thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Crom Carmichael Discusses the Democrats Messy Control Over the Media, Schools, and Cities

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 .
During the third hour , Carmichael weighed in on the media , re-opening schools in the fall and the chaos in Portland , Oregon .
Leahy : That ’ s Kayleigh McEnany doing a pretty good job as Press Secretary I think Crom .
She ’ s kind of turning it around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
Carmichael : Yes .
She ’ s very good .
She ’ s done a very very tough job because if all you do is stand up there and let those folks ask questions and you don ’ t push back at all… Carmichael : You ’ ll just end up getting pummeled because there is nothing friendly about that audience .
There may be one or two in the audience because of the social distancing you are in there like every third day or something like that .
I saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Kayleigh McEnany was interviewed on Fox .
I don ’ t remember who interviewed her maybe Laura Ingraham .
She made the comment that Jim Acosta off camera is a very nice guy .
Carmichael : Yes .
And then she said that Jonathan Karl is a very nice guy off camera .
She named two or three of these people .
Carmichael : Here ’ s what ’ s interesting .
On camera , they are all nasty .
Leahy : I wonder why that is Crom ?
Carmichael : They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is so interesting to me .
Kayleigh McEnany asking the question , why does nobody ask me these questions ?
The answer is that they are told what questions to ask and the ones she wants are not one of them .
Leahy : They can ’ t keep their job and ask a reasonable question .
Carmichael : That ’ s right .
If they ask questions that Trump can use , to tell the truth about his side of it instead of having a straw man question asked they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of like Don Lemon .
Don Lemon in 2013 he gave a list of things that Black people needed to do to be successful .
Leahy : He could not say that again or he would get fired if he did .
Carmichael : But not only can he not say that he says the opposite .
So which Don Lemon is the real Don Lemon ?
( Leahy laughs ) And the answer is both .
Leahy : Yes because he says what will get him paid .
Carmichael : Money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Yes .
Now here is what is interesting along the lines we were talking about before .
In California , there are many private schools in California .
There are many government-run schools in California and charter schools in California .
So you have a mix of all of them .
The governor does not even want the private schools to be able to open this fall .
Leahy : The reason is that he doesn ’ t want any competition .
Carmichael : I ’ m saying that the teachers ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us if the private schools open and those children get to go back to school .
And they are even attacking the Catholic schools .
All across the board what you are looking at here is it ’ s as if the Black Lives Matter and the Democratic party have made the decision that we want to be sure that Black children get a lousy education .
Leahy : There ’ s no question about it .
Leahy : Here ’ s the rationale .
This is clearly a political play .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand against President Trump who wants to open schools up .
Because that ’ s the right choice for kids .
It ’ s going to stunt their development dramatically .
All of the evidence shows that kids are really not at risk from this .
I saw a study from the Pasteur Institute in France confirming that .
But what they want to do is they want to shut everything down .
Blame Donald Trump for it .
And use that to usher in a Biden administration .
Carmichael : It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s kind of like these Democrat-controlled cities with all the violence and how it still continues now .
In Portland , they ’ ve had 50 consecutive nights of it .
50 !
It ’ s going to be interesting to see how the citizens of Portland , what do they think is the reason ?
By the way , if the citizens of Portland think that violence is a function of the whiteness of the citizens of Portland , Portland ’ s doomed .
Carmichael : If that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these are violent thugs taking advantage of a situation and that the authorities need to take proper precautions to protect the law-abiding people .
Leahy : It ’ s very clear that the Democratic mayor of Portland has absolutely no common sense .
That ’ s very clear .
Carmichael : Well , he may have common sense .
He may actually know that the people of Portland are suffering the Stockholm Syndrome .
He very well may .
( Leahy chuckles ) Because Trump did send in some federal troops .
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and property damage .
50 !
Trump sends in the federal troops and they go around in unmarked cars and jump out and arrest people .
And the people who are being arrested go what !
They aren ’ t supposed to do that !
Leahy : I ’ m supposed to be able to break windows and burn down buildings just because I oppose Donald Trump .
Carmichael : Right .
So the mayor was outraged that the federal troops were there to protect private property .
Carmichael : If the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would anybody want to own private property in downtown Portland .
Leahy : Nobody would want to .
Here ’ s what is going on in Oregon .
Did you see this ?
The counties in Eastern Oregon want to leave the state and join Idaho because the people in Idaho are not crazy .
Carmichael : Do they have anything in the Oregon Constitution or the formation of Oregon as a state that gives them the right to do that ?
Leahy : I think there is a right but the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oppose it have typically and when this has come up in California and other states they ’ ve been able to thwart it .
Carmichael : Let me suggest a better idea .
Carmichael : The better idea is for the people of the Eastern part of Oregon to vote to form a separate state .
That way they have two senators and at least one member of Congress .
Because if Washington , D.C. should become a state as tiny as it is then many states could be a state .
Cookeville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be another state .
Leahy : We should take Tennessee and break it up into five states right ?
Carmichael : And make Nashville and Memphis and one state combined .
Leahy : There you go .
( Laughter ) Carmichael : By the way , this is how the left now sees things .
They are going to want to pack the court by increasing the number of justices .
Now here ’ s a question for you , but I don ’ t think there is an answer .
Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the House , Senate , and the Presidency .
Carmichael : And they decide to increase the number of justices by five .
And then in 2024 after the Democrats had just dam near destroyed the country the Republicans take back control .
Could Congress pass a bill signed by the President that reduces it to nine and says the last five members are off the court ?
Leahy : I don ’ t see why not .
I don ’ t see why not because of the way the constitution is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of members is determined by Congress .
Carmichael : In fact what would really be interesting is if we know we want 7 .
We want seven .
( Leahy chuckles ) Here are the seven that will leave .
So if there are seven liberals on the court and they want them to be gone and they reduce them to seven .
That just shows you how political this is .
You see the old stories in school how the little kid is bullied and punches the bully in the nose and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullying the person .
I don ’ t know if that ’ s true all the time but it happens in movies a lot .
Like in the Equalizer with Denzel Washington stands up , the Equalizer wins .
So you wonder , at what point do Republicans start playing the same tactics .
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 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio to discuss the media , re-opening schools in the fall , and the chaos in Portland , Oregon .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet’ Delayed Indefinitely by Virus

NEW YORK , New York ( AP ) — Christopher Nolan ’ s “ Tenet , ” which had hoped to herald Hollywood ’ s return to big theatrical releases , has yet again postponed its release due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Warner Bros. said Monday that “ Tenet ” will not make its August 12 release date .
Unlike previous delays , the studio this time didn ’ t announce a new target for the release of Nolan ’ s much-anticipated $ 200 million thriller .
“ Tenet ” had already shifted from July 17 , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nolan , a staunch advocate for the big-screen experience , has strenuously hoped that “ Tenet ” could lead the resumption of nationwide and global moviegoing .
But the surge of the virus across much of the U.S. has upended the industry ’ s aims for even a late-August return .
Last week , California ordered its cinemas closed .
Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich said the studio will soon share a new “ 2020 release date ” for “ Tenet.
” It may be a much different rollout , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are not treating ‘ Tenet ’ like a traditional global day-and-date release , and our upcoming marketing and distribution plans will reflect that , ” said Emmerich .
Emmerich said the pandemic ’ s spread has forced the studio to reevaluate its plans .
Warner Bros. also shifted the horror sequel “ The Conjuring 3″ from Sept. 11 to June 4 , 2021 .
“ Our goals throughout this process have been to ensure the highest odds of success for our films while also being ready to support our theater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they could safely reopen , ” said Emmerich .
“ We ’ re grateful for the support we ’ ve received from exhibitors and remain steadfast in our commitment to the theatrical experience around the world.
” Other films have planned their releases partially around the launch of “ Tenet.
” Walt Disney Co. ’ s “ Mulan ” remains scheduled for theatrical release on Aug. 21 .
Movie theaters remain in a precarious limbo .
Without new releases , U.S. indoor theaters and drive-ins that are open have played mostly older films @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Before the recent spike in the coronavirus crisis , theater chains have sought to assure moviegoers with protocols like limiting theaters to 25-50 % capacity and cleaning seats in between showings .
But months of closed theaters and no new product has put enormous pressure on an already stressed business .
AMC Theaters , the world ’ s largest chain , recently reached a debt deal to help itself remain solvent .
AMC has been aiming to reopen most locations July 30 .
Cineworld , which owns Regal Cinemas , had set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coyle is a reporter at The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : This image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment shows Elizabeth Debicki , left , and John David Washington in a scene from “ Tenet.
” The film , which had hoped to herald Hollywood ’ s return to big theatrical releases , has yet again postponed its release due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Warner Bros. said Monday that “ Tenet ” will not make its August 12 release date .
And unlike previous delays , the studio this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target for the release of Nolan ’ s much-anticipated $ 200 million thriller .
( Melinda Sue Gordon/Warner Bros. Entertainment via AP )

by Tom Joyce
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is leading a group of 21 attorneys general in an amicus brief regarding federal immigration law.
The attorneys general are asking the Supreme Court of the United States to uphold a federal statute to enforce federal immigration law in United States v. Hansen.
“In the middle of this man-made disaster at our southern border, we need every tool and law available,” Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said in a press release. “The last thing we need is anyone incentivizing migrants to come here illegally and further straining our social safety net. Border communities are being overwhelmed by the influx of people.”
A grand jury charged California resident Helaman Hansen with multiple crimes in 2017 for scamming hundreds of noncitizens out of more than $1 million by promising them a nonexistent path to citizenship.
According to the release, Hansen was charged under a federal statute for encouraging people to come to the United States illegally for “commercial advantage or private financial gain,” according to the release.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals then struck down the statute arguing that the words “encourage” and “induce,” in the law are too broad.
General Brnovich and the attorneys general argue in their amicus brief that the Ninth Circuit decision jeopardizes the constitutionality of criminal law in all 50 states. They worry that the decision may cause other state and federal courts to invalidate existing criminal laws.
The other attorneys general who signed the brief is from the states of: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
– – –
Tom Joyce is a contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “Mark Brnovich” by Mark Brnovich. Background Photo “U.S. Supreme Court” by AscendedAnathema. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Alex Trebek Expects to Mark Two-Year Cancer Survival in 2021

LOS ANGELES , California ( AP ) — Alex Trebek says he ’ s responding exceptionally well to treatment for pancreatic cancer and expects to mark his two-year survival next February .
His doctor has said he ’ s counting on that milestone , the “ Jeopardy !
” host said , “ so I expect to be around ‘ cause he said I will be around .
And I expect to be hosting the show if I am around.
” Tests evaluating his progress show “ I ’ m on the right track , ” Trebek told ABC News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview that was conducted last week at his home and aired Monday .
Trebek turns 80 on Wednesday .
After interviewer T.J. Holmes told Trebek he looked and sounded great , the TV host drolly replied : “ Here I am , folks .
Eat me up.
” The experimental immunotherapy treatment Trebek is receiving is the same used by former Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada in his fight against pancreatic cancer , “ Good Morning America ” said .
In June , the 80-year-old Reid said his disease is in remission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights leader John Lewis lost his six-month battle with the disease at age 80 .
Trebek said he ’ s had difficult days , calling his wife , Jean , a “ saint ” for her unwavering support as he ’ s faced moments of sadness and depression .
His memoir , “ The Answer Is … Reflections On My Life , ” will be published Tuesday .
Its proceeds will go to charity , Trebek said .
He has been host of “ Jeopardy !
” since 1984 .
The quiz show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus , plans to resume taping for its September return in a few weeks if state and local government restrictions aimed at controlling the virus ’ spread allow .
About the Headline Photo : This image released by Jeopardy !
shows Alex Trebek , host of the game show “ Jeopardy !
” Trebek ’ s memoir , “ The Answer Is… : Reflections on My Life , ” will be released on Tuesday , July 21 .
( Jeopardy !
via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Zuckerberg Mocks Conspiracy Theory Suggesting He Forged a Secret Deal with Trump as ‘Pretty Ridiculo

Zuckerberg Mocks Conspiracy Theory Suggesting He Forged a Secret Deal with Trump as ‘Pretty Ridiculous’

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg dismissed speculation that he and President Donald Trump have come to an understanding in an interview published Monday .
“ I ’ ve heard this speculation , too , so let me be clear : There ’ s no deal of any kind , ” Zuckerberg said in an interview with Axios published Monday .
He was addressing rumors that Facebook has held back on removing Trump ’ s content because Zuckerberg and the administration have a secret deal .
“ Actually , the whole idea of a deal is pretty ridiculous , ” Zuckerberg said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ben Smith published a column June 21 in which he asked : “ Did Mr. Trump and Mr. Zuckerberg reach some kind of accommodation ?
” Smith cited an October dinner between Zuckerberg , Trump , and Facebook board member Peter Thiel as reason to speculate about a potential deal .
Zuckerberg also responded to reports about the White House ’ s dinner invitation .
“ I accepted the invite for dinner because I was in town and he is the president of the United States , ” Zuckerberg told Axios .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I also had multiple meals and meetings with President Obama … both at the White House and outside , including hosting an event for him at Facebook HQ.
” Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts railed against the Facebook CEO for dining with Trump .
“ Amid antitrust scrutiny , Facebook is going on a charm offensive with Republican lawmakers , ” Warren told her Twitter followers in a November 2019 tweet .
“ And now , Mark Zuckerberg and one of Facebook ’ s board members — a major Trump donor — had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is corruption , plain and simple.
” Facebook has removed at least five of Trump ’ s ads since 2018 for copyright violations , among other issues , Axios reported .
Zuckerberg also criticized the president ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic in a July 17 Facebook live interview with Anthony Fauci , the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases .
Zuckerberg also recently dismissed the impact of an advertiser-led boycott targeting Facebook , reportedly telling staff during a June 26 meeting that he does not intend on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups .
“ You know , we don ’ t technically set our policies because of any pressure that people apply to us , ” Zuckerberg told employees , according to a July 2 report from The Information , which obtained a transcript of the meeting .
Advertisers have joined boycotts the company aimed at pressuring Facebook into applying more rigorous policies against hate speech and misinformation to Trump .
The White House declined to comment after the Daily Caller News Foundation reached out for comment .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--US Attorney Fired by Trump Administration Awarded a Professorship at Stanford Law

Stanford Law School welcomed a former Manhattan federal prosecutor to a visiting professorship for the fall semester after he was fired by President Donald Trump in June .
Geoffrey S. Berman received his law degree from Stanford Law in 1984 and will return as a visiting professor to teach an elective course titled “ Prosecutorial Discretion and Ethical Duties in the Enforcement of Federal Criminal Law , ” the school announced in a Wednesday press release .
The former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York , Berman will draw from his own experiences as a federal prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me and a great many of my peers a passion and respect for public service , and I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to return to share my experiences as a prosecutor with a new generation of students , ” Berman said .
Berman ’ s course will explore how prosecutors make decisions regarding the enforcement of federal criminal laws , including how they determine the crimes they charge , whether or not to charge , and which punishment to administer .
In June , Trump removed Berman from his position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following investigations conducted by the attorney ’ s office regarding individuals with whom the president worked closely .
Berman ’ s office imprisoned the president ’ s former personal lawyer , Michael Cohen , according to reporting from the New York Times , and has investigated other Trump associates , including the president ’ s current lawyer Rudy Giuliani .
Berman formally resigned on June 20 , after a standoff with Attorney General William Barr , who announced in a Department of Justice press release that the prosecutor was stepping down .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resign , saying he had no intention of leaving his position , at which point Barr told Berman that the president had fired him and would be temporarily replacing him with his own deputy , Audrey Strauss .
Approving the choice of Strauss as his replacement , Berman agreed to resign from his position , the New York Times reported .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Tennessee State Executive Committeewoman Michelle Foreman With NoTax4Nash Updates Status of Signed P

Tennessee State Executive Committeewoman Michelle Foreman With NoTax4Nash Updates Status of Signed Petitions

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 Tennessee State Executive Committeewoman Michelle Foreman to the newsmakers line and who is involved with the petition to recall of Mayor John Cooper through the NoTax4Nash initiative in Nashville .
During the second hour Foreman gave updates on the signed petitions and how many more were needed .
She added that should the initiative be unsuccessful that she and Nashville attorney Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
Leahy : We are joined now by our very good friend Michelle Foreman who is the head of NoTax4Nash which is the recall program that ’ s trying to recall Mayor John Cooper .
Good norming Michelle .
Foreman : Good morning Michael .
Thanks for having me this morning .
Leahy : We are delighted to have you on .
Bring us up to speed with your recall efforts at NoTax4Nash.com .
Foreman : Sure .
I ’ d love to .
We had a final event yesterday down by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do a lot of advertising for that because of rallies , protests going on and Black Lives Matter , and other organizations that has been causing conflict downtown .
We had that event and put it on our Facebook page and kept it under the radar .
But we wanted people to come out and bring their petitions .
What we didn ’ t expect all the media channels to be there .
So this is a really really big deal .
Several hundred people showed up to either sign or bring their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event was over we were probably sorting till about midnight last night .
Foreman : We were up really late last night .
So we sorted and then from there we have one of the last groups of signatures to give to our verification and count team .
This morning we ’ ll get some more from some of our standing locations and then I ’ ll check the mail .
Then we ’ ll have and we will give us a final count that we ’ ll be getting from our team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We don ’ t have an exact number but we know we are really close .
I would love to give you some updates as far as what has happened at early voting locations and where we have collected petitions if I could .
Foreman : We ’ ve had some things as far as our mail .
You ’ ll find this interesting .
I went to the post office a few days ago to collect some mail because I hadn ’ t been getting it in as anticipated .
The clerk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me that I ’ d been getting tons of mail .
I said well I was .
And I told her my mailbox is empty .
So she had this puzzled look on her face and she went back to my mailbox and came back and said there is a note on here that no mail needs to be delivered to this box that has your last name on it .
And I thought wow .
Really ?
We knew we would have some opposition but I never expected to hear that from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Whoa whoa whoa .
Is the mail not being delivered to you ?
Foreman : It was not being delivered .
Leahy : Where is the mail ?
Foreman : That ’ s what I asked .
I know that some were being put aside .
So it may have been returned to the sender .
I should have known .
I said , well if you would go back and check and see if there is any mail back there I would love to have it .
And she came back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was about half full .
And I thought no .
There has probably been a lot of mail being returned to sender .
At this point , it was just par for the course .
And so I told the team that it ’ s something to think about .
When you do something like this against the government or any entity where you are fighting back for justice and you can expect a lot of foul play and it looks like there was some mail tampering .
Leahy : I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t delivered .
This is a PO Box with a number correct ?
Leahy : And what does the PO Box say ?
Does it say NoTax4Nash .
Foreman : It does say NoTax4Nash .
And when I put that mail there it ’ s from another existing mailbox which was mine so I understand that .
When I saw the mail carrier he filled out the information and he says this is what ’ s going to be put on the mailbox and it was .
So about a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We expected it to ramp up as the coverage ramped up .
But that ’ s not what happened .
So finally when I asked like I said , the mail clerk came back and told me about the note that was on there that no mail was to be put in that mailbox unless it had my last name on it .
And I was just floored .
Leahy : Are you taking action and filing a complaint with the postal service ?
Foreman : We will absolutely do that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know that this happened to the Tennessee GOP ?
Leahy : I did not know that .
Foreman : Yes .
( Chuckles ) even though this was not technically Republican related .
It ’ s a non-partisan effort .
But of course , it ’ s to recall the mayor and the Metro Council .
It will be interesting what comes of this .
Leahy : Let me ask you this .
What ’ s the timeline for this ?
How many signatures do you need to have ?
When do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreman : We need to have 68,000 signatures for the mayor and the council members-at-large .
We need to have those turned in by the close of business today .
We know that we ’ ll close that exact number .
We have a count team that will have that .
I don ’ t have that information .
But we really feel like we ’ re close .
We really do .
Leahy : But if you turn in like 70,000 petitions , do you think you might turn in 70-75,000 something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what , it ’ s hard to say .
If we come under that 68,000 again when you are looking at a petition that comes in for the ones that aren ’ t in yet we are wondering if they have one signature or do they have 30 signatures on them .
Because so many that come in have 30 .
It ’ s determined on what is mailed in and how many signatures are on it .
And it ’ s been difficult to tell .
We look at how many folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve had over 200,000 people to go to that page .
So for those petitions not to be turned in , we really question what has been going on .
So we ’ ll see .
We will see .
Leahy : But if you turn in 75,000 and you need 68,000 , the odds that they ’ ll find a reason to throw out a good chunk of them are probably pretty high right ?
Foreman : Absolutely .
I would expect that they would do everything that they possibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fails .
Leahy : When will you find out ?
How long do they have to count the signatures you turned in ?
Foreman : I didn ’ t see anything in the charter that tells us they have a certain deadline to meet the count .
What I do know is that once the signatures are verified the has 90 days to schedule and conduct the recall election .
But that ’ s a good question that we wondered .
How long is it going to take to counter these ?
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How long could it be ?
A month ?
A week ?
How long do you think ?
Foreman : We ’ ve tried to stay on top of this as far as verification and counting .
It is an arduous process .
It takes a long long time .
So it has taken us a month just to try and stay on top of what we have .
I don ’ t know many people they have at the election commission and what their process is to verify the signatures .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a name , signature , and address .
But it finally got to the point Michael where we couldn ’ t verify them and we just needed to get them to the count teams and get them counted .
Leahy : But you think you have a reasonable shot to be above the 68,000 signature threshold today ?
Foreman : We could .
We absolutely could .
If for any reason we do not make that we already have plan B. Foreman : I would love to tell you the particulars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Is it top secret for a while ?
Foreman : There are always chances for the opposition to foil the plan .
And we know that .
We know that .
But what we want to make sure people understand is this doesn ’ t end here .
There is no ending right here .
If for some reason we don ’ t reach that signature threshold we go into plan B.I will keep you posted on that .
Leahy : Will you be putting a press release out with the count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Good good .
We will report it .
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 .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Now Dead, ‘Men’s Rights’ Lawyer Roy Den Hollander Is the Prime Suspect in the Shooting of New Jersey

Now Dead, ‘Men’s Rights’ Lawyer Roy Den Hollander Is the Prime Suspect in the Shooting of New Jersey Judge’s Family

A self-described “ anti-feminist ” lawyer found dead in the Catskills of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound is considered the prime suspect in the shooting of a federal judge ’ s family in New Jersey , the FBI said Monday .
Roy Den Hollander ( pictured above ) , who received media attention including appearances on Fox News and Comedy Central for lawsuits challenging perceived infringements of “ men ’ s rights , ” was found dead Monday in Sullivan County , New York , two officials with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press .
The FBI said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the attack ” and confirmed he had been pronounced dead but provided no other details .
A day earlier , a gunman posing as a FedEx delivery person went to the North Brunswick , New Jersey , home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas , and started shooting , wounding her husband , the defense lawyer Mark Anderl , and killing her son , Daniel Anderl .
Salas was at home but in another part of the house and was unharmed , said the officials , who could not discuss an ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on condition of anonymity .
Den Hollander had a gender-equity lawsuit , filed in 2015 , that was being heard by Salas involving a young woman who wanted to register for the military draft .
He also mentioned the judge in writings posted online , deriding her as a ladder climber who traded on her Hispanic heritage to get ahead .
A package addressed to Salas was found along with Den Hollander ’ s body , the officials said .
In a screed Den Hollander posted online , he also wrote of posing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a young girl , the same tactic the gunman apparently used at the door to the judge ’ s family home .
Den Hollander was best known in years past for unsuccessful lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of “ ladies night ” promotions at bars and nightclubs .
His litigation , and willingness to appear on television , earned him spots on The Colbert Report and MSNBC .
Daniel Anderl , Salas ’ son , was set to be heading back shortly to The Catholic University of America in Washington , D.C. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s List this spring .
“ I was shocked last night to hear news of Daniel Anderl ’ s tragic death Sunday evening in New Jersey .
Daniel was a rising junior , enrolled for classes beginning in the next few weeks , ” university President John Garvey wrote on Twitter .
“ He turned 20 last week.
” Salas , seated in Newark , was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed in 2011 .
Prior to that , she served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in New Jersey , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several years .
In more than 2,000 pages of often misogynistic , racist writings , Den Hollander criticized Salas ’ life story of being abandoned by her father and raised by her poor mother as “ the usual effort to blame a man and turn someone into super girl.
” In another section — part of a collection posted online that resembled an early draft of a memoir — he wrote : “ When a lunatic shows up with a gun , what do you want for a defense—PC ideology or a six-shooter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point to a possible connection to the area where he was found dead .
He described going to a family cabin in the Catskills community of Beaverkill , about 40 minutes by car from Liberty .
Salas , born in California to a Cuban immigrant mother and Mexican father , spent most of her childhood in Union City , New Jersey .
After helping her family escape a devastating house fire , she acted as her mother ’ s translator and advocate , foreshadowing her career in law as she argued her family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a 2018 magazine profile .
In the profile , Salas spoke of her son possibly following his parents into the legal profession .
“ He ’ s been arguing with us since he could talk — practicing his advocacy skills , ” Salas told New Jersey Monthly .
“ I don ’ t want to dissuade him , but I was pulling for a doctor.
” Several college friends had spent the weekend visiting Daniel for his birthday , leaving just hours before the shooting , neighbor Marion Costanza said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see their friend again .
Then to think of Esther losing her only child .
It ’ s just devastating , ” said Constanza , a lawyer who watched Daniel grow up , and had dinner plans this coming week with his parents .
“ I want the world to know what a beautiful kid this was , ” she said .
“ It ’ s just devastating.
” She said that Salas a few years ago “ was a little nervous because she was getting high-profile cases , ” but had not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw Mark Anderl walking the family ’ s two large dogs on Saturday .
Just last week , Salas was appointed to hear an ongoing lawsuit brought by Deutsche Bank investors who claim the company made false and misleading statements about its anti-money laundering policies and failed to monitor “ high-risk ” customers including convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein .
Her highest-profile case in recent years was the financial fraud case involving husband-and-wife “ Real Housewives of New Jersey ” reality TV stars Teresa and Joe Giudice , whom Salas sentenced to prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evasion .
Salas staggered their sentences so that one of them could be available to take care of their four children .
In 2017 , she barred federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against an alleged gang leader charged in several Newark slayings , ruling the man ’ s intellectual disability made him ineligible for capital punishment .
Salas later sentenced the man to 45 years in prison .
Attorney General William Barr said in a statement Monday that the FBI and the U.S .
Marshals will continue investigating the shooting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , evil action carried out against a member of the federal judiciary will not be tolerated.
” Maryclaire Dale and Mike Balsamo are reporters at The Associated Press .
AP reporter David Porter contributed to this report .
Sisak reported from New York and Balsamo reported from Washington , D.C. Photo “ Roy Den Hollander ” by Roy Den Hollender .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Manny Sethi Challenges Bill Hagerty to a Debate

U.S. Senate candidate Manny Sethi on Monday invited opponent Bill Hagerty to join him for a public debate on major issues .
Sethi said this in an emailed statement to the media and on his campaign ’ s Facebook page .
It 's time for Bill Hagerty to stop hiding behind his deceitful commercials , and come debate me .
Voters deserve to hear the differences between us .
Mr .
Ambassador , I think it 's time to be a man and come debate me .
# MannyvstheMachine It 's time for Bill Hagerty to stop hiding behind his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Voters deserve to hear the differences between us .
Mr .
Ambassador , I think it 's time to be a man and come debate me .
# MannyvsTheMachine Posted by Dr. Manny Sethi for Senate on Monday , July 20 , 2020 “ Early voting has begun , and voters want to hear directly from Ambassador Hagerty and myself , discussing our differences , ” Sethi said .
“ It ’ s simple , it ’ s time for Ambassador Hagerty to debate .
This is a tight race , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last few months , most folks haven ’ t been able to hear from the candidates directly .
This is a great way to allow that to happen , so they can make an educated and informed choice .
I look forward to debating him soon.
” Campaign Chair Chris Devaney , meanwhile , said Hagerty “ should stop hiding behind his Super PAC ’ s false attack ads and face Dr. Sethi like a man.
” Hagerty campaign spokeswoman Abigail Sigler emailed the following statement to The Tennessee Star Monday : As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hagerty on Friday described opponent Manny Sethi as a less than true conservative who , on one occasion , donated to ActBlue .
ActBlue , according to its website , assists leftist causes .
Hagerty said this after he arrived at the Bellevue Library to vote early for the primary election .
Hagerty said he is “ the true conservative that is running for office ” who worked to elect U.S. President Donald Trump in 2016 .
“ I volunteered full-time for six months when nobody else was supporting President Trump , certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t lift a finger .
He didn ’ t donate a dime back in 2016 to help President Trump get elected , ” Hagerty said .
“ Now that it ’ s politically convenient , he can fake himself into a conservative position and he can act like he supports President Trump today but not when it was tough .
Not back in 2016 when we had to get elected .
Tennesseans need to know that I am the only true conservative in this race.
” You have a person in Manny Sethi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds Black Lives Matter and supports Nancy Pelosi trying to take down Republicans across this nation .
They support tearing down our statues , defunding and dismantling the police , and burning our flag .
I couldn ’ t imagine a conservative Tennessean donating one penny to ActBlue , but Manny Sethi did .
Federal Election Commission filings show that Sethi donated to ActBlue in April 2008 .
Specifically , Sethi donated $ 50 to Democrat Congressional candidate Tom Peirrelo in 2008 through ActBlue .
Perriello won , and served a single term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Soros ’ s Open Society Foundation .
Sethi Campaign Manager Forrest Barnwell-Hagemeyer acknowledged that Sethi donated to the group .
But Barnwell-Hagemeyer said Hagerty also donated to people whom conservatives don ’ t hold in high regard .
“ Bill Hagerty is attacking Dr. Manny Sethi for giving $ 50 to a family friend , meanwhile Hagerty gave $ 100,000 to Mitt Romney , donated to Al Gore , and Hagerty ’ s company made millions off Common Core , ” Barnwell-Hagemeyer said to The Tennessee Star in an email .
Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Commentary: Time to Adopt a ‘Second Tower’ Mentality

Few who were alive at the time can forget the moment the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City .
Over the intervening 18 minutes , people remarked that there were 10,000 people in those buildings on any given workday .
And some talked about a B-25 that crashed into the Empire State Building in dense fog in 1945 .
Nearly all were wondering how those kinds of accidents can still happen in the 21st century .
In those tense minutes , everyone knew something was terribly wrong , but they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second plane hit the South Tower , everyone suddenly had a Second Tower Mentality .
They didn ’ t need to hear about the Pentagon or Flight 93 or see reports about who Al-Qaeda and the Taliban were .
That would come later .
All knew when that second plane hit – America was under attack .
Many feel precisely the same way today : Americans and our Constitutional Republic are under attack .
But not from strange foreign adversaries with names that took practice to pronounce .
Instead , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” right here at home—household names like CNN , Nancy Pelosi , Seattle Mayor Durkan , California Gov .
Newsom , your local faceless city council members , Soros-selected district attorneys , and the usual suspects of academics , race hustlers , and deep state operatives at all levels of government .
Just like Al-Qaeda , they are working to rob you of the blessings of your birthright , your Liberty , your livelihood .
Their goal is to : destroy your safety and security ; burn down our nation ; erase Western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life so they can enforce their tyrannical form of government in a socialized world without borders .
We are under attack .
A mere five months ago , we had a roaring economy .
A bottom-up economic boom , by which all boats were being floated .
The average American saw their wages grow for the first time in two decades .
All minorities were seeing rising economic stability , and black American unemployment was at an all-time low .
All while America was disentangling itself from costly mistakes abroad and getting our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Democrat party had just put on three sideshows—their debates , the unsuccessful Russian hoax debacle , and failed impeachment .
Some traditional Democrat interest groups were already looking favorably upon the Trump economy and sincerely asking themselves : yeah , so what do I have to lose ?
While other Democrat interest groups like Wall Street , the Deep State , RINO Republicans , entertainment industry personalities , big tech corporate executives , media , and academia all knew they were going to be more soundly defeated November 2020 than they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their weapons having failed them , they needed a new one .
For them , something had to be done , and done fast , to destroy the freest country and the most powerful force for good in the history of humanity .
And then it happened .
The Left weaponized Covid-19 .
For the first time in 243 years , through yellow fever outbreaks in the 1790s , the War of 1812 , economic depressions , and two world wars , the Federal , State , and local governments were diabolically deceived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their homes .
Everyone agreed to do their part to flatten the curve of the SAVS-Cov2 pandemic .
The nation needed time to build up PPE , ventilator , and ER bed capacity .
By the end of April 2020 , it was Mission Accomplished .
Yes , deaths were already being recorded due to the virus itself , although it is important to note that not a single American has died from a lack of medical equipment .
But hundreds or thousands more have also died because of social impact of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being addressed , suicides brought on by the economic devastation of the shutdown , etc .
All of this occurred while Americans were ready to meet the challenge of the virus inevitably washing through the population , with herd immunity getting us past this pandemic .
At the same time , the Federal government spent the near equivalent of its entire annual Federal budget on a “ relief ” plan and began jamming cash into people ’ s bank accounts whether they asked for it or not .
During WWII , the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Civil War , our government had to sell war bonds to continue to pay its bills and fight the threat .
Today ?
Borrowing three trillion dollars and handing it out to people has become acceptable in America .
After fighting creeping socialism for a century , it was installed by the Federal Government in a matter of 10 days .
Schools and universities closed .
Airlines , hotels , and restaurants shut down , all with a guarantee from the Federal Government that the taxpayer would make them whole .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government wants in exchange for all that ?
How dare you ask that !
We ’ re saving millions of lives !
Don ’ t be selfish .
Just comply .
And then things took an even darker turn .
By order of faceless city-council persons and state officials whose names many people heard for the first time , the power-drunk bureaucrats seized the opportunity to put a chokehold on the American economy and the American people .
And then they unleashed the Hounds of Hell upon us .
They swung open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The more demented among them eliminated bail and installed revolving-door justice—making sure none were ever going back to prison .
Religious Liberty suffered a devastating blow as Churchgoers were ticketed for worshiping , while those who burned and vandalized churches were celebrated as social justice warriors .
No arrests were made while many stunned Americans remained silently curled up in the fetal position as opposed to standing up like our forefathers .
Local bureaucrats illegitimately ordered their police to stand down or to leave the scene altogether as devout , admitted communists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The media adopted Joseph Goebbels ’ s “ Big Lie Theory , ” endlessly repeating the mantra that the beatings and bodies on the streets and flames were engulfing buildings before our eyes were “ mostly peaceful protest.
” The roving thugs seized private and public property to deface and destroy it , all to cheers from the mob and praise from news anchors .
Violent criminal bands stopped cars , banged on their hoods and windows with bats and bike locks , trapping terrified people in their cars .
They were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat of violence , tantamount to kidnapping .
One group even locked down and held hostage an entire six-block area of Seattle .
At the same time , the city ’ s Mayor who withheld police praised the mob and cheered them on—along with Democrats , the media , and academia .
And the latest ?
The St. Louis couple , the McCloskeys , who were set upon in their home by a violent mob that broke into their neighborhood , trespassed on their property and threatened to kill them and their dog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police .
Meanwhile , the mob that attacked them are being made out as heroes , and the St. Louis prosecutor is considering filing charges against the McCloskeys .
For what crime ?
Apparently , they have not figured it out yet .
But that is immaterial .
The McCloskeys ’ home is only ten miles from Ferguson , Missouri , where Michael Brown assaulted an armed police officer and got himself killed for his trouble .
These incidents may have been geographically close , but the Federal Government ’ s response couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Obama Justice Department immediately deployed a team of Civil Rights Division investigators who launched a six-month investigation into abuses by local police .
But the current US Justice Department ’ s response to the city ’ s questionable actions of searching the McCloskeys ’ home and seizing their legally owned firearm ?
The Civil Rights Division can ’ t be bothered about the McCloskeys ’ potential Constitutional Rights violation .
They are not even lifting a finger .
So , are you still in a First Tower Mentality about the bizarre and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Revolutionary inspired events that have been happening around you these past five months ?
Or have you had your Second Tower Moment yet ?
The inescapable conclusion that we are under attack by Enemies Domestic .
Whatever your mindset : we are under attack by enemies Domestic .
Only the truth is the mortal enemy to the lies permeating the American culture today .
Does the blood of our Founders and some two million veterans who died securing Freedom and Liberty still course through Americans veins ?
Has it become so diluted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bequeathed to us that Americans will now remain as ordered , cowering in place , curled up in the fetal potion relieved that at least , “ they haven ’ t come for me yet ” ?
This is the “ Second Tower ” question all Americans must individually answer for themselves .
Lawrence Allen is the author of four books , including “ Tree of Liberty : Trilogy , ” winner of Let ’ s Just Talk Radio ’ s 2014 Best Political Thriller Award .
He speaks on topics of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called “ The History You Don ’ t Know , ” which shows the parallels between China ’ s Communist Era and the Modern American Left .
They are causing havoc in our country today .
His website is : www.treeoflibertyusa.com Dr. William Scott Magillis the executive director of Veterans in Defense of Liberty ( ViDoL ) .
He served with the United States Marine Corps 1965-1971 , with the United States Army Medical Corps 1981-1988 , and with the Denver Police Dept .
1970-1976 .
He obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Health Care Administration Trinity University in San Antonio , and a medical degree from The University of Health Sciences in Kansas City .
Dr. Magill matriculated his residency in Ob/Gyn at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu and served as the Chief of Ob/Gyn at Irwin Army Hospital Ft. Riley Kansas .
He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology .
He was until recently a practicing Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Springfield , Missouri , for 21 years .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Guidance for Masks in Schools Varies Widely Across US States

DES MOINES , Iowa ( AP ) — School districts that plan to reopen classrooms in the fall are wrestling with whether to require teachers and students to wear face masks — an issue that has divided urban and rural schools and yielded widely varying guidance .
The divide has also taken on political dimensions in Iowa , among other places , where Democratic-leaning cities like Des Moines and Iowa City have required masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus , while smaller , more conservative communities have left the decision to parents .
“ It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , superintendent in Ottumwa , a district in the state ’ s southeast corner with 4,700 students .
“ You have to be very sensitive and realize there are lots of perspectives.
” McGrory said it would have been easier if state health officials had issued specific rules , but since that did not happen , the district gave weight to the state Education Department ’ s recommendation against a mask requirement .
Many states are calling for teachers to wear masks , including Alaska , Connecticut , California , Maine , Massachusetts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevada , Ohio , Utah and Washington .
Some will require masks for students .
Many other states are leaving the decision to local officials .
Dr .
Rob Murphy , an infectious disease expert at Northwestern University , said from a medical perspective , it should be an easy choice : Wear a mask in school .
Schools should take other steps , too , including reducing class sizes , limiting contact sports and screening students and teachers before they enter school buildings , Murphy said .
But a first and essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Murphy , who called the current lack of direction a “ no plan plan.
” “ This is how ridiculous the whole situation is .
It ’ s all over the place , ” Murphy said .
“ There ’ s a lack of any continuity to this .
There ’ s nobody at the wheel.
” Even among health experts , there are disagreements .
Many districts point to a recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics , which urges school officials to encourage but not require face coverings .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to school and notes that coverings can impede learning for some children .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended students and teachers wear masks whenever feasible .
Other countries where schools have reopened have stopped short of mandating masks for all students .
In France , public schools reopened briefly before a summer break , with no sign of widespread virus transmission .
Masks were only required for upper grades , but students stayed in the same classroom all day .
In Norway , nursery schools reopened first , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in smaller groups that stay together all day .
Masks were not required .
Iowa ’ s largely rural Western Dubuque Community School District will let students and their parents choose .
Superintendent Rick Colpitts has heard the arguments for face coverings , but he also hears from people who are opposed .
“ It ’ s a lose-lose situation , ” Colpitts said .
“ We tried to take the political piece out of it , but there ’ s no way to make everyone happy.
” Iowa is among many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to local school officials .
The state Education Department ’ s recommendation against a mask requirement was based on the idea that a mandate would lead to a host of questions about what face coverings are acceptable , how the rules would be enforced and what exceptions could be made .
“ There are just so many things that go into it , ” Iowa Gov .
Kim Reynolds , a Republican , said in explaining why she opposes a school mask requirement .
“ If somebody wears the same mask for seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it out , is it actually doing what it ’ s supposed to be doing ?
Who ’ s going to monitor that ?
” To Lily Eskelsen Garcia , president of the National Education Association , the lack of mask requirements and other safety rules is “ a formula for chaos.
” Claire Hanson , who teaches 8th grade English in North Liberty , Iowa , sympathizes with concerns that face coverings would be hard for young children but thinks it ’ s still the best option .
“ Do you understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not a mask of terror .
They will get through it , ” Hanson said .
In Connecticut , officials have said they expect to include “ mask breaks ” throughout the day , especially for special-needs students .
Schools also must provide masks for students who don ’ t have one .
Kasey Barrett said she ’ s worried about how the pandemic ’ s social isolation is affecting her 4-year-old , Harper , who has not been able to play with her friends since March .
She said she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Old Saybrook , Connecticut , in the fall , but believes her daughter can manage a mask .
“ It might come off at some point during the day .
And as a 4-year-old , she probably will need redirection from the teacher , ” she said .
“ But then , if she sees other kids taking it off , will she take it off ?
” DeAnna Strethers , whose youngest daughter attends high school in State Center , Iowa , said she understands parents who want to make their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ m not a big government type of person .
I do not like my government telling me that you have to do this or can ’ t do that , ” she said .
“ But personally , I think masks are smart.
” Scott McFetridge is a reporter at The Associated Press .
AP writers David Pitt in Urbandale , Iowa ; Grant Schulte in Omaha , Nebraska ; Pat Eaton-Robb in Hartford , Connecticut ; Joshua Housing and Brian P.D .
Hannon in Phoenix ; Desiree Mathurin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago contributed to this story .
About the Headline Photo : In this July 14 , 2020 , file photo , amid concerns of the spread of COVID-19 , Aiden Trabucco , right , wears a mask as he raises his hand to answer a question behind Anthony Gonzales during a summer STEM camp at Wylie High School in Wylie , Texas .
School districts that plan to reopen classrooms in the fall are wrestling with whether to require teachers and students to wear face masks — an issue that has divided urban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance .
( AP Photo/LM Otero , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Commentary: Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence

Dr. Carl Sagan was one of the premier scientists when it came to trying to bridge the gap of hard science with general public understanding .
In the process , his personal enthusiasm for the wonder of science became evident to all .
He also understood that science could be hijacked and that the highest standards of evidence were required when fantastic claims were being made .
In just a few short months , the world has gone from a normal functioning society to one of extreme panic and chaos ( maybe The Twilight Zone could not have conceived of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have seen the very foundations of human existence cracked , some might say disintegrated .
There has been induced panic and hysteria , cultural and social disintegration , censorship , political hijacking , economic collapse and hardship , imposition of laws in free societies incurred beyond the usual process of lawmaking and resembling totalitarian regimes .
In short , human existence has been turned upside down .
Fortunately , there have been some zones of sanity around the world , but far too few .
The panic that has been induced has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public that SARS-COV-2 , which I will refer to simply as coronavirus , is an apocalyptic virus that will doom anyone that gets it .
This effort continues to this day .
Avoiding the virus , or run and hide , has been the major theme of the inducement .
Therefore , the message is that all of these extreme measures are necessary to save people from the horrors of the disease .
This is truly an extraordinary claim .
So , where is the extraordinary evidence ?
First , we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it seems that the collective memory of society has been lost .
Recently , the European CDC published a lengthy report updating the science and what we know about this virus and the disease .
They reported that serology studies have indicated that this pandemic could have started as early as the beginning of October 2019 .
This is significant beyond words .
While it has been assumed that this started in Wuhan , China , it is still not clear if that was the actual starting point or the catalyst for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of China and is the center for advanced technology , commerce , arts , science , and culture .
It has a population of about 17 million people .
Last fall , Wuhan was the site for many international events in the aforementioned areas .
For example , Wuhan was the site for the World Military Games ( an Olympics of sorts for military personnel ) that ran for about ten days from October 18-27 with over 9,000 competitors from over 80 countries .
What better opportunity for the spread of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many international events last fall , including the Rugby World Cup and the Women ’ s World Handball Championship ( both Japan ) , the World Track and Field Championships in Dubai , and even the PGA held a tournament in China .
Include the numerous technology , university , cultural , and other events and conferences that were conducted in Wuhan and you have a huge opportunity to export the virus to the world .
But , you do not even need all of that .
Given the great number of flights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world that occur ( or did occur ) on a daily basis , and you have people from all parts of the world as potential carriers of a virus .
By the time medical researchers in China started to take notice , it was into December .
They originally reported a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown origin and they eventually traced it to a coronavirus .
By this time , the pandemic was likely well underway in many countries but was going unnoticed .
Why ?
The symptoms mimic the other URI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also bacterial infections such as bronchitis or sinusitis , and were being treated as such .
Remember , we are still in the B.P .
( Before Panic ) period .
By the time we are ending 2019 and entering 2020 , people around the world are experiencing the disease .
Even the U.S. CDC recently said that this virus was already in the US by early January 2020 ( and quite probably before ) .
People were still going to concerts and sporting events ; kids were going to school ; people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and yes , people were getting sick .
There were probably some serious cases , just like influenza and colds , and yes , some people were dying from the disease .
Remember , at that time there was still no test for this virus .
People who were sick and seeking medical help were being diagnosed with symptoms and were quite likely being diagnosed for any URI like influenza , colds , bronchitis , or sinusitis .
Where was the extraordinary evidence ?
If this was truly an apocalyptic disease , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
By mid-January , the first testing was available .
The first testing was limited so it was not applied to the general population .
In the US , it was focused on travelers from China and very quickly the first confirmed case was found near Seattle in a person who had traveled to China for business and returned .
This was not the actual first case in the US .
This was only the first confirmed case by testing .
In fact , shortly after this , by early February , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems ; how could that be possible ?
Even so , panic had not erupted .
Life was still continuing as normal even though this virus was circulating .
During February , more cases were being confirmed .
The health agencies everywhere , Europe CDC , US CDC , Australian and British Health Authorities , Japan Ministry of Health , etc .
were all issuing the same advice to people .
If you become sick , stay at home , drink plenty of fluids , rest and take pain relievers as needed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was already becoming understood who were the at risk groups-the same as influenza .
The advice was that if symptoms worsened or you started to have breathing problems , go seek medical care .
There were no calls to mask people , only to practice common respiratory etiquette of blocking your cough or sneeze .
There were no calls for physical distancing ( and yes , physical distancing is different from social distancing ) .
During February , gradually there became an understanding that we were experiencing a pandemic but still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a typical URI pandemic .
March 2020 has become the turning point from before to after panic .
Why induce panic ?
We understood much about the virus and the disease , COVID-19 ( notice the name is for Corona Virus Disease-19 , i.e .
starting in 2019 , NOT 2020 ) , so why now ?
Was there something different ?
The answer is no .
It is well known that panic and anxiety changes the chemistry in the brain .
In fact , rational thought diminishes rapidly in a panic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to coerce populations to follow what they might normally consider to be questionable or bad policy .
A recent example in the US comes from the attacks on 9/11 .
The government used that horrible event to try and convince people that the US was going to be under more-or-less constant attack from terrorists .
The Department of Homeland Security was established .
Remember the warning color codes issued daily ?
They never fell below “ high ” and “ elevated.
” People were told that if they go to shopping centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hordes of terrorists were ready to come and cause damage .
Does this ring a bell ?
How about now , just substitute coronavirus for terrorist and you have almost the exact repetition of fear ( do it for the lines below ) .
Remember at the beginning in March , the following mantra : We are at WAR with this virus ( Nonsense , you can not fight a war against a virus ) We must unite to DEFEAT this virus ( Nonsense again , humans adapt to it and vice versa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus ( A foreboding of what was to come ) We are in this TOGETHER ( Trying to set the foundations for silencing dissenting opinion ? )
So first of all , in order to implement the horrific policies which were about to be unleashed on society , the government had to create a state of panic .
But , unlike 9/11 , when some news media questioned the premises , this time the main news media was in hook , line , and sinker and they continue still in that mode .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure and it is better left to others to decipher .
Where is the extraordinary evidence ?
Well , some people point to the death toll .
The current per capita ( pc ) death rate for COVID-19 ( about 7 per 100,000 for the world and about 36 per 100,000 in the US ) is far below that for both the Asian and Hong Kong flus of the 1950s and 60s both for the world and the US ( both about 30 per capita for the world and 44 per capita for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the world population was about half of today but over 1 million people died .
The US population was about 2/3rds of today but over 100,000 people died .
Those pandemics did not induce lockdowns , physical distancing , masks , etc .
and society and culture continued .
But , what do we know about deaths from this disease ?
Throughout the world , about 85-90 % of all death occurs with the elderly over 70 years of age , and not just any elderly , but those with problems such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , heart disease , lung disease , liver disease , or weakened immune systems .
Yet , in this elderly population over 70 , 70-90 % who experience the disease still SURVIVE .
Yes , the people most susceptible to serious disease and death actually SURVIVE more than they die .
These are numbers that one will find also with most influenza pandemics .
Further , throughout the world , about 50 % of elderly deaths occur in long-term care facilities .
Where is the extraordinary evidence ?
As a person ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe disease decreases but there is still a link to the same health risks listed above .
But , now you start adding some new demographics into the severe disease and death picture .
Two groups stand out in particular ; first , low income groups in high density population areas ( the Bronx in New York City leads the US in per capita deaths of any county with a significant population ) , and second , health care workers .
When one looks at Europe , major areas of severe disease are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or refugees ( Spain-Barcelona/Madrid ; France-Paris ; Italy-Milan ; Belgium-Brussels , etc . )
Why should this be the case ?
There are two major reasons and they are lockdown policies and viral load .
Viral load ( a term everyone should begin to understand ) and immune response are the keys for how any individual will deal with a viral respiratory infection ( the same holds true for bacterial infections , can we say “ bacterial load ?
” ) .
Viral load is just a technical way to describe the amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To understand about viral load , people need to understand how the virus works in the simplest of terms .
Outside of the body , a virus is a protein , an organic molecule that does little and can break apart under various conditions .
Influenza , coronavirus , and rhinovirus are very , very small in the natural state ( each ranging from 10-120 nanometers ) ; much smaller than a bacterial cell .
They can not be seen with an ordinary microscope and require an electron microscope .
Certainly , humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virus is present or not , until it is too late .
You can not see it , smell it , taste it , or have any other sensory perception to its presence .
It can pass through most things ( including masks ) undetected .
It can be dispersed easily with air handling systems and can land on any surface .
In short , it can be considered an environmental toxin at the nanometer scale .
The stability of these viruses in the natural environment is usually limited .
For example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 or above 10 and breaks down quickly ; UV radiation , heat , chemical oxidants such as bleach also break it down quickly .
However , on some surfaces it can survive ; for example , it has a half-life of almost 7 hours on smooth plastic ( so what is the purpose of all the plastic sheets ? )
.
What does that mean ?
Well , let ’ s say that the plastic is contaminated by 100 million virus particles .
Seven hours later there will still be 50 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there will be 25 million particles , and so on , assuming no new introduction of virus .
Since the virus survives better on some surfaces as opposed to others , infection by contact ( fomites ) can occur .
Once inside of the body , the virus is not an environmental toxin but now works as a parasite .
It will find cells that it can penetrate ( URIs target nasal , throat , and upper airways ) and once into cells , it uses that cell to manufacture more virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the body .
As more virus is produced , more cells are infected and more virus is produced , the viral load rises , just like when a factory increases its production its inventory of goods also goes up .
The human body becomes a virus production factory .
Bacteria , however , are their own production factory-they do not need human cells to reproduce .
This is why it is easier to develop antibiotics than antiviral drugs .
But , a virus works differently from bacteria in another way .
Bacteria start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each time there is growth , usually within minutes .
Viruses are more subtle ; they seem to do nothing for a period of time and then suddenly they take off .
This is probably due to the time it takes to invade the cell and start to commandeer the cell machinery for production .
Your body detects when a virus has started to go to work and generally begins to attack the virus using the immune system .
If your body has no specific antibodies for the virus , it will send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the virus ( since this coronavirus is a new version , this is what will occur ) .
The goal is to control the viral load long enough for a healthy immune system to develop specific antibodies to combat the virus directly .
At some point , these antibodies start to take over .
In a healthy person , this timing can vary from a few to several days but is usually enough to lessen the disease process and bring about a normal recovery .
The viral load can be more difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • The initial viral infection or initial viral load was high .
If you get a good blast of virus to start , the factory could be well into production mode by the time your immune system responds .
The more you get to start , the tougher to control .
• Your immune system is weakened due to age or other disease processes .
The ability to respond is now reduced so the viral production can outpace your immune response .
• You have pre-existing disease in susceptible parts of your body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It becomes easier for the virus to penetrate and continue the production .
Unfortunately , it also means greater damage to an already damaged part of your body .
• You continue to get virus exposure while combating the viral load .
This is the piling on of viruses when you are already down .
Illegal in football but not in viral disease .
This is a critical point in care facilities or crowded areas .
As a result , healthy people can experience anything from a minor , uncomfortable illness to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generally , they will recover and go on .
People who have more difficulties in controlling viral load will suffer more .
The Europe CDC has reported that viral loads with coronavirus in severe cases are 50-60x that in mild cases .
Controlling viral load with help determine the course of the disease .
So , what role does a lockdown or other similar policies play in the death toll situation ?
Epidemiologists understand that you can not force viruses and virally infected people into confined spaces .
When you combine people together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , poor sanitation , common use items , etc.
, if one gets sick , all are likely to get sick .
But , it goes beyond just getting sick ; you are also setting the conditions that are ripe for increasing viral load .
You now have many virus factories together , producing away at an awesome rate .
While the production is occurring , the body is also releasing virus , called “ shedding.
” This can occur from the mouth and nose , such as in coughing or sneezing but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy to imagine how quickly viruses can build up and be spread under these conditions , especially in elderly care facilities .
In places like retirement homes or long-term care facilities , institutions ( i.e .
prisons , recovery centers , etc . )
, hospital wards , refugee camps , inner city tenement housing and public housing developments , etc .
such conditions exist and will cause the worst outcomes .
And this is exactly what has been seen .
The risk to the general public has never risen above a stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Authority .
It has always remained high in the at-risk groups and yet the lockdown policies are the worst for these high risk groups .
Add to that the policies of actually placing infected individuals into facilities of high risk groups and now you have truly a health crisis .
So what is the extraordinary evidence ?
Well , now the evidence seems to point to lockdown policies as exacerbating the disease process , not reducing it .
Consider also the health issues that contribute to the risk of severe disease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The US CDC publishes annual reports on the health risks in the US .
The results are as follows : • Obesity : The U.S. has the highest adult and child obesity rate in the world .
• Hypertension : The U.S. also is number one with hypertension and heart disease .
• The US is at or near the top also with diabetes , lung disease , cancer , liver and kidney disease .
In June , the US CDC published a report on US mortality for 4 months from the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pneumonia deaths outpaced COVID-19 deaths ( and we have antibiotics for pneumonia ) .
Combined , they totaled about 15-20 % of the total deaths in the US during that period .
Shouldn ’ t an apocalyptic disease be much more prevalent ?
Recently , the CDC has reported that based on serology , as many as 10-20x more Americans have experienced the disease than the confirmed cases ( that number could increase ) .
Well , this is no surprise since we know that ( 1 ) most people who experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not seek medical help and have not likely been tested , and ( 2 ) the likely start time of the pandemic was much earlier than believed which meant the disease was passing through the population long before the panic .
If we use the conservative number of 10x , the current lethality rate goes from about 5 % to 0.5 % .
If we use a 20x number , it is now about 0.25 % .
If that factor increases more , the rate will be further reduced .
The known lethality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Where is the extraordinary evidence ?
Since testing was started for COVID-19 , Asia has shown very small numbers .
Why should that be ?
Could it be possible that this disease passed through Asia during December 2019 and January 2020 before the panic ?
Did it fly under the radar because it can be so confused with influenza , the common cold , bronchitis , or other respiratory infections ?
Quite possibly that is the case , especially considering all of the activities in Asia .
Most cases that have been reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 50 % of the clusters have been in care facilities .
No matter how you analyze it , this virus is not apocalyptic .
If there is no extraordinary evidence , why are there such extraordinary claims and responses ?
Why has the world medical , social , and economic order been torn apart for a pandemic that looks much like a normal influenza pandemic ?
These are the questions for which we will be seeking answers for years to come .
Roger W. Koops holds a Doctor of Philosophy ( Chemistry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Riverside as well as Master and Bachelor degrees from Western Washington University .
He worked in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry for over 25 years .
Before retiring in 2017 , he spent 12 years as a Consultant focused on Quality Assurance/Control and issues related to Regulatory Compliance .
He has authored or co-authored several papers in the areas of pharmaceutical technology and chemistry .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Minnesota Senate GOP Leader Says Deal Near on Policing Bill: ‘We Are Still Working Through the Langu

Minnesota Senate GOP Leader Says Deal Near on Policing Bill: ‘We Are Still Working Through the Language’

MINNEAPOLIS , Minnesota ( AP ) — Legislative leaders had a tentative agreement Monday on the outlines of a police accountability bill , the top Republican in the Minnesota Senate said , but chances appeared dimmer for a $ 1.9 billion public construction projects package that had yet to win the necessary GOP support in the Democratic-controlled House .
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka ( R-East Gull Lake ) ( pictured above ) said he planned to adjourn the special session by midnight if there was no agreement on the projects bill , also known as a bonding bill .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the House .
“ It ’ s basically today or it ’ s not going to happen , ” Gazelka said as lawmakers returned to the Capitol to resume their second special session of the year after several days of behind-the-scenes negotiations .
Gazelka said he and Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman ( D-Brooklyn Park ) had a “ tentative agreement ” on the policing bill , “ but we are still working through the language — that ’ s always the tricky part.
” He said discussions would continue .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police on Memorial Day , and the leader made it clear that it omits some of the more controversial ideas proposed by Democrats .
He declined to give many details but said the tentative deal included bans on chokeholds and “ warrior training ” for officers , as well as a new advisory council under the state board that licenses law enforcement officers , and changes in arbitration rules .
He said it does not include anything that would dismantle or defund police departments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give the attorney general responsibility for prosecuting officer-involved shootings .
Democratic House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler ( D-Golden Valley ) told lawmakers that a House vote was planned for later Monday .
Bonding bills require a three-fifths majority to pass both chambers and must pass the House first .
So some Republican votes are necessary for the bill to clear the House .
But GOP House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt , of Crown , told reporters that no Republicans would vote for the bonding bill as it stood Monday .
Daudt said his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with House Democrats , Senate Republicans and Democratic Gov .
Tim Walz .
The bonding bill includes a business tax break on equipment purchases sought by Republicans that would benefit farmers as well as small businesses damaged in the unrest that followed Floyd ’ s death .
Walz had to call the special session to give lawmakers a chance to rescind the emergency powers he ’ s been using to respond to the coronavirus pandemic .
House Democrats blocked a GOP effort to void those powers .
The session also gave legislators another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policing measures , which they were unable to agree on during last month ’ s special session .
If the governor decides in the coming weeks to extend his emergency powers again , he ’ d have to call another special session .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Michigan’s Hillsdale College Defies Governor’s Shutdown, Holds Outdoor Commencement Ceremony

Hillsdale College hosted a three-day commencement event despite coronavirus restrictions .
The private Michigan college hosted a dinner for graduates Thursday night , a party for seniors Friday night , and an outdoor graduation ceremony on Saturday .
In a statement released in April , Hillsdale College Provost Christopher VanOrman said , “ We could not say goodbye to our graduating seniors without celebrating their accomplishments .
We look forward to having them return to us for a three-day-long celebration.
” Around 2,600 total visitors were expected to attend the event , raising concern among local officials , given Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order from June 1 which states that outdoor gatherings can have a maximum of 100 people as long as social distancing is maintained .
The college said in a news release published on its website that its event did not violate the governor ’ s order because “ Although that order restricts the size of certain outdoor gatherings , it makes clear that ‘ nothing in th [ e ] order shall be taken to abridge protections guaranteed by the state or federal constitution under these emergency circumstances , ’ including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ association , and academic freedom secured by the First Amendment.
” In response to public health concerns , Hillsdale planned to require face masks for people attending the events .
To allow for the college to meet social distancing regulations , Hillsdale ’ s City Council granted the college ’ s request for a noise variance .
Ryan Jarvi , a spokesman for Attorney General Dana Nessel , told Crain ’ s Detroit Business ahead of the event , “ we trust the local law enforcement agencies to exercise their authority and discretion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chief Scott Hephner also commented , “ I have been told that they have done research , gotten input from epidemiologists , and I believe , have reached out to the state for planning purposes , and their intent is to do it so they ’ re not in any technical violation.
” Hillsdale College did not respond to Campus Reform ‘ s request for comment .
Lacey Kestecher is a New York Campus Correspondent for CompusReform.org .
Photo “ Hillsdale Graduation ” by Hillsdale College .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Democrats Omar, Ellison, and Carson Endorse Biden Signaling Muslim Support

Several prominent Muslim American elected officials endorsed Joe Biden for president in a letter organized by Emgage Action ahead of an online summit that starts Monday and features the presumptive Democratic nominee .
Among those signing the letter , obtained by The Associated Press , are Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar , Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Indiana Rep. Andre Carson , all Democrats .
Omar , one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress , served as a high-profile surrogate for Bernie Sanders before he exited the presidential race in April — making her support for Biden potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mobilize Muslim voters this fall .
The letter coincides with an online summit that Emgage Action has titled “ Million Muslim Votes , ” underscoring its emphasis on boosting Muslim turnout in November .
Biden is set to address the gathering on Monday .
“ Joe Biden ’ s presence serves not only to galvanize Muslim Americans to cast their ballots , but to usher in an era of engaging with Muslim American communities under a Biden administration , ” Wa ’ el Alzayat , CEO of Emgage Action , said by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden administration would provide Muslim American communities platforms to speak on issues affecting us , represent us within the administration and in policymaking discourses.
” The pro-Biden letter from Muslim American elected officials decried a number of President Donald Trump ’ s domestic and international policies , including his administration ’ s ban on travelers from several predominantly Muslim countries and his pullout from the Iran nuclear deal .
“ Our number one goal is to remove Donald Trump from office and to replace him with someone who can begin to heal our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ A Biden administration will move the nation forward on many of the issues we care about , ” it said , citing racial justice , affordable health care , climate change and immigration .
The Muslim American officials also praised Biden ’ s agenda for their communities .
Among other goals , Biden has vowed to rescind the Trump administration ’ s travel ban affecting Muslims “ on Day One ” if he ’ s elected .
Other state- and local-level Muslim American officials signing onto the pro-Biden letter hail from several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he believes there are more than 150,000 registered Muslim voters .
Those numbers in a swing state that Trump won by fewer than 11,000 votes make Emgage ’ s goal of maximizing Muslim voter turnout especially powerful in Michigan , but the group also has chapters in battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Florida .
“ A lot is at stake , ” Alzayat said .
“ The importance of Muslim American voter participation in this upcoming election cycle is greater than it has ever been.
” Youssef Chouhoud , assistant professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Biden ’ s appearance at Monday ’ s summit was “ a very meaningful step ” but noted that he didn ’ t participate in a large Muslim gathering last year addressed by Sanders and another then-presidential candidate , Julián Castro .
Both attended a forum held at an Islamic Society of North America ( ISNA ) convention .
Many Muslim Americans have particularly lauded Sanders for the way he engaged their communities .
“ You have this community that is kind of , you know , ripe for political engagement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enthusiasm ” against another Trump term , he added , “ is going to be the glue that holds Muslim voters together .
And if you make them feel valued , they are much more likely to turn out.
” Omar ’ s signature on the endorsement letter expands on her statement last week , via Twitter , that she would vote for Biden .
New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — another member of the quartet of congresswomen of color , often known by the nickname “ the Squad , ” who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Congress — also has said she would vote for Biden in the fall .
But Ocasio-Cortez , who served on a task force that helped shape a climate change plan designed to unite Biden and Sanders backers , has yet to issue a full-throated Biden endorsement .
Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib , another “ Squad ” member and former backer of Sanders ’ presidential bid , was conspicuously absent from the Emgage Action-organized letter .
Farooq Mitha , senior adviser for Muslim engagement with Biden ’ s campaign , said reaching out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Biden , pointing to his own appointment as an example .
The campaign has hosted events with Muslim Americans and met with community leaders over the past months , he said .
“ A Biden presidency offers Muslims an opportunity to be engaged with government , rather than being shut out like many other groups that have been alienated and demonized by the Trump administration , ” he said in response to emailed questions .
“ Muslim communities can have an outsized impact in many states and we are working every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Elana Schor are reporters at The Associated Press .
AP religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation .
The AP is solely responsible for this content .
About the Headline Photo : In this Jan. 31 , 2020 file photo , Rep. Ilhan Omar , D-Minn. , participates in a panel during a campaign event for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , in Clive , Iowa .
Several prominent Muslim American elected officials , including Omar , endorsed Joe Biden for president in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an online summit that starts Monday , July 20 by the advocacy group and features the presumptive Democratic nominee .
( AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Ohio in the ‘Yellow Zone’ Accounting to White House Task Force Report

Ohio is in the “ yellow zone ” for coronavirus cases , according to a White House Coronavirus Task Force report that presents a list of suggested actions .
The July 14 report is available here .
The Ohio data begins on Page 246 .
The classification means Ohio had between 10 to 100 new cases per 100,000 residents the week before the report was released , and the yellow zone for test positivity , indicating a rate between 5 percent to 10 percent .
The Center for Public Integrity ran a story Thursday on a task force report on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The center is a nonprofit newsroom based in Washington , D.C .
While the report was shared with federal officials , it did not appear to have been posted for public view , the story said .
Dr. Ashish Jha , director of the Harvard Global Health Institute , said the lack of publication made no sense .
The White House report says Ohio has seen an increase in new cases and stability in testing positivity over the past week .
These were the top three counties for cases over the three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuyahoga and Hamilton , respectively .
They accounted for 52.7 percent of new cases in Ohio .
The state had 65 new cases per 100,000 population in the past week , compared to a national average of 119 per 100,000 .
In the week prior to the report , Ohio had a death rate of 129 per 100,000 .
Coshocton was the only Ohio county listed in a red zone .
These counties were yellow zones : Cuyahoga ; Franklin ; Hamilton ; Butler ; Summit ; Lucas ; Columbiana ; Delaware ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greene .
Yellow means both new cases between 10-100 per 100,000 and a test positivity between 5-10 percent , among other criteria .
Red means both new cases above 100 per 100,000 and a test positivity above 10 percent .
The report was complimentary of several controversial actions Ohio is taking in response to the coronavirus .
Suggested actions include : The color coding of counties according to risk levels is a great communication tool .
This system should help guide implementation of restrictions according to risk level .
Continue work to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities through weekly testing of staff and universal face mask use .
Continue the scale up of testing .
In counties with 7-day average test positivity greater than 5 % , close bars and ensure strict social distancing can be maintained in restaurants .
As you are doing , mandate wearing of cloth face coverings outside the home in the counties with highest transmission .
Continue to promote social distancing and required wearing of cloth face coverings when outside the home .
Continue to vigorously investigate outbreaks and implement testing and intensified contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implement community-led testing and work with local community groups to increase testing access .
Consider pooling specimens to test 2-3 persons at once to increase access and reduce turnaround times .
For families and cohabiting households , screen entire households in a single test by pooling specimens .
Provide clear guidance for households that test positive , including on individual isolation .
Increase messaging of the risk of serious disease in all age groups with preexisting medical conditions , including obesity , hypertension and diabetes mellitus .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Columbus City Council to Consider Police Hate-Group Screening Legislation

The Columbus City Council is working on legislation to screen the police for affiliations with hate groups or for harboring beliefs consistent with these groups .
Last Monday , Shayla Favor , a councilmember and chair of the Criminal Justice Committee , held a meeting at which she presented the outlines of her legislative initiative .
There will be another hearing on Wednesday , July 22 , at 3 p.m .
Favor will then finish drafting police-screening legislation and include it in a larger piece of public safety legislation that will be presented to the city council on July 27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recess .
To be included in this legislative package are measures to demilitarize the police and changes to what are known as “ no-knock ” warrants .
Provisions to independently investigate the use of police force via a civilian review board will require a change to the city charter , said Favor ’ s legislative aide Tyneisha Harden in an interview with The Ohio Star .
The legislation will include a request to put the change on November ’ s ballot .
This entire initiative , Favor said , developed in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May and to other instances of alleged police brutality .
As well , last August , a third-party operational review of the city ’ s police division found “ significant disparity of use of force against minority residents.
” From 2013 through 2017 , black residents were involved in about half of use-of-force incidents , while comprising 28 percent of the city ’ s population .
In contrast , whites were involved in about 28 percent of such incidents , while making up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report recommended addressing this disparity “ by continuing intense training , education , monitoring and reporting on use of force within the Division.
” The report did not address the disparities in crime rates among racial and ethnic groups .
According to the Columbus Dispatch , the justice committee ’ s scrutiny is also “ in response to what city officials saw as over-aggressive Columbus police tactics during protests and riots that began Downtown May 28 , three days after Floyd ’ s death.
” Favor began by listing the meeting ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what could be considered affiliation with hate groups , review the current background check process for Columbus police officers [ and ] determine what actions are legally within the scope of the city council ’ s authority.
” To define what constitutes a hate group , Favor read aloud the Southern Poverty Law Center ’ s ( SPLC ) definition : “ an organization that – based on its official statements or principles , the statements of its leaders or its activities – has beliefs or practices that attack or malign an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their immutable characteristics.
” “ Any Columbus police recruits that have a history of affiliation with a hate group , ” said Favor , “ should be booted out of the process before they are placed on our streets.
” According to Jennifer Webb , PsyD , a psychologist who works on the screening process , stability is the main quality sought during lengthy interviews .
Questions to recruits involve their relationships , social groups and activities .
Before hiring a recruit , the city has considerable more latitude in the selection process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Favor also stated strongly that current police officers with hate-group affiliations “ should not be serving our residents.
” As one remedy , Favor presented a recommendation from the Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission that officers would be required , she said , to sign a “ morality clause … that would require them to agree to equal protection for all citizens , to denounce any cultural supremacist groups and to report any officer ’ s malfeasance to Internal Affairs.
” Near meeting ’ s end , City Council President Shannon G. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the council isn ’ t implying that the city ’ s police are “ bad people.
” He said , “ Fundamentally , I don ’ t believe that our police divisions are any more racist than any other institution .
I think policing is a microcosm of our society .
The true work [ is ] going to be done by focusing on communities as well and rooting out and acknowledging racism in every form everywhere throughout our society.
” Since last week ’ s hearing , Favor and her office have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by other stakeholders and the public in response to her articulation of the police screening initiative .
No one has expressed opposition to the initiative , Tyneisha Harden said , but common questions included First Amendment rights .
In the wake of the recent protests and riots , there has been a significant increase in social media activity by police offers , Harden remarked .
In order to determine where to draw the line , especially when officers are posting as private citizens , she pointed to the answer as a function of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent an officer from doing his or her job .
Also questioned was using the Southern Poverty Law Center ( SPLC ) as the hate-group arbiter .
“ They are one of the only organizations that attempt to make a list , ” Harden said .
“ But we are not endorsing the entire list.
” She pointed out that all hate groups might not be captured by SPLC ’ s list , and other groups wouldn ’ t fit the definition of hate group that Favor ’ s committee is developing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor of African American and African Studies at Ohio State University , pointed out at the hearing that some hate groups operate clandestinely , making identification difficult .
He also raised the question of what to do with an officer once a hate-group affiliation is uncovered .
Responses to this and other issues are being dealt with – and quickly .
Less than a week remains before the city council will consider the legislation next Monday , the 27th .
Patrick J. McCloskey is a reporter at The Ohio Star .
Send tips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Columbus Police Officers ” by Becker1999 .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-07-21--Gov. Whitmer Rebuffs Trump: ‘There Is No Reason for the President to Send Federal Troops’ to Detroit

President Trump on Monday threatened to send federal law enforcement into several cities , including Detroit , in order to quell continuing unrest there .
Trump recently sent federal law enforcement to Portland to end more than 50 days of rioting , according to The Detroit News .
He said that the federal officers had done “ a fantastic job in a very short time.
” “ I ’ m going to do something — that , I can tell you , ” Trump said from the Oval Office on Monday .
“ Because we ’ re not going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Detroit and Baltimore … we ’ re not going to let this happen in our country.
” Trump also said that all the cities he mentioned were run by “ liberal Democrats.
” Riots , as well as protesting , have continued across the country after the resurgence of Antifa and the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minnesota police .
Trump received pushback from Michigan leaders , who defended the Detroit protests , saying they have been largely peaceful .
“ Detroit is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country that has experienced no fires , no stores looted and never requested the National Guard during the protests , ” Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan spokesman John Roach said , according to The Detroit News .
“ Not sure where the president is getting his information.
” Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer also criticized the president ’ s statement , calling it “ deeply disturbing ” and “ hateful rhetoric.
” “ Quite frankly , the president doesn ’ t know the first thing about Detroit .
If he did , he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Detroiters have gathered to peacefully protest the systemic racism and discrimination that Black Americans face every day , ” Whitemr said in a statement .
“ There is no reason for the president to send federal troops into a city where people are demanding change peacefully and respectfully .
If the president actually wants to help the people of Michigan , he can start by picking up the phone and telling Mitch McConnell to pass the HEROES Act , so we can provide immediate relief to Michigan ’ s families , schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ]