this lack of transparency is “ concerning.
” The student said that “ the university should be transparent in disclosing all donations by China.
” Benjamin Zeisloft is a Pennsylvania Senior Campus Correspondent , reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform .
He is studying Finance and Marketing at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Benjamin also writes for The UPenn Statesman and the Wharton International Business Review .
Image “ Antony Blinken on Biden ’ s Team ” by C-Span .

by Virginia Allen
Republican governors are sending National Guard troops to the southern border.
Governors of Arkansas, Iowa, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia announced this week they will send troops and resources to Texas to support the work of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Operation Lone Star to secure the southern border.
“President [Joe] Biden’s failure at our southern border puts the entire country at risk,” Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday. “States must now step up where the president has failed to repel illegals, fight the cartels, and stop human and drug trafficking.”
Sanders is sending 80 National Guard troops to the border in July. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will send troop but has not clarified how many, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum also announced Thursday that he will send 100 National Guardsmen to Texas to help secure the southern border. Gov. Mike DeWine says he will send 14 State Highway troopers and supervisors to Texas for two weeks. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says she will deploy about 50 National Guard troops to the border this summer.
Arkansas, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota join nine other GOP governors who have already pledged to send troops and resources to Texas to help secure the state’s border with Mexico.
“The ongoing border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement Wednesday.
“Given the intensive resource demands on Texas, the dangers posed by the fentanyl crisis, and impact of the border crisis on criminal activity to the Commonwealth, Virginia will do its part to assist the State of Texas’ efforts with the coordinated deployment of Virginia National Guard soldiers to assist in key aspects of their mission,” Youngkin said.
Youngkin is sending 100 troops and 21 supporting personnel to Texas from the commonwealth.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is sending up to 50 National Guard troops and airmen to the border for up to 30 days. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster says he will also send troops to the border but has yet to announce how may.
“The safety and security of South Carolinians require that we stop the drug cartels, criminals, and terrorists from entering our country to peddle their poison,” McMaster said in a statement Wednesday.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday that she will send 100 National Guard troops and 30 Department of Public Safety personnel to the border.
The Republican governors’ decision to send troops to the southern border comes in response to Abbott’s request for states to join Texas and help secure the border through the work of Operation Lone Star, Texas’ border security plan.
Nine GOP governors met with Abbott in Austin, Texas, on May 22 to discuss the border crisis. The meeting was held about a week after Abbott sent a letter to fellow governors asking them to help Texas secure the border.
The Texas governor applauded Idaho and Florida for already having sent border security resources and personnel to the Lone Star State to help secure the border and invited more governors to join in the “mission to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity and send all available law enforcement personnel and resources to the Texas-Mexico border to serve alongside our thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers.”
Last week, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced he will send 100 National Guard troops to the border and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen committed to send 10 state troopers to Texas to “help stop the influx of illegal immigration at our southern border.”
Florida, Idaho, and Mississippi were among the first states to answer Abbott’s call for help.
On May 17, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced he was mobilizing a National Guard unit to the border.
“To keep Mississippians safe and limit the impact of our nation’s open borders, the Mississippi National Guard’s 112th Military Police Battalion has been mobilized and is supporting Customs and Border Protection officers and agents along the Southwest border.”
The day before Reeves’ announcement, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida had “over 1,100 assets and resources available” to aid Operation Lone Star, including 800 National Guard soldiers and 200 Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers.
“At my direction, state agencies, including law enforcement and the Florida National Guard, are being deployed to Texas, with assets including personnel, boats, and planes,” DeSantis said. “While Biden ignores the crisis he created, Florida stands ready to help Texas respond to this crisis.”
Since the start of the Biden administration, Customs and Border Protection reports encountering more than 5.5 million illegal aliens at the southern border. Since fiscal year 2023 began on Oct. 1, CBP has encountered more than 1.4 million illegal aliens, about triple the number encountered at the southern border during fiscal year 2020.
CBP has seized a record 17,000 pounds of fentanyl at the southern border so far in fiscal year 2023, which ends Sept. 30, more than triple the total amount seized in all of fiscal year 2020.
– – –
Virginia Allen is a senior news producer and podcast host for The Daily Signal. She is the co-host of “The Daily Signal Podcast” and “Problematic Women.”
Photo “National Guard” by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Former Ohio State University Researcher Lies About Grant Applications, Uses Funds to Develop Medicin

Former Ohio State University Researcher Lies About Grant Applications, Uses Funds to Develop Medicine for China

Song Guo Zheng , a former researcher at Ohio State University and Pennsylvania State University , pleaded guilty to using millions in federal grants to increase medical expertise for China .
Zheng — a professor who led an autoimmune research team for both universities — received $ 4.1 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health for research projects .
Instead of using the funds to benefit the United States , he developed China ’ s expertise in immunology , according to the Department of Justice .
Zheng was arrested in May as he attempted to board a charter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was carrying “ three large bags , one small suitcase and a briefcase containing two laptops , three cell phones , several USB drives , several silver bars , expired Chinese passports for his family , deeds for property in China and other items , ” according to the Justice Department .
Court documents explain that Zheng was involved with the Chinese Thousand Talents Program — an initiative “ established by the Chinese government to recruit individuals with knowledge or access to foreign technology intellectual property.
” In his plea deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal grant applications , failing to disclose his strong ties to China .
“ Federal research funding is provided by the American taxpayers for the benefit of American society — not as a subsidy for the Chinese Government , ” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers in the Justice Department press release .
“ The American people deserve total transparency when federal dollars are being provided for research , and we will continue to hold accountable those who choose to lie about their foreign government affiliations in an attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” According to the Department of Justice statement , “ making false statements to the federal government is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
” Campus Reform has covered several instances of federal officials arresting professors who illegally share American technology with the Chinese Communist Party .
Recently , a professor working with a federal laboratory managed by Texas A & M University and the University of California was sentenced over his ties to China .
Campus Reform reached out to Ohio State University and Penn State University ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benjamin Zeisloft is a Pennsylvania Senior Campus Correspondent , reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform .
He is studying Finance and Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania .
Benjamin also writes for The UPenn Statesman and the Wharton International Business Review .
Photo “ Song Guo Zheng ” by Vanderbilt University .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Black Pastors Rebuke Georgia’s Warnock Over Abortion Stance

Over two dozen black pastors penned an open letter to Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rev .
Raphael Warnock over his declarations of support for abortion using his pastoral background .
One of the pastors who penned the letter is Alveda King , niece of the Rev .
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , who served as pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church , where Warnock now serves as pastor .
The pastors wrote , on Friday , that they were “ compelled to confront ” Warnock .
But precisely because we share so much in common with you , we feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerning abortion .
You have gone on the record saying that you are a “ pro-choice pastor ” who will “ always fight for reproductive justice.
” You have publicly expressed your views that abortion is an exercise of “ human agency and freedom ” that is fully consistent with your role as a shepherd of God ’ s people .
We believe these statements represent grave errors of judgment and a lapse in pastoral responsibility , and we entreat you to reconsider them .
As a Christian pastor and as a Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denounce the evil of abortion , which kills a disproportionate number of Black children .
Your open advocacy of abortion is a scandal to the faith and to the Black community .
Abortion is fundamentally in conflict with the plain reading of the Bible .
The Bible clearly teaches that human life is created by God beginning at conception .
As Psalm 139 proclaims : “ You knitted me together in my mother ’ s womb .
I praise you , for I am wonderfully and fearfully made.
” What human being could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an innocent life that God has wonderfully and fearfully made ?
Warnock ’ s campaign questioned how much the signatories had in common with him since some of the pastors have supported his opponent , incumbent U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) , Fox 5 Atlanta reported .
His campaign singled out King and Bishop Garland Hunt of The Father ’ s House .
The Rev .
Dean Nelson , the letter ’ s organizer , said politics was not the motivation , as signatories included Republicans , Democrats and independents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter ends with , “ We implore you to uphold the Biblical defense of life and to fight against the systemic racism of abortion.
” Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Minneapolis City Council Votes to Raise Property Taxes, Cut $8 million from Police Budget But Aims f

Minneapolis City Council Votes to Raise Property Taxes, Cut $8 million from Police Budget But Aims for Higher Police Staffing Target

The Minneapolis City Council voted to cut $ 8 million from the Police Department ( MPD ) in their 2021 budget .
However , the Council also also added a caveat to allow for additional future police recruitment , likely dodging a veto from Mayor Jacob Frey .
In a 7-6 vote Wednesday night , the council ’ s decision doesn ’ t change the number of officers in 2021 , but sets a higher target number for replacing officers who are currently out on leave for post-traumatic stress disorders or other reasons with the council ’ s authorization .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 888 were : Vice President Andrea Jenkins and Council Members Lisa Goodman , Andrew Johnson , Linea Palmisano , Alondra Cano , Kevin Reich , and Jamal Osman .
Voting “ no ” were Council President Lisa Bender and Council members Fletcher , Cam Gordon , Jeremy Schroeder , Phillipe Cunningham , and Jeremiah Ellison .
The council originally planned to cut the force to 750 officers but changed course after Frey ’ s threatened veto .
“ The mayor ’ s budget would needlessly waste a pot of money that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Cunningham said .
“ It doesn ’ t make sense to keep that additional money in for MPD when we won ’ t actually have the officers to achieve that number of 888.
” “ We must try all the options to restore the sense of safety in our communities , ” he said .
“ The reality right now is that Chief [ Medaria ] Arradondo is woefully understaffed for a variety of reasons , ” Jenkins said .
“ Do I believe that this effort will resolve all of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overnight ?
Absolutely not .
Neither will all of the social service programs and initiatives .
It ’ s going to take all of these things together to lower the crime rate in our communities.
” “ My colleagues were right to leave the targeted staffing level unchanged from 888 and continue moving forward with our shared priorities , ” he said in a statement .
“ The additional funding for new public safety solutions will also allow the City to continue upscaling important mental health , non-police response , and social service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The city is still reeling from the May death of George Floyd while in police custody .
The City Council has been divided over whether to fulfill a June promise to dismantle their police or to augment it in reaction to a 15-year high in violent crime , with carjackings up 537 % year-to-date , over 500 people shot , and nearly 80 homicides – compared to last year ’ s 48 homicides .
Frey ’ s $ 1.5 billion plan aims to dedicate $ 400,000 to the Minneapolis Forward Community Now Coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incremental financing funding for the Commercial Property Development Fund to help businesses hurt by COVID-19 and May riots .
The $ 7.7 million cut from the police department will instead fund mental health crisis teams and other violence prevention programs .
The higher police staffing target aims to reduce a spike in police overtime .
Arradondo said overtime costs in October were nearly $ 1 million – $ 650,000 more than the monthly average for the first five months of 2020 .
Arradondo added that his force has 166 fewer officers than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly 874 .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Over 90 Percent of Minnesota University’s Top Faculty Donations Went to Democrats, Study Finds

Data from the Federal Election Commission show that 90.8 percent of the top 100 donations to political candidates and committees from University of Minnesota employees and affiliates went to Democrats , according to a recent report by Minnesota Business Daily .
The analysis found that UMN employees and affiliates donated $ 201,383 to political candidates and committees .
Of that amount , $ 182,919 went to Democrats .
Another $ 11,125 went to the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party .
None of the top 100 donations were to Republicans .
The top three largest donations ( $ 7,600 , $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to Rep. Angie Craig ( D-Minn. ) .
Smaller donations went to Andrew Yang , Julian Castro , and Marianne Williamson , all of whom ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination .
Student at the University of Minnesota and Campus Reform Correspondent Alyssa Rinelli states she isn ’ t surprised by this report , and that the university has a clear liberal bias .
“ Sadly , I ’ m not shocked by the strictly high number of donations made to Democratic candidates .
Again , you see it in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You see it in the initiatives the University of Minnesota funds and promotes , such as hiring Dr. Cedric , an Obama Task Force Member , to complete a campus safety review under the lens of race , ” Rinelli said .
Campus Reform reported on the University of Minnesota cutting ties with Minneapolis police .
After doing so , the campus experienced a drastic increase in reported violent crimes , as Campus Reform also reported .
In 2018 , political commentator Ben Shapiro was scheduled to speak at the school when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last minute .
The venue was significantly smaller and wouldn ’ t fit a vast amount of the attendees who planned to attend .
Shapiro and Young America ’ s Foundation , which hosted the event , filed a lawsuit against the university .
An Obama-appointed judge sided with the school in that case .
Rinelli also stated her disappointment in the diversity of viewpoints present on campus and indicated that other conservatives are afraid of retaliation for expressing their beliefs .
“ I am disappointed that the University of Minnesota lacks viewpoint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says they value diversity .
I am aware of many conservative students who have not been able to express their opinions in class for fear of academic repercussions , ” Rinelli said .
According to a previous report , educators donated two and a half times more in 2020 compared with 2016 .
Democrats received $ 215.5 million from educators during this election cycle , with just $ 19.6 million going to Republicans .
UMN Greater Minnesota Media Relations Consultant Devin Henry told Campus Reform in response to the report , “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributions to candidates at any level .
Employees are permitted to make personal contributions to political candidates and causes in their capacity as .
private citizens .
“ However , these contributions are personal and do not indicate University support of a candidate or ballot initiative , ” Henry added .
Haley Worth is a Minnesota Campus Correspondent with Campus Reform .
She is a junior at Saint Cloud State University , majoring in Political Science .
On campus , Haley was the President of the Turning Point USA chapter .
She was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gurtler ’ s Congressional Campaign for the primary runoff election in Georgia .
Haley is a Fall 2020 Campus Reform intern .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Virginia High School League: Athletes Advised to Wear Masks During Competitions

The Virginia High School League ( VHSL ) is requiring participating schools to follow health recommendations from the Virginia Department of Health ( VDH ) that strongly advise student-athletes to wear masks at all times while on the sidelines as well as during practices and games , the league said Thursday .
In a press release emailed to media outlets , VHSL Executive Director John “ Billy ” Haun announced the decision to adhere to the state health department .
“ With the support of the Governor ’ s office and our VHSL Sports Medicine Advisory Committee , the VHSL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommendations of the Virginia Department of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics , ” Haun said .
Haun added that there are some sports where athletes will not need to be wearing masks all the time , including cheerleading , gymnastics , wrestling and swim and dive .
This means that , of the six VHSL winter sports , only basketball and indoor track and field will need to comply with the VDH recommendation .
The VHSL also warned that if wearing a mask during practice or competitions is difficult , participating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There is strong evidence to show that mask use prevents the spread of COVID-19 , ” the VDH said in its considerations for recreational sports .
“ We also know that participating in sports has both physical and psychological health benefits .
Risks from the virus can be decreased if athletes , coaches , officials , and spectators follow public health guidelines.
” The VDH also said that indoor environments , like basketball games , are considered to be higher risk for spreading the coronavirus .
Under the adopted VHSL Championship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the Commonwealth were allowed to begin practices and tryouts on December 7th , with the first basketball games beginning on December 21st .
However , a number of districts and specific schools , such as Henrico County , have already cancelled their winter sports seasons due to COVID .
As of Tuesday , 21 school divisions and 38 individual high schools – including basketball powerhouse John Marshall – are not participating in the condensed winter sports season , according the VHSL .
Indoor track and field , wrestling , swim and dive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the seasons for those sports kick off at the end of the month on December 28th .
The VHSL also announced that the league will comply with new occupancy rules for recreational sports spectators that were a part of Governor Ralph Northam ’ s latest statewide coronavirus restrictions .
Now , spectators will be limited to 25 people per field/court for indoor sports .
For sports played outdoors , only two spectators per player are allowed .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Shock Doctor Face Mask ” by ShockDoctor.com .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Ohio AG Yost Argued for SCOTUS to Reject Texas and Rule on Electors Clause

A day after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost broke rank with 17 other Republican Attorneys General around the country who joined the Texas lawsuit in favor of the Lone Star State , the Supreme Court of the United States ( SCOUTS ) , according to the Texas Tribune .
“ Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections , ” the SCOTUS opinion stated .
The high court said Texas lacked standing under Article III of the United States Constitution .
On Wednesday The Ohio Star reported that Ohio Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep dive into the legal theories ” of the lawsuit Texas filed in the Supreme Court of the United States ( SCOTUS ) against Pennsylvania , Georgia , Michigan and Wisconsin .
The Lone Star State contests the validity of the election results in the four states , as noted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton , who wrote in the suit : State Representative Diane Grendel ( R-Chesterland ) , a retired judge on the Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals , sent Ohio ’ s top legal advisor a letter on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to include Ohio in the case in support of Texas .
By Thursday morning , 24 Republican state representatives sent a letter to AG Yost , urging him to “ cause the State of Ohio to intervene , become a party to , and support Texas ’ s effort to ensure the nationwide integrity of the electoral process.
” The state representatives cited alleged unconstitutional rule changes leading up to the election in the states named in the lawsuit and expressed concern , as legislators answerable to their constituents , that Ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the “ democratic principle of one person one vote.
” The full letter is viewable below .
Absent from the letter was Speaker of the House Bob Cupp ( R-Lima ) .
By Thursday afternoon , Yost took action , but not the action requested from Representative Grendel and the 24 Republicans .
Instead of making Ohio a party to the lawsuit , Yost simply filed an amicus curiae brief ( Latin for ‘ friend of the court ’ ) .
What Yost urges most in the Ohio brief is for SCOTUS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the purpose of ruling on the Electors Clause – “ Each State shall appoint , in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct , a Number of Electors , equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress : but no Senator or Representative , or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States , shall be appointed an Elector , ” demands the United States Constitution Article 2 , Section 1 , Clause 2 .
Specifically , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court to quickly decide “ the question whether the Electors Clause permits state courts ( and state executive officials ) to alter the rules by which presidential elections are conducted.
” Based on his tweet “ it is unconstitutional for judges and bureaucrats to change the rules set by state legislatures for selecting electors , ” it could appear that Yost is supporting Texas in their quest to undo last-minute election law changes in key battleground states that may have skewed the election .
Instead , Yost rejected the idea that Texas could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states to change their direction on electors , who may have been appointed based on faulty vote totals .
He wrote , “ Texas seeks a ‘ remand to the State legislatures to allocate electors in a manner consistent with the Constitution.
’ Such an order would violate , not honor , the Electors Clause.
” Yost acknowledged that in many states people cast votes for a president based on rules that had been changed by state courts , governors and secretaries without including state judiciaries – the lawmakers where the power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed a brief a month earlier in the case of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania v. Boockvar on Ohio ’ s behalf .
In it he said , “ this Clause must be understood as empowering ‘ state legislatures , not state courts , [ to ] set the rules for picking presidential electors.
” The Ohio AG doesn ’ t offer a suggestion on how to fix the alleged problem that states used COVID in order to unconstitutionally change election laws without the consent of each state ’ s legislature .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Electors Clause as a means of restoring faith in elections so that the 2024 election can be trustworthy .
Yost argued that “ the relief that Texas seeks would undermine a foundational premise of our federalist system : the idea that the States are sovereigns , free to govern themselves.
” Later he cited the supreme axiom that there ought to be a separation of powers between state and the federal government – “ The courts have no more business ordering the People ’ s representatives how to choose electors than they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose their dinners.
” An Ohio government attorney was contacted by The Star and asked to give an opinion on Yost ’ s brief : Actually , I agree with virtually everything Yost says , except his ultimate conclusion that Texas ’ requested relief would “ violate , not honor , the Electors Clause.
” Yost seems to be taking the position that the Supreme Court , in remanding to the legislatures with instructions to follow the Constitution , would be dictating to the legislatures as to how they should conduct their election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request as telling the legislatures to do what they already decided was proper , via the election laws they passed , but which were changed by courts or executives .
Texas simply wants the Supreme Court to affirm that the legislators follow the law as the legislatures wrote it – not for the Supreme Court to write new laws .
But , I do see where Yost is coming from – it ’ s a fine hair that ’ s being split .
But , for the most part , Yost seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that legislatures , not courts or governors , should make election law .
Or , at least he says if that ’ s not the case , this needs to be clarified before the next election .
Ohio will hand President Donald J. Trump its 18 electoral votes after the president won Ohio handily , by 8 percentage points and almost 500,000 votes .
Yost , who strongly opposed then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016 , says that it is “ unconstitutional for judges and bureaucrats to change rules set by state legislatures for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through a disastrous primary election scheduled for March 17 , but delayed by bureaucrats and judges .
The Star reached out to Yost on the matter of the Ohio primary election and to ask what remedy states and people who cast legal votes have in the absence of SCOTUS forcing votes cast against state laws to be thrown out , asking : Neither Yost nor his spokesperson responded by press time .
All state ’ s electors will meet on Monday , December 14 – the lawsuit sought to delay electors in Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casting their votes because unwinding that would be an even steeper challenge for parties seeking to correct alleged election violations .
Texas Republican Party Chairman Allan said of the SCOTUS decision in a released statement : Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Virginia Parents Start a Petition Demanding for Williamsburg-James City County Students to Return to

Virginia Parents Start a Petition Demanding for Williamsburg-James City County Students to Return to School

More than 500 people have signed an online petition created last week asking for students of Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools ( WJCCPS ) to be allowed to return to classes on January 12 .
“ The devastating impact “ virtual learning ” has had on some students and parents alike can no longer be ignored and it is time for the WJCC School Board to address these concerns .
Many schools in Virginia and around the Country have remained open while following CDC guidelines and it is time for WJCC schools to follow suit , ” Joseph Nickerson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In November , WJCCPS began phasing students back into classrooms , with the goal of having grades K-11 in class on January 4 , according to Wavy.com .
However , on December 3 , the Superintendent Olwen Herron sent out a letter saying that all students would be virtual again last Monday , December 7 .
Herron cited rising COVID-19 case loads within the community as a whole as well as within the schools .
He said , “ For the safety of our staff and students , it forces us to pivot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have warned that virtual learning carries its own risks .
Studies show increases in child mental health-related emergency room visits during COVID-19 .
Other studies suggest that poor education due to virtual learning can have long-term life expectancy effects .
“ We believe that during the COVID-19 pandemic , the United States has extracted an enormous sacrifice from its youngest citizens to protect the health of its oldest , ” said a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association .
A week ago , Senator Dr. Siobhan Dunnavant ( R-Henrico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the general population are misleading as guides for school policy , since schools tend to have lower transmission rates than the general population .
“ The state is providing abysmal leadership on how schools can discern what is safe , ” Dunnavant said .
“ They have metrics that they are following , but the metrics they are following do not comprehensively assess all of the variables that affect kids , like access to food , a safe place to learn , the screening capabilities of the trained staff in schools , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to succeed and participate in the American economy.
” Parents listed their reasons for signing Nickerson ’ s petition .
“ My kids ( who are introverts ) are begging to go back .
This is killing kids both academically and socially .
Both are failing when typically decent students ( not straight A but definitely not straight F ’ s and ready to be a high school and middle school drop out , ) ” Karen S. commented .
Elizabeth L. said , “ My daughter needs to be back in school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s her right to have a successful education and right now , that ’ s not happening.
” “ We strongly request the WJCC School Board provide the option of full-time in-person instruction for K-12 students starting January 11th while also allowing those who would like to continue virtual learning transfer to the WJCC Virtual Academy , ” Nickerson wrote .
He concluded , “ Closing schools should not be an option.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Class ” by Woodley Wonderworks CC2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Georgia State House Republicans Continue Push for Change Ahead of U.S. Senate January Runoff Electio

Georgia State House Republicans Continue Push for Change Ahead of U.S. Senate January Runoff Elections

Republican Georgia lawmakers increased their push for election changes Friday ahead of the Jan. 5 runoff elections for U.S. Senate .
House Majority Leader Jon Burns ( R-Newington ) ( pictured ) sent a second letter to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Friday asking him to respond to an initial letter calling for two specific changes to the election process .
“ Time is of the essence , ” Burns wrote in Friday ’ s letter .
“ We are facing a pivotal election for our state .
Georgians must have confidence in our elected officials to securely and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all legal votes are counted and no illegal votes are counted.
” More than 100 current and future House representatives signed a letter sent to Raffensperger and the state election board last week .
It urged election officials to require counties to allow independent observers from both parties to be involved in the signature verification process for absentee ballots and deploy additional staff from other state agencies or contracted workers to oversee the elections .
Both of Georgia ’ s U.S. Senate seats are up for grabs in runoff elections Jan. 5 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat challenger Jon Ossoff , and Democrat Raphael Warnock is challenging Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler .
Those races will determine which party holds the majority in the U.S. Senate moving forward .
The lawmakers ’ call for change coincides with ongoing claims and investigations of voter fraud in Georgia .
The secretary of state ’ s office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating more than 250 voter fraud claims , including 132 from the general election , officials said .
Gabriel Sterling , the state ’ s voting system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small percentage of the claims are related to absentee ballots .
Election officials said deploying employees from other state agencies to observe election activities likely would be of limited benefit unless they have training equivalent to the years of experience of a veteran poll manager .
President Donald Trump and his supporters have fought to block the certification of the state ’ s general election results based on allegations of voter fraud .
The General Assembly has held three hearings this month filled with testimony from poll and election workers , security and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who signed affidavits alleging election misconduct .
Senate Republicans said they plan to continue the election hearings through Jan. 5 to “ ensure fraud and misconduct do not taint the next election.
” They also plan to file legislation to eliminate at-will absentee voting and reform the absentee ballot verification process .
When an absentee ballot request form is received via mail by county election offices , workers compare the signature on the request form to the voter ’ s signature on file .
The state ’ s online portal for absentee ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s license number to confirm their identity , officials said .
The ballot is returned in a discreet envelope that voters sign , agreeing to an oath .
A report from the secretary of state ’ s office showed the rejection rate for signature issues was 0.15 % in the 2018 and 2020 general elections .
Elected officials rejected 2,011 out of 1.3 million absentee ballots in the November 2020 election because of signatures issues .
In November 2018 , 454 out of 284,393 absentee ballots were rejected .
Election officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election process , but only sworn election workers physically can handle ballots , according to law .
Poll watchers are prohibited from interfering with election workers ’ activities and can voice their objections to only the county election superintendent .
The secretary of state ’ s office has expressed interest in working with lawmakers to strengthen the elections process , but federal law and the courts may have to play a bigger role in reform .
Nyamekye Daniel is a journalist with The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Michigan Senate Passes Sweeping Criminal Justice Reforms

The Michigan Senate passed bipartisan criminal justice reform bills that aim to protect public safety , keep nonviolent offenders out of jail , and make it easier for people to get jobs .
House Bills 5844 and 5854–5857 aim to reform a wide range of mandatory minimum sentences to allow judges discretion in sentencing nonviolent , minor crimes to account for collateral damages of the criminal justice system like broken families .
State Sen. Sylvia Santana ( D-Detroit ) said many people can ’ t make bail pre-trial , so they ’ re stuck in jail , where they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
House Bills 5846–5852 seek to reduce driver ’ s license suspensions for offenses not related to dangerous driving , such as driving without a valid license , which is the third-most-common reason for jail admission in Michigan .
Critics argue it ’ s hard to keep a job to provide for a family without a license , and even harder to pay fines and fees without a job .
“ For too long , driver ’ s license suspensions have been overused as a punishment for a variety of offenses not directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road , and with it , the practice has actually made poverty the ‘ offense ’ most often being punished , ” Alex Rossman , external affairs director for the Michigan League for Public Policy , said in a statement after Thursday night ’ s vote .
“ Today ’ s action is another step toward smart justice that reins in overly severe and ineffective punishments , and another much-needed step toward improving racial equity and economic stability for Michigan residents and their families.
” Safe & Just Michigan Executive Director John S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ licenses suspended to pay fines and fees per year .
“ The ability to drive is essential to daily life for many people in Michigan , yet we suspend licenses as a debt collection tactic .
In doing so , we prioritize court debt over people ’ s ability to work and care for their families , ” Cooper said in a statement .
“ This criminalization of poverty is tragically counterproductive and drives vulnerable people and their families into destructive cycles of poverty and incarceration .
Even worse , it does so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After all , these suspensions are by definition unrelated to the safety of a person ’ s driving , ” Cooper said .
“ Ending these harmful , unnecessary practices will help thousands of people get to work and keep their jobs instead of cycling through Michigan ’ s jail system , thereby improving both economic productivity and public safety in our state.
” The Senate also passed HBs 4488–4492 , which redefine the term “ good moral character ” so only severe crimes directly related to a specific occupation can bar someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nearly one million jobs in Michigan require a state license , which mandates fees , classroom time , training hours , exams and more , ” Jarrett Skorup , director of marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center , said in a statement .
“ The vast majority of these licenses restrict people with any type of criminal record from getting a license , including roofers , cosmetologists , barbers , nurses , security guards and many other jobs in high-demand fields .
A past mistake should not automatically prevent people from honest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is a great move by Michigan lawmakers which will help ex-offenders , job creators and the public.
” The House has already passed all of the above bill packages .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Knox County and City of Knoxville to Consider Establishment of a Sports Authority, First Step to a T

Knox County and City of Knoxville to Consider Establishment of a Sports Authority, First Step to a Taxpayer-Funded Stadium for Multi-Millionaire Randy Boyd’s Tennessee Smokies Baseball Team

The establishment of a sports authority that could be the first step to a taxpayer-funded stadium for the Tennessee Smokies minor league baseball team owned by multi-millionaire Randy Boyd will be considered by the Knox County Commission at the regularly scheduled work session scheduled for Monday , December 14 and the Knoxville City Council the next evening .
The application for the establishment of The Sports Authority of the County of Knox and the City of Knoxville , spearheaded by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon , was also signed by County Commission Chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , well-known local coach Tommy Schumpert and Dan Brown .
Boyd , who not only owns the Smokies and three other minor league baseball teams , is , of course , the current President of the University of Tennessee , former gubernatorial candidate and the executive chairman of Radio Systems Corporation , the company he founded that included the PetSafe and Invisible Fence brands , according to Boyd ’ s website .
In May 2020 it was reported that Clayton , Dubilier & Rice had agreed to acquire Radio Systems Corporation from Boyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unknown , Radio Systems Corporation reportedly had sales of $ 370 million in 2016 .
During his 2018 gubernatorial bid , Boyd released information for tax years 2015 and 2016 indicating that he and his wife Jenny earned more than $ 42 million from business investments and $ 30 million in taxable income over the two year period .
The couple paid over $ 8 million in combined federal and state taxes .
Known for their philanthropy , the Boyds generously donated over $ 10 million to numerous charitable causes during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received plenty of financial support from Boyd , with him having “ poured at least $ 19.5 million of his own money into his 2018 gubernatorial bid , ” according to Tennessee News Journal , and more than $ 650,000 going into his Growth and Opportunity PAC between 2018 and 2019 .
When Boyd acquired the Tennessee Smokies from the Haslam family in 2013 , the team had been playing at Smokies Park in Sevier County since 2000 .
Prior to that , the team was known as the Knox Sox and played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smokies Park expires March 25 , 2025 , reported Ballpark Digest .
Speculation of Boyd moving the team back to Knoxville goes back to at least 2016 , when he acquired seven acres of land for $ 6 million in Knoxville ’ s Old City , according to Ballpark Digest .
Talk continued when in 2018 then-State Representative Eddie Smith ( R-Knoxville ) introduced a bill aimed at the Knoxville area in allowing the creation of a Transit Improvement District .
As The Tennessee Star reported , central to the Transit Improvement District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new tax on properties within the district that could be delegated to a regional transportation authority , so that it could perform a comprehensive list of activities relative to the district .
Within Knoxville , the Act specifically targeted the incorporation of an existing low-volume freight rail line into the district , pitched to House and Senate committees by former Democratic Knoxville City Council member and failed Knox County mayoral candidate , Joe Hultquist , The Star reported .
In the two years prior to Smith ’ s bill , Boyd acquired at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area .
Then in August of this year , Ballpark Digest reported that Boyd revealed his plan for a new ballpark and mixed-use development in Knoxville ’ s Old City area where the Boyds had been acquiring property and running several restaurants for years .
The project plan includes a 630,000 square-foot mixed-use apartment and community space surrounding the baseball park .
Boyd would raise the needed $ 142 million in funding from private sources for that portion of the project .
However , Boyd wants the ballpark itself – with an estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 percent contingency for a total of $ 78 million – to be funded by taxpayers .
The estimated costs do not include any interest payments for bonds issued to fund the ballpark project .
This , while minor league baseball cancelled its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
In fact , the league applied for federal loans to help its teams survive the 2020 play stoppage , the Senior Director of Communications for St. Petersburg-based Minor League Baseball , told the Tampa Bay Business Journal .
Meanwhile , as Minor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League Baseball , the Business Journal said as many as 40 minor league teams could be on the chopping block by MLB .
The proposed charter for The Sports Authority of the County of Knox and the City of Knoxville to be considered Monday night confirms that its purpose will , by design , require the use of tax dollars .
“ The purposes for which the Sports Authority is organized are ( i ) to plan , promote , finance , construct , acquire , renovate , equip and enlarge and operate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ structures and facilities for public participation and enjoyment of professional and amateur sports , fitness , health and recreational activities , and ( ii ) to do what is reasonable and necessary to attract professional sports franchises to the City of Knoxville and Knox County thereby promoting economic development and prosperity.
” ( emphasis added ) The point about taxpayer funding of sports facilities promoting economic development and prosperity has been soundly rejected by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis in 2001 and again in 2017 , The Brookings Institution , George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to home , back in 2015 the Nashville Sounds Stadium had last-minute cost overruns of $ 10 million , putting the total cost of the taxpayer-funded stadium at $ 75 million versus the forecasted $ 65 million , according to the Nashville Business Journal .
The Knox County and Knoxville sports authority , like others , will be filled with non-elected appointees –in this case , seven – with no accountability to taxpayers .
To make matters worse , once established the sports authority will never go away .
The brief charter for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically states in Section VIII , “ The Sports Authority shall have perpetual existence.
” ( emphasis added ) There is likewise no accountability in the charter for the Tennessee Smokies , should the team cease to exist , not meet projected revenues or move out of the area .
The fact that private funding will be used for the mixed-use development part of the project indicates that it is considered to be a good investment , and conversely , that the taxpayer-funded ballpark is not .
At the estimated $ 300,000 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority could generate from sales tax from the stadium , local bond attorney Mark Mamantov reortedly told Knox News , it would take about 200 years to pay off the $ 78 million cost of the stadium without any other dedicated source of taxpayer funding .
Republican Knox County Mayor Jacobs and Democrat Knoxville Mayor Kincannon have reportedly expressed support for the establishment of the sports authority .
The Knox County Commission will take up the matter of The Sports Authority of the County of Knox and the City of Knoxville at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 at 5 p.m .
The resolution also appears on the agenda of the Knoxville City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday , December 15 at 5 p.m. With it taking approval from both the Knoxville City Council and Knox County Commission for the organization of the sports authority , the resolution would not be fully adopted unless it passes the Knox County Commission at its regular meeting scheduled for December 21 .
Boyd has already projected an optimistic outcome , saying if bonds were issued in the first half of 2021 , construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the hopes of being able to say “ play ball ” in April 2023 , two years before the reported expiration of his contract with the Smokies Stadium in Sevierville .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .
Photo “ Randy Boyd ” by Randy Boyd and “ Tennessee Smokies ” is by Tennessee Smokies .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-14--Commentary: Michigan Governor’s War on Energy is Bad Policy and Bad Politics

Michigan ’ s Governor wants to make life more difficult for Ohioans and Toledo is directly in her crosshairs .
On November 13th Governor Gretchen Whitmer , along with her Attorney General Dana Nessel , issued a cease-and-desist order against construction of a $ 500 million dollar infrastructure upgrade known as the Great Lakes Tunnel .
The tunnel will replace the Mackinac Straits section of the Line 5 pipeline , a 647-mile pipeline that carries 540,000 barrels a day of light crude oil , light synthetic crude , and natural gas liquids ( NGLs ) to the refineries of Toledo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not only stop this next generation infrastructure improvement , it would also force the permanent closure of the Line 5 pipeline by May of 2021 , devastating the 1,200 Ohioans that work in these petrochemical facilities .
Governor Whitmer and Attorney General Nessel claim they are taking these actions to protect Michigan from adverse environmental impacts and spills .
Nonsense .
In fact , their order runs directly counter to the advice of the independent experts they hired .
They found that the Great Lakes Tunnel is the best and most viable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivery , and economic prosperity policies .
Their standing against these upgrades prevents the pipeline from being moved out of the water flowing in the Straits of Mackinaw and into a safer fully encapsulated tunnel .
This significant upgrade would reduce to virtually zero the potential for an oil spill .
However , by ordering the abandonment of the pipeline – the safest and most environmentally friendly way to transport energy – and onto trains and trucks , they leave everyone much more susceptible to spills and the additional emissions of carbon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will push this capacity overseas to countries such as China and India with their much lower environmental standards .
Unconcerned about the loss of jobs and added strategic vulnerability for our country , one would hope these women would have some concern that moving this oil and gas to distant refining facilities will require the emission of tons of additional pollution .
They are , obviously , indifferent to the vastly greater carbon released into our atmosphere as these raw materials and finished products are unnecessarily shuttled back and forth between North America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mrs. Whitmer is undermining America ’ s energy security .
The United States has already lost 1.2 million barrels per day in refinery capacity due to the economic impacts of COVID-19 .
Now , she wants Toledo ’ s refining capacity to be next , as she cuts off the supply of oil and gas flowing to these facilities .
This means returning to the days of relying on foreign imports for our necessary fuel products .
Fortunately , leaders in Ohio , such Governor DeWine and Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their opposition to the order and have expressed their commitment to saving Toledo ’ s energy jobs .
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has called Governor Whitmer ’ s actions what they are : a “ fact-free political stunt.
” Unfortunately , as witnessed by her draconian coronavirus lockdowns , this is not the first time Governor Whitmer ’ s autocratic overreach has adversely affected local economies .
This time though , she is not just abusing the citizens of Michigan , but injuring the job holders and taxpayers of Ohio , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and desist order is not only very bad policy for our nation , but even she should comprehend that such capricious dictates are also bad politics and should be rescinded .
Bob McEwen represented Ohio in the Congress of the United States for six terms


thetennesseestar--2020-12-15--Tennessee Receives First Shipment of COVID-19 Vaccine, But No Doses Administered

A first shipment of 975 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Tennessee on Monday , but there are no plans to administer the vaccine until larger shipments arrive to hospitals on Thursday .
Instead , the early shipment of the vaccine will be held “ as an emergency backup supply , should any receiving hospital ’ s supply be damaged , ” the Tennessee Department of Health announced Monday .
Elsewhere in the country , health care workers and first responders began receiving the first doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine on Monday .
The vaccine was approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
Tennessee expects 56,550 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to arrive in the state on Wednesday and be distributed to 74 hospitals on Thursday .
The BioNTech vaccine requires two doses administered weeks apart .
A second shipment of 56,500 doses will arrive in Tennessee in three weeks , according to the Department of Health .
“ We have been preparing for months to distribute approved vaccines and we believe this will be a safe and effective tool in the fight against COVID-19 , ” Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are limited , but we are in constant contact with hospitals to prepare administration for our front-line health care workers and long-term care facility residents and staff who choose to receive it.
” Last week , Piercey traveled with Gov .
Bill Lee to take part in a White House Summit on COVID-19 vaccine distribution , where Lee estimated that the vaccine would be administered within 24 to 48 hours of being delivered to the state .
The state reported 10,319 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday – the second highest number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the 11,300 new cases reported Sunday .
The test positivity rate is 16.5 .
The seven-day average of new cases is 7,985 – the highest ever reported .
Vivian Jones is a regular contributor to The Center Square .

A new bill to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour is emerging in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Sponsored by Representative Patty Kim (D-Harrisburg), the bill as described in a memorandum appears similar to legislation Senator Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) is spearheading in his chamber. It contrasts with a more radical measure authored by Representative Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) that would hike the wage floor to $16.50 in July 2025 and gradually increase it to $21 by mid-2028. The Rabb bill would also apply the state minimum wage to prisoners, vastly boosting their pay.
In her memo pushing for a $15 hourly floor, Kim (pictured above) lamented that the commonwealth last hiked its minimum wage to $7.25 in 2009. She cited data from the U.S. Department of Labor indicating that 30 states, including all of those that neighbor Pennsylvania, mandate higher wage minimums. Her $15 rate would take effect in January 2024 and would tie future minimum-wage rises to inflation.
“Too many people have worked too hard for too long to not be able to pay their bills,” Kim said at a House Majority Policy Committee hearing on the issue in late March. “We want to tag a cost-of-living adjustment on this, so we never have to wait years and years – or wait for a once-in-a-century pandemic – for this issue to have a bright light shined on it.”
While free-market advocates generally oppose minimum wage increases, some in Harrisburg expect Republicans like Laughlin who now champion a hike will insist that such a policy come as part of a broader deal that will include regulatory reform. Governor Josh Shapiro (D) has urged enactment of a new $15 floor and many Republicans have sensed an opportunity for dealmaking, particularly insofar as they control the state Senate.
Advocates of an increase often cite a Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Advisory Board report indicating that 63,800 individuals — less than two percent of the state’s workforce — earned $7.25 per hour or less in 2021. Nonetheless, wages have risen markedly over the last two years and many who continue to make so little are teenagers working one of their first jobs.
After House Democrats began clamoring for new pay mandates, the Harrisburg-based Commonwealth Foundation (CF) issued a backgrounder in March opposing the idea. CF cited calculations from the nonpartisan Independent Fiscal Office suggesting that even raising the floor to $12 per hour would kill 5,000 jobs.
And the think tank fears the proposal could disadvantage even workers who keep their jobs insofar as employers may compensate for the new mandate by cutting worker hours and benefits. An example of this was observed nationally in 2018 after Amazon set its own low-end hourly wage to $15 but nevertheless suspended workers’ monthly bonuses and stock options.
Instead of raising the minimum wage, CF suggested, the commonwealth should focus on lowering impediments to employment by reforming licensing and permitting processes as well as improving public-assistance programs so they reward those who secure employment.
– – –
Bradley Vasoli is managing editor of The Pennsylvania Daily Star. Follow Brad on Twitter at @BVasoli. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Patty Kim” by Rep. Patty Kim. Background Photo “Pennsylvania Capitol” by Ad Meskens. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-15--Commentary: In the 12 Months of 2020, The Donald Gave to Me…

As we reflect on a fabulous year ( sarcasm intended ) , I ’ m grateful we at least had President Donald Trump fighting to keep America great .
Despite constant media attacks and senseless haters , President Trump remained strong and successful .
In the 12 months of 2020 , President Trump gave America : President Trump started 2020 with a bang , literally .
In January , he directed the United States military to kill Soleimani , and they succeeded .
While the Chinese Coronavirus hurt our economy , President Trump was able to recover 16.4 million jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work prior to the pandemic and his actions during , such as the CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program , led to the fastest recovery in history .
This was the sweetest treat we could have asked for in October .
In June , President Trump issued an Executive Order reforming the hiring process for federal employees , prioritizing merit and competency over degrees .
President Trump also recently issued an executive order regarding senior bureaucrats , which allows them to be hired and fired more easily .
This is great news because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees , need to be held accountable .
As a young , conservative woman , I was inspired to see President Trump nominate now-justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
She is a wonderful role model to young women because she is living proof that you can have a successful career and raise a wonderful family .
Despite the Coronavirus , Black Lives Matter riots , drastic voter fraud this past election , and all the other many crises of 2020 , President Trump was able to deliver on his promises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secured a historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab-Emirates , the first of its kind since 1994 .
Another fun fact : President Trump is the first President since Reagan not to start a war !
Less than a month later , President Trump secured a peace deal between Israel and Bahrain .
The President ’ s work and negotiation skills are helping Arab nations come together for peace and prosperity .
In less than three months , President Trump struck a third peace deal between Israel and Sudan .
Piece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring peace to the Middle East !
Try saying that ten times fast , it ’ s fun .
Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning applauded President Trump for his historic efforts and peace deals throughout this year , stating “ Donald Trump continues to prove to be the greatest peace President in modern American history , as he has just announced a fourth peace deal between Israel and Morocco .
The prior peace and normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates , Sudan and Bahrain and Israel set the stage for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put the Middle East at peace.
” President Trump ’ s leadership during the ongoing coronavirus , led America to lead the world in Coronavirus testing .
Thanks to him , we ’ re leading the world by about 55 million in testing .
President Trump recently signed an executive order , which ensures Americans will be prioritized when a COVID vaccine is developed or procured using US government and taxpayer resources .
Despite what the mainstream media will tell you , President Trump is handling the pandemic tremendously well .
The vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being sent to every corner of the nation .
2020 has not been an easy year , but I ’ m grateful for these 12 gifts ( and others ) from President Donald Trump over the last 12 months .
Megan Marzzacco is a contributing editor at Americans for Limited Government .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-15--New Jersey Gym Owner Fined $1.2 Million for Defying COVID-19 Lockdowns Vows Not to Pay

A New Jersey gym owner who repeatedly defied coronavirus lockdowns and was fined roughly $ 1.2 million told the Daily Caller News Foundation that he doesn ’ t plan to pay a cent .
Ian Smith , co-owner of Atilis Gym , has incurred roughly 60 citations and is charged nearly $ 15,500 per day that he remains open in defiance of Democratic New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy ’ s COVID-19 closures , he told Fox News .
Smith alongside Frank Trumbetti , another owner of the fitness facility , were arrested in late July after the pair refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight with state , The Philadelphia Inquirer reported .
“ We aren ’ t going to be paying them , ” Smith told the DCNF in an email regarding the accumulation of fines .
“ Leave us alone , ” the gym owner continued in a message to Murphy .
“ We have proved you wrong .
Our business has been running for 7 months with better safety protocol than the entities you are responsible for running.
” “ Long term care facilities have the highest death rate and it ’ s still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been locked down .
Our protocol has kept people safe , yours hasn ’ t. ” Nursing home deaths in New Jersey doubled from nearly 3,250 in May to 7,135 in September as COVID-19 cases surged , according to Patch .
Menlo Park Veterans ’ Memorial Home , a long-term care facility in the state lost roughly half of its 300-patient population to the disease , a late October Guardian investigation found .
In November , authorities mandated returning nursing home residents quarantine for two-weeks if they visit with family , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread has worsened since the mandated lockdown .
“ What ’ s happening to the middle class and small businesses in America is nothing short of a complete tragedy , ” he told Fox .
“ I would go so far as to call it criminal .
You are putting people out of business for good .
“ You are making them reliant on big government .
You are taking away their civil liberties under the guise of pretending like you care about public health.
” Smith appeared in a video that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he held up flashcards reading , “ Gov .
Murphy will see this video and fine us $ 15k for it .
But … free men don ’ t ask permission .
Or for forgiveness.
” A man can be heard yelling “ F*ck you , Murphy !
” in the footage .
Jake Dima is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Atilia Gym ” by Atilia Gym .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-15--Investigation Finds Georgia Official Decline to Prosecute or Correct the Double Voters They Catch

More than 1,700 Georgians were singled out for illegally casting two ballots in 2020 elections – including last month ’ s hotly contested presidential race -but their fraudulent votes weren ’ t canceled out , according to state election officials .
And so far , none of the cheaters has been prosecuted , raising concerns about continued fraud as Georgia prepares to vote again in twin U.S. Senate runoff elections next month .
The majority of double voters were Democrats who cast an absentee ballot either by mail or drop box and also voted in person on Election Day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under state law .
The highest share of offenders were from Fulton County , which includes Atlanta – many of whom were allowed to cast a second ballot by poll workers , officials said .
Hundreds of workers assigned to county poll sites were recruited and trained by the Democrat-run Georgia chapter of the ACLU and a minority-owned temp agency run by Democrat donors , according to documents obtained by RealClearInvestigations .
Most of them were young and inexperienced .
Before the election , the ACLU urged anyone “ threatened with prosecution ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for legal assistance .
It is now signing up poll workers for the January 5 runoff races .
And the temp agency , Happy Faces Personnel Group , remains under contract with the county to supply workers for that critical election , despite complaints from poll managers and poll watchers that its recruits were “ poorly trained ” and “ highly partisan.
” The Georgia runoffs will determine control of the Senate .
Though the number of suspected double-voting felons is the largest in state history , RealClearInvestigations has learned that no cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general for criminal investigation .
“ This office does not have any referrals on double voting cases so far from the State Election Board related to the June 2020 primary or November 2020 general [ election ] , ” said Katie Byrd , spokesperson for Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr , a Republican .
The lack of action undercuts Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger ’ s promise last month “ to prosecute those who try to undermine our elections to the fullest extent of the law.
” Fraud cases are referred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is chaired by Raffensperger , a Republican who has taken heat from President Trump for not doing more to investigate claims of fraud in the November 3 election .
Some local officials had hoped at least some double voters would be prosecuted and made examples of ahead of the Senate runoffs next month to deter other cheaters from committing fraud .
“ I am terribly disappointed in the lack of enforcement of our election laws , ” said Forsyth County Commissioner Dennis Brown , a Republican .
“ We are asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the runoffs if something is not done soon.
” Raffensperger faced a backlash from liberal voting-rights groups over his warnings about fraud following the June primary , when more than 150,000 voters tried to vote twice but reportedly were unsuccessful .
( The system is supposed to catch double-voters , but at least 1,000 still slipped through safeguards . )
The groups , led by Democratic activist Stacey Abrams ’ well-funded Fair Fight Action , have maintained that claims of fraud could have a chilling effect on absentee voting and effectively suppress black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that method of voting .
Some local election officials believe Raffensperger is afraid of being labeled “ racist ” by Abrams , who is suing him for allegedly “ disenfranchising ” voters of color in the state .
“ I am not sure the secretary of state has the backbone for this , ” Fulton County poll manager Suzi Voyles said .
“ We have turned in thousands of unlawful voters and not one of them has been prosecuted.
” Brown agreed that Raffensperger may be out of his depth , noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ He is a little bit afraid , politically , and buckled a little more than he should have to Abrams , who ’ s trying to stir up racial discord , ” he said .
“ That ’ s why he printed up all those absentee ballot [ request ] forms and sent them to people who hadn ’ t asked for them – which was just a terrible action , because it creates all kinds of problems with double voting and other fraud – and that ’ s why he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which just opens the door for illegal ballot harvesting.
” Pressured by Abrams and other voting-rights activists , Raffensperger agreed to mail out absentee ballot applications and install ballot drop-off boxes in Georgia ’ s 159 counties .
As a result , absentee voting skyrocketed across the state .
Both the primary and general elections drew historic numbers of absentee ballots .
Some poll watchers blame the push to make absentee voting easier during the coronavirus pandemic for the surge in double-voting .
Double voters typically mailed in or dropped off ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to vote in person and were allowed to vote despite being flagged in the system .
Others voted in person first , then dropped an absentee ballot in one of the drop boxes later that day , bypassing system safeguards .
“ The one thing that the system can not safeguard against with the new drop boxes is voters who go through the steps saying they did not request an absentee ballot , vote at the polls , and then later that day drop a ballot in the absentee box before 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such concerns , the boxes are being used again for next month ’ s runoffs .
Absentee voting has already begun in the Senate races , which pit GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler against Democratic hopeful Raphael Warnock and Republican Sen. David Perdue against Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff .
Democrats hope to win both contests to take control of the 100-seat Senate with 50 seats and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris as a tie-breaker .
An investigation by Raffensperger ’ s office revealed that at least 1,042 people knowingly voted twice in the June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using Democratic Party ballots .
Another 294 voted twice in the August runoff election .
Two-thirds of the combined 1,366 double votes were votes by absentee .
Hundreds more broke the law again on November 3 .
Results are preliminary , but investigators so far have found at least 400 cases of double voting in the presidential race .
These fraudulent votes were not canceled .
It ’ s unclear whether they favored Joe Biden or President Trump due to the secrecy of ballots .
Raffensperger officially called Georgia and its 16 electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third recount showed him with a razor-thin lead of 11,769 votes .
Voting twice is a felony punishable by one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $ 100,000 .
Proving intentionality is not required under Georgia law .
Yet none of the total 1,736 confirmed cases of double-voting has been referred for prosecution , even though some cheaters were overheard bragging about violating the law .
The secretary of state ’ s investigations office is still fielding reports from precincts and complaints from poll watchers , so the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unclear about the total number of people who showed up at the polls on November 3 despite having cast an absentee ballot by mail or drop box , but the number is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands .
Investigators are confident that in most cases , people who ’ d already cast their vote were flagged by the system .
They may have tried to vote again , but were turned away .
The full number of those who were nonetheless allowed to vote in person remains an open question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most repeat voting complaints came in 2008 , when 10 cases were investigated in Georgia .
In this election , more Georgians than ever before requested an absentee ballot after Raffensperger made it easier to vote absentee .
Many poll watchers had warned that providing more voting options would create more ways to cheat .
Although Raffensperger would not comment , a senior state election official defended his record by noting that double-voting might have been worse in the general election if he hadn ’ t publicly denounced the fraud that took place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary of state ’ s office has put safeguards in place to ensure everyone ’ s vote is counted just once in the Jan. 5 election .
He did not specify what procedures have changed other than improving training for election workers to make sure they properly follow procedures for canceling absentee ballots when voters show up in person .
“ As long as human beings are involved , no election is going to be perfect , ” said the official , who spoke on the condition of anonymity .
“ If an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t see the indication that a voter has already cast a ballot and lets them vote anyway , there ’ s really nothing we can do but investigate the person who cast the double vote who would know they ’ re double voting and are committing a felony.
” Voyles , who has been helping manage polls in Fulton County for 20 years , complained that Democratic county officials entrusted the ACLU of Georgia with training election workers in how to screen out voters trying to cast two ballots .
She noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that appears more interested in defending people who vote twice than stopping them and reporting them to authorities .
Before the presidential election , the state ’ s ACLU chapter urged anyone “ threatened with prosecution ” over double-voting allegations to contact them for “ legal assistance.
” “ The ACLU of Georgia invites anyone threatened with prosecution for allegedly voting two times in the primary election to request legal assistance by contacting the organization as soon as possible , ” according to a Sept. 8 press release .
Despite the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the ACLU was put in charge of policing double-voting at her precinct .
“ I was not happy the ACLU was there , ” Voyles said .
“ I do not trust them.
” In fact , Fulton County allowed the ACLU to station lawyers at each of its 255 polling sites , replacing poll managers and overriding normal county procedures for catching absentee voters who show up at polls .
This “ new policy ” was designed to “ simplify ” the process .
Fulton County was not alone .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deployed more than 2,700 election workers at polls across the state on November 3 .
It also helped recruit “ technicians ” to help operate and “ troubleshoot “ the machines of Dominion Voting Systems .
ACLU recruiters targeted younger Georgians for the election work , many of whom had no previous experience checking in voters , and put them through a special training program separate from the county ’ s .
“ Don ’ t think of yourself as ‘ inexperienced , ’ “ an ACLU organizer told recruits in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notes from the meeting .
“ Prepare to walk in and take a leadership role , even as a first-time poll worker.
” In a guide for Georgia poll workers , the ACLU came close to encouraging double-voting : “ Voters can cast a regular in-person ballot even if they requested an absentee ballot.
” The chapter also facilitated absentee voting by listing the locations of all the drop boxes in the state , including some 36 drop boxes installed in Fulton County .
Poll workers are supposed to verify if a walk-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received .
If such a voter shows up at the polls after requesting an absentee ballot , poll workers must cancel the ballot electronically and have the voter sign an affidavit swearing he or she will not send it in .
And they are supposed to turn away anyone who already voted absentee and then shows up in person .
But in hundreds of cases in Georgia , poll workers issued voter access cards to people who had already voted absentee , ignoring status messages that appeared on their electronic Poll Pads indicating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot .
Records show the ACLU of Georgia is financially supported by Abrams ’ group and run by Andrea Young , a civil-rights activist and Democrat who served as chief of staff to former Rep. Cynthia McKinney , D-Ga. A former Planned Parenthood official , Young last month urged voters to elect politicians who support abortion rights and lower sentences for black convicts , among other things .
“ The voting has ended .
The counting has begun .
Now , the next phase of our work begins : Protect the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , ” she wrote on the local ACLU website the day after the presidential election .
“ We vote to elect officials who will pursue policies to promote civil rights.
” Young does not count Trump among those officials .
In a local newspaper interview after Trump took office , she slammed the new president for proposing policies she said “ infringe on civil rights.
” Her ACLU chapter supports the “ Black Lives Matter ” movement .
In a page on its website titled , “ RACIAL JUSTICE : GEORGIA ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ At the ACLU of Georgia , we have redoubled our efforts to support the voices of the unheard and fight systemic racism in its many forms .
Join the movement .
Black Lives Matter.
” The ACLU of Georgia did not respond to requests for comment .
But a document outlining its recruitment program said it “ worked to recruit and prepare qualified poll workers.
” “ We are now preparing poll workers for runoff elections in Georgia on January 5 , ” it added .
Voyles doubts the ACLU-trained workers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules .
Judging from their training materials , she may have a point .
“ Never tell someone that they can ’ t vote , ” the ACLU organizer told recruits in the October 8 training session .
In the same meeting , recruits were advised that their working at the polls was “ one of the most impactful ways to effect change in the 2020 election cycle.
” In addition to the ACLU recruits , more than 340 poll workers — including those screening absentee voters , counting votes , canvassing votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers — were contracted over to Fulton County through a minority-owned temp agency that doesn ’ t specialize in recruiting or training election workers .
Many of the temps from the agency — Tucker , Georgia-based Happy Faces — were described as partisan , inexperienced and poorly trained by poll managers and monitors who worked alongside them .
The “ statewide contract ” for Happy Faces ’ 2020 election staffing was valued at almost $ 7 million , according to Fulton County documents .
The Fulton deal was approved by Robb Pitts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board of Commissioners .
Listed as contract administrator for Happy Faces was chief financial officer and staffing manager Edwina Berry Hairston , who appears in Federal Election Commission records as a Democratic donor .
Phone calls and emails to Fulton County went unanswered .
But county officials explained in a 2019 document to the commissioners board that they needed to hire Happy Faces because staffing the polls in 2020 would be a “ time-consuming effort , ” and Happy Faces could “ cut out the work by handling everything from recruitment , background @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processes for our deadline-driven election calendar.
” They assured the board that approving the contract for Happy Faces would result in “ a successful conduct of the upcoming 2020 presidential election.
” But some Fulton County poll managers and watchers were not happy with the election-related tasks they performed , noting that Happy Faces workers were often rude , incompetent and openly discussed politically sensitive topics .
“ The workers from this temp organization employed by Fulton County have no experience , and there are some who are incompetent .
And many are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a certified poll watcher who runs VoterGa.org , one of the leading advocates for election integrity in the state .
Added Voyles : “ We had an issue with Happy Faces temps , who were given managerial responsibilities but had never worked in any election at all .
Their training was inadequate .
They were even instructed to ignore basic Georgia law and allow people from other counties or precincts to vote [ in her Fulton County precinct ] .
” Happy Faces , which does not list elections work among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provides , did not respond to requests for comment .
But a brochure on its website maintains that it is “ dedicated to consistently surpassing service performance standards.
” The temp agency is under contract to also staff polls for the January 5 runoffs .
Byrd , the state attorney general ’ s spokesperson , said that although the AG is not currently prosecuting any of the 1,736 known cases of double-voting in the 2020 election cycle , he is investigating two individuals who allegedly voted twice in the November 2016 general election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , voters knowingly took advantage of glitches or poll worker errors to cast a second ballot in the election .
“ Right now , we are processing two double-voting cases from the 2016 cycle .
They were referred to this office around September 10 , ” she said .
“ I can not share more on those matters at this time as they ’ re considered active.
” RealClearInvestigations has learned through other sources that one case involves a female government worker from Putnam County , who allegedly cast a ballot twice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and again on Nov. 2 , 2016 .
The other case involves a male voter from Murray County , Ga. , who allegedly took advantage of a system error that missed his mailed ballot and voted again in person after he was issued access by a poll worker on Election Day .
Because the voters have not yet been charged , RCI is withholding their names .
Local critics say it ’ s outrageous state election officials have not even referred any of the hundreds of known cases of double-voting cheaters from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ After the primary elections , Raffensperger announced that his office identified 1,000 people who voted twice in the primary .
He promised that they would be prosecuted for voter fraud , ” said Don Cole , a former speech writer for U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue , a cousin of Senator Perdue .
“ I must have missed the announcements of arrests , indictments , trials , or convictions.
” “ Before the primary we all received firm assurances that the system was so secure that it was impossible to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to get through that security in the primary election , ” Cole added .
“ I guess that they were just warming up for November.
” Paul Sperry is an investigative reporter for RealClearInvestigations .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-15--Crom Carmichael Discusses Two Interesting Stories Out of California Regarding Bad Government and Bro

Crom Carmichael Discusses Two Interesting Stories Out of California Regarding Bad Government and Broken Constraints

Live from Music Row Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
At the end of the third hour , Carmichael cites two articles from The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Free Beacon exampling fraud and broken government in California .
His point was later made that in truth , what California has succeeded in doing is that it has managed to abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Black and Hispanic communities .
Leahy : Crom Carmichael the original all-star panelist in the studio .
Crom during the break we were talking about California .
What ’ s going on with California ?
Carmichael : Well , there are two interesting stories in about California .
One from The Wall Street Journal and the other can ’ t figure out where it ’ s from but I think it is from The Washington Free Beacon .
And the one from The Wall Street Journal is California ’ s had two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is in unemployment benefits .
Carmichael : Two billion dollars .
And the scale of the fraud is according to the Bank of America which contracted with the state to issue the debit cards who identified two billion dollars in suspicious activity .
In October , federal authorities arrested a Los Angeles rapper for allegedly stealing identities to swipe one point two million in federal jobless benefits .
How did they catch him ?
The rapper flaunted his heist in a music video .
He posted it on YouTube in which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cards and said ‘ you got to sell cocaine , I just got a file a claim.
’ Leahy : How stupid is this guy ?
Brazen .
Carmichael : Brazen .
Yes .
And then there was a 140 million in benefits have been paid in the name of 20,000 state prisoners including 133 on death row .
Now that doesn ’ t mean the prisoners are committing fraud .
It means people are just finding a database of people in prison and using their names .
And that ’ s how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I heard about this in other states , by the way .
Carmichael : This is not just California .
And this is why when I say that the Democrat Party is the party of government in the states where this is happening this type of thing is happening .
It is in California .
It is Illinois .
It is in New York .
It is in New Jersey .
Now , what is the Democrat Party in Washington holding hostage for the COVID relief package ?
They want hundreds and hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these individual states to shore up their pension plans and their health care plans that are completely out of whack because the Democrats who control those states have voted to give benefits to government employees that they can not fund .
And now they are underwater .
And once again , you have small business people which is what the COVID relief is supposed to help , the Democrats are holding small business people hostage unless the Republican party in Washington will capitulate and pay hundreds of billions for the sins of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of billions to pay for their sins , it just means they can do it again .
And they will because they haven ’ t stopped the practice .
And then in California , I read an article and this was one in The Washington Free Beacon where the California taxpayers have shelled out 1.7 million dollars in payments to a guy named Meng Yu who is the former Chief Investment Officer of CalPERS is the government employee union out there .
And he ’ s under investigation by the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California ’ s pension money in Chinese companies .
But yet he was the highest-paid .
Leahy : Wasn ’ t he a Chinese national before he came to America ?
Carmichael : He might have been .
I don ’ t know .
I don ’ t know .
But what I do know is that he was rewarded by the government of California and ended up with a package of one point seven million dollars .
And that also is in California .
And these are things that I just I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a country and when the government and the institutional constraints of bad government and COVID have broken all the constraints .
Has just broken all the constraints .
Tennessee is Tennessee has navigated very well .
The Republican-run states have by and large navigated very well .
Texas , Florida , Tennessee South Dakota .
The states that have Republican legislators and then-Republican Governors have fared very well in COVID compared to those that are controlled by democrats .
Leahy : A state ethics investigation will examine whether former California Public Employee Retirement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s this guy ’ s name .
Yu Ben Meng .
Carmichael : He ’ s the former Chief Investment Officer .
So you may be talking about another person .
But this is the former Chief Investment Officer .
I think he may go by two names .
Ben Meng and Yu Meng .
Carmichael : Well CIO would be the same for either one .
Chief investment or chief information .
So at any rate , the focus I ’ m trying to make here on California is how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And most of the small business people they ’ ve abused are Black and Hispanic small business people .
And a lot of them are Asian business people .
And Gavin Newsom does not care about the small business people because they ’ re not the ones who support him .
Leahy : Here ’ s the story from Chief investment Officer the magazine .
‘ Before starting at Sacramento-based CalPERS , Meng worked from 2015 to 2018 as deputy CIO of the China State Administration of Foreign Exchange .
Meng , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China was one of the top officials in charge of managing China ’ s three trillion dollars in foreign currency reserves.
’ Leahy : China ’ s .
Before he got the job .
Born in China .
An American citizen first then worked for China ’ s State Administration of Foreign Exchange .
And then went from there to being the CIO apparently of CalPERS Carmichael : And China really would like to take over our country and turn us into a vassal state .
Not by doing anything belligerent in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just by simply taking over the government with allies within the American government .
Leahy : Crom , it seems to be a work in process as we speak .
Carmichael : Yes .
And they are spending tens of billions of dollars every year doing that .
Leahy : And it ’ s going to a doing that under a potential Biden administration by a long shot .
Leahy : I wish we had something more optimistic to say Crom , but we ’ re being honest about the state of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .