thetennesseestar--2020-07-28--Minnesota’s Gov Walz to Review Extensive Police Reform Bill

Minnesota ’ s House and Senate approved the SSHF1 amendment last Monday , a big bill positioned to issue widespread police reform throughout the state .
Since its passage 102-29 in the House and 60-7 in the Senate , the bill now rests in the hands of Governor Tim Walz .
SSHF1 is as long as it is weighty in its impact , with around 15 action items up for approval .
Not only does it endeavor to further define legal use of force , but it creates and funds an administrative host of units , councils , and boards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical incident stress management for officers ; the Use of Force Investigations Unit to review officer-involved deaths , potential conflicts of interest , and instances of criminal sexual conduct ; standards and measures for use of deadly force , with specialized regard for the physically , mentally , developmentally , and intellectually disabled ; The Ensuring Police Excellence and Improving Community Relations Advisory Council to assist the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board and act as a liaison to the community for “ maintaining policies and regulating peace officers in a manner that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights ” ; residency incentives for officers ; and a centralized , public database providing information on peace officers .
It prohibits choke holds , tying all the limbs behind the back , and securing a person in a way that transports them face-down in a vehicle .
Also prohibited is “ Warrior-Style ” training , which is defined as training officers to be aggressive and dehumanize people .
It mandates chief law enforcement officers to provide monthly reports of force resulting in serious bodily injury or death , and then annual reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandated to intercede and report on misconduct .
Additionally , all officers must now complete crisis response , conflict management , and cultural diversity training – the bill hosts specific training provisions for handling persons with autism and mental illness .
And , it grants the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board power to “ adopt an updated comprehensive written model policy ” by which all law enforcement agencies must adhere , as well as the power to inspect all law enforcement agencies to ensure their compliance with the bill .
Some representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeff Hayden ( DFL-MN-62 ) who read aloud some provisions and stated , “ we don ’ t think that goes far enough ” .
Senator Patricia Torres Ray ( DFL-MN-63 ) claimed that the bill was not the right bill for the job of police reform .
“ We know that this bill is actually not the bill that communities of color want .
We have been told that from the very beginning .
The communities that are impacted by police brutality want more .
They want transformation policy .
And this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked in a subsequent interview where she thought the amendments fell short , Torres Ray explained the bill lacked in adequate funding , public input , and specificity of disciplinary follow-through .
“ The pieces that were included , in my opinion , were not strong enough .
For example , the need to provide training – mental health training – is a very important component of this bill .
We put some language in it , but there is no funding behind it .
That ’ s just a very good example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could do some good things , but I ’ m not necessarily sure about how this is going to work.
” Representative Jim Nash ( R-MN-47A ) proposed an amendment providing for an investigatory body to look into the recent breakouts of civil unrest across the state .
The proposal was voted down .
House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler ( DFL-MN- ) noted that Nash ’ s amendment was something already included in the “ Promise Act ” passed by the House and blocked by the Senate in June .
Representative Carlos Mariana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which he says is a thinner version of the one passed June 19th by the House and rejected by the Senate .
One delete-all amendment redrafts the provision for officer peer counseling entirely .
Even so , Mariana stands by the bill .
“ I can say in full confidence that this is a good bill .
It creates a modern accountability framework of laws that will help to end the type of police brutality that killed George Floyd.
” These amendments did receive bipartisan support from Senator Warren Limmer ( R-MN-34 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to respective public safety committees .
“ The bill we ’ ve agreed on this special session is based on common-sense reforms that Minnesotans , police officers , and community leaders can support , ” Limmer assured .
The bill will cost the General Fund $ 7.26 million for fiscal year 2021 ; $ 3.37 million of those funds will be divested for the Use of Force Investigations Unit .
If Governor Tim Walz approves SSHF1 , the police reform package will take effect August 1 , or according to final enactment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-28--Out-of-Control Teenagers Cause Disturbance at Memphis Golf Park

A group of patrons , apparently teenagers , went on a rampage Saturday at Memphis ’ Golf and Games Family Park and damaged nearly $ 500 worth of property , according to an employee .
This , General Manager Aaron Bos said , after several parents dropped their kids off at the park and left them unsupervised .
Authorities did not arrest any of the unruly patrons , and no one was injured .
But someone recorded the incident on video , and law enforcement officers are currently trying to identify the aggressors based off of that , Boss added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , ” Bos told The Tennessee Star Monday .
As Golf and Games staff said on their Facebook page Monday , some of the customers jumped in line and got on a Go-Kart ride while another ride was in progress .
While security tried to put the line in order , other staff suspended ticket sales to make sure everyone got their appropriate number of rides .
“ Within 2-3 minutes , several individuals engaged in a verbal confrontation before being separated by security and staff members .
At this time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guest the decision was made to suspend operations for the evening , ” staff said on Facebook .
“ As the general manger left the front door ( replaced by another manager ) to inform the staff to prepare for refunds individuals pushed by the manager and started screaming and yelling about their refund .
To protect the staff and other guest , it was announced no refunds at this time .
You have seen the video.
” Moving forward , staff will allow no unaccompanied minors at Golf and Games , staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shield we had for employees and shoved some computer monitors over and threw heavy objects , ” Bos said .
In another Facebook post , staff said the park has never had an incident like this in its 57 years of business .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Image “ Mayhem at Putt-Putt ” by Melissa Moon .

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


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Mike Pence Endorses Bill Hagerty for U.S. Senate

Vice President Mike Pence this week endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty to represent Tennessee in the U.S. Senate .
Hagerty is competing against physician Manny Sethi for the chance to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) .
Pence tweeted his endorsement and said the following : “ TN ’ s @ BillHagertyTN is my friend & has been a champion for President @ realDonaldTrump ’ s AMERICA FIRST agenda from Day One .
Bill will fight for Conservative values , stand up for Life , Protect 2A Rights & create American jobs .
TN & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” “ Vice President Pence is a friend and a tremendous conservative leader , and I ’ m humbled by his strong support , ” Hagerty said .
“ I promise this : if Tennesseans send me to the Senate , I will work tirelessly with President Trump and Vice President Pence every day to protect the conservative values we share.
” As The Tennessee Star reported this month , U.S. President Donald Trump has also endorsed Hagerty .
Trump joined Hagerty in a brief tele-town hall event this month and told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will do great things .
Hagerty hosted Trump on the call immediately after Tennessee ’ s polls opened for early voting .
“ I had plenty of choices , but Bill Hagerty is someone that I know very well .
He was my ambassador to Japan .
He was a fantastic ambassador .
I ’ ll never forget .
I went to Japan .
He knew every person over there .
He knew the businessmen .
He could pronounce those names that I had a hard time with .
It was amazing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He was one of the truly great ambassadors that I ’ ve ever met .
And I ’ ve met some good ones , and I ’ ve met some very bad ones , to be honest .
Bill was so solid , so good .
And they still miss him , I will tell you.
” Trump also said Hagerty will act tough with China and fight for American ’ s Second Amendment rights .
Hagerty , meanwhile , told Trump that he , if elected , would make himself the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

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


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Commentary: Joe Biden Is a Clear and Present Danger to the American Way of Life

A Biden presidency would be a disaster for everyday Americans .
If given the chance , Joe Biden will endanger your family ’ s security , infringe upon your rights , increase your cost of living , lower your home ’ s value , and hurt your 401 ( k ) – all while killing countless jobs .
For starters , Biden wants to take away your choice to live in the leafy suburbs .
During the Obama-Biden Administration , the federal government began trying to increase the population density of the suburbs and to take away the ability of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ type of housing was built .
If the residents of a suburb wish to urbanize , that is one thing ; but the federal government should not be deciding where high-rise apartment complexes are built .
If elected , Biden would make our communities more dangerous .
Although we depend upon the police to maintain order and enforce the law , Biden supports defunding the police .
In recent years , the American people have seen what happens when police are ordered to back off – chaos and violence rapidly ensues .
Nonetheless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , “ Do we agree that we can redirect some of the [ police ] funding ?
” Biden responded , “ Yes , absolutely.
” He also said that police “ become the enemy ” when they use surplus military equipment .
When police funding is cut , the super-wealthy , who can afford their own security , and powerful politicians , who have taxpayer-funded security , will be just fine ; but almost everyone else will suffer .
Housing values will fall , businesses will fail , and everyday citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of movement as they conclude that it is unsafe to go to certain areas or to go out at night .
Meanwhile , gangs and criminals will thrive .
Making matters even worse , Biden supports confiscating “ assault ” weapons .
In other words , he wants to make it harder both for the police and for you to protect your family .
In keeping with his soft-on-crime approach , Biden supports abolishing the death penalty , even for heinous crimes .
Of course , this means that prison staff will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for decades ; and decades of incarceration increase the chances that these rapists and murderers will either escape or be freed by bleeding heart liberals .
Biden would kill middle-class jobs .
For example , Biden has promised to end “ new fracking ” and wants to phase out oil and gas .
It should be noted that fracking has created 1.7 million jobs , driven down the cost of gasoline and electricity , significantly increased state tax revenues , and made our country much less dependent upon foreign oil and gas producers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by supporting a minimum wage hike to $ 15 an hour .
Although most big businesses would be just fine – many would automate and eliminate jobs – many mom-and-pop businesses would not be so lucky .
Young , inexperienced workers would also be harmed as businesses chose to hire older , experienced workers rather than train new workers for $ 15 an hour .
Although many businesses are struggling to survive the coronavirus shutdown , Biden wants to hike taxes .
In particular , he wants to raise corporate taxes and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would likely force more small businesses to close ; and a carbon tax would lead to higher electric bills and more expensive diesel and gas .
Higher electric bills could result in fewer factories and fewer data centers , and higher transportation costs could sink trucking companies .
All of which would mean fewer jobs .
Biden ’ s anti-business policies would also harm consumers , especially those living on fixed incomes , and people investing for retirement .
Under a Biden presidency , consumers could expect the price of goods and services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to increase , and utility bills to go up .
While the affluent might not notice if their heating , cooling , and transportation costs rose , the middle class , the working class , and the poor would certainly notice .
By eroding corporate earnings , higher corporate taxes would depress stock prices and lower the value of your 401 ( k ) plan .
As if all of that were not bad enough , Biden has the support of Marxist and former Black Panther Angela Davis .
Why does she support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be the “ candidate who can be most effectively pressured.
” Throughout his long career in government , Biden has repeatedly been wrong ; and he has obviously learned nothing from his mistakes .
That is why President Trump is the only sensible choice for voters this fall .
Richard McCarty is the Director of Research at Americans for Limited Government Foundation .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Marsha Blackburn Wants Jerrold Nadler to Visit Portland After He Denies Violence There

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) suggested this week that U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler ( D-NY-10 ) visit Portland after he denied any social unrest had broken out there .
“ Retweet if you think Jerry Nadler should visit our police officers in Portland .
# BacktheBlue , ” Blackburn wrote .
A video of Nadler denying people were acting aggressive in Portland accompanied Blackburn ’ s tweet .
The video transitioned back and forth between several clips of people rampaging throughout Portland and Nadler saying the idea of any violence there is “ a myth that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The unidentified person who confronted Nadler told him that “ there ’ s video everywhere online.
” “ There ’ s fires and riots .
People throwing fireworks at federal officers , ” the man told the congressman as he fled the interview .
“ DHS is there .
Just look online.
” No one in Nadler ’ s office responded to The Tennessee Star ’ s request for comment Tuesday .
Nadler , who chairs the House Judiciary Committee , on Tuesday accused Attorney General William Barr of bringing “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bear against citizens demonstrating for the advancement of their own civil rights.
” Nadler , referring to federal efforts to quell the violence in Portland , told this to Barr ’ s face at a committee meeting .
“ There is no precedent for the Department of Justice actively seeking out conflict with American citizens , under such flimsy pretext , or for such petty purposes , ” Nadler said .
The federal government , Nadler went on to say , was turning “ violently on its own people.
” “ First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has endangered Americans and violated their constitutional rights by flooding federal law enforcement into the streets of American cities , against the wishes of the state and local leaders of those cities , to forcefully and unconstitutionally suppress dissent , ” Nadler said .
“ Second , at your direction , Department officials have downplayed the effects of systemic racism and abandoned the victims of police brutality ; refused to hold abusive police departments accountable for their actions ; and expressed open hostility to the Black Lives Matter movement.
” Nadler , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s choice to send federal law enforcement officers “ to brutally attack protestors is as reprehensible as it is anti-democratic.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Barr Says Unrest Not Linked to Floyd, Defends Feds’ Response

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — Attorney General William Barr defended the aggressive federal law enforcement response to civil unrest in America , saying on Tuesday “ violent rioters and anarchists have hijacked legitimate protests ” sparked by George Floyd ’ s death at the hands of Minneapolis police .
Barr told members of the House Judiciary Committee at a much-anticipated election year hearing the violence taking place in Portland , Oregon , and other cities is disconnected from Floyd ’ s killing , which he called a “ horrible ” event that prompted a necessary national reckoning on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement .
“ Largely absent from these scenes of destruction are even superficial attempts by the rioters to connect their actions to George Floyd ’ s death or any legitimate call for reform , ” Barr said of the Portland protests .
The hearing marks Barr ’ s first appearance before the House Judiciary Committee after 18 months in office , bringing him face-to-face with a panel that voted last year to hold him in contempt and is holding hearings on what Democrats say is politicization of the Justice Department under his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which Barr has taken actions cheered by President Donald Trump but condemned by Democrats and other critics .
Among those actions is the Justice Department ’ s decision to drop the prosecution of former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn and Barr ’ s urging for a more lenient sentence for Trump ally Roger Stone , a move that prompted the entire trial team ’ s departure .
Trump later commuted the sentence entirely .
Opening the hearing , committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said the Trump administration had “ twisted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its former self , ” serving the powerful before average Americans .
He said the committee has a responsibility to protect Americans “ from that kind of corruption.
” Nadler said Barr had “ aided and abetted ” Trump ’ s worst impulses and excoriated him and the Justice Department for turning a blind eye to necessary reforms to police departments , for dismissing Black Lives Matter protests and for flooding streets with federal agents to stop protesters .
Republicans hit back hard in defense of Barr and Trump ’ s administration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan , used his opening statement to show an eight-minute video that spliced together images of violence by protesters around the country , showcasing law enforcement officers under attack in Chicago , Portland and New York .
The images were cut from hundreds of hours of racial injustice footage of largely peaceful protests around the nation .
Under combative questioning , Barr acerbically defended himself but revealed little new information about his motivations or the Justice Department ’ s recent actions on policing or otherwise .
Fuming Democrats often used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrations and cut him off as he attempted to answer questions .
“ Many of the Democrats on this Committee have attempted to discredit me by conjuring up a narrative that I am simply the President ’ s factotum who disposes of criminal cases according to his instructions , ” Barr said in his opening statement .
“ Judging from the letter inviting me to this hearing , that appears to be your agenda today.
” On policing , Barr ’ s testimony underscores the Justice Department ’ s ongoing effort to differentiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd ’ s death , which has led to state charges against four officers and is under investigation by federal authorities .
Massive but peaceful demonstrations followed Floyd ’ s death in May .
The attorney general , speaking as Congress and the public pay respects in the Capitol to the late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis , acknowledged to lawmakers Floyd ’ s death struck a chord in the Black community because it reinforced concerns Black people are treated differently by police .
But he condemned Americans who he says have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through what he said was rioting and anarchy .
“ As elected officials of the federal government , every member of this committee — regardless of your political views or your feelings about the Trump administration — should condemn violence against federal officers and destruction of federal property , ” Barr said .
“ So should state and local leaders who have a responsibility to keep their communities safe.
” Civil unrest escalated in Portland after federal agents were accused of whisking people away in unmarked cars without probable cause ; the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington , D.C. , peaceful protesters were violently cleared from the streets by federal officers using smoke bombs and pepper balls last month before a photo op by Trump in front of St. John ’ s church , where Barr had accompanied him .
Barr defended the broad use of law enforcement power to deal with the situation , noting that protesters had earlier set fire to the church and “ it was total consensus that you couldn ’ t allow that to happen so close to the White House.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations into use of force and other tactics by agents in Washington and Portland .
He also said the force was used because the protesters would not disperse from the area when law enforcement officials were trying to move back the security perimeter , a decision made the night before .
When pressed on details , he pointed to the investigations .
The use of pepper spray is warranted , even if peaceful protesters are also harmed , he said .
Beyond the federal response to the demonstrations , Barr was pressed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Stone cases , both of which arose from special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation .
Democrats criticized him for partly taking into account Stone ’ s health and age , 67 , and said those standards haven ’ t been used in other similar cases .
While Stone ’ s health was one of the factors considered by senior level officials at the Justice Department , the point of the contention about the sentencing recommendation was over whether a specific sentencing enhancement over witness tampering would apply .
Barr said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mafiosos ” and he didn ’ t agree that it was warranted in Stone ’ s case .
Barr said he told the acting U.S. attorney that “ we are going to leave it up to the judge ” and that he ordered the revised recommendation to be filed whent the line prosecutors submitted an initial recommendation calling for a sentence of seven to nine years .
“ And even though I knew I would get a lot of criticism for doing that , I think at the end of the day my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual , ” Barr said .
Republicans and Democrats also repeatedly revisited Mueller ’ s probe , with Democrats arguing he downplayed the report to the public before it was released and Republicans pressing him on the origins of the probe .
The department is investigating the department ’ s decisions as it started investigating Trump ’ s ties to Russia during the Obama administration in 2016 .
In a prepared opening statement released by the department , Barr derisively referred to “ the bogus ‘ Russiagate ’ scandal.
” Barr didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the hearing room , but defended his actions as he has questioned the probe .
Eric Tucker , Mary Clare Jalonic and Michael Balsamo are reporters for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : Attorney General William Barr listens during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the oversight of the Department of Justice on Capitol Hill , Tuesday , July 28 , 2020 in Washington .
( Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Jeff Webb Explains His Endorsement for Manny Sethi as Tennessee Senator

Live from Music Row Tuesday 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 Varsity Brands Creator and Memphis Entrepreneur Jeff Webb to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Webb discussed his motivation for the recent endorsement of Tennessee Senate candidate Dr. Manny Sethi .
He noted that although both candidates were on the same side of the issues , Sethi would be the senator that would go to bat for small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good friend Jeff Webb .
It ’ s kind of fun to be broadcasting live from ( Webb laughs ) our studios on Music Row , isn ’ t it ?
Webb : Nashville is just going crazy .
Great studio .
Great neighborhood .
Nashville is just going crazy .
Leahy : I will say this .
Texas is a wonderful place .
Oklahoma is a nice place .
But the best state there is no question the best state in the entire United States of America is income tax-free Tennessee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
It ’ s got so much to offer for everybody .
It ’ s a tremendous place .
Leahy : So we ’ ve asked you to come in here in the studio to talk about your endorsement of Dr. Manny Sethi .
And for our listeners , our objective here at The Tennessee Star and on the web at tennesseestar.com and The Tennessee Star Report is to give our listeners and our readers information on these two candidates and let them make up their own mind .
Dr. Manny Sethi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambassador to Japan .
You were looking at these two candidates .
I think you said that they are very similar on the issues .
But there was one particular issue that really caught your attention and that kind of made you decide that you would endorse Dr. Manny Sethi .
Tell us about that issue .
Webb : It was the endorsement of the US Chamber of Commerce of Bill Hagerty .
And even beyond the endorsement when I saw the Hagerty campaign take that and make an entire commercial about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the US Chamber of Commerce had endorsed him .
As a guy who started with a very small company and built that company over the years , and I ’ m in touch with so many small business people in our state and really around the country .
The US Chamber of Commerce is not a friend of small business .
They represent big business .
And many times they are hurtful as far as a small business is concerned .
I ’ d been looking at Manny ’ s background and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And Hagerty ’ s more big company and big politics .
Involved with Mitt Romney for so many years .
And that didn ’ t feel right .
But the commercial with the Chamber of Commerce just said it all to me .
And at that point , I thought you know what we really need is somebody who ’ s a small business background .
Which really Manny does .
His parents came here and set up shop as two physicians in our state which was a small business .
Growing up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s accomplished .
The type of leader he can be and then you contrast that again with Bill Hagerty ’ s experience which has been big companies .
Boston Consulting Group .
I just think that Manny is a friend of small business .
A friend of everyday Tennesseans and really has the kind of background and the kind of skill set that will make him a great senator for all of us .
Leahy : You talked about the US Chamber of Commerce .
People may think of the US Chamber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commerce .
Do you see a difference between those two ?
Webb : Totally different .
In most cases , the local Chamber of Commerce in towns and cities really is dedicated to all of the businesses in their particular municipality .
The US Chamber of Commerce not so much .
It ’ s open borders .
It ’ s going for unlimited immigration .
It ’ s just strictly representing big business .
And again usually to the disadvantage of small business .
Over half of the people in this country and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small business .
The great majority of people in this country work for small businesses .
Not for big companies and not for big corporations .
And believe me , I ’ ve seen it in my career , those big corporations have special deals that they are able to cut through their lobbyists and with Congress and with the bureaucrats in Washington .
Those of us that have built small businesses don ’ t have those advantages .
they can fight for themselves .
We need somebody fighting for small business and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s really what separates Manny from Bill Hagerty .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ Manny Sethi ” by Manny Sethi .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Spotlight on Four Big Tech CEOs Testifying in Competition Probe

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — They command corporations with gold-plated brands , millions or even billions of customers , and a combined value greater than the entire German economy .
One of them is the world ’ s richest individual ; another is the fourth-ranked billionaire .
Their industry has transformed society , linked people around the globe , mined and commercialized users ’ personal data , and infuriated critics on both the left and right over speech .
Now Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos , Facebook ’ s Mark Zuckerberg , Google ’ s Sundar Pichai and Tim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies ’ practices before Congress for the first time as a group .
Summoned for a House hearing , they ’ ll raise a hand ( remotely ) and swear to tell the truth , in the manner of tycoons of Wall Street or the tobacco industry in earlier high-octane televised shamings .
It will be Bezos ’ first-ever appearance before Congress .
The House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust is capping its yearlong investigation of Big Tech ’ s market dominance with Wednesday ’ s teleconferenced hearing spotlighting the four CEOs .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are few genuine facts left to gather , ” says Daniel Crane , a law professor at the University of Michigan who focuses on antitrust .
Still , the CEOs ’ approaches to the questioning are important , Crane notes .
“ Are they willing to admit that there ’ s a problem with Big Tech ’ s market power , or is it denial mode ?
Will they recommend innovative private solutions , or retreat into defending themselves as champions of consumer interests who play it fair ?
” The bipartisan probe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisanship , where Republicans and Democrats are now arguing over the size of new federal pandemic relief .
It ’ s the first such congressional review of an industry that for over a decade has enjoyed haloed status and a light touch from federal regulators .
Critics question whether the companies stifle competition and innovation and pose a danger to society .
The Judiciary panel collected testimony from mid-level executives of the four firms , competitors and legal experts , and pored over more than a million internal documents from the companies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies and century-old antitrust laws are adequate for overseeing the tech giants , or if new legislation and more funding for enforcement are needed .
Subcommittee chairman Rep. David Cicilline , a Rhode Island Democrat , has called the four companies monopolies , although he says breaking them up should be a last resort .
With other Democrats , Cicilline has floated the idea of an antitrust moratorium that would block big corporations from acquiring smaller companies during the coronavirus pandemic .
Republicans call the idea misguided and socialistic .
The tech companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiplying fronts , from Congress , the Trump administration , federal and state regulators and European watchdogs .
The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have been investigating the four companies ’ practices , including the earlier acquisitions of smaller firms .
Facebook ’ s fiercest critics in Congress , including liberal Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren and conservative Republican Sen. Josh Hawley , have put breaking up Big Tech companies on the table .
And presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has said breakups of the giants should be considered .
Short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies across the U.S. and abroad points toward possible new restrictions on their power .
The CEOs could follow the conventional playbook for congressional “ star chamber ” hearings , making their case while showing some humility .
Beyond that , each company has a distinct profile , and each tech titan has his own approach and story to tell .
Bezos , the world ’ s richest individual presiding over an e-commerce empire and ventures in cloud computing , personal “ smart ” tech and beyond , initially declined to testify unless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ ll likely face questioning over a Wall Street Journal report that found Amazon employees used confidential data collected from sellers on its online marketplace to develop competing products .
At a previous hearing , an Amazon executive denied such accusations .
Lawmakers from both parties suggested Amazon ’ s earlier statements could be misleading and might even constitute perjury .
Bezos has said , “ We don ’ t use individual seller data to directly compete with them.
” Amazon says it doesn ’ t believe the Journal allegations are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation .
Zuckerberg is a Capitol Hill pro by this point .
He endured over five hours of grilling last fall by another House committee on hate speech , privacy , misinformation and Facebook ’ s widely-criticized plan for a new digital currency .
He also met privately with key lawmakers and with President Donald Trump , who has repeatedly criticized the tech companies and asserted without evidence that they are biased against him .
In the wake of George Floyd ’ s death and protests against racial injustice , Facebook ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more fire than issues of competition and privacy , especially after Facebook ’ s refusal to take action on inflammatory Trump posts that spread misinformation about voting by mail and , critics said , encouraged violence against protesters .
Zuckerberg has said the company aims to allow as much free expression as possible unless it causes imminent risk of specific harms or damage .
Pichai faced his own congressional interrogation in 2018 over online privacy and data protection , the danger of digital monopolies , alleged bias against conservative viewpoints and censorship by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided the yes or no answers that lawmakers demanded .
EU regulators already have concluded that Google manipulated its search engine to gain an unfair advantage over other online shopping sites in the e-commerce market , and fined Google , whose parent is Alphabet Inc. , a record $ 2.7 billion .
Google has disputed the findings and is appealing .
Attorneys general from both parties in 50 states and territories , led by Texas , launched an antitrust investigation of Google in September , focused on its online advertising business .
Apple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world , faces EU investigations over the fees charged by its App Store and technical limitations that allegedly shut out competitors to Apple Pay .
Cook is expected to lay out the case that the fees Apple charges apps to sell services and other goods are reasonable , especially compared with what other tech companies collect .
Mary Gordon is a reporter for The Associated Press .
AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : This combination of 2019-2020 photos shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Cook , Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg .
On Wednesday , July 29 , 2020 , the four Big Tech leaders will answer for their companies ’ practices before Congress at a hearing by the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust .
( AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais , Evan Vucci , Jeff Chiu , Jens Meyer )


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Biden’s Notes: ‘Do Not Hold Grudges’ Against Kamala Harris

WILMINGTON , Delaware ( AP ) — Joe Biden was uncharacteristically tight-lipped on Tuesday about the final stretch of his search for a vice president .
But the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee seemed prepared to talk about at least one leading contender : California Sen. Kamala Harris .
As he took questions from reporters on Tuesday , Biden held notes that were captured by an Associated Press photographer .
Harris ’ name was scrawled across the top , followed by five talking points .
“ Do not hold grudges.
” “ Campaigned with me & Jill.
” “ Talented.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great respect for her.
” Those are all observations Biden has made about Harris before .
But they take on new significance following a recent Politico report that one of Biden ’ s closest friends and a co-chair of his vice presidential vetting committee , former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd , still harbors concerns about Harris ’ tough debate stage performance and that she hasn ’ t expressed regret .
The comments attributed to Dodd have drawn condemnation , especially from influential Democratic women who maintain that Harris is being held to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man running for president .
The debate-stage skirmish was one of the seminal moments of the Democratic primary .
Harris , who is Black , said Biden made “ very hurtful ” comments about his past work with segregationist senators before she slammed his opposition to busing as schools began to integrate .
“ There was a little girl in California who was a part of the second class to integrate her public schools , and she was bused to school every day , ” she said .
“ And that little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden called her comments “ a mischaracterization of my position.
” Their relationship has become considerably more amicable .
Biden has praised Harris publicly many times and noted that he ’ s thought highly of her personally and professionally since she became close to his late son , Beau Biden , when both were state attorneys general .
It is common for high-profile politicians to take notes with them to the podium , either handwritten additions to formal remarks or a bullet-point list like what Biden held on stationery featuring his full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In March , early in the coronavirus pandemic , President Donald Trump ’ s notes were photographed to show “ Chinese ” written over “ corona , ” part of the president ’ s efforts to blame the pandemic on a foreign adversary .
Last year , as Trump faced impeachment for pressuring Ukraine officials to help his reelection by finding dirt on Biden , the president had notes that read : “ I want nothing ” and “ I want no quid pro quo.
” Biden ’ s list , at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defuse any tensions around his relationship with Harris .
As reflected in his notes , Harris has become a reliable surrogate for Biden , appearing with him in online fundraisers amid the unusual social distancing standards forced on the campaign by the COVID-19 pandemic .
As recently as last week , Harris headlined her own event for Biden , one focused on the Raleigh area in North Carolina , a battleground state where Harris ’ dual appeal to Black voters and college-educated white women could boost Democrats ’ prospects .
Biden ultimately did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A spokesperson for Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
In just his third extended news conference in four months , Biden also sidestepped specific questions about the timing of his decision on a running mate , an approach reflected in another entry on Biden ’ s notepad .
Under the heading “ VP , ” Biden wrote “ highly qualified ” and “ diverse group , ” signifying his intention not to tease out any more details .
Beyond vice presidential politics , Biden ’ s topics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Attorney General William Barr testifying Tuesday on Capitol Hill .
His notes did not name Barr , but Biden referenced “ the people ’ s lawyer … not the president ’ s lawyer , ” echoing his previous assertions that Barr has used his post as the latter .
On the “ Last 100 days ” of the campaign , Biden wrote that he ’ d be “ offering clearest contrast , ” “ tell the truth , ” “ take responsibility ” and “ listen to the scientists ” – all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included the original three-part slogan of Biden ’ s campaign : “ Restore soul ” of the nation , “ Rebuild MC ” ( the middle class ) and “ unite country.
” Bill Barrow and Andrew Harnik are reporters for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event at the William “ Hicks ” Anderson Community Center in Wilmington , Del.
, Tuesday , July 28 , 2020 .
( AP Photo/Andrew Harnik )


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Air Travel Not Expected to Recover Until 2024

FRANKFURT , Germany ( AP ) — Global air travel is recovering more slowly than expected and it will take until 2024 to return to pre-pandemic levels , the trade association for the airline industry said Tuesday .
The International Air Transport Association pushed back its prediction by one year due to the slow containment of the outbreak in the U.S. and in developing countries .
The industry is seeing a rebound from the depths of the shutdowns in April , but the bad news is that any increase “ is barely visible , ” IATA chief economist Brian Pearce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pearce said that air travel is not rebounding along with rising levels of business confidence in Europe , the U.S. and China .
Traffic was down 86.5 % in June from the same month a year ago , compared with a drop of 94.1 % in April , measured as revenue passenger kilometers , or the distance traveled by all revenue-generating passengers .
That improvement is “ nowhere near the increase in business confidence , ” Pearce said .
China is bouncing back more than some other places , while an upturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the recent upsurge in COVID-19 cases in a number of states .
Besides renewed outbreaks , travel is also being held back by weak consumer confidence and constrained travel budgets at companies that are struggling .
“ Furthermore , there is little sign of virus containment in many important emerging economies , which in combination with the U.S. , represent around 40 % of global air travel markets , ” IATA said in a statement .
“ Their continued closure , particularly to international travel , is a significant drag on recovery.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , airlines are struggling to fill seats with enough people to make money .
Planes were only 62.9 % full on domestic flights around the world , well below levels at which airlines make money , and an abysmal 38.9 % for international travel .
The U.S. is seeing more coronavirus cases after some states moved to lift restrictions on public life and business .
The summer vacation season in Europe has seen more people move around .
There has been a rise in cases in Germany , which had earlier done better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak .
Germany has issued a travel warning for three regions in Spain and the U.K. has imposed a 14-day quarantine for travelers returning from Spain , a popular holiday destination .
David McHugh is a reporter for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : Passengers watch aircraft on the tarmac as they wait for their flight at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jiddah , Saudi Arabia , Tuesday , July 28 , 2020 .
Few flights are scheduled for international departures only but the authorities have eased domestic travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nabil )


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Jeff Webb Reflects on Growing up in Northern Dallas and His Time at the University of Oklahoma

Live from Music Row Tuesday 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 Memphis Entrepreneur Jeff Webb to the studio .
During the second hour , Webb reflected on where he grew up in Northern Dallas and his time while in attendance at the University of Oklahoma .
Leahy : We are joined now in studio by our very good friend Jeff Webb the founder of Varsity Brands .
And I will say this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheerleading industry .
Good morning Jeff .
Webb : Hey Mike .
Great to be here with you .
Leahy : One of the things I wanted to chat with you about a little bit is your endorsement of Manny Sethi .
Leahy : So you ’ ve endorsed Manny Sethi for the United States Senate and you ’ ve written a commentary about that .
And we are going to talk about that during your hour and a half here this morning .
One of the reasons that I ’ ve asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because this is a very hotly contested race and we ’ ve had folks who have endorsed Bill Hagerty on in the studio .
And folks who have endorsed Manny Sethi on in the studio .
So we can have a back and forth so people can understand .
Our objective here is to give people the information so they can make up their minds .
That ’ s what we ’ re trying to accomplish .
Leahy : You feel pretty strongly about that race , don ’ t you ?
Webb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is a great opportunity for the citizens of our state who will eventually be a leader in the Senate .
Not just a senator .
He ’ s got all of the makings of a dynamic leader who can really do great things for our state .
Leahy : I wanted to just talk a little bit about your background as an entrepreneur and a small business guy .
When you think about this in essence there are very few people who have really kind of created an industry .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know it is basically the result of your efforts for a lifetime .
Tell us a little bit about how you started in Varsity Brands .
A very successful company .
Revenues have been a couple billion or so a year ?
Webb : It ’ s been pretty close to it .
Leahy : Tell us about how you started this literally on a folding table in your apartment .
( Webb laughs ) Give us the background on this .
Webb : I went to college at the University of Oklahoma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sooner .
And Mormon .
Leahy : You were born in Dallas ?
Leahy : Oh yeah .
I know that .
This is something you don ’ t know about me and we ’ re good friends .
But I lived in Dallas for a period of time back in the early 1980s .
I managed a computer store there .
And I was at the intersection of Preston Road and Lovers Lane .
I ’ m sure you know where that is .
Webb : Absolutely .
That was the stomping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teenager .
Leahy : Everybody knows that .
I loved Dallas and Texas .
It was a little hot for me .
Webb : This time of year they ’ ve got us by about five or 10 degrees .
Leahy : Already our audience likes you .
Leahy : There are no two states in the union with a greater connection than Texas and Tennessee .
Just talk Sam Houston .
Davy Crockett .
I mean come on .
Leahy : The Alamo .
Absolutely .
Texas and Tennessee have been connected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to high school in Dallas and how did you go from Dallas to Oklahoma ?
That ’ s not uncommon but… Webb : No it ’ s not .
The University of Oklahoma has always had a large contingent of Texas students .
Particularly Dallas because it ’ s the largest city that its closest too .
Equal distance between Norman and Austin .
Leahy : You could either go north across state lines to OU .
Or you could go south to Austin .
Webb : That was the choice I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma .
Oh my goodness .
Webb : Yeah it ’ s incredible .
You ’ ve probably been there on the second Saturday in October during the Texas-Oklahoma football game and the state fair is open .
People talk about rivalries in sports and in football .
But the unique thing about that game while there ’ s technically a home team you have 50 percent of the stadium sold to Oklahoma and 50 percent to Texas .
Webb : Right there at the state fair .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t ’ know about you the best state fair in the United States .
Leahy : Iowa has a nice one but its impossible to have a better state fair than the Texas State Fair .
It ’ s really huge .
Leahy : How did you end up at the University of Oklahoma ?
Webb : I ’ d actually visited there during the summer before and just had a great experience .
You know how you just get that feeling in some places where you go .
And had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone to school there and encouraged me to take a look at it .
And I just fell in love .
It just felt right .
Leahy : It ’ s a beautiful campus and it ’ s really nice .
Nice people there .
It has a very good reputation .
Where you a sports guy ?
What was your extracurricular there ?
Webb : I was very involved in all types of campus activities .
And did a lot of intramural sports .
I wrestled .
Leahy : So you were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up playing baseball but did some wrestling there at OU .
Leahy : I was never a very good wrestler .
( Webb laughs ) In our family , my younger brother was a wrestler and very good at it .
I was a basketball guy .
And you think oh wrestling , that ’ s not hard .
You go and wrestle for like 20 seconds .
Webb : People don ’ t realize you are using all your muscles full boar .
Webb : There ’ s nothing like it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fun of losing weight .
Pulling weight furiously .
Webb : I never want to do that again .
Leahy : In high school , I recall the wrestling team , they would run around in these spacesuits .
Or whatever they were .
Leahy : They would all try and lose weight .
The classrooms were very tight .
I always wondered about that .
did you lose so much weight that you didn ’ t have enough strength to wrestle ?
Webb : No because you are losing weight and working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you go .
Leahy : Really .
Is that how it works ?
Webb : It ’ s actually pretty amazing .
But now people don ’ t lose weight like that .
But we would sit in the sauna in rubber suits .
So bad for you .
So dangerous .
We didn ’ t know .
It worked .
We survived .
( Leahy chuckles ) Leahy : When you went to Oklahoma you wrestled .
What else did you do ?
Webb : I was involved in all sorts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a fraternity there and president of my fraternity .
I was a yell leader for my senior year .
Leahy : Your senior year you were a yell leader .
What does a yell leader do ?
Webb : A guy that ’ s a cheerleader .
We did all these stunts and we had a microphone and we ’ d lead the crowd at all the games and so on .
That ’ s what I did .
And in the summers I worked for a gentleman who had a company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy : The football team was pretty good when you were there ?
Webb : They were good .
We had a little bit of a lull .
Webb : Exactly .
He came in .
Leahy : Of course everybody followed college football in the 1950s long before you were there .
Bud Wilkinson .
Webb : Bud Wilkinson kind of set the foundation there for football .
Leahy : Set the tone yes .
So you were there as it was just starting to come to the national fold .
Webb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
Webb : After I graduated , he became the head coach and the rest is history they say .
Leahy : Do you have any Barry Switzer stories that you can tell on the air .
Webb : When I was there as a sophomore he was the assistant coach that when you would go to some type of gathering or whatever and if the head coach wasn ’ t there he was there .
He had a couple of fraternity brothers who were football players and they loved the guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Everybody sees the media things and how he ’ s kind of this party guy but he cares so much for those football players and he did stuff for them where they were so dedicated to him .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Background Photo “ University of Oklahoma Campus ” by Michael Barera .
CC BY-SA 4.0 @


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--‘Egregious’: Democratic Mayors Ask Congress to Restrict to Restrict Deployment of Federal Officers t

‘Egregious’: Democratic Mayors Ask Congress to Restrict to Restrict Deployment of Federal Officers to Quell Riots

Democratic mayors wrote to Congress Monday , asking for limitations on the Trump administration deployment of “ unidentified federal officers ” to their cities to calm protests , according to a letter posted on Twitter .
The mayors requested that federal agents be required to present identification except “ on an undercover mission authorized by the local U.S. Attorney , ” according to the letter Wheeler posted on Twitter .
Six Democratic mayors , including Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland and Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago signed the letter .
President Donald Trump sent more than 200 federal officers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a July 22 press briefing .
Wheeler has criticized the federal government ’ s deployment of federal officers , calling it “ unconscionable and un-American , ” he said on Twitter July 23 .
Wheeler had been with protesters the night before .
The letter further asked Congress to restrict federal agents control crowds and have “ local authorities ” approve of the federal government ’ s use of federal agents .
Other mayors who signed the letter were Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington D.C. , Mayor Quinton D. Lucas of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Seattle and Mayor Tim Keller of Albuquerque , according to the letter .
The letter condemned various measures federal forces have taken in Portland while “ protecting federal property , ” such as arresting residents “ without cause , ” the letter claimed .
“ These actions further erode trust in government at all levels ; are de-legitimizing local law enforcement ; and escalate , rather than de-escalate tensions , ” the letter further read .
“ We live in a democratic republic , not an authoritarian police state .
We must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercise of power once and for all , ” the letter continued .
Protests and riots have been happening for more than two months in Portland , according to Daily Caller reporters on the scene .
Demonstrators across the country have been advocating for police reform and racial justice since George Floyd ’ s death .
Floyd , a black man , died in police custody May 25 after former Minneapolis now-fired police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes , video footage shows .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation for comment .
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Mysterious Seeds Arriving Across the U.S. and U.K.

Unidentified seeds , seemingly from China , have arrived unsolicited across the country .
Agricultural officials are asking residents not to plant these seeds .
Stating that they may be from invasive , destructive , or otherwise dangerous plants .
Officials in at least 27 states have reported unsolicited packages of seeds delivered to residents .
Similar packages have begun arriving throughout the U.K. Jane Rupp , a Better Business Bureau representative , believes that these shipments could be part of a brushing scam , where online sellers ship large quantities of cheap merchandise to increase their overall ratings and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recipients name , reports Fox .
Similar cases were reported in late 2019 with Americans receiving unordered , low cost , and even empty packages .
According to a press release by the Kansas Department of Agriculture , many of these packages were labeled as containing jewelry , while some reports from Louisiana show they ’ re being labeled as toys .
A Facebook post by the Ohio Department of Agriculture ( ODA ) shows that these packages are labeled as being shipped via China Post , a Chinese state owned Enterprise .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ United Kingdom , with reportedly hundreds of the packets arriving across the country .
With at least 27 states reporting similar packages , agricultural officials have provided somewhat varied advice to residents who receive seed packets .
Several things remain constant , however , with officials asking recipients to not open the seed packets or plant the seeds , keep the original packaging , and report the package to their local authorities .
Advice varies with what to do should the seeds have already been planted .
A spokesperson for the USDA stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plant Health Inspection Service ( APHIS ) is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Customs and Border Protection , other federal agencies , and State departments of agriculture to investigate the situation , ” and that the organization “ is committed to preventing the unlawful entry of prohibited seeds and protecting U.S. agriculture from invasive pests and noxious weeds.
” Ohio residents should report any unsolicited seed packets to the ODA here .
Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be sent to [ email protected ] Photo “ Mysterious Seeds ” by the Ohio Department of Agriculture .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Commentary: Reckoning with the Riots

Commentary: Reckoning with the Riots

The showdown is coming over urban violence in America .
The continuing rioting and destruction erupting in new cities every few days is almost certain to provide yet another profound demarcation of opinion over how to govern the United States and address the problems that have so stirred the country since the killing of African American George Floyd by a white Minneapolis policeman on May 25 .
America ’ s toleration of a completely unjustifiable level of general violence compared to anything in its past demonstrates considerable progress in civility and restraint in the past 50 years .
In 1968 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard J. Daley , attracted great controversy but not majority disapproval when he publicly told his police not to hesitate to fire live ammunition at violent demonstrators and rioters .
As the immense disturbances surrounding the Democratic National Convention in that city evolved , the mayor indicated that he was not exactly urging his officers to shoot to kill but to shoot to stop the rioting , and implicitly , not to be overly concerned if some lawbreakers died as a result .
There was widespread support for this position .
Eleven people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more than 2,150 arrested in Chicago ; four months earlier , in the riots in at least nine major cities after the assassination of Martin Luther King , 43 were killed , more than 3,000 injured , and over 20,000 arrested .
The disturbances at the 1968 convention were prompted more by anti-Vietnam War militancy than by racial factors , and the principal accused ringleaders were biracial and multicultural .
The Democratic convention rightly took some pride in the advances it had secured in the term of outgoing President Lyndon Johnson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in assuring civil and voting rights for African-Americans , and for the extensive Great Society welfare and workfare programs adopted to assist all underprivileged Americans .
In the ensuing Nixon Administration the policy of Vietnamization ( handing the ground war over to heavily trained and well-equipped South Vietnamese and other Asian allies , especially the South Koreans , with—when appropriate—massive air support from the United States ) sharply reduced American casualties and effectively almost eliminated draft calls for combat roles .
It also appeared to be militarily successful , especially in the South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Vietcong ground offensive of April 1972 .
In the absence of casualties and in contemplation of a possibly successful extrication from such a difficult war , Americans would not generally engage in or condone violent demonstrations , and they tapered off .
In the 50 years since American withdrawal from Vietnam , mob violence has been sporadic .
There was severe racial violence over the acquittal of the police who were caught on video beating African American Rodney King in Los Angeles in 1992 , resulting in 63 dead , nearly 2,400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1 billion of property damage .
The Ferguson , Missouri riots in 2014 and 2015 , over the shooting of young African American Michael Brown by police action , caused 16 injuries and 321 arrests .
And in Baltimore in 2015 , the death of African-American Freddy Gray at the hands of police caused rioting in which 116 people were injured and 486 arrested .
These incidents did not spread significantly to other communities .
If that pattern had been followed this year after the release of the nauseating video of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his knee to his neck while other officers suggested he desist , the rioting that followed would have been confined to Minneapolis .
But police abandoned a precinct station , effectively inciting widespread destructive rioting , much of it well organized by heavily armed vandals , arsonists , and pillagers , and the destructive violence was replicated in dozens of cities .
Spokespeople volunteered that the Floyd killing was a convenient pretext for an assault upon the whole concept of the United States as a just or even creditable country .
Resentment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and substantially justified .
There have been great efforts to improve police training , to elevate African-American officers including many of the chiefs of police of the country ’ s largest cities , and there can be little doubt that the abrasive relationship between the black community and police had significantly improved .
But with many millions of encounters every year between police and blacks , it is a perpetual tinderbox , and there is no doubt that this is a genuine grievance and a serious failing in American law enforcement that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address with adequate determination and thoroughness .
Now we have an additional element .
The country had a glimpse of the militant wing of Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) with the murder of eight white policemen in Dallas and Baton Rouge in 2016 .
It had a further glimpse of the antics of BLM and the trained and masked street hooligan Antifa ( “ anti-fascist , ” but a fair replication in fact ) , with the opposition of the ragtag of neo-Nazis and Klansmen that still fester in parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statue of General Robert E. Lee .
Antifa originally reared its head in ferocious violence in 2017 against an authorized Trump rally in Portland , Oregon , and in an anarchic destructive outburst , also in 2017 at the Berkeley campus of the University of California .
Liberal America was extremely slow to grasp the proportions of this threat .
Even then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) warned that Antifa leaders should be prosecuted .
But the most vapid and reflexive liberal Left greeted Antifa as energetic new opponents of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN said Antifa were “ idealists.
” There were similar apologia across the Trump-hating media , where any opponent of the president , no matter how extreme or despicable , is embraced .
Such is the vitriolic hatred of President Trump in what normally would be respectable liberal democratic circles , in official positions , and in the media that they are having almost terminal difficulty denouncing appropriately the murderous violence of many of the current “ peaceful protesters.
” The rioters trying to burn down the federal courthouse in Portland for 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a benign group of angry “ moms ” locking arms to object to racial violence .
Much of the American media has lastingly disgraced itself by the scandalous misrepresentation of anti-white racist urban guerrillas as benign seekers of traditional reform .
We can not now be far from the point where the country will have to choose between intelligent law enforcement with a redoubled urgency to the avoidance of racial oppression in even a single case , and continuation of this insufferable pusillanimous drivel that the problem is the presence of federal agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty of protecting federal property and enforcing the laws of the nation .
Trump , it is said , must “ bring us together.
” Violent and irreconcilable enemies of the constitutionally established government do not wish to be brought together .
Those disposed to constructive compromise must be separated from the criminally violent enemies of the state , and therefore of the American people , who created the state .
The people ’ s enemies must be dealt with by measures of whatever severity is required to end this intolerable state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Canada ’ s most prominent financiers for 40 years , and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world as owner of the British telegraph newspapers , the Fairfax newspapers in Australia , the Jerusalem Post , Chicago Sun-Times and scores of smaller newspapers in the U.S. , and most of the daily newspapers in Canada .
He is the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon , one-volume histories of the United States and Canada , and most recently of Donald J. Trump : A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member of the British House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Vice President Mike Pence Set to Visit Thales Academy Wednesday

Vice President Mike Pence will visit Thales Academy on Wednesday while he is in North Carolina , according to ABC11 .
Pence is going to view Thales Academy to see “ how school choice works and to advocate for its further implementation , ” ABC 11 reports .
Pence , while at the school , will take part in a roundtable discussion about reopening schools safely .
Sheri Abraham , a parent of a student at Thales Academy , told WRAL it is an honor to have the former Indiana governor visit the school .
“ It ’ s amazing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ word for it , ” Abraham said .
“ It ’ s such an opportunity , just amazing.
” “ I can ’ t even fathom the amount of people that are going to be just outside of the school and then inside the school , ” she added .
Once the vice president is done attending Thales Academy he will visit M3-Wake Research , according to ABC 11 .
M3-Wake Research has been conducting ongoing research on the coronavirus .
The research company released this statement to ABC 11 Reporter Michael Perchick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research are excited that Vice President Pence is visiting Research Triangle tomorrow and meeting with the M3-Wake Research team.. Hopefully his visit will help bring additional national attention and recognition to all of the great work that so many medical , science , and research companies are doing here , including Wake Research , as we commence the nation ’ s first Phase III clinical trials of a COVID vaccine .
The Research Triangle is the national epicenter of medical and biotech research and we at Wake Research are honored to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to find a cure for COVID and put an end to this pandemic as soon as possible , ” said Dr. Ella Grach , CEO of M3-Wake Research .
Pence ’ s arrival in North Carolina comes with less than four months till the 2020 presidential election .
In 2016 , President Donald Trump won North Carolina by three percent .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] .
Follow Zachery on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by Thales Academy .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Without ‘Sea Changes,’ Democratic Platform Alliance with Black Lives Matter Is ‘Naught,’ Co-Founder

Without ‘Sea Changes,’ Democratic Platform Alliance with Black Lives Matter Is ‘Naught,’ Co-Founder Says

The Democratic platform needs to strongly address police brutality and racial justice , a Black Lives Matter co-founder told the Democratic National Committee Monday , Axios reported .
Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors wants the party to be a political force to match the current movement and are focused on policy change , Axios reported .
“ Without the sea changes our movement recommended for the 2020 Democratic platform , any claims to allyship and solidarity with our work to fight for Black liberation are for naught , ” Cullors said , Axios reported .
Cullors called recent protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil rights moment , movement the world has ever seen , not just in our nation ’ s history but in human history.
” In a virtual party platform committee meeting just three weeks before the DNC Convention , Cullors delivered remarks inspired by former Democratic Georgia Rep. John Lewis ’ s “ Speech at the March on Washington ” given in August of 1963 , Axios reported .
Cullors told Axios she had proposed “ about 10 ” amendments to the 2020 Democratic Party platform covering policing , criminal justice and legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the environment , but they were all rejected without a vote .
“ Without making the necessary recommitments and revisions , can any of you here truly stand up and say , ‘ My party is the party of principles ?
” Cullors asked committee members on the virtual call .
Cullors said it was critical that leaders back the BREATHE Act , which neither Congressional Democrats nor presumptive Democratic Nominee Joe Biden support , Axios reported .
The Act proposes defunding police departments , reducing the budget of the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to communities .
“ Until and unless our leaders become signatory to the BREATHE Act , to legislation that eliminates the federal government ’ s ability to give multi-million dollars to grants to militarize police forces , dismantles punitive policings like ICE , Border Patrol , and the DEA and the use of surveillance systems being used to target protesters and bans the use of police agencies to suppress political dissent , the Democratic party of today will be remembered as the party of complicity , ” Cullors said during the meeting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ House of Representatives by Democratic New York Rep. Yvette Clarke in January of 2019 .
The Act was last referred to the House Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change on January 25 , 2019 .
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--Jeff Webb Talks About His Recent Commentary Which Asks CEOs to Cancel the Cancel Culture

Live from Music Row Tuesday 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 Memphis Entrepreneur Jeff Webb to the studio .
During the third hour , Webb discussed how he saw it was a mistake for large corporations to be taking political sides and calling for the boycott of other companies .
He was concerned for future generations of Americans if small businesses don ’ t get more support .
Leahy : We are here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s been talking about his endorsement of Dr. Manny Sethi .
He also has had some very interesting things to say about big business and small business .
You are a small business guy who built a big business .
I know that you ’ ve got this very very interesting commentary at townhall.com .
I ’ ll just read the headline and I want to talk about how you came to this .
And what your view is on this .
The headline is To America ’ s CEOs , It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Where did this come from ?
Webb : We ’ ve been watching more and more recently during all of the protests and everything that ’ s going on in the country right now .
One of the things that we ’ re starting to see is the CEOs and sometimes even the boards of directors at mega-companies these large global corporations coming out and being so far to the left that they ’ re actually calling for boycotts of other companies that may not be quite so far to the left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a huge mistake for companies to get into politics .
First of all , and these are big companies .
We ’ re talking about companies like Nike , Coca-Cola , and Procter and Gamble .
What they don ’ t realize is that at least 50 percent of the people in this country disagree with that far-left approach .
Them getting out and calling for these boycotts is unacceptable .
What they need to realize is that what comes around goes around .
There ’ s no reason that they can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the other side should look at their companies and say I don ’ t think I ’ m going to do that .
( Laughs ) It gets into some of the sports leagues as well but that ’ s a different story .
Leahy : We can talk about that too because that ’ s one of my pet peeves .
Webb : But those are companies too .
Leahy : Yes , they are .
So this boycott thing .
So , Goya is a company that sort of makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good stuff .
Their CEO Robert Unanue .
He just expressed his personal opinion that the nation was blessed to have a leader like President Trump .
OK. Webb : Well he had also been at the White House with President Obama .
He said nice things about him .
He was being respectful and he was speaking about the country .
And for that , these woke CEO ’ s call for boycotts against his company .
Leahy : Because he said something nice about the President of the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s crazy .
But now the good news is apparently it hasn ’ t worked because a lot of people on the other side have actually gone in and bought extra products and so on .
The fact of the matter is that one company calling for a consumer or a customer boycott of another company because their CEO had said something that wasn ’ t even partisan .
He was being appreciative of the president and what he ’ s trying to do .
It just goes to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Facebook .
Here you have a company like Facebook with certainly no conservative platform there .
But apparently they aren ’ t even woke enough .
Because now you ’ ve got all these companies actually boycotting Facebook because they might actually allow people on the conservative side to speak their mind and to state their opinion .
It ’ s a very dangerous precedent and a very dangerous road that we are going down .
Leahy : Although Facebook apparently caved because they took off a Facebook live presentation of some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They didn ’ t like it and they said it was false information but they wouldn ’ t say what the false information was .
Hmmm .
Webb : We know philosophically where Facebook comes out .
We should hear more in the hearings today , I think .
( Chuckles ) Leahy : I think you are exactly right .
Webb : Should be a very interesting thing .
This whole road to intolerance is what is so concerning to me .
I think it ’ s ironic because I talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said as I was growing up in my adult life people on the left who were liberals have been all about free speech and the opportunity for people to speak their minds and have constructive conversations .
To be open and tolerant .
But now you are seeing really this authoritarian intolerant approach to everything we do .
And I think it is very dangerous for our country .
Leahy : I was talking in the five o ’ clock hour with Doug Kellett about this .
It seems to me when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individualism .
You talk about entrepreneurs .
People that have a dream and follow that dream as you did in founding your company in your apartment .
And now you ’ ve turned it into more than a billion dollars in revenue for Varsity Brands .
That wasn ’ t because you were hesitant to go and follow your dream and you wanted to wait to see what somebody else would say .
Webb : No .
You are right .
It was a different time .
Right now entrepreneurism is under assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entrepreneurs .
You see it in the tech space but people out there starting operating companies there are fewer and fewer .
And I think that the Trump administration no matter which side you are on if you look up and see some of the deregulations that are taking place is certainly on the right track .
Small business needs the assistance of people like Manny Sethi in the United States Senate .
Leahy : Sure .
That was your argument as to why you ’ ve endorsed him .
I found it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me what you think about these Fortune 500 companies that are all going for Black Lives Matter .
To me , it looks like we ’ re basically just saying we ’ ll give them a bunch of money so they won ’ t attack us and break into our stores .
That ’ s what it looks like to me .
Webb : That ’ s the way it looks to a lot of people .
I don ’ t know what their motivation is .
But look , there is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improved in this country .
We ’ ll never get to a point where it ’ s perfect .
It ’ s fine to have a discussion about things that people think are unfair and need to be adjusted .
We should listen to that .
We should all be trying to get better .
I think when you look again at the extremes at which these liberally lead companies are going to I do not think its good .
I do not think it ’ s helpful for our country .
Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describe them as globalists .
We ’ re talking about small businesses .
It seems to me that a small business in America is owned and operated and the size of it could be just a couple of $ 100,000 a year in revenue maybe 10-25 million in revenue that are typically owned by an individual or a family but they are based in America .
They are part of America .
I look at Apple as an example and it strikes me that their loyalties are not necessarily American .
Their loyalties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Webb : Global and to the business .
The company itself becomes to some of these folks the actual entity that they are loyal too .
So therefore yes it is globalists .
Rather than their ultimate loyalty being to our country and our own citizens .
Look you are right .
I ’ m one of the lucky ones .
I was able to build a company that has employed thousands and thousands of people across the country and several thousand in Tennessee over the course of time .
But it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen today .
And one of the reasons I ’ m trying to be involved politically is I think our country ’ s future is at stake .
Unless we support small businesses .
Unless we support the middle class .
And unless we support everyday Americans we ’ re going to have a very different country and very different opportunities for our children and our grandchildren .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-29--White House Petition to Investigate Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for Unfounded Conspiracy Theor

White House Petition to Investigate Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for Unfounded Conspiracy Theory Reaches 600,000 Signatures

Over half a million people have signed a White House petition calling for an investigation into a conspiracy theory involving Bill and Melinda Gates .
Created by “ C.S.
” on April 10 , the petition demands that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation be investigated for medical malpractice and crimes against humanity .
There is no evidence to support these claims .
The petition has 621,609 signatures as of Monday evening .
“ [ A ] worldwide push for vaccines and biometric tracking has been initiated , ” the petition states .
“ At the forefront of this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his interest in ‘ reducing population growth ’ by 10 – 15 % by means of vaccination.
” Bill Gates , a co-founder of Microsoft Corporation , has denied that he wants to use coronavirus vaccines to implant tracking devices , according to CNBC .
The philanthropist told CNN ’ s Anderson Cooper he hopes conspiracy theories about him don ’ t create “ vaccine hesitancy.
” Bill Gates has donated millions to developing a coronavirus vaccine , CNBC reports .
A Yahoo News/YouGov poll shows 44 % of Republicans surveyed believe Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to implant microchips in people , according to Yahoo News .
The same poll showed 19 % of Democrats surveyed believe this claim .
The Trump administration ’ s last official response to a petition was for one created August 17 , 2017 , according to the White House petition website .
The petition requested that the administration formally recognize antifa as a terrorist organization .
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has not returned the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .
Benjamin Nichols is a reporter for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill and Melinda Gates ” by Kjetil Ree .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .