thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--China Bringing Xinjiang-Style Forced Labor Camps to Tibet, Report Says

In what appears to replicate what ’ s happening in China ’ s Xinjiang region to Uighur Muslims , a new report from the Jamestown Foundation , corroborated by Reuters , details evidence of a vast program in a remote region of Tibet aimed at promoting Chinese national unity and patriotism , instilling “ work discipline , ” and eradicating what the Chinese Communist Party refers to as “ backward thinking ” by the Tibetan people .
According to evidence uncovered by researcher Adrian Zenz of the Jamestown Foundation , a U.S.-based think tank , China relocated more than 500,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first seven months of 2020 into military-style facilities and “ re-education centers ” to train them as factory workers for areas of the country in need of manufacturing output .
China has defended the program as part of its ambitious poverty alleviation plan under President Xi Jinping , but documents examined by Zenz as part of his research reveal parallels to the detention centers where as many as 1 million Uighur Muslims in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang are being interned .
According to Zenz ’ s report , workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ military-style ” vocational training involving “ thought transformation , Chinese language study , and patriotic and legal education.
” Beijing insists the camps are vocational schools necessary to counter religious extremism and terrorism from separatist minority groups .
The new findings are thought to confirm the Chinese Communist Party ’ s assimilative ethnic-minority policy and all-out propaganda efforts to “ nationalize ” what it sees as “ reticent ” minority groups .
While the mass labor program in Tibet is said to be less oppressive than the program in Xinjiang , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous coercive elements , ” Zenz wrote .
The parallels include the use of state-mandated quotas for the mass transfer of rural workers within Tibet ; reliance on military-style training , discipline , and obedience drilling ; the inculcation of Chinese “ traditional ” values at the expense of the group ’ s culture and identity ; and an effort to weaken the “ perceived negative influence of religion.
” Olivia Enos , a senior policy analyst in national security and human rights challenges in Asia at The Heritage Foundation ’ s Asian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports of a forced labor scheme in Tibet are reminiscent of the early reports out of Xinjiang and bear hallmarks of the Cultural Revolution.
” The Chinese Cultural Revolution of 1966 to 1976 was a decadelong period of political and social unrest spurred by Mao Zedong ’ s efforts to reassert his control of China ’ s Communist Party .
“ It is no surprise that President Xi would seek to subjugate populations in Tibet .
Reports of religious persecution have long come from that region , including actions that resulted in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the displacement of Buddhist monks and nuns , and indoctrination , among other troubling trends , ” Enos said .
“ The [ Chinese Communist Party ] sees Tibet as a threat to its core foreign policy interests of maintaining internal stability and sovereignty , and will use that as a justification for subjugating the Tibetan peoples.
” Tibet has been governed as an autonomous region of China since 1965 , but the recent encroachments by Beijing have called into question whether Tibetans ’ right to self-government exists in name only .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the allegations , Enos said , “ The world should watch closely , because it was only just in 2017 that we started hearing reports of Uighurs in Xinjiang being collectivized and sent to camps .
“ Today , there are between 1.8 [ million ] and 3 million people in the camps .
And reports , including my own , indicate they may be subject to genocide and crimes against humanity.
” The Chinese Communist Party ’ s actions call for a strong response , Enos said , adding that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indo-Pacific region by pressing its long-standing role as a defender of freedom and democracy there .
“ The U.S. should watch closely and ensure that goods produced with forced labor in either Xinjiang or Tibet do not make their way into U.S. supply chains .
It should also strongly condemn the [ Chinese Communist Party ’ s ] behavior .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Supreme Court Halts Census in Latest Twist of 2020 Count

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the Trump administration can end census field operations early , batting aside a lawsuit that warned the truncated schedule will lead to minorities being undercounted in the crucial once-a-decade head count .
Still , the decision was not a total loss for the plaintiffs , who managed to get two extra weeks of counting people as the case challenging the U.S. Census Bureau ’ s decision to end the census in September made its way through the courts .
The Supreme Court justices ’ ruling came as the nation ’ s largest statistical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s own census takers and partners , have been raising questions about the quality of the data being gathered — numbers that are used to determine how much federal funding is allotted to states and localities , and how many congressional seats each states gets .
Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented , saying “ respondents will suffer substantial injury if the Bureau is permitted to sacrifice accuracy for expediency.
” President Donald Trump ’ s administration had asked the nation ’ s high court to suspend a lower court ’ s order allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of October .
The Trump administration argued that the head count needed to end immediately to give the bureau time to crunch the numbers to meet a year-end deadline .
Congress requires the bureau to turn in by Dec. 31 the figures used to decide the states ’ congressional seats — a process known as apportionment .
By sticking to the deadline , the Trump administration would end up controlling the numbers used for the apportionment , no matter who wins next month ’ s presidential election .
A coalition of local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration , arguing that minorities and others in hard-to-count communities would be missed if the census ended early .
They said the schedule was cut short to accommodate a July order from Trump that would exclude people in the country illegally from being counted in the numbers used for apportionment .
Last month , U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose , California sided with the plaintiffs and issued an injunction suspending a Sept. 30 deadline for finishing the 2020 census and a Dec. 31 deadline for submitting the apportionment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revert back to a previous Census Bureau plan that had field operations ending Oct. 31 and the reporting of apportionment figures at the end of April 2021 .
When the Census Bureau , and the Commerce Department , which oversees the statistical agency , picked an Oct. 5 end date , Koh struck that down too , accusing officials of “ lurching from one hasty , unexplained plan to the next … and undermining the credibility of the Census Bureau and the 2020 Census.
” An appellate court panel upheld Koh ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October but struck down the part that suspended the Dec. 31 deadline for turning in apportionment numbers .
The panel of three appellate judges said that just because the year-end deadline is impossible to meet doesn ’ t mean the court should require the Census Bureau to miss it .
The plaintiffs said the ruling against them was not a total loss , as millions more people were counted during the extra two weeks .
“ Every day has mattered , and the Supreme Court ’ s order staying the preliminary injunction does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been made as a result of the district court ’ s rulings , ” said Melissa Sherry , one of the attorneys for the coalition .
Besides deciding how many congressional seats each state gets , the census helps determine how $ 1.5 trillion in federal funding is distributed each year .
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said that his city lost $ 200 million in federal funding over the decade following the 2010 census , and he feared it would lose more this time around .
The California city was one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans for the count hampered by the pandemic , the Census Bureau in April had proposed extending the deadline for finishing the count from the end of July to the end of October , and pushing the apportionment deadline from Dec. 31 to next April .
The proposal to extend the apportionment deadline passed the Democratic-controlled House , but the Republican-controlled Senate didn ’ t take up the request .
Then , in late July and early August , bureau officials shortened the count schedule by a month so that it would finish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Republicans ’ inaction coincided with a July order from Trump directing the Census Bureau to have the apportionment count exclude people who are in the country illegally .
The order was later ruled unlawful by a panel of three district judges in New York , but the Trump administration is appealing that case to the Supreme Court .
The Supreme Court decision comes as a report by the the American Statistical Association has found that a shortened schedule , dropped quality control procedures , pending lawsuits and the outside politicization of some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions about the quality of the nation ’ s head count that need to be answered if the final numbers are going to be trusted .
The report , released Tuesday , was written by a task force made up of three former Census Bureau directors , a former deputy director , a former chief scientist and a former chief demographer at the bureau , among others .
“ It ’ s not enough to complete an enumeration .
It ’ s also important to count everyone in doing so , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director who was on the task force .
Mike Schneider is a reporter for The Associated Press .

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


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Nashville Attorney Says Davidson County Election Commission Trying to ‘Gum Up the Works’ on Taxpayer

Nashville Attorney Says Davidson County Election Commission Trying to ‘Gum Up the Works’ on Taxpayer Protection Act Referendum

A Nashville attorney currently fighting the Davidson County Election Commission to get the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum on the December 5 ballot said Commission members are playing unfair games with him and the public .
As reported , The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum , if approved , would roll back Nashville Mayor John Cooper ’ s 34 to 37 percent tax increase .
As reported last month , the Nashville Election Commission voted to neither approve nor reject the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act .
They instead passed the matter on to a chancery court to guide them on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ conditional ” date of the election from December 5 to December 15 .
As reported last week , Elections Administrator Jeff Roberts said election commissioners wish the court to define the scope of the Commission ’ s authority and to decide whether the petition satisfies the legal requirements for a ballot measure .
But Jim Roberts , who said he is not related to Jeff Roberts , told The Tennessee Star Tuesday that he does not believe Election Commission members have the authority to sue anybody — including the Metro Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dismiss the Metro Election Commission ’ s case last night , and I filed another one today because Metro has filed this counterclaim , ” Jim Roberts said .
“ What they are trying to do is make things incredibly complicated and incredibly confusing .
I think they feel this serves their purpose.
” The five members of the Election Commission , along with Jeff Roberts and Metro Legal Director Bob Cooper , did not return The Star ’ s requests for comment Tuesday .
Jim Roberts , though , said Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the works.
” “ This is intentional and part of a dishonest strategy , and I have filed two motions , one yesterday and one today , to dismiss Metro ’ s case .
One against the Election Commission last night and one against Metro today because Metro filed an answer and counterclaim against 4 Good Government , ” Jim Roberts said .
“ If it sounds confusing it is because it is intentionally that way .
They are trying to make it all super-confusing because they want to be on offense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks to file this.
” Members of 4 Good Government pushed for the referendum .
Jim Roberts said a judge has scheduled a hearing for Thursday afternoon on his request for an injunctive mandamus to force the Election Commission to put the referendum on the ballot .
Jim Roberts said last week that government officials have two kinds of duties .
There are ministerial duties , which means they do exactly what the law says .
They also have discretionary duties , which means they have a lot of discretion for when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Election Commission ’ s duties are ministerial , and they must put the referendum on the December 5 ballot , as scheduled .
“ They filed the case late , and they did it improperly , ” Jim Roberts said Tuesday .
“ You are not allowed to have multiple lawsuits over the same facts.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ John Cooper ” by nashville.gov .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--KUSA Security Guard Who Shot Trump Supporter in Denver Was a Rabid Lefty with No Valid Security Lice

KUSA Security Guard Who Shot Trump Supporter in Denver Was a Rabid Lefty with No Valid Security License

A private security guard working for Denver TV station KUSA 9-News is facing first-degree murder charges after shooting a Trump supporter in the head during dueling right-wing and left-wing demonstrations in downtown Denver , Saturday .
The shooting victim has been identified as Lee Keltner , a 49-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who operated a hat-making business in the Denver area .
Keltner died at a nearby hospital .
The shooter , Matthew Dolloff , 30 , was reportedly not licensed to work as an armed private security guard in Denver , and has an extensive track record of far-left social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producer were taken into custody in connection with the shooting , which took place during a pro-police “ Patriot Rally ” Saturday afternoon in Denver ’ s Civic Center Park .
The producer , who works in the investigative unit , was later released , and is not a suspect .
Local leftists had organized a counterprotest under the guise of a “ soup drive.
” Antifa/BLM agitators had reportedly thrown soup cans at the police during the rally .
Still photos taken by a Denver Post photographer show a confrontation between Dolloff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shove Keltner .
Although Keltner was armed , he at no point can be seen reaching for his weapon .
Keltner did slap Dolloff with an open hand , the photos show .
The next photos show Keltner backing up and Dolloff hatless , with sunglasses askew .
Keltner deployed his pepper spray as Dolloff drew a gun from his waistband and opened fire , shooting Keltner point blank in the head .
Video from the scene shows how quickly the shooting incident happened .
Two guns were found at the scene , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Police Division Chief Joe Montoya .
Police said they have surveillance footage of the incident , KUSA-TV reported .
Keltner ’ s son said that his father was not part of any right-wing groups .
“ He was there to rally for the police department and he ’ d been down there before rallying for the police department , ” said Johnathon Keltner .
Denver Police say Dolloff has no known ties to antifa , but a cursory scan of his social media shows him to be a left-wing radical who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account .
On social media , Dolloff uses antifa-like language to express himself .
For instance , he referred to President Trump as a “ fascist dictator ” on Facebook , Big League Politics found .
Additionally , on Dolloff ’ s Twitter , he argued for the Confederate flag to be treated in a manner akin to the Nazi swastika , Big League Politics found .
In 2016 , the “ security guard ” bragged on Twitter about calling a complete stranger a racist because they were wearing a Trump button .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Trump Button on their shirt .
Told them i like their im a racist button .
They had nothing to say , ” Dolloff wrote , with the hashtag # F-ckTrump .
KUSA claimed it had contracted Dolloff through the Pinkerton security firm , saying : “ It has been the practice of 9NEWS for a number of months to hire private security to accompany staff at protests.
” Pinkerton however said it does not actually employ Dolloff , and refused to share the name of the company for which Dolloff worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be properly licensed to be a security guard in Denver .
“ Security guards in Denver are supposed to be licensed , with additional endorsements needed to carry a firearm or operate in plainclothes , according to rules for the industry adopted by the city in 2018 , ” the Denver Post reported .
The Post pointed out that “ Dolloff did not appear to be in uniform , ” and “ his name does not show up on a city-run database that lists several thousand licensed security guards.
” Denver ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was investigating Dolloff ’ s employment history and additional charges may be filed .
Debra Heine reports for American Greatness .
Photo “ Dolloff Mugshot ” by Denver Police Department Twitter .
Background Photo “ Courtroom ” by Karen Neoh CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Clint Brewer Analyzes the South Carolina Senate Race Between Lindsey Graham and Left Winger Jamie Ha

Clint Brewer Analyzes the South Carolina Senate Race Between Lindsey Graham and Left Winger Jamie Harrison

Live from Music Row Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer to the studio .
During the third hour , Brewer weighed in on the Senate race between South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and his heavily funded left wing opponent Jamie Harrison .
He added that 57 million dollars is a lot of money to be raised by Harrison in a state like South Carolina and that Act Blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : That ’ s Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa .
He is the former chairman of the Senate judiciary committee .
He was chairman during the Kavanaugh debacle where Kavanaugh was finally confirmed after all those false charges were made against him .
That was back in the fall of 2018. two years later in 2020 Amy Coney-Barrett up for confirmation in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings .
The new chairman is Lindsey Graham of South Carolina .
Clint , it looks like Lindsey Graham is determined to get this through to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote her out of committee and then onto the floor vote .
Brewer : That ’ s what it looks like .
Graham does seem to be determined .
He probably wants to get back home .
He ’ s in a bit of a race to keep his seat .
Leahy : He is .
Let ’ s talk about that a minute .
He ’ s running against 44-year-old Jamie Harrison who ’ s kind of a far-left radical that ’ s his kind way to describe him .
And he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was by the way for about five years he was a big lobbyist .
He made a whole bunch of money as a lobbyist for the Podesta Group in Washington D.C. That ’ s how he made his money .
The Podesta Group now obviously had all sorts of problems .
They are not around anymore in any form because you know , there were some questions about that group .
But he made a bunch of money .
Now speaking of money .
Did you see this report ?
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being tied , which is a surprise in South Carolina .
And it seems to be a function of all the money that this Jamie Harrison guy has raised interestingly enough .
It ’ s almost all coming from outside of South Carolina .
It ’ s almost coming all coming through this fundraising Behemoth called Act Blue in the last quarter ending September 30th he raised wait for it , 57 million dollars .
Brewer : I ’ m not sure how you even spend 57 million dollars in a state as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yeah , that ’ s like California money or Texas money or New York money .
I mean that ’ s tough .
I mean , I ’ m sure they ’ re I am sure the operatives there on the campaign will find a way to spend it all so their 15 percent flows back to them .
Leahy : Yeah , I would think so .
Brewer : But I mean that ’ s amazing .
It ’ s not unheard of .
You know , there are races Statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go national so to speak and become a source of national concern .
We ’ ve seen that before and we ’ ve seen that in this state before .
Leahy : Bredesen got a lot of money but it wasn ’ t nearly at this scale .
Brewer : Well , the Bob Corker versus Harold Ford race , many years ago went national and and and you know , we thought it was an unheard-of sum of money with Ford bringing anywhere from 10 to 12 million dollars and at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina is you know , Graham is in a dead heat with this gentleman .
And Trump is at about 50 percent in South Carolina .
South Carolina can be a little more purple than people think .
I think former President Obama hit it at like 45 percent .
Leahy : And I think the black percentage of voters is almost 30 percent .
Brewer : It is almost 30 percent .
It ’ s up there .
There are very few states that have a higher percentage of black voters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a little more purple .
I think people think because it ’ s South Carolina and because it ’ s one of the original seats of the old Confederacy .
Leahy : That ’ s where that ’ s where it all started the Civil War .
Brewer : Yes .
I mean , I think there ’ s a little bit of a false narrative about the politics in South Carolina .
It ’ s a little more even than people think .
But yeah , I think Graham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can get back home and campaign .
Leahy : And he wants to be strong .
Leahy : And he wants to make sure that his With base realizes he helps get Amy Coney-Barrett on to the Supreme Court .
Brewer : That ’ s right .
It helps him turn out his folk ’ s at the polls .
It doesn ’ t look like the president ’ s really going to have any coattails in South Carolina since he ’ s only a 50 percent .
He ’ s not really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : And the black vote there , you know , typically that ’ s really I think a key .
In 2016 he got eight percent of the black vote right now .
There have been conflicting polls about what percentage of the black vote he ’ s going to get this year .
I ’ ve seen polls In North Carolina shown 13 percent .
other polls , I think a Zogby poll had him up to like 20 percent nationally .
That ’ s really high .
But now I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know much lower eight percent .
That will be a key factor in South Carolina it seems to me .
Brewer : It will , and you know grams been in his seat for a long time and you know , the South Carolina voters are very familiar with him .
I think for him the battle is to get his folks out .
You know , there ’ s also a little bit of a divide in the polling .
And if the polling is accurate , it means there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are voting for President Trump , but not Senator Graham .
Leahy : So here ’ s what ’ s interesting about that is as you know , my colleague at Breitbart News James Pinkerton has written about a phenomenon he calls political colonization .
And what he means by that is conservative states that Democratic candidates run against Republican candidates and they get almost all of their money from liberal donors in New York , LA , San Francisco , and Seattle .
That appears to be going on in a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I looked at the data in his filing for the ending of June 30th .
Now he ’ s done a filing on September 30th .
We haven ’ t seen that data so we can ’ t break it down .
He had 70,000 donors in his filing back in June , and we looked , of the 70,000 only 2,000 were from South Carolina and a whole bunch of them have given money through Act Blue .
And about half of them from what we can tell were not employed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work ?
Brewer : Are they business owners ?
Are they independently wealthy ?
Leahy : The question is , where ’ s that money coming from not employed people .
Brewer : Well , I hear you .
To me , I think it ’ s an interesting question .
to me the more interesting question is is the Republican party going to have an answer to Act Blue .
What you ’ re talking about sort of is you know , a Soros Super PAC or something .
What you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race of national importance and crowdsourcing it .
I mean , they ’ ve created a digital infrastructure that allows people of similar political beliefs to funnel their resources wherever the party feels is the most important .
It ’ s a fundraising platform .
What happens is , you know , really since the first Obama election both parties have been in a bit of an arms race about digital technology .
First , it was you know , Obama ’ s door-to-door technology and tracking votes in neighborhoods down to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a bit of a battle about online donations .
And it sort of seesaws back and forth .
And you know for all the criticism it receives Act Blue is really effective .
Leahy : Very effective .
The question that a lot of people wanting is , how can so many people who don ’ t have jobs contribute , you know up to $ 2,000 .
bucks to these political campaigns ?
Well , how does that happen ?
Where is that money coming from people wonder ?
Brewer : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Who knows ?
I don ’ t know who the people are haven ’ t looked at it .
I mean either they just do very well or something else .
Leahy : Yeah , something else .
You know , we actually have reporters and all these states that are going to you know , where people are donating to Jamie Harrison .
Tennessee , Virginia , Ohio , Minnesota , and Michigan .
We ’ re actually going to go and if see their names are listed .
We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They should have an address .
Leahy : They have an address .
We ’ re going to see if those people who are not employed in Tennessee , and there were like 200 from back in June not employed and don ’ t have a job .
but have given money to Jamie Harrison .
We ’ re going to talk to them and we ’ re going to kind of report to everybody .
Hmm .
How do they get that money ?
Brewer : Mike it sounds like you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalism .
Leahy : Can you believe it ?
An act of journalism these days .
Leahy : Watch out !
An act of journalism is about to be committed here .
It ’ s a dangerous time Clint for acts of journalism to be committed .
Listen to the 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 .
Photos “ Jamie Harrison ” by Jamie Harrison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Senate .
Background Photo “ U.S .
Capitol ” by kidTruant CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Commentary: As California’s Attorney General Kamala Harris Victimized the Most Vulnerable

In the vice presidential debate , Kamala Harris was lucky that Mike Pence chose not to attack her prosecutorial record except to note that , when Harris was the San Francisco district attorney , blacks were 19 times more likely to be charged with minor drug offenses than whites or Hispanics .
Harris ’ s years spent as a prosecutor and state attorney general demonstrate that she lacks integrity and good judgment ; consequently , she is unfit to serve as vice president , just one heartbeat from the presidency .
As a law enforcement official , Harris focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that meant that innocent people would be incarcerated or denied compensation for wrongful convictions .
The following are some notable examples of how Harris victimized the vulnerable .
Harris ’ office prosecuted Jamal Trulove for the murder of his friend .
Trulove was convicted without any physical evidence and only one witness whose testimony shifted over time .
Several years later , Trulove ’ s conviction was overturned ; he was retried and acquitted .
For his wrongful conviction and the more than six years he spent behind bars , Trulove received a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after case , Harris ’ s office looked for technicalities to exploit to keep people in prison and bar them from receiving compensation for being unjustly locked up .
• Harris prolonged Caramad Conley ’ s time in prison after his wrongful conviction for two murders .
Conley ’ s conviction was vacated after a judge found that the star witness in his case had lied in court and that the prosecution had not shared key evidence with the defense .
Harris then decided to retry the case , which kept Conley behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was moving on , and the new prosecutor quickly dismissed the case against him .
Conley subsequently received a $ 3.5 million payout for his wrongful conviction and 18 years in incarceration .
• On procedural grounds , Harris ’ s office opposed vacating the conviction of Jose Diaz , who was wrongfully convicted of rape .
Even after Harris ’ office dropped its opposition to vacating the conviction , it continued to oppose compensating Diaz .
Nonetheless , Diaz was awarded more than $ 300,000 for his wrongful conviction and nearly nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposed compensating Rafael Madrigal even though he was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent nine years behind bars .
• Harris ’ lawyers argued that nonviolent prisoners should be kept in prison because the state might need them to fight wildfires , for which they would have been paid about $ 2 a day .
When a police laboratory technician was suspected of intentionally sabotaging her work , Harris ’ office withheld the information from defense attorneys .
After the public found out about the technician ’ s misconduct , Harris fought the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handled and even had the gall to accuse a judge presiding over some of the cases of a conflict of interest .
In the end , about 1,000 cases were dismissed .
In a 2010 speech , Harris proudly told of her plan to prosecute the parents of truant students .
Her staff was not pleased with the idea initially , but she proceeded anyway .
First , she sent all of the local public school parents a letter threatening them with jail if their children were truant .
Then she sent her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of truant students and told her prosecutors to “ look really mean ” in hopes of intimidating the parents .
Incredibly , Harris went on in her speech to tell the story of a homeless mother who was ensnared by Harris ’ s anti-truancy program .
The mother had three kids and was working two jobs .
According to Harris , the woman “ just needed some help ” – and Harris helped by filing charges .
Not content to just harass parents in San Francisco , she successfully pushed for statewide legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fines up to $ 2,000 and up to a year in jail .
Two years after Harris ’ s law passed , Cheree Peoples was publicly arrested and humiliated in front of the media because her daughter was allegedly truant .
The problem is that Cheree ’ s daughter was not truant : she was sick .
The girl suffered from sickle cell anemia and was frequently hospitalized and in pain .
The girl ’ s school was even aware of her condition .
One would think that such a situation would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Cheree , but , in fact , her legal ordeal lasted for more than two years .
Ridiculously , after sponsoring and championing the truancy bill , Harris claimed that jailing parents was an “ unintended consequence.
” Due to Joe Biden ’ s advanced age , additional scrutiny of his vice-presidential candidate is warranted .
Judging by Harris ’ record as a law enforcement official , she seems to have been driven by a desire to rack up convictions at any cost , to keep people behind bars on technicalities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrongful convictions .
Because Harris ’ decisions , policies , and personnel harmed blacks and Hispanics , it would be a shame if she were elected with the support of minorities .
Richard McCarty is Director of Research for the Americans for Limited Government Foundation .
Photo “ Kamala Harris ” by Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--WHO Official Warns Against Coronavirus Lockdowns

A World Health Organization ( WHO ) official urged world leaders this week to stop “ using lockdowns as your primary control method ” to prevent the spread of the coronavirus , The Daily Caller reports .
The statement has prompted questions about whether the WHO has backflipped on its advice , after they previously advised against lifting lockdown restrictions too quickly .
Back in June , Dr. Michael Ryan , executive director of WHO ’ s Health Emergencies Program , explained , “ We all want to avoid whole countries going back into total lockdown , that is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ But there may be situations in which that is the only option.
” The latest advice about strict lockdowns started after Dr. David Nabarro , the WHO ’ s special envoy on COVID-19 said they should not be used as the primary method of control .
Dr. Nabarro made the statements in an interview with The Spectator ’ s Andrew Neil , Nabarro explained , “ We in the World Health Organization do not advocate lockdowns as the primary means of control of this virus.
” “ The only time we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to buy you time to reorganize , regroup , rebalance your resources , protect your health workers who are exhausted , but by and large , we ’ d rather not do it , ” he said .
Nabarro continued to highlight some of the negative global impacts of the lockdowns , noting how poorer economies have been greatly affected .
“ Just look at what ’ s happened to the tourism industry , for example , in the Caribbean , or in the Pacific because people aren ’ t taking their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Look what ’ s happened to smallholder farmers all over the world.
” “ Look what ’ s happening to poverty levels , it seems that we may well have a doubling of world poverty , by next year , ” he added .
“ We may well at least have a doubling of child malnutrition because children are not getting meals at school.
” Instead , Dr. Nabarro suggested another approach to contain and stop the spread of the virus .
“ We really do appeal to all world leaders , stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Develop better systems for doing it .
Work together , and learn from each other , but remember , lockdowns just have one consequence that you must never ever belittle , and that is making poor people an awful lot poorer.
” Catherine Smith reports for American Greatness .
Photo “ Dr .
David Nabarro ” by David Nabarro Twitter .
Background Photo “ WHO ” by Leif Jørgensen CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Barrett Urges Senate Judiciary Committee Not to Assume She Will Judge Like Scalia

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett urged the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday not to assume that she will judge like the late Justice Antonin Scalia .
The Supreme Court nominee repeatedly emphasized to senators in Tuesday ’ s hearing that though Scalia was one of her mentors and an “ eloquent defender of originalism ” and that Scalia ’ s “ philosophy is mine , ” that doesn ’ t mean she would always reach the same conclusions as Scalia .
“ For textualism , the judge approaches the text as it was written with the meaning it had at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own meaning into it .
But I want to be careful to say if I am confirmed , you would not be getting Justice Scalia .
You would be getting Justice Barrett .
And that is so because originalists don ’ t always agree .
And neither do textualists.
” Later during the hearing Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein questioned Barrett on whether she agrees with Justice Scalia ’ s “ view that the U.S. Constitution does not afford gay people the fundamental right to marry ?
” “ Senator Feinstein , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outset if I were confirmed , you would be getting Justice Barrett , not Justice Scalia , ” she responded .
“ I don ’ t think anybody should assume just because Justice Scalia decided a certain way I would as well , ” she added .
“ I will not agree or disagree just for the same reason I have been giving , ” which was that she wouldn ’ t commit to ruling a certain way on potential future cases .
Barrett cited the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behave during a hearing : “ No hints , no forecasts , no previews.
” “ That has been the practice before her , but everybody calls it the Ginsburg rule because she stated it concisely and it has been the practice of every nominee since , ” she continued .
“ I am sorry to not be able to embrace or disavow Justice Scalia ’ s position , but I can not do that on any point of law.
” Feinstein told Barrett , “ That is too bad , ” emphasizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point ” for many Americans .
Feinstein added that she hoped Barrett would say that “ this would be a point of difference where those freedoms would be respected.
” “ Senator , I have no agenda and I want to be clear that I have never discriminated on the basis of sexual preference and would not ever discriminate on sexual preference , ” Barrett said .
“ Like racism , I think discrimination is abhorrent .
On the question of law , however , because I am a sitting judge and because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the judicial process , I can not give answers to those very specific questions.
” Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Amy Coney Barrett ” by CSPAN .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Commentary: In This Election Donald Trump Is the Candidate of Honesty, Competence, and Legality

The election campaign , now finally approaching its climax , will long be studied because of the paradoxical reactions of American public opinion to an astonishing series of events and revelations .
It is now clear from intelligence declassifications—now temporarily taking the place of indictments by the special counsel on the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation—that the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate , Hillary Clinton , knew that she was transmitting reports compiled by Russian intelligence agents and transmitted via former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele .
These were presented to the U.S. intelligence and justice communities and ultimately to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence of treasonable conduct by her opponent Donald Trump .
The solid evidence of these facts is now in the public domain .
Yet the Trump-hating media dismiss it all as an insane conspiracy theory .
The special prosecutor , John Durham , was supposed to enable the voters to make an informed decision this autumn.Instead , he is dawdling along at his own pace—enhancing the possibility of the election of a regime that will as a first priority try to sweep the whole ghastly outrage under the rug yet again .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of its term with an investigation that should never have taken place , and which was conducted with the chief purpose of provoking its innocent target into acts that , with the help of a national press corps amounting to little more than a bloodless presidential assassination squad , could be translated into grounds for an impeachment trial for obstruction of justice .
No such impeachment could succeed , any more than the spurious attempt that did occur , but it might at least turn the page and the attention of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats largely unsuspected .
That was its purpose .
The current Democratic presidential nominee , Joe Biden , obviously was aware of and effectively approved large commercial payoffs to his son by a corrupt Ukrainian natural gas company and a state-connected Chinese investment operation , yet President Trump was submitted to the absurd indignity of an unfounded impeachment trial in the Senate for an unexceptionable telephone call to the Ukrainian president .
He was accused of acts which were not in fact impeachable or illegal , and which in any case , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence that was adduced .
This nonsense was scarcely over when the coronavirus was unleashed upon the world by the People ’ s Republic of China ( deliberately or otherwise ) .
Nobody knew anything about this virus and testing for it had to be done by appointment in hospitals and the tests sent to Atlanta , Georgia for analysis .
There were chronic shortages of every category of medical equipment from facemasks to ventilators .
Many state governors were calling for emergency assistance of every kind including more hospital beds to cope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pandemic .
The president utilized war and emergency powers legislation to produce within a few weeks a world-leading production capability for ventilators and other equipment and a testing system that in volume and speed exceeds the entire world .
Trump accepted almost unanimous scientific advice when he largely shut down the economy to break the momentum of the virus , but he promised a quick reopening .
About 60 percent of those who lost their jobs because of the virus shutdowns have now regained them and the others have been generously compensated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of people in all age brackets who contract the virus suffer minimal or no symptoms .
We know that of those with sound immune systems and generally all those beneath the age of 70 , 99.997 percent of those afflicted survive , and that of those above 70 , 94.6 percent of those afflicted survive , now including the president himself who is 74 and is nastily described by leading Democrats as “ obscenely obese.
” He was overoptimistic at the onset of the virus , and allowed his daily press meetings—during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deal with the press—to degenerate into bear-baiting sessions with a mockery of the respect ordinarily due to the holder of his great office .
The Democrats demanded a total and prolonged shutdown from the start , for the obvious purpose of hanging around the president ’ s neck the albatross of a Great Depression , ( although in the real Great Depression the level of unemployment reached 30 percent and there was no direct relief for them ) .
Even now , Biden says he will shut things down if the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ united in their views ) , advise him to do so .
The president came through the illness in four days and has made the point that while fatalities have been reduced by 70 percent , the incidence of infection has indeed increased with reopening of the economy and increased testing .
Yet for every hundred new coronavirus cases , there are 99 new cures and substantially immunized people .
The “ scientists ” told us at the start that a vaccine would take 18 to 24 months and it is now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to be available this year .
Yet polls indicate that the majority of Americans think Biden , who severely criticized the suspension of direct flights from China at the end of January , would handle the coronavirus better than Trump has done .
Trump eliminated oil imports and 90 percent of illegal immigration ; the porous southern border beloved of Democrats who want the votes of the illegal immigrants even though they aren ’ t citizens , and of Republican employers addicted to cheap labor , is one of the greatest scandals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American history .
Trump reduced the taxes of 83 percent of taxpayers , and created full employment where the lowest 20 percent of income earners were gaining proportionately more quickly than the top 10 percent .
Biden would assault the oil and automobile industries in his Green New Deal enthusiasm , and would increase the taxes of millions of people .
And while he waffles about it , he probably would attack frackers , gun owners , and middle-class taxpayers with the same scattershot enthusiasm .
He was decisively rejected by his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running mate , Senator Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) , fumbled away a promising level of popularity at the opening and did not even make it to the primaries .
The burning question that historians will pose is why this president who has achieved so much and has been so unjustly assaulted by perversions of the justice system and unprofessional press biases is now in what appears to be an uphill struggle for reelection .
The foibles of his often overly bombastic and even self adulatory personality do not alone explain this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said had substantially broken down , Donald Trump has revealed just how badly it has broken down ; the FBI and the intelligence agencies were politically corrupted for the first time in the history of the country .
The media has reduced itself to an almost subterranean level of dishonesty .
The public is clearly having difficulty seeing the issues distinctly .
It is not just high office but the right of Americans to be confident the system works as it should and as it was intended to do that are at stake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and whatever his failings , in this election Donald Trump is the candidate of honesty , competence , and legality .
A Biden victory would be a crushing defeat for all of these traditional American ideals .
Conrad Black has been one of Canada ’ s most prominent financiers for 40 years , and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world as owner of the British telegraph newspapers , the Fairfax newspapers in Australia , the Jerusalem Post , Chicago Sun-Times and scores of smaller newspapers in the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada .
Photo “ President Trump ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--FBI: Groups Also Discussed Kidnapping Virginia Governor

GRAND RAPIDS , Michigan ( AP ) — Members of anti-government paramilitary groups discussed kidnapping Virginia ’ s governor during a June meeting in Ohio , an FBI agent testified Tuesday during a court hearing for a group of men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan ’ s governor .
Special Agent Richard Trask also revealed new details about investigators ’ use of confidential informants , undercover agents and encrypted communication to arrest and charge six men last week in the plot aimed at Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
Tuesday ’ s hearing was to review investigators ’ evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kaleb Franks , Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta and to determine if they should be detained before trial .
The men are all from Michigan .
A sixth man , Barry Croft , was being held in Delaware .
The FBI discovered the June 6 meeting in Dublin , Ohio , during an investigation of various anti-government groups , leading to the months-long case in Michigan that relied on confidential sources , undercover agents and clandestine recordings to foil the alleged kidnapping conspiracy .
It was not immediately clear whether talk of targeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the June meeting , and nothing from a criminal complaint or from Trask ’ s testimony Tuesday indicated that anyone had been charged with plotting against Northam .
Trask said members of anti-government groups from “ four or five ” states attended that meeting , and the complaint noted that Croft and Fox were among the roughly 15 people who were there .
“ They discussed possible targets , taking a sitting governor , specifically issues with the governor of Michigan and Virginia based on the lockdown orders , ” Trask said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were unhappy with the governors ’ responses to the coronavirus pandemic .
The FBI alerted key members of Northam ’ s security team throughout the course of its investigation , but neither the governor nor members of his staff were informed , as per security protocols for highly-classified information , said Northam ’ s spokeswoman , Alena Yarmosky .
She said the governor and his family were never believed to be in imminent danger , and that there have been enhanced security measures in place for them for quite a while .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump called upon his supporters to “ LIBERATE VIRGINIA ” in April — just like Michigan .
In fact , the President regularly encourages violence against those who disagree with him .
The rhetoric coming out of this White House has serious and potentially deadly consequences .
It must stop , ” Yarmosky said in a news release .
President Donald Trump urged supporters to “ LIBERATE ” Michigan , Virginia and Minnesota in a series of tweets in April , encouraging protesters who turned up at state Capitols to oppose restrictions aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Following the arrests last week , the White House said the president has condemned hate , and Trump tweeted : “ I do not tolerate ANY extreme violence.
” In the Michigan case , authorities said the men were trying to retaliate against Whitmer due to what they viewed as her “ uncontrolled power ” during the coronavirus pandemic .
Some defendants conducted coordinated surveillance of the Democratic governor ’ s vacation home in northern Michigan in August and September , according to a criminal complaint .
Authorities said four of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay for explosives and exchange tactical gear .
Whitmer , who was considered as Joe Biden ’ s running mate and is nearly halfway through a four-year term , has been widely praised for her response to the virus outbreak but also sharply criticized by Republican lawmakers and people in conservative areas of the state .
The Capitol has been the site of many rallies , including ones with gun-toting protesters calling for her ouster .
Michigan , and particularly the Detroit area , were particularly hard hit by the virus early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put major restrictions on personal movement and the economy , although many of those limits have been lifted since spring .
Fox , who was described as one of the leaders , was living in the basement of a vacuum shop in Grand Rapids .
The owner said Fox was opposed to wearing a mask during the pandemic and kept firearms and ammunition at the store .
Trask , the FBI agent , also testified Tuesday that Fox said in a post-arrest interview that he considered taking Whitmer from her vacation home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there on a disabled boat .
Fox did not wear a face mask during Tuesday ’ s hearing .
The other four men did wear coverings ; all five wore shackles on their hands and feet during the hearing .
The defendants face up to life in prison if convicted .
Seven others linked to a paramilitary group called the Wolverine Watchmen were charged in state court for allegedly seeking to storm the Michigan Capitol and providing material support for terrorist acts by seeking a “ civil war.
” David Eggert and Kathleen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Foody reported from Chicago .
Associated Press writer John Flesher in Traverse City and Alan Suderman in Richmond , Virginia , also contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : In this Sept. 1 , 2020 , file photo , Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam answers a reporter ’ s question during a news briefing in Richmond , Va. Members of anti-government paramilitary groups discussed kidnapping Virginia ’ s governor during a June meeting in Ohio , an FBI agent testified Tuesday , Oct. 13 during a court hearing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the investigation that led to six men being arrested and charged last week with plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer .
( Bob Brown/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Woman Visiting Ohio Nursing Home Turned Away After Refusing to Give Information for Contact Tracing

Although Ohio is allowing indoor visitation at nursing homes for the first time in months , some are still having trouble seeing their loved ones .
Melissa Ackison , 42 , said she was forced to wear a mask to visit her grandmother , despite her having a medical exemption .
“ I ’ ve been counting down the days to see her , ” Ackison said .
She had gone to the nursing home on Sunday to book a slot for 10 a.m. the next day to see her 82-year-old grandmother , Linnie May .
“ We had hardly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ackison said .
Upon arriving at The Arbors in Delaware , Ohio , Ackison and her two sons — ages 3 and 11 — were told they could only see their relative if they were outside , masked and separated by a plastic shower curtain .
Ackison informed staff that her medical condition prevented her from wearing a mask .
She has fibrous dysplasia , which has caused brain fluid leaks , mold to grow in her sinuses and required 23 reconstructive surgeries .
Ackison said wearing scarves or masks over her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the nursing home director , John Rondot , stepped in .
According to Ackison , Rondot told her that masks were required , regardless of medical exemptions or the ages of her accompanying children , and if they did not comply they “ could not see grandma.
” Ackison said she has “ never been treated so rudely in my life.
” Ackison , executive director of the conservative group Patriots for Ohio , said she agreed to comply with the masks and other safety precautions , but then was told she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her driver ’ s license so they could take down information for contact tracing .
She said this had not been done in previous visits .
When Ackison told the director she did not have her license with her , she said he began screaming at her .
“ The nursing home director was so angry , and he kept screaming ‘ what do you mean you don ’ t have your driver ’ s license ?
Do you make it a practice to break the law everywhere you go ?
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Ohio Star .
Ackison also said that they would not be allowed to see her grandmother , despite eventually being willing to take precautions , if they did not participate in the contact tracing program .
“ You have no idea how desperate we were , the point of putting on masks despite them being a health risk , only to be turned away from standing outside with social distancing , the masks that the facility forces you to wear , and a freaking shower curtain in between you and your loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magically going to trick a virus , ” Ackison said in a text message to The Star .
Ackison said a “ large scene erupted , ” which included her children and grandmother crying .
Ackison declined to be submitted into the contact tracing program and was subsequently turned away from the visit .
The Arbors could not be reached for comment .
Gov .
Mike DeWine announced in late September that nursing homes and other long-term care facilities would be allowed to host indoor visits .
Indoor visits have been off-limits since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Fox19 .
Individual facilities may decide if they want to open up to the public .
Ohio has had more than 13,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus among residents of long-term care facilities , according to data from its health department .
“ Just a mask , ” Ackison said .
“ Then it was just a couple weeks , then a couple months .
Now it ’ s full on submission.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by The National Guard .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Gade and Warner Debate ACA, Social Security

Senator Mark Warner ( D ) and challenger Daniel Gade debated health care and social security at a Tuesday debate hosted by the AARP and WTKR News 3 .
Warner stressed his record including support of the American Care Act ( ACA ) and criticized the Republican Party for trying to dismantle it .
Gade described some potential compromises to the ACA and repeatedly called Warner a career politician .
Moderators asked the candidates what they would change about the ACA and how they would protect high-risk patients without increasing premiums .
“ I ’ m not for this nonsense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tear out the ACA root and branch , ” Gade said .
“ But the truth is , it ’ s impossible to do and it wouldn ’ t be advisable if we could.
” Gade called for preserving protections for preexisting conditions and allowing children to stay on their parents ’ plans until 26 .
However , Gade also called for bigger health savings accounts , better price transparency of medical services and to allow insurance to be sold across state lines .
Gade said , “ You can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600,000 from pharmaceutical companies like Mark Warner has , to be the person who ’ s somehow going to be at the forefront of reducing prescription drug prices.
” “ Mr .
Gade spent the whole Republican nominating process criticizing me as being the deciding vote for ACA , ” Warner replied .
“ I ’ m proud that John McCain and I stood up against a repeal plan that would have cost three-and-a-half million Americans with preexisting conditions the only law in America that protects them.
” “ If there was some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solution that was going to have this magic wand to protect all the good things in the ACA , wouldn ’ t you think you would have heard about it by now ?
Wouldn ’ t there have been some proposal ?
” Warner said he agreed with Gade that insurance should be sold across state lines .
“ I backed legislation which is opposed by the whole pharmaceutical industry that would say , ‘ Let ’ s do in America what other industrial nations have done and allow the government to negotiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s no reason why Americans should pay three , five , ten times more , ” Warner said .
“ What we ’ re looking at here again is a career politician who is saying , ‘ The only thing we can do is we can throw up our hands and stay with the status quo , ' ” Gade replied .
Later in the debate , Gade and Warner agreed that Social Security and Medicare needed reform .
“ Career politicians have kicked the can down the road for far too long.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warner first ran in 1996 he said he was for reforming Medicare .
He was for reforming Social Security and there were actually some reasonable proposals back there .
But that was nearly 25 years ago and what we ’ ve seen from then to now is no serious effort at reform.
” Warner replied , “ Simply calling someone a career politician over and over again doesn ’ t change the facts , and making false accusations doesn ’ t change the facts .
The truth is , what I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know me , they know my record.
” In his closing , Gade said , “ Virgina has to make a choice between career politicians who have broken promises time and again.
” “ That ’ s what you ’ ve got when you elect career politicians , ” Gade added .
“ I ’ m asking Virginia to choose something different .
I ’ m asking you to choose a career servant rather than a career politician.
” “ I know my opponent wants to kind of use the tired attack lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The problems we face aren ’ t red and blue .
We ’ ve got to stop calling each other names and actually work together.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Mark Warner and Daniel Gade Debate ” by WTKR News 3 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--GOP Challenger John James Running Neck-and-Neck with Gary Peters, Recent Poll Shows

John James , the Republican senatorial candidate from Michigan , has pulled within one point of incumbent Democratic Sen. Gary Peters , according to a New York Times/Sienna College poll released Monday .
Peters leads James 43-42 among likely voters in the state , the poll ’ s crosstabs show .
The poll shows a significant jump in support for James , who trailed Peters 41-31 in a similar NYT poll from June and lost to Sen. Debbie Stabenow , the state ’ s senior senator , two years ago .
James has also proved to be a prolific fundraiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in the third quarter of 2020 , matching Peter ’ s own total , according to The Detroit News .
“ Through the grace of our Lord and the generosity of our grassroots , we are one of the only Republican campaigns in the country to match our Democratic opponent , ” James said in a statement .
“ Michiganders are hurting and looking for unity , compassion and results , not partisan political parlor games.
” Despite the recent poll showing a neck-and-neck race , Peters still leads James in almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A victory for James would be critical for Republicans in their effort to hold on their 53-47 Senate majority , since the party is defending vulnerable incumbents in both Democratic-leaning states like Colorado and Maine and Republican-leaning states like South Carolina and Iowa .
Though NYT poll showed James running almost even with Peters , it shows President Donald Trump trailing Democratic nominee Joe Biden by eight points , 48-40 .
Though Trump won the state in 2016 , Democrats made widespread gains in the 2018 midterms , winning the governorship , attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flipping two Republican-held congressional districts .
Biden leads Trump by over eight points in Michigan , according to FiveThirtyEight .
The poll also showed Biden up 51-41 over Trump in Wisconsin , another critical battleground state , reflecting the former vice president ’ s widening lead over the incumbent .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ John James ” by John James .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Nearly One-Third of Teachers in Minnesota Consider Quitting Due to Overwhelming Workload

A study released by Education Minnesota , Minnesota ’ s teachers union , says that nearly one-third of the state ’ s educators are considering quitting their jobs due to stress and an overwhelming workload .
The study , which was conducted from Sept. 25 to Oct. 5 , had 9,723 respondents , about one-sixth of the educators in the state , according to recent numbers .
Overall , 29 % of respondents said that they were “ thinking about quitting or retiring , ” with upwards of 70 % saying they were feeling stressed or overwhelmed .
“ Educators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmed , frustrated and worried about their mental health , ” Education Minnesota President Denise Specht said in a press release .
“ Nearly 30 % say they ’ re thinking about quitting or retiring .
There ’ s already a teacher shortage in Minnesota .
Our public schools won ’ t function if thousands of educators burn out and leave .
It ’ s time to adjust , ” she added .
Seventy-nine percent of overall respondents reported feeling stressed , and 73 % said they felt overwhelmed .
Those numbers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model , with 81 % feeling stressed and 75 % feeling overwhelmed .
In-person educators had lower rates for both , with 74 % feeling stressed and 67 % feeling overwhelmed .
In addition to teachers feeling stressed and overwhelmed , 13 % of respondents reported feeling angry with their work .
Another 51 % said they are worried about their mental health .
Meanwhile , only 12 % of teachers overall said they are happy about their work as educators .
That number was 10 % for teachers using distance learning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 % for teachers using a hybrid model .
Retirement benefit applications were up 35 % in August and September from the previous year , according to the Teachers Retirement Association of Minnesota .
“ The goal remains to safely reopen school buildings and resume in-person learning , but this pandemic has taught everyone to be flexible , ” said Specht .
“ This isn ’ t the time for finger pointing , but it is time to adapt .
Districts need to remove all unnecessary tasks from educators ’ plates , open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans that ask a single teacher to manage half a class online and a half in-person at the same time , ” she continued .
“ That arrangement may have seemed like a good idea in August , but it ’ s not working in October and it may drive out hundreds of teachers by May.
” Judah Torgerud is a freelance journalist working with Alpha News to keep the people informed and bring the truth to light .
Photo “ Teaching ” by woodleywonderworks CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Richmond City Council: No Ban on Police Non-Lethal Weapons

The Richmond City Council voted 7-2 Monday against a ban on police non-lethal weapons including rubber bullets , tear gas , and flashbangs .
Council members Stephanie Lynch and Michael Jones proposed the ban in June after protests where Lynch and Jones had to run from teargas , according to reporting by ABC8 News .
In June , Jones tweeted , “ Innocent civilians [ and ] peaceful protestors should not have militaristic weapons deployed on them .
We are a democracy.
” The council ’ s public safety subcommittee voted against the ordinance last week , and the council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike the bill before allowing formal discussion before the whole council .
Although several council members said they had additional questions about the proposed ordinance , Lynch and Jones were the only ones to vote to allow the ordinance before the whole council .
Councilmember Andreas Addison said , “ I want to make sure I understand if and when these types of non-lethal instruments are to be used , what that looks like , how they are trained , and how they will be held accountable for if and when they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the paper as currently written , is to ban all of them and it ’ s not specific around the exact aspects.
” “ I too feel that I heard some the discussion that took place in the public safety meeting , ” said Councilmember Ellen Robertson .
“ I did not have the benefit of hearing the chief ’ s presentation as related to this paper.
” The text of the ordinance states , “ That the Council hereby requests that the Chief Administrative Officer cause the Department of Police to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bean bag rounds , flash-bang grenades , pepper balls , rubber bullets , tear gas , and other non-lethal weapons to control unlawful and riotous assemblies.
” Before the vote , Vice President Chris Hilbert said , “ I can not , in its current form , support this paper , and so it ’ s difficult for me not to strike it as is.
” Hilbert added , “ I will let people know that I ’ m interested in coming back with something relative to a study in this matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapons.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--TRUMPDATE: Latest from the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 14

Welcome to the Wednesday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update !
We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 ( and after…if need be ! )
.
It ’ s officially 20 days until the election on November 3 – and 17 days until early voting in Virginia closes .
President Trump meets Joe Biden in the final presidential debate in eight days .
Voter registration for the 2020 presidential election was Tuesday , and in Virginia a fiber optic cable being accidentally cut in Richmond led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , along with other state agency pages , to crash .
Early voting is still ongoing in Virginia , and over 530,000 ballots have already been cast in person , with another 444,000 votes being cast by mail according to the Virginia Public Access Project .
Part of Team Trump Virginia ’ s focus this election has been voter registration .
Officials with the campaign have talked the importance getting new voters registered after connecting with them in person .
The Trump campaign has mobilized the largest grassroots campaign movement in history , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushes have played a vital role in everything they ’ ve done .
Earlier in the week , members of the Trump-Pence campaign spoke to members of the media in a teleconference .
Members of the campaign made a point about how you ’ re just now starting to see the Biden campaign mobilize and attempt to connect with voters on the local level .
It ’ s because the Biden campaign has sat back and waited entirely too long to get active , and they know the ads running on TV aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With the Trump campaign it ’ s been the opposite .
The campaign just started running TV ads in battleground states , while the volunteers and surrogates for the campaign have been on the ground all over the nation .
President Trump will be holding a rally in Greenville , North Carolina tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Greenville Airport .
Doors for the event will open at 10 a.m .
Temperature checks will be conducted , masks will be handed out , and attendees will have access to hand sanitizer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all week after his quarantine at the White House was lifted .
By the time President Trump hits North Carolina on Thursday , he ’ ll have already appeared in Florida , Pennsylvania and Iowa .
The Virginia Star will provide coverage of the president ’ s rally in North Carolina .
Check back every day for more Trump Virginia campaign updates !
If you want to join the volunteer team or if you need signs email Fredericks or Justin Rice .
To Donate to our Virginia campaign click here .
For more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a volunteer , click here .
John Fredericks is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star .
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District Candidate Bob Good Says Nothing Will Unite You Like the Thre

Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District Candidate Bob Good Says Nothing Will Unite You Like the Threat of Marxism

Live from Virginia Tuesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Virginia ’ s fifth district congressional candidate Bob Good to the show to talk about his campaign for Congress and the radical agenda of his opponent Cameron Webb .
Fredericks : Joining us now running for Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the seat that Denver Riggleman held .
He defeated Denver in a convention and he is the nominee Bob Good .
Bob , welcome to the show .
Good : Hey John , great to be with you .
And thanks for having me .
If anything shows how important this election is it ’ s you and I being together on the radio this morning .
Fredericks : Well listen , Bob , we ’ ve had our differences and I want to start by addressing that upfront .
We were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my company , my political action committee Make Virginia Great Again .
We were downright hostile to you during the campaign .
We were mean , nasty , and not my best foot forward .
A lot of the things that we said in the heat of the campaign I wish I could take back .
But we were for Denver .
And you know a lot of the things that we did .
We raised money in our PACs specifically to beat you .
And so we didn ’ t have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think you had a parking ticket when you were 19 or something .
It was just not a lot there Bob .
( Good chuckles ) We have nothing to go on .
Look I was nasty and I ’ m sorry for that Bob .
No excuses for it .
I ’ d ask now that we ’ d be able to turn the page because you ’ re the nominee .
We have to get you elected to Congress .
You won the convention .
And you won it handily .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I mean you got 58 percent .
You beat an incumbent who outspent you five to one and got 58 percent .
So , you ’ re the clear winner and we need you in Congress .
President Trump needs you in Congress .
And we need you to win the fifth district .
So I hope you ’ ll accept my apology for that if we can move on together .
Good : John , thanks for your graciousness .
I appreciate it what you had to say when we were together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Greene County and I appreciate it .
You did a great job of expressing how we got to move forward together .
And as you kind of said and as others have noted nothing will unite you like the threat of Marxism .
And that ’ s really what we ’ re facing in my race .
As well as the race nationally .
And as you alluded to yeah I was disappointed in some of the what I felt were very dishonest attacks in the past during the campaign .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that .
But i will tell you , you and the folks who were on the other side if you will during the nomination process , you certainly got me battle-tested and ready for the general election .
And I appreciate it .
I appreciate the big picture that you have about that we ’ ve got to move forward together .
We ’ ve got to defeat this threat that ’ s on the horizon .
And you and I both know as many have said it ’ s the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much is at stake .
The stakes couldn ’ t be higher .
Fredericks : Well Bob I will certainly take credit for preparing you for battle in the fall .
( Laughter ) No question about that .
I single-handedly did that .
So when you win you probably remember me and said you know Frederick ’ s as much as I was mad at him because he couldn ’ t find anything except for a parking ticket on me at least he did prepare me for battle .
So you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deal .
Anybody that ’ s listening to me now in the fifth district honestly , if you voted for Denver and you ’ re upset I get it .
I was also .
But it ’ s over .
The day Bob won you got ta turn the page .
And here ’ s my message to anybody that voted for Denver and is thinking about I ’ m gon na skip the congressional race or I ’ m gon na sit this out or this or that .
Look , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Okay ?
He ’ s the nominee .
And we have now a binary choice .
We have Bob Good or we have Cameron Webb who is going to come on my show and do exactly what Abigail Spanberger did .
And exactly what Elaine Warrior did .
And say I ’ m going to vote my conscience and I ’ m going to vote with the district I ’ m going to represent the people .
I ’ m going to be different .
I ’ m going to stand up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ get there and they ’ re going to vote with AOC and Pelosi and do exactly what they say just like Spanberger did .
Bob am i right ?
Good : No question about it .
If my opponent were to win after voting the first vote he would cast would be for Pelosi or maybe even somebody more extreme than the Speaker like AOC .
Then the second thing he would vote for if the Dems controlled the House and President Trump wins as I believe he will he would vote to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already threatening to do that again .
They ’ ve already threatened to undo the election if President Trump wins .
And you ’ re right John , this is truly an election is on a referendum if you will .
Is America good or is America bad ?
Do we want to preserve the things that make this the greatest nation in the world and continue to build on those ?
Continue to move forward to what the president has done ?
Or do we want to tear down the country and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marxist-socialist image ?
That is truly what is on the ballot .
Fredericks : Well bob tell me about your campaign and your financial resources .
Are you going to be competitive ?
How does it stand now in the fifth district ?
Good : We ’ ve raised about a million dollars on our own if you will since we became the nominee a little over three months ago .
We ’ re also getting some help from the party .
We ’ re getting some help from some outside entities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a couple of million bucks to spend on this race to make sure we win it .
We ’ re on TV with a number of ads .
My opponent got a head start as you know .
The Dems just have the money rolling in .
And originally you know the convention was supposed to be April 25th which would have given us time .
That was by design and it was as early as possible that the district committee had decided .
So we ’ ve had a 60-day advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward from the convention .
We lost that advantage with the delay of the convention until June 13 .
So we got out of the gate behind financially as a nominee and the Dems , the money just rolls in .
Just like it did after Ginsburg passed away .
You know the Dems raised hundreds of millions of dollars immediately to fight the Supreme Court nomination battle .
Republicans didn ’ t respond that way .
But we ’ re going to have a minimum of a couple of million bucks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re on TV with several ads right now .
And we are going to be successful in exposing the differences between me and my opponent .
And because his positions are totally out of step with majority voters in the fifth district he ’ s going to be rejected on November third .
They ’ re going to vote for us because they know that I ’ m going to continue the policies of the president to support him and apply conservative economic principles .
Conservative principles on improving healthcare .
Conservative principles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement instead of defunding the police which my opponent has advocated for .
So we expect to prevail .
And we ’ ll have the resources to do it .
Fredericks : The Democratic nominee Dr. Cameron Webb is saying that he ’ s going to be Independent and he ’ s going to vote with the district and not with Pelosi .
But you ’ re indicating that Dr. Webb doesn ’ t have great credentials .
Says he ’ s not going to be a Pelosi sycophant .
Why do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Good : Well if you look at the positions that he had to advocate for and had to you know to express in order to become the nominee he dominated the Democrat primary with some 66 percent of the vote in a four-person field because he was the most radical , most leftist and most socialist of the group .
We know who votes who the base vote is in a Democrat primary .
There ’ s a reason why pre-nomination that he was the only one endorsed by the Squad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As we both know Kamala was rated the most liberal progressive senator in the Senate which is hard to do with Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren .
But my opponent is against the border wall .
He ’ s for single-payer healthcare .
He ’ s for free college for everybody .
He ’ s for the Green New Deal .
He ’ s for returning to the Paris Climate Accord .
He ’ s for repealing the Trump tax cuts .
He ’ s for reversing the de-regulation that the president has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police .
He ’ s advocated for and in past in Charlottesville eliminating school resource officers .
He ’ s marched with the radical BLM organization .
He ’ s knelt with them .
He ’ s reposted their social media slogan of ‘ no justice no peace.
’ He is a radical leftist like the whole Democrat Party .
You can ’ t get nominated today without adhering to that agenda… Listen to the full show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--At the State Voter Registration Deadline, Almost One Million Virginians Have Already Cast Their Ball

At the State Voter Registration Deadline, Almost One Million Virginians Have Already Cast Their Ballots

With Tuesday ’ s voter registration deadline having now passed , the Commonwealth is entering the final stretches before the general elections in November and Virginians have been feverishly casting their votes with nearly 1 million in-person and absentee ballots already submitted .
Specifically , 532,983 in-person votes and 444,390 votes by mail have already been cast in the state with an additional 642,687 absentee ballot applications that have not yet been returned to general registrars , according to the Virginia Public Access Project ( VPAP ) early voting dashboard .
Even with just under three weeks still to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for mail-in votes is less than 100,000 away from equaling or surpassing the 2016 mail-in total of 538,140 , according to VPAP .
Since early voting began in Virginia on September 18 , an average of 48,748 votes have been cast per day .
The highest single-day for voting so far occurred on September 28 with 88,756 total , 55,600 by mail and 33,156 in person , according to early voting dashboard .
On Sunday , VPAP wrote on Twitter : “ At halfway point of early voting , 28 percent of registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have requested a mail ballot.
” The Virginia Star reached out to Rich Anderson , chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia , and Susan Swecker , chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia , for comment on the early voting numbers .
“ Well , we ’ re obviously in an unusual situation this year and that is with the COVID-19 concerns that people have I think there is a far , far greater number who wish to vote either by mail or vote early in person , ” Anderson told The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraging , in the Republican Party of Virginia , is for people to vote in-person either early or on time for the simple reason that by voting in that way nothing comes between the voter ’ s ballot and the ballot box.
” Swecker did not respond to multiple requests for comment by press time .
Looking at the breakdown of mail and in-person voting between the different counties and cities in Virginia offers insight into the preferred voting method for residents of those areas during a time when some people may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others do .
In Fairfax County , Virginia ’ s largest county , of the roughly 105,000 votes already cast , the vast majority of those were submitted by mail ( 84,000 ) , according to VPAP .
Comparatively , in Chesterfield County there has been slightly under 40,000 votes so far , but 21,569 ( 55 percent ) have been in-person while 18,827 have been by mail , according to VPAP .
For many counties in the less densely populated , more rural southwestern part of Virginia more ballots have been cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also illustrated by VPAP ’ s potential absentee ballot by precinct visualization which shows that in many rural precincts less than 20 percent of registered voters have applied for absentee ballots .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Person Voting ” by Wyofile Wyofile .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Virginia Proposes to Spend Nearly $121 Million in CARES Funding for COVID Vaccinations, Mentions ‘Va

Virginia Proposes to Spend Nearly $121 Million in CARES Funding for COVID Vaccinations, Mentions ‘Vaccine Record Cards’

Virginia plans on spending nearly $ 121 million on CARES funding for COVID-19 vaccine equipment and advertisement .
This according to a proposal draft , reportedly submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) last week .
Nearly $ 6 million will be spent on equipment : over $ 111 million on administration and staffing and $ 3 million in a “ public education campaign.
” The spending aligns with the state ’ s intent to use up the remainder of CARES funding before the end of the year .
Virginia has a December 30 deadline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia State Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver also stated that he would mandate the COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available .
The House Committee on Health , Welfare , and Institutions killed two bills in the Virginia General Assembly designed to provide religious exemption from such a mandate .
Currently , religious exemption covers vaccinations required for school admissions .
In an interview with The Virginia Star , Senator Bill DeSteph ( R-Virginia Beach ) stated that he wasn ’ t comfortable with the idea of vaccine cards distributed to those who receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going around with a vaccine card is a bad thing .
That sounds like when we had the yellow fever time , when you had a yellow fever card so you were authorized to walk around , : he said .
DeSteph also remarked that the plans to advertise to specific communities didn ’ t make sense , because everyone is aware of the pandemic and the vaccines being formulated .
“ Targeting minority communities with special ads and campaigns – look , we ’ re all brothers and sisters of humanity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t segregate and target specific groups based on race .
Not to mention , the new vaccine hasn ’ t been tested in combination with the other flu vaccines .
Those are some of my basic concerns .
And the amount of money they ’ re spending – why wouldn ’ t you just put out an advertising campaign for everybody ?
” Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-14--Steve Bannon: This Is a Different Time and a Different Campaign, We Don’t Need Rallies Right Now

Live from Virginia Tuesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed former White House strategist for President Trump Steve Bannon to the show to continue advocating for President Trump to maximize his surrogates and get them to spread out to get voters and derail the mainstream media ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Joining me now Stephen K. Bannon former White House strategist for President Trump .
Also chairman of the Trump campaign 2016 who engineered the victory .
Steve great to have you .
Bannon : Thanks for having me on John .
Fredericks : Okay .
Mobilization , mobilization , mobilization , and now stop the great blue steel .
By the way , we ’ re trying to get you Steve I just talked to your team and I ’ m trying to get you to do an event for us on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday in Orange .
Saturday on October 24th in Chesapeake .
I think we ’ re going to get that worked out and I ’ m going to encourage everybody when I get this up on Facebook and set you got to check this out .
Because steve I thought you ’ re 45 minutes in Orange for the Young Republican Federation Saturday night and the way you outlined exactly what the democrats are going to do was absolutely stellar and we need to get this message out Steve .
Bannon : Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out with the team and I ’ d love to .
I thought that the event in Orange was fantastic .
They ’ re the right group of people the right size given the pandemic .
And we live-streamed it .
The Epoch Times showed up the great paper showed up and live-streamed it into Hong Kong Sunday morning .
And it got millions of views and then went into mainland China .
I think they actually subtitled it and it got tens of millions of views .
So people are hungry for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a spectacular event and I will do anything you need Virginia .
Look , Virginia ’ s not on the shortlist , but you know Virginia could definitely be turned .
It ’ s all about just putting elbow grease in it .
Fredericks : So look we ’ re getting the resources we need .
I told them we don ’ t need TV ads , a waste of time .
I ’ ve challenged my audience for a month , namely anybody in your sphere of influence , that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the water cooler with a baseball game that has not made their mind up .
Everybody ’ s made their mind up here in Virginia .
You ’ re going to vote .
It ’ s either orange man bad or you ’ re going to vote for Trump .
So now we got to get our people out .
It ’ s all about mobilization I just got two million dollars of new lit .
We got that I just got 250,000 signs .
That ’ s what we need .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign I followed the Investors Business Daily tip poll which I thought was the only one that was giving us an accurate gauge of voters .
They did their first when it came out Monday shows buying up by 12 .
Not a good sign .
What is going on here ?
Bannon : Well I think nationally if you take national and you load in California , Illinois , New York maybe New Jersey in there you ’ re going to get these national polls .
You know I ’ ve never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early on in primaries .
It gives you an indication of name recognition .
I think you got ta look at the state by state polls .
You got ta do the analysis of the early voting and just focus on what you can control .
And that ’ s voter turnout right now .
Look I disagree , and you know I got great respect for the guys in the campaign .
I think Stepien , Jason Miller , Greg Mann , and Steve Cortes and the rest of the team over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president has he has very strong opinions about this , but I ’ m not a fan of the rally yesterday .
And I ’ m not a fan of putting TV ads up .
I think TV ads are coming I ’ m just not buying that low propensity voter .
Low propensity voters mid propensity voters aren ’ t swayed right now by TV ads , particularly where you ’ re gon na get outspent five and six to one anyway .
So I would like to know what my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have that crowd at Sanford which was amazing and a huge turnout .
I ’ d rather have those guys working phone banks and going door to door or spread them out throughout the rest of Florida .
And people said well they can do that and oh yeah it ’ s motivational .
But you lost a day and right now we don ’ t have days or weeks or months .
You ’ re within what three weeks now , and it ’ s time to get on with it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s all about turnout .
It ’ s all about getting low propensity voters and it ’ s all about getting low propensity voters to get out and vote .
And it to me ought to be a maniacal focus on that and leveraging the president .
I think they got 450 hours until voting or to the end of election day .
And I think that every second of his time ought to be completely tied to some sort of digital outreach and leveraging the great surrogates he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fredericks is fantastic .
You got Corey Lewandowski .
Lara Trump .
You got Ivanka Trump .
You got Don Junior and Kimberly Guilfoyle .
You ’ ve got Rudy Giuliani .
I can go on and I can give you 15 fabulous surrogates that I would just put throughout the country in many rallies being the president individually and put a news hook .
Force the mainstream media to cover this .
Because yesterday they ’ re covering the rally as a super spreader event .
I mean just go back and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning and the CNN coverage .
It ’ s a super spreader event , and it ’ s to do one thing .
It ’ s to try to get the over 60 voters and the over 65-year-old vote to suppress that enthusiasm for President Trump .
We should not play into that right now .
The rallies were fantastic in ’ 16 and they were central to the strategy .
This is a different time and a different campaign .
And I ’ m just a huge advocate of we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need are touchpoints .
And you know this is all about getting people out .
Literally , this is a non-glamorous process you have to do right now .
And I saw the rally , and yes thought it was great .
I thought his ad-libs were better than the speech .
And I know he likes it and gets pumped up about it and that ’ s great .
But I think we got ta get , I think it ’ s the time to get practical .
And I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honest , have not been practical here .
The stimulus thing was a screw up by his team back in July right we should have had the stimulus .
And that should have been done and put to bed and we should never allow Biden to get off the hook of not getting on a national stage with him .
Although I agree digitally not as good as in-person and particularly for a town hall however , but digitally as you know speaking because I do it all the time , speaking into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things .
You know you ’ ve got thousands of people on the other side is far tougher for a speaker than sitting in an audience where you see the audience reaction because he drafted off the audience chemistry .
And I thought Joe Biden , he fades away very quickly after the third sentence , and the fourth sentence is not related to anything .
And I thought that would be helpful , but look these are kind of it is what it is .
You got a great campaign .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smart .
You got Justin Clark , and you got just some great people over there .
So you know I know they ’ ve got their shoulder to the wheel .
And look , let ’ s be honest .
The polling is tough , but this is doable .
It ’ s very doable .
And particularly it ’ s very doable to put up a big win on the night of the election because it ’ s still what the mainstream media does not want to talk about .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know how Trump ’ s trying to suppress folks and all this stuff .
What they ’ re not talking about is that their mainstream media .
The Chris Cuomos and the Anderson Coopers the Rachel Maddows and how they have traumatized their base with mass hysteria .
So people mail in votes .
These are going to have to be certified and this is going to be an election administration nightmare and we ’ re going to have to see how that plays out .
Listen to the full show here @