thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Taylor Swift, Reese Witherspoon Join Calls to Remove Confederate Statues in Tennessee

Taylor Swift called on Tennessee leaders Friday to remove monuments “ that celebrate racist historical figures who did evil things.
” “ Edward Carmack and Nathan Bedford Forrest were despicable figures in our state history and should be treated as such , ” Swift said in a statement posted on Twitter Friday .
A statue of Carmack outside the Tennessee Capitol was torn down by protesters after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
“ He was a white supremacist newspaper editor who published pro-lynching editorials and incited the arson of the office of Ida B.
Wells , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bill Lee ’ s request , the Tennessee Senate passed a bill ( already approved by the House ) last week that will exempt him from having to declare July 13 Nathan Bedford Forrest Day , which has been a requirement of every governor since 1969 .
A bust of Forrest , a Confederate general and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan , was placed in the State Capitol in 1978 .
The State Capitol Commission considered the removal of the bust in February , but ultimately took no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Taking down statues isn ’ t going to fix centuries of systemic oppression , violence and hatred that black people have had to endure but it might bring us one small step closer to making all Tennesseans and visitors to our state feel safe – not just the white ones , ” Swift said .
“ I ’ m asking the Capitol Commission and the Tennessee Historical Commission to please consider the implications of how hurtful it would be to continue fighting for these monuments.
” A proposal to remove the bust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote Tuesday in the Naming , Designating , and Private Acts Committee , though Gov .
Lee said “ something should be done ” about the statue .
Actress Reese Witherspoon joined Swift in calling on state leaders to remove the bust of Forrest .
“ Is this even a conversation ?
Gov .
Bill Lee ?
A statue that honors a KKK founder ?
We need to get rid of this disgusting symbol of racism , ” she said on Twitter .
“ And every other mark of white supremacy in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserves better.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .

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--2020-06-14--Judge Michael Warren Commentary: 2020 Flag Day

As the tumult of the trifecta of COVID-19 , protests/riots , and economic distress grip our country , we are , of all things , supposed to celebrate the flag on June 14 .
Once an innocuous display of patriotism , you can no doubt envision the histrionic divides that celebrating our national emblem will likely bring .
Before those who might desire to exercise their First Amendment right tear up or burn the flag do so , they might consider how Flag Day came to be .
On June 14 , 1777 , the Second Continental Congress approved a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Betsy Ross Flag was born .
Although it no doubts generated warm feelings of patriotism , it was not particularly revered .
Then came the Civil War .
The War that saved the Union and freed the slaves .
Fort Sumter was attacked , and the flag of the United States was torn asunder .
Jonathan Flynt Morris , a banker and strong Republican Unionist , urged the editor of the Hartford Evening Press , Charles Dudley Warner , to write an editorial about the need to revere the flag ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did so , proposing that America establish a new holiday – Flag Day .
In that editorial , he wrote “ This flag is our dearest symbol of nationality .
It stands for civil liberty on this continent .
To keep it full high advanced is our highest pride ; to strike at it is to arouse all the passion of the nation to defend it , and to punish the perpetrators of the outrage.
” Celebrating Flag Day spread slowly but surely .
Not until May 30 , 1916 , did federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a proclamation from Democrat President Woodrow Wilson .
Wilson ’ s magnificent proclamation explained that Flag Day is “ a day upon which we should direct our minds with a special desire of renewal to thoughts of the ideals and principles of which we have sought to make our great Government the embodiment.
” Finally , on August 3 , 1949 , Democrat President Harry S. Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day .
Flag Day exemplifies unity .
It was the brainchild of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose is to remind people of our founding First Principles declared in our Declaration of Independence and embedded in our Constitution .
The First Principles include equality , limited government , the rule of law , unalienable rights , the Social Compact , and the right to alter or abolish oppressive government .
There is no doubt that America did not fulfill those First Principles for all in 1776 or even today .
But the belief in those First Principles have inspired generations of patriots to move us closer to their fulfillment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the civil rights struggle all called upon the First Principles to push the country toward the arc of justice .
Demands for equality , the equal application of the rule of law , and protecting the unalienable rights of everyone is at the heart of the protests sparked by George Floyd ’ s death .
Unlike any other country in the world , our flag stands for ideals – ideals we should all embrace .
This is why Patriot Week ’ s celebration of a different historical flag each day of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the terrorist attacks ) – September 17 ( the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution ) is so vital .
Included in those flags is the current US Flag , the Betsy Ross Flag , the Suffragette Flag ( yes , they had one ! )
, and the Fort Sumter Flag .
They tell the story of America and how the battle for liberty and freedom is an unceasing struggle .
More than ever , this Flag Day we should all proudly display Old Glory and rededicate ourselves to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our First Principles .
Hon .
Michael Warren is an Oakland County Michigan Circuit Court Judge and co-founder of Patriot Week ( www.PatriotWeek.org ) with his then 10-year-old daughter Leah .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--‘Absolute Monarchy’: Catholic Priests, Jewish Congregants Sue Cuomo, De Blasio Over Double Standards

‘Absolute Monarchy’: Catholic Priests, Jewish Congregants Sue Cuomo, De Blasio Over Double Standards on Worship, Protests

Catholic priests and Jewish congregants have filed a lawsuit against Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio over double standards on worship and protests .
Two Catholic priests from upstate New York and three Orthodox Jewish congregants from Brooklyn filed lawsuit June 10 against Cuomo , de Blasio , and Attorney General Letitia James in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York .
“ It is time to end New York ’ s experiment in absolute monarchy , ” said Thomas More Society Special Counsel Christopher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ We are asking the court to put an end to these unconstitutional executive orders and their prejudicial enforcement.
” The lawsuit accuses Cuomo , de Blasio , and James of infringing on freedoms of religion , speech , assembly , expressive association , and due process , according to a press release from the Thomas More Society , and Senior Judge Gary L. Sharpe has ordered the defendants to file a response by noon on June 15 .
The Thomas More Society ’ s complaint lists a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusing the defendants of exploiting the pandemic to create “ a veritable dictatorship ” through Cuomo ’ s executive orders , of selectively enforcing social distancing through fines and punishments , and more .
“ These orders , both the emergency stay-home and reopening plan declarations , clearly discriminate against houses of worship , ” Ferrara said .
“ They are illegally content based , elaborate , arbitrary and pseudo-scientific.
” “ The governor and his agents , along with New York City ’ s mayor have employed favoritism and political platforms against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Why is a large worship gathering deemed more dangerous than a mass protest , full of shouting , arm-waving people in close proximity to one another ?
” The lawsuit comes as de Blasio and Cuomo allow protests and riots to go on throughout both New York City and the state while religious services have been banned or restricted .
Protests have erupted across the country in response to the death of George Floyd , who died May 25 in Minneapolis police custody after an officer knelt on his neck for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the incident showed .
De Blasio said Thursday that trips to a playground might be too risky for the spread of COVID-19 , but declined to say the same about the protests .
The Thomas More Society notes in a press release that only days after de Blasio was caught without a face mask at a political gathering in New York City — despite the requirement that all New Yorkers wear face masks and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people — police enforced the state ’ s ban on gatherings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small group of Hasidic Jewish children out of a park .
De Blasio has also threatened to arrest and prosecute members of the Jewish community who held “ illegal ” religious gatherings during the lockdowns .
Cuomo and de Blasio did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the DCNF .
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for The Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Andrew Cuomo ” by Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin .
CC BY 2.0 .
Photo “ Bill De Blasio ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Two-Thirds of Americans Don’t Want to Defund Police: Poll

A majority of Americans disagree with the call to defund the police and the proposed reallocation of funding , a national poll taken amid demonstrations for George Floyd found .
Almost two-thirds of Americans are against defunding law enforcement while 34 % agree with the movement , according to an ABC News/Ipsos poll released Friday .
When asked about reducing the police budget to put resources toward other health and social programs , 60 % of Americans opposed the idea while 39 % supported it .
A Yahoo/YouGov poll conducted between May 29 and 30 found that 16 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement while 65 % oppose the movement .
The survey had a +/-4.3 % margin of error .
Black Americans ’ answers varied slightly , as 57 % supported the movement to defund the police and 64 % supported allocating the money to community programs , according to ABC News .
Almost three in four white Americans and 57 % of Hispanic Americans are opposed to defunding law enforcement , and two-thirds of white Americans and 58 % of Hispanic Americans are against reallocating funds .
Democratic respondents majorly approved of defunding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respondents agreeing , and 59 % agreeing with reallocating funds to programs dealing with mental health , housing and education , ABC News reported .
Democrats differ more within their support than Republicans and Independents do in their opposition , according to the poll .
Republicans widely disapproved of defunding the police at 89 % , and 86 % of Republican respondents opposed the reallocation of funding , the poll found .
While some cities have initiated reforms for local law enforcement , national leaders have been hesitant to support drastic changes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ News he doesn ’ t support defunding the police , but “ support [ s ] conditioning federal aid to police based on whether or not they meet certain basic standards of decency and honorableness .
And , in fact , are able to demonstrate they can protect the community and everybody in the community.
” Despite protests occurring across the nation , only 26 % of Americans responded that they were willing to attend a protest , ABC News reported .
Comparatively , a June 9 YouGov survey found that 57 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participating in protests .
The poll took place between Wednesday and Thursday and surveyed 686 adults nationally with a margin of error of +/- 4.2 points .
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Defund the Police Poster ” by yashmori .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--GOP Bill Would Withhold Funding from Schools That Don’t Reopen by September

Republican lawmakers introduced a bill Thursday meant to incentivize schools to reopen from coronavirus closures by September 5 .
Republican Reps. Jim Banks of Indiana and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin introduced the Reopen Our Schools Act Thursday , which would withhold federal funding from schools that don ’ t open in the fall for in-person learning .
“ There are too many negative consequences for our children , their teachers and parents if we fail to reopen our schools in the fall , ” Banks told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
“ Schools must come up with a plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is designed to push them to do it.
” The move comes as educators and lawmakers discuss plans to slowly reopen the United States after several months of shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Projections from the Oregon-based nonprofit NWEA predict that students will return to school in the fall with less than 50 % of learning gains in math , relative to an average school year , and 70 % of learning gains in reading , the publication reports .
The WSJ also noted that children who are from poorer families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not complete their classwork .
“ These open-ended school shutdowns have set students back , made it harder for teachers to teach , and pushed parents to the breaking point , ” Tiffany said .
“ It ’ s time to reopen America and get back to school.
” Teachers had warned the DCNF in March , at the start of closures and school shutdowns , that remote teaching can be effective under certain circumstances , but factors like age or accessibility to internet , technology , and meals may be drawbacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , remote teaching can work , but even under optimal conditions it requires considerable preparation and technology , which hasn ’ t been an option during this crisis , ” Finnegan Schick , a public school high school teacher in a low-income south Boston neighborhood in Roxbury , Massachusetts , told the DCNF in March .
Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a May senate hearing that reopening schools without a vaccine was “ a very risky and indeed a dangerous prospect.
” Fauci , the top epidemiologist on the White House coronavirus task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools could not reopen , but he warned that reopening schools could present problems .
Fauci also said in April that he fully expects that “ by the time we get to the fall that we will have this under control enough that it certainly will not be the way it is now , where people are shutting schools.
” Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for The Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Mark Pody and Rep. Bruce Griffey on the Conservative Caucus Event Scheduled for July

EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Mark Pody and Rep. Bruce Griffey on the Conservative Caucus Event Scheduled for July 11

NASHVILLE , Tennessee – Senator Mark Pody ( R-Lebanon ) and Representative Bruce Griffey , the organizers of the Conservative Caucus , sat down in the senator ’ s office at the Cordell Hull Building this week for an exclusive interview with The Tennessee Star to talk about the event scheduled for July 11 .
The Conservative Caucus event , which recognizes that the United States is one nation under God – not government – will provide a unique opportunity for hundreds of Tennesseans to gather and honor their constitutional rights .
Pody credited Griffey with the “ brainchild ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear what ’ s on their hearts and minds Early voting , Pody reminded , starts the week following the event .
As such , Griffey has arranged for a session with top candidates for the U.S. Senate .
Candidates committed to attending the event , Griffey told The Star are Dr. Manny Sethi , Dr. George Flinn and Dr. Byron Bush .
The candidates will speak to the attendees and participate in a Q & A session .
Other candidates for U.S. Senate were invited to attend but as Griffey explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Griffey expressed hope that the situation might change .
“ It would be great to have all four of them there , ” said Griffey about the top four candidates of the 15 who qualified for the Republican Party primary for U.S. Senate .
Griffey said , in addition to conservatives coming together about issues , “ Let ’ s solidify our support behind a candidate so that we can pick the best Senate candidate for Tennessee.
” Early voting begins less than a week later on Friday , July 17 and runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day is August 6 with candidates for the state and federal primary as well as those for county general elections on the ballot .
Following the session with the U.S. Senate candidates , six speakers who are subject-matter experts , are scheduled .
John Harris , an attorney practicing in Nashville , has a broad practice base but is uniquely qualified to handle cases relative to the Second Amendment .
Harris may be best known for his decades-long service and advocacy as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Firearms Association .
Speaking on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Petty .
Dr .
Petty is very accomplished in the area of orthopedic and sports medicine , and currently serves as the head physician for a variety of local sports teams including the Tennessee Titans .
Attorney Jeff Cobble is a frequent speaker , lecturer and teacher , including a course “ The Institute on the Constitution , ” and will be addressing the topic of Government Overreach .
Pro-life physician Dr. Brent Boles will be speaking on the issue .
Dr. Boles is a practicing OBGYN for two decades , has written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Injustice of Abortion , ” and has testified before state legislators on the topic including the State Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in April 2019 , when the Heartbeat Bill was sent to summer study .
Don Barnett , fellow with the Center for Immigration Studies and published in National Review , Christian Science Monitor , Washington Times among others , is also the vice-chair of the Williamson County Republican Party and will be speaking on Immigration .
State Representative for the 40th House District , Terri Lynn Weaver , championed a 2017 resolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit against the federal government relative to the Tenth Amendment when it comes to paying for the Federal Refugee Resettlement Program and will be addressing the topic .
Dr. Ming Wang , in addition to his well-known work as an eye-surgeon , is also a co-founder of The Common Ground Network , which has a mission of helping people find common ground and solutions in their lives so they can be more successful .
Dr. Wang will speak on the network during lunch .
The Conservative Caucus will be held at the Millennium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Nashville .
The event is free , thanks to generous sponsors including a supporter of numerous conservative causes and local car dealer , Lee Beaman and Dr. Wang .
Senators Janice Bowling ( R-Tullahoma ) and Joey Hensley ( R-Hohenwald ) as well as Representatives Clay Doggett ( R-Pulaski ) and Griffey are also supporting the event .
Though the event is free , those planning to attend must get an Eventbrite ticket by going to conservativescaucus.com .
A cash lunch will be available to attendees at a cost of $ 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a free event ticket will also serve to provide a count for lunch .
As the interview concluded , Pody expressed his appreciation for The Star , particularly for digging into the facts and unbiased reporting on what is happening in the State of Tennessee and across the country .
“ It is one place that is not influenced by big media , ” Pody went on to say .
The Star interview with Pody and Griffey can be watched here .
To obtain additional information and tickets for the Conservative Caucus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Millennium Maxwell House , go to ConservativesCaucus.com .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .
Photo “ Mark Pody ” by Mark Pody .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Analysis: In These 11 Incidents, Gun Owners Defended Life and Property

The last week of May proved just how quickly the seemingly stable peace of our world can devolve into chaos and near-anarchy .
Many of us , already concerned that police departments were stretched thin by COVID-19 , watched in horror as law enforcement seemed to lose control of protests in major cities .
For several nights , police officers scarcely could keep their own precincts from being overrun , much less respond to calls for help from terrified civilians .
In many instances , civilians were forced to take matters into their own hands , relying on nothing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lives and livelihoods from violent rioters who sought to co-opt peaceful protests for their own benefit .
It should come as little surprise that Americans would be willing to protect their communities in this way .
In fact , in 2013 , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that almost every major study on the issue has found that Americans use their firearms in self-defense between 500,000 and 3 million times a year .
For this reason , The Daily Signal has published a monthly series highlighting some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you may have missed—or that might not have made it to the national spotlight in the first place .
( Read accounts from 2019 and 2020 ) .
The 11 examples below of lawful defensive uses of guns represent only a small part of the many stories we found in May .
You can explore more examples in The Heritage Foundation ’ s Defensive Gun Use Database , an interactive map that allows users to find recent defensive gun uses from all over the country quickly and easily .
• May 2 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holder drew his handgun in self-defense after a group approached and threatened him while he was trying to leave the beach .
He attempted to get into his car and flee , but the group prevented him from doing so , police said .
That ’ s when the permit holder began to fear for his life , pulled out his firearm , and told the group to let him go .
They apparently complied .
• May 3 , Madison County , Alabama : A woman who fatally shot her former fiancé @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her , police said .
The woman had called 911 just before midnight to report that the man—who had a long history of domestic violence convictions—had showed up at her home .
By the time police arrived , the woman already had relied on her firearm to defend her life .
• May 5 , Port Arthur , Texas : A man out catching crabs fatally shot a would-be robber who had pointed a rifle at him and a woman with him , demanding money .
Minutes earlier , police said , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fled in a stolen car .
The crabber retrieved a handgun from his truck , and after an exchange of gunfire , shot his assailant in self-defense .
• May 8 , Casselton , North Dakota : A man acted in lawful self-defense when he shot and killed an acquaintance who began choking him during an argument , police said .
The man immediately called 911 and placed his gun in a safe while waiting for law enforcement .
• May 12 , Buffalo , South Carolina : A woman , fearing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had invited an armed friend to stay at her apartment and protect her and her two children .
When the ex-husband kicked open the front door and opened fire on the woman , the armed friend shot and killed him before anyone else could be harmed .
Police said they had been searching for the ex-husband for several days because he was wanted on charges of domestic violence and assault .
• May 16 , Houston , Texas : A man shot and wounded his brother when , under the influence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The man initially tried to calm down the brother , who was damaging the residence .
He shot his brother when he began hitting their mother with large chunks of concrete .
• May 20 , Fulshear , Texas : A homeowner used his handgun to defend himself when an intoxicated man kicked in his front door and aggressively confronted him .
Neither the gun owner nor his family members were harmed .
• May 22 , Eureka , California : When several people got into an altercation outside a man ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went out onto his porch and asked them to leave the area .
Some of those involved became hostile and tried to force their way onto the homeowner ’ s property .
He tried unsuccessfully to deter his attackers with pepper spray .
When they continued to enter his home and assault him , the homeowner retrieved a handgun and fired in self-defense , killing one attacker and wounding another .
• May 25 , Mesquite , Nevada : A father shot and killed his son after the son attacked his mother with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s mental state recently had deteriorated and he may have been intoxicated when he pulled the knife on his mother .
Officers determined that the father ’ s actions were justified and that , had he survived , the son would have been charged with assault with a deadly weapon .
• May 26 , Panama City , Florida : An elderly homeowner , standing outside his house , was approached aggressively by a man who had been acting erratically while walking down the street .
The homeowner retreated inside , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glass door and entering the home .
The homeowner told police that he grabbed a handgun and fatally shot the man when he assaulted his wife .
• May 31 , Cleveland , Ohio : As peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd devolved into violent riots , owners of Corbo ’ s Bakery took the defense of their livelihood into their own hands .
Video from bystanders captured the moment that the bakery ’ s owners , armed with shotguns , forced back looters who smashed front windows with rocks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two months due to COVID-19 restrictions , had been scheduled to reopen June 1 .
The owners ’ actions spared the bakery from the destruction experienced by many other businesses in downtown Cleveland .
Of course , as gun owners our impulse should be to avoid confrontation and rely on law enforcement when it ’ s possible to do so .
But as these stories clearly show , police officers are not always there to protect our homes or our communities when we need them the most .
Although we know the battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from over , May provided an eye-opening reality check for many Americans .
Amy Swearer is a senior legal policy analyst at the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Trump Admin Considers Months-Long Suspension of Work Visas

The Trump Administration is considering a months-long suspension of work visas during the coronavirus , officials familiar with the plan told the Wall Street Journal .
The order could restrict H-1B visas for highly skilled workers , H-2B visas for seasonal workers and other types of work visas , and might extend past Oct. 1. , according to the WSJ .
“ We ’ re going to see some more news on that probably sometime soon , ” Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II , acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security , said Wednesday .
Senate Republicans , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for restrictions of work visas like H-1B since the pandemic began and unemployment rose sharply .
The Trump Administration temporarily restricted immigration into the U.S. April for 2 months to slow the spread of the coronavirus and the economic downturn .
The president denied he was using coronavirus measures to restrict legal immigration , according to the New York Post .
The two month ban drew criticism from Fox News host Tucker Carlson for having “ too many exceptions.
” Critics have called the legislation “ blatant xenophobia.
” “ It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off by the virus to be replaced with new immigration labor flown in from abroad , ” Trump said , reported the NY Post .
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Memphis City Council Wants to Impose Anti-Police Group’s Agenda on Local Law Enforcement

Members of the Memphis City Council now advocate for Campaign Zero , a group that ultimately wants to do away with the police .
And council members want their local police officers and sheriff ’ s deputies to do what Campaign Zero says .
Memphis City Council Chairwoman Patrice Robinson announced this in an emailed newsletter to her constituents this week .
“ The Council also realizes that violence against minorities has been an issue in our country for far too long .
To that point , we also agree that reform measures are overdue as it relates to racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the criminal justice system , ” Robinson wrote .
“ To ensure the City of Memphis is moving toward progress in resolving these issues , the Council also passed a resolution in Executive Session requesting that the Memphis Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff ’ s Office adopt each of the ‘ 8 Can ’ t Wait ’ principles .
These strategies were devised by anti-police brutality group Campaign Zero to reduce and prevent violent encounters between law enforcement officers and members of the general public.
” According to the # 8CANTWAIT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , among other things , for law enforcement to ban chokeholds and require a warning and exhaust all alternatives before shooting .
They also want police to ban shooting at moving vehicles .
“ While we stand by the idea that any political leaders truly invested in protecting black lives should adopt the # 8CANTWAIT policies , we also believe the end goal for all of us should be absolute liberation from policing , and encourage visitors to the site to support the range of organizers who are making progress in employing other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reinvesting in community , ” according to the # 8CANTWAIT website .
“ If you are from a place where # 8CANTWAIT is being considered , demand steps towards defunding and abolition .
If you are a legislator who has adopted these policies or are considering it , please know that it will take many strategies to move beyond policing and use this time to learn more and listen to the needs of your community.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Photo “ Memphis City Council ” by Memphis City Council .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Commentary: The US Army, 245 Years Strong and Still True to Its Roots

June 14 marks the 245th birthday of the U.S. Army .
Born even before the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 , the Army marks its birthday from June 14 , 1775 , when the Continental Congress directed “ [ t ] hat six companies of expert riflemen , be immediately raised in Pennsylvania , two in Maryland , and two in Virginia … [ and ] as soon as completed , shall march and join the army near Boston , to be there employed as light infantry , under the command of the chief Officer in that army.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Army essentially has been the story of our nation .
Fighting our nation ’ s battles and wars , and protecting the rights and liberties of the American people have been its responsibility , which it takes seriously .
For every major campaign in which the Army has engaged , a streamer—essentially a thin embroidered strip of fabric—was added to the Army flag .
The first one added was for the Battle of Lexington on April 19 , 1775 , while the most recent one added was for Operation Inherent Resolve , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or ISIS .
In between these two streamers are 188 others , each representing the commitment and sacrifice of the men and women of the Army .
There are , for example , 38 streamers associated with World War II , one of them representing Burma in 1942 , and 17 associated with the Vietnam War , with campaigns such as the Tet Counteroffensive in 1968 .
However , not all Army operations are captured in streamers .
In 1871 , President Ulysses S. Grant sent the Army and federal marshals into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence being committed by the Ku Klux Klan against black citizens .
In that regard , he was successful in crippling Klan efforts throughout the state .
In 1957 , the Army—in the form of 1,000 troops from the 101st Airborne Division—was called upon by President Dwight Eisenhower to maintain order in Little Rock , Arkansas , as the Central High School was desegregated , and to protect the famous “ Little Rock Nine , ” nine black students who figuratively and literally broke down barriers .
In 1965 , President Lyndon Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Guard soldiers to protect protesters on their march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama following earlier brutal attacks by police on marchers .
With the protection of the Army , the marchers arrived safely .
While not recognized by a streamer , those missions by the Army to protect the rights of citizens granted under the Constitution reflect an institution dedicated to freedom and liberty .
In these times of turmoil in our cities , some have fretted that the military and the Army could be employed to deny—as opposed to protect—American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of free speech .
Those familiar with the Army ’ s 245 years of history have no such concerns .
For an institution that has fought for the nation ’ s freedoms for nearly two and a half centuries , such a thought is inconceivable .
The Army is not perfect .
Like other human endeavors , mistakes can be and are made .
But the Army is a self-correcting organization , and when it finds errors , it usually fixes them quickly .
It ’ s been steadfastly guided by the principles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and all Americans should be rightly proud of their Army .
Thomas W. Spoehr , a retired Army lieutenant general , is director of the Center for National Defense at The Heritage Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Starbucks Creates Own Black Lives Matter Shirt for Employees

Starbucks is creating its own Black Lives Matter shirt for employees to wear if they choose .
The move comes after the coffee chain reportedly banned employees from wearing Black Lives Matter gear .
The T-shirt depicts protest signs with phrases including “ Black Lives Matter , ” “ Speak Up ” and “ Time for Change.
” One sign shows a raised black fist .
“ It ’ s not a moment , it ’ s a movement , ” the shirt reads .
Social media blew up over news reports that Starbucks had told employees in a memo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matter shirts or other paraphernalia because it might be used to amplify divisiveness .
Protests have been erupting around the globe over the death of George Floyd in the hands of a Minneapolis police officer , which has in turn re-energized the Black Lives Matter movement .
“ This is a company that first of all speaks out often , and has dealt with racial issues before so I ’ m really surprised they weren ’ t more sensitive in the first place , ” said Paul Argenti , Dartmouth College professor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course is a good thing , it ’ s more consistent with their approach to race issues in general.
” Starbucks did not respond to questions about its memo but said it is partnering with the Starbucks Black Partner Network and Black Starbucks leaders to make 250,000 shirts available to staffers in the U.S. and Canada .
Until the corporate T-shirts are available , Starbucks staffers can wear their own Black Lives Matter T-shirts and other gear .
Starbucks Foundation last week pledged to donate $ 1 million to organizations that promote racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be nominated by employees .
Starbucks has run into problems over race issues before .
In 2018 it closed all of its stores for anti-bias training after two black men in a Philadelphia Starbucks were arrested when a store manager called police on them for purportedly being in the cafe and not buying anything .
In 2015 Starbucks was widely panned for its effort to spark discussions around race by having baristas write “ Race Together ” on customers ’ cups .
The company quickly ended the practice in response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chiagouris said while the flip-flop on Black Lives Matter gear conveys the company buckled under pressure and could lead to a backlash , he doesn ’ t expect any lasting damage to the brand since it has demonstrated that it has tried to do the right thing in other ways , like the $ 1 million fund or the anti-bias training .
“ Most people will give them another chance , they ’ ll continue to work there and buy their coffee there , ” he said .
Mae Anderson reports for The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : This June 26 , 2019 , file photo shows a Starbucks sign outside a Starbucks coffee shop in downtown Pittsburgh .
Starbucks announced Friday , June 12 , 2020 , that the company is creating its own Black Lives Matter shirt for employees to wear if they choose .
The move comes after the coffee chain reportedly banned employees from wearing Black Lives Matter gear .
( AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Trump Finalizing Executive Order, Says He Wants to Increase Police Funding

President Donald Trump said Thursday that his administration was finalizing an executive order focusing on police reform amid widespread protests over the death of George Floyd .
The statement , which came during a roundtable with law enforcement officers in Dallas , addressed police funding , social workers and de-escalation tactics , Politico reported .
It also came amid demonstrations and rioting over Floyd , who died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for about nine minutes , video showed .
“ We ’ re working to finalize an executive order that will encourage police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professional standards for the use of force , including tactics for de-escalation , ” Trump said .
“ Also , we ’ ll encourage pilot programs that allow social workers to join certain law enforcement officers so that they work together.
” Trump emphasized his support for law enforcement and said he wanted to increase funding toward it .
“ We ’ re not defunding the police .
If anything we ’ re going the other route .
We ’ re going to make sure our police are well trained , perfectly trained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump said .
The announcement came amid growing calls to defund police departments nationwide or even abolish police altogether .
The president also announced Thursday preliminary plans to build “ safety and opportunity and dignity ” in communities of color by increasing access to capital for minority-owned small businesses and by confronting the health care disparities that have long existed .
Andrew Trunsky is a reporter for The Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--MyPillow Refuses to Join Advertising Boycott of Tucker Carlson

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell said he won ’ t join other major companies in boycotting Tucker Carlson ’ s prime-time show on Fox News .
“ MyPillow is not changing its advertising .
I make all my advertising decisions based on what is best for my customers and my employees , ” Lindell said in a statement provided to Newsweek .
“ MyPillow believes all lives matter and values all our employees and customers , treating them like family.
” T-Mobile , Walt Disney Company , Papa John ’ s , and Poshmark all announced last week that they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s show , Deadline first reported .
“ We haven ’ t run ads on Tucker Carlson Tonight since early May and have canceled all future placements .
We will continue to support those who stand against racial injustice , ” T-Mobile wrote on Twitter .
Papa John ’ s , whose founder was booted from the company in 2018 for using a racial slur , confirmed with The New York Times that it would stop advertising on opinion shows .
The advertising boycott comes in response to Carlson ’ s scathing criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Monday night monologue .
“ It tells you that Black Lives Matter is in fact a political party , maybe the strongest political party in the United States as of tonight , ” said Carlson , mocking several prominent Democrats in Minnesota throughout his remarks .
He concluded the 25-minute monologue by claiming the “ moment we are living through ” has “ very little to do with black lives.
” “ What is going on ?
What is this about ?
Even the outlines are blurry at this point , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they tell you , it has very little to do with black lives .
If only it did .
If Democratic leaders cared about saving the lives of black people , and they should , they wouldn ’ t ignore the murders of thousands of young black men in their cities every year , ” said Carlson .
Carlson survived a similar advertising boycott in 2018 when 20 companies pulled their ads from his show .
Despite the outcry from corporate America , Carlson – and Fox News Channel more broadly – continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three major cable news networks , Fox News had the five most-watched shows in May .
Hannity finished in first place overall with a nightly audience of 4.231 million viewers , followed by Tucker Carlson Tonight with 4.192 million viewers , The Five with 3.734 million viewers , The Ingraham Angle with 3.485 million viewers , and Special Report with Bret Baier at 3.085 million viewers .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Lindell .
Photo “ Tucker Carlson ” by Tucker Carlson Tonight .
Background Photo “ Fox News Studio ” by Inside Cable News .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Nearly 24,000 Ohioans Have to Repay Unemployment Benefits Due to Overpayments

Almost 24,000 people who received unemployment benefits will have to pay back the benefits as a result of overpayments , the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services ( ODJFS ) announced this week .
ODJFS Director Kimberly Hall said that there is nothing she could do about the overpayments because it ’ s a federal issue , not a state issue , according to News5Cleveland .
“ Any overpayment has to be repaid , whether or not it was due to fraud or due to lagging wage information , ” she said Tuesday .
ODJFS has dealt with many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start , the ODJFS has fulfilled only 686,000 out of 1.3 million claims , which equates to around 52 percent of people ’ s unemployment claims .
Furthermore , the ODJFS has been subject to multiple hack attempts amid the coronavirus pandemic .
On two separate occasions in May , ODJFS dealt with hackers .
The first incident happened when someone hacked into the state ’ s unemployment benefits system website and sent junk data to part of the website where employers “ can report employees who quit or refuse work when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hack attempted to overwhelm ODJFS ’ s system so the state would have a hard time handling legitimate submissions .
The second hack exposed the personal information of at least 130,000 people who filed for unemployment benefits .
The hacker obtained social security numbers and addresses .
Just this week , ODJFS identified at least 1,500 cases of unemployment insurance fraud , News5Cleveland reported .
In an attempt to fix the ODJFS ’ s problems , the Ohio House unanimously passed House Bill 614 , which seeks to reform the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four main details : 1 .
The Modernization and Improvement Council will be created to meet bimonthly and evaluate the claim filing process and technological infrastructure .
The bipartisan council will also examine ways to maximize the responsiveness for individual applicants and employers .
An initial report will be created within the first six months of meeting and the council will review the report every six months for potential updates .
2 .
The ODJFS Director is required to create a written strategic staffing plan for employees who handle inquiries and a referral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to report issues directly to ODJFS representatives in order to compile all information in one place .
3 .
ODJFS is required to have a complaint form in order to streamline the complaint process for constituents .
4 .
The Auditor of State is required to make recommendations on the efficiency of the claims process by examining specific metrics and reporting to the Modernization and Improvement Council .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Resolution to End Walz’s Peacetime Emergency Fails to Pass, But Receives Bipartisan Support

Yet another resolution to end Gov .
Tim Walz ’ s peacetime emergency declaration was rejected Friday , but this time the proposal received bipartisan support in both the House and Senate .
The resolution passed the Republican-controlled Senate in a vote of 38-29 , with three Democratic senators joining Republicans in voting to end the governor ’ s emergency powers , which first took effect March 13 in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
After the resolution passed the Senate , one of the governor ’ s vehicles was spotted at the Capitol shortly before the House put the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tony Soprano tactics used on defectors I ’ ve been told , ” Rep. Mary Franson ( R-Alexandria ) said on Twitter .
In a vote of 61-73 , the resolution was blocked in the House , but two Democratic representatives voted in favor of ending the peacetime emergency .
“ It ’ s time to end the executive orders and let business and life open back up , ” Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka ( R-East Gull Lake ) said in a statement .
“ I supported the governor back in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the ‘ just in case ’ didn ’ t happen .
We all know the value of social distancing and I have faith the people of Minnesota will continue acting safe , even without the government telling us to.
” Once the resolution was defeated in the House , Gov .
Walz signed an executive order extending his peacetime emergency powers for an additional 30 days .
“ Minnesotans ’ health and safety is our top priority , and the actions we took over the last three months have saved lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press release .
“ The peacetime emergency opens our toolbox , allowing us to take swift action as necessary to protect the health and well-being of our communities , businesses , and families .
This pandemic is not over .
We must continue to work together to put public health first.
” Under current law , the governor can extend a peacetime emergency indefinitely for 30 days at a time .
State law only grants the Legislature the option to cancel an emergency declaration with a majority vote from both the House and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fourth attempt by Republican lawmakers to end the peacetime emergency .
“ We will continue to fight for the integrity of institutions , especially the Legislature that we were elected to represent .
This is a dark chapter in Minnesota ’ s history , where a Governor can take power under one pretext and then change that pretext and expand his mandate , ” said Rep. Steve Drazkowski ( R-Mazeppa ) .
“ He broke faith with the legislature and the people of Minnesota and he must be stopped and held accountable.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Minnesota Capitol ” by Gabriel Vanslette .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Franklin County Democratic Party Tells Local FOP Lodge Its Candidates Do Not Want Police Endorsement

Franklin County Democratic Party Tells Local FOP Lodge Its Candidates Do Not Want Police Endorsements

The Franklin County Democratic Party has decided that the local Fraternal Order of Police does not need to endorse any of its candidates .
Party Chairman Michael Sexton informed the FOP Capital City Lodge # 9 of the decision in a letter , available on the Democratic chapter ’ s Facebook page here from a Friday post .
Sexton ’ s letter was in response to a May 8 letter from Jeff Simpson , chairman of the FOP ’ s political screening committee , saying they were preparing for the 2020 election screening process .
Sexton listed several reasons for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pattern of the FOP overwhelmingly endorsing Republicans for the last several years , multiple votes of no confidence by the FOP towards our elected officials , and your own words on social media stating an unfounded , untruthful allegation towards our Congresswoman , party leadership has recommended that our 2020 Democratic candidates do not screen with FOP Lodge # 9 .
Sexton also calls on the FOP to support the party ’ s Resolution 2021-01 , titled “ To Affirm and Declare the Anti-Racist Principals of Franklin County Democratic Party.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Franklin County Board of Commissioners and Columbus City Council , and have been introduced in the Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives .
The Columbus City Council recently declared racism to be a “ public health crisis.
” Both chambers in the Ohio Legislature also seek to call racism a public health crisis , SCR 14 and HCR 31 .
Columbus-area police are in the midst of a difficult relationship with local Democrats .
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said he and the City Council were taking action to require the Ohio Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instances of police-involved deaths , WBNS reported .
Keith Ferrell , the FOP lodge ’ s president , addressed the matter on Facebook here .
The negative characterization that the Mayor painted this department with yesterday was unfair and wrong .
Now is not the time to play political games and divide our community .
Officers across the country are outraged with what we saw on video in Minnesota .
We understand , respect , and support peaceful protest ; however , property destruction should not be tolerated .
Every business owner and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this City has allowed and continues to allow to happen in Columbus .
As officers , we have a duty to the public to stop the senseless destruction of property .
Destruction that further damages our community , a community which is already hurting economically and socially .
However , officers feel as if their hands are being tied by the Mayor and his administration .
There is no reason rioters should be permitted to destroy and loot business .
The Fraternal Order of Police needs your support to stop the riots and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Senate Approves Measure to Protect Electronic Data from Unreasonable Search and Seizure

The Michigan Senate unanimously approved a measure that aims to require a warrant for search and seizure of electronic documents .
The federal and state Constitution protects against unreasonable search and seizure of people ’ s “ houses , papers , and effects ” without a warrant , but Senate Joint Resolution G clarifies that electronic data and communication fall under those protected items .
Sponsor Sen. Jim Runestad , R-White Lake , said the resolution aimed to update privacy protections to modern standards .
“ Americans shouldn ’ t be forced to choose between using new technologies and protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
“ It is long past time that our state extends the same basic protections to our electronic data that have existed for our paper data for centuries.
” Missouri voters approved a similar amendment in 2014 with a 75 percent vote , while New Hampshire passed it with 81 percent voter approval .
“ In 2020 privacy still matters , ” Runestad said in a floor speech .
“ The Fourth Amendment still matters .
We don ’ t know what technological advances will come next , but one thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years to us Americans , our right to privacy still matters.
” The question will be placed on the November 2020 general election ballot if two-thirds of the House supports it .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .
Previously , he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Left-Wing Demonstrators Block Lower Broadway, Poke Fun at Nashville Police

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Nashville Saturday night and taunted law enforcement as officers assembled in unison along the sidewalks on Lower Broadway .
“ Why are you in riot gear ?
I don ’ t see no riot here .
Why are you in riot gear ?
I don ’ t see no riot here , ” the thousands of protestors said in unison , over and over again .
At one point , protestors along lower Broadway paused in front of Bridgestone Arena , and many of them sat on the street for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nashville Mayor John Cooper and asked the following : “ Under what legal authority does any group have to take up and block an entire street like this ?
Can I bring a group of my friends downtown and do the same thing ?
” Meanwhile , Twitter user @ scj63803268 tagged Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee and told him just how put out he was with the day ’ s events .
“ Gov Lee it is DISGUSTING that Nashville TN refused to open for residents to go back to work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s either all or NONE .
Get with it partner or kiss your reelection votes goodbye .
Too many folks have permanently lost jobs.
” Demonstrators recited a litany of familiar left-wing chants as they marched up and down the streets of Nashville : • “ Show me what democracy looks like .
This is what democracy looks like ” Nashville Public Radio reporter Samantha Max tweeted Saturday evening that protestors had occupied space at the state capitol for a little more than 24 hours .
“ State troopers are telling them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put , ” Max wrote .
As The Tennessee Star reported Saturday , Lee failed to enforce state law Friday night and allowed left-wing activist Justin Jones and a handful of his fellow protesters to camp out in Legislative Plaza .
This , as Jones and others pitched tents and sat on the steps of the plaza throughout the night and into the morning .
A 2012 state law , “ The Equal Access to Public Property Act of 2012 , ” clearly states that people may not use state-owned property for camping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designated camping area .
Violation of the law is a Class A misdemeanor .
The Act , which legislators passed and became law in response to the 2012 Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Nashville movement , allows state officials to physically remove items such as tents , blankets , and sleeping bags , which it states are “ subject to seizure and forfeiture.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Black Lives Matter Nashville @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-06-14--Floridians Mark President Trump’s Birthday with Flotillas, Caravans

WEST PALM BEACH , Fla. ( AP ) — Trump supporters in Florida were celebrating the president ’ s birthday Sunday with caravans , flotillas and parades throughout his adopted home state .
In Palm Beach County — home of President Donald Trump ’ s Mar-a-Lago resort — separate caravans of trucks , motorcycles and boats were riding along highways and the intercoastal waterway at various times in the morning .
The organizers were part of the president ’ s Florida re-election effort .
The Palm Beach Post reports that an anti-Trump caravan also was riding through the county Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms .
Pro-Trump flotillas also were planned for Fort Lauderdale , Miami , the Florida Keys , Tampa , Pensacola and Jacksonville — where Trump is slated to be renominated for a second term at the end of August .
In The Villages , a massive Republican-friendly retirement community northwest of Orlando where golf carts are the vehicles of choice for many residents , Trump supporters were holding a golf-cart parade in honor of the president , who is turning 74 .
Speaking to West Point graduates on Saturday , Trump said his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Army ’ s founding .
“ Unrelated , going to be my birthday also , ” Trump said .
“ I don ’ t know if that happened by accident .
Did that happen by accident , please ?
But it ’ s a great day because of that Army birthday.
” About the Headline Photo : Supporters of President Donald Trump wave at the hundreds of boats idling on the St. Johns River during a rally Sunday , June 14 , 2020 , in Jacksonville , Fla. , celebrating Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida Times-Union via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-06-15--Nashville Labor Union Group Wants John Cooper to Spend Remaining COVID-19 Money on Their Personal Pr

Nashville Labor Union Group Wants John Cooper to Spend Remaining COVID-19 Money on Their Personal Priorities

A coalition of Nashville ’ s community organizations and labor unions want Nashville Mayor John Cooper to spend possibly as much as $ 100 million in remaining COVID-19 relief money on projects that address “ a moral and racial equity lens.
” Members of the organization , Stand Up Nashville , announced this in an email to followers this weekend .
“ The past several months have been a time of great upheaval in Nashville .
Before the tornado hit on March 3 , our city was already facing an economic calamity and growing distrust of government ( at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the backdrop of a series of racially motivated injustices , the mistrust of government has grown past the reaches of just policing , ” according to Stand Up Nashville ’ s email .
“ Stand Up Nashville is calling on our elected officials and civil servants to fix the parts of the commonwealth that are broken .
Yes , we as a city have many areas that need immediate attention , but none more pressing than fixing the lack of trust with Black community , immigrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay afloat due to the widespread economic downfall caused by the pandemic.
” Members of the group say that COVID-19 has caused more hardship among black Nashvillians versus white Nashvillians .
This , they went on to say , “ exposes the systemic inequity in Nashville.
” Members of Stand Up Nashville ask for , among other things : • Housing assistance , including up to $ 1,400 in rental assistance and a one-time $ 300 homeowner assistance payment .
• A grant program for underserved neighborhoods and minority-owned businesses , specifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal histories who may have previously had Small Business Administration loans denied • Compensation for lost wages during the time spent completing these training programs As The Tennessee Star previously reported , Cooper is directing $ 24 million in funding from the federal CARES Act to provide every public school student in Nashville-Davidson County with a laptop .
Additionally , students who need internet connectivity will get it .
“ This investment is sufficient for Dell Computers to provide Metro Nashville with up to 90,000 laptops for the projected 84,740 students who will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the upcoming school year , ” according to the announcement .
“ The cost of each computer will be just above $ 200 per device , a significant reduction from their list price.
” Earlier this summer , MNPS surveyed families to determine how many families had access to the Internet .
Fifteen percent of families who responded to the survey reported that they did not have internet access .
Adjusting for no respondents , MNPS has estimated that 20 percent of their families lack internet access , the website said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Tennessee Star .
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Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Mayor John Cooper ” by Nashville.gov .

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


thetennesseestar--2020-06-15--Commentary: It Is Time to Break Up Nashville

The most charitable thing anyone can say about Nashville right now is that the city is a dumpster fire .
It isn ’ t just a small dumpster fire .
It is a stinking , raging fire that is going to get out of hand if nothing is done about it .
Part of Nashville ’ s problems are not its own doing .
No one could control the tornado that struck Nashville in March and no one could see , at least initially , what would happen with the COVID-19 outbreak .
But most of Nashville ’ s problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controlled by the Democrat Party .
It always has been .
And their policies have all but destroyed the city financially .
Last year , Forbes announced that Nashville was in receivership .
That shocked a lot of people .
Technically , it wasn ’ t true , as the state did approve Nashville ’ s budget , but Comptroller Justin Wilson told Nashville to get its house in order .
The problem is , Nashville is not getting its house in order .
It is doing literally everything it can to destroy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxpayers of Tennessee will be left with the bill .
As the state began to open up , after the ill-advised shutdown , Nashville , under Mayor John Cooper , said wait .
Instead of reopening the economy , his administration continued to push draconian measures that served only to continue to destroy Nashville businesses .
When Tennesseans rallied in front of the state capitol , demanding state and local restrictions be lifted , Cooper was horrified .
Then suddenly the Black Lives Matter movement showed .
Cooper had no problem with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no problems with marchers showing up and occupying Lower Broadway , even as the businesses there were begging that there be no more marches there , so the businesses could reopen .
While Nashville ’ s Mayor does nothing to help businesses in the famed entertainment district , the Metro Health Department was out issuing citations to businesses , just trying to survive .
And of course , while the Mayor was strangling businesses through his executive fiat , he was also proposing a 32 % tax hike on those same businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to go bankrupt sooner or later .
Decades of mismanagement have come to a head now in 2020 .
Ultimately the state will have to intervene and probably pay some of Nashville ’ s bills .
But the state needs to intervene now and put an end to the mismanagement in Nashville .
There is only one way to do that .
Mayor Cooper doesn ’ t want to support the businesses suffering right now because they are not his constituency .
The rioters are .
If Nashville were broken up into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving help .
They would be allowed to re-open and they would receive police protection to help them stay open .
If Nashville were a dozen small cities , the financial mismanagement would be sharply reduced .
Most of those small cities would be much better run .
A couple of them would still be dumpster fires but at least the damage from that would be much more manageable .
Each small city would have its own leadership and budget , and each would be more manageable .
There must be some penalty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quo remains , Nashville will go into receivership and the people who have spent decades wrecking Nashville ’ s economy will remain in the driver ’ s seat .
Judson Phillips is a long time conservative pundit and founder of Tea Party Nation .
Photo “ New Down in Nashville ” by Derrick Brutel CC2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-15--Right-to-Work Constitutional Amendment Heads to Tennessee House Floor

A resolution to enshrine right-to-work protections in the Tennessee Constitution has advanced through the House committee process and is scheduled to be heard Monday on the House floor .
Tennessee already has right-to-work protections in law , which prevent a worker from being hired or fired based on choosing to join or not to join a union .
Senate Joint Resolution 0648 would enshrine the protection in the constitution to make it more difficult to repeal in the future .
“ It is unlawful for any person , corporation , association , or this state or its political subdivisions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any person by reason of the person ’ s membership in , affiliation with , resignation from , or refusal to join or affiliate with any labor union or employee organization , ” the proposed amendment reads .
The resolution , which already passed the Senate in its current form , advanced through two House committees Thursday .
It has widespread support among Republicans , who say it provides workers with more choice and incentivizes businesses to come to the state .
It has opposition from Democrats , who say it weakens unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amendment languages passes the House with a majority , Tennessee ’ s constitutional amendment process requires an identical resolution be passed in both chambers in 2021 by a two-thirds vote .
If it receives the necessary votes , it then will go on the 2022 general ballot , in which voters decide with a majority vote whether to adopt the amendment .
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and Tennessee for The Center Square .
He previously worked for the Cause of Action Institute and has been published in Business Insider , USA TODAY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Free Beacon .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-15--Poll: Young, College-Educated Americans Most Likely to Favor Removing Confederate Statues

As confederate statues nationwide are being vandalized and toppled , while other are being peaceably removed , a new poll shows young , college-educated Americans are the most likely age demographic to agree that these monuments no longer have a place in society .
The National Tracking Poll by Morning Consult and Politico , conducted June 6-7 , found that 43 percent of Americans between the ages of 18-34 believe that statues of confederate leaders should be taken down , while 26 percent think they should remain standing .
The other 31 percent did not know or had no opinion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older age groups were less likely to hold the belief that the same statues should be removed , with 39 percent of Americans between the ages of ages 35-44 agreeing they should be taken down and 25 percent of Americans between the ages of 45-64 saying the same .
Meanwhile , 29 percent of Americans 65 and older said that confederate statues should be removed .
While a larger percentage of Americans 65 and older said the statues should be taken down than those between the ages of 45-64 , Americans 65 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other demographic to say the statues should “ remain standing , ” at 57 percent .
Thus , the older the age group , the more likely they were to be in favor of keeping the statues , with 35-44 at 36 percent , 45-65 at 52 percent , and 65+ at 57 percent .
Education also played a factor in which Americans favor leaving confederate statues in place , or removing them .
The poll found that college-educated respondents were the most likely to favor removing the statues , with 45 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statues should go and 40 percent of those with Bachelors degrees saying they should be removed .
Meanwhile , just 27 percent of those respondents without Bachelors degrees said that confederate statues should not remain in place .
When political parties are considered with regard to keeping the statues , 71 percent of Republicans agree and 25 percent of Democrats agree .
The same survey asked respondents about their views on the confederate flag .
On this question , the 18-34 age group answered similarly regarding to how they responded to the previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether they viewed the confederate flag as a symbol of Southern pride or a symbol of racism , 48 percent agreed with the latter , whereas only 25 percent believed the former .
Natalia Mittelstadt is a Virginia Campus Correspondent and interning with the Leadership Institute in the Office of the President this summer .
She is originally from Swedesboro , New Jersey and graduated this May from Regent University in Virginia Beach , Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a concentration in journalism and American government .
Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-15--University of Michigan Leadership Moves to Block President Trump’s Action to Combat Chinese Theft of

University of Michigan Leadership Moves to Block President Trump’s Action to Combat Chinese Theft of U.S. Research

In response to new restrictions on Chinese students and researchers in the U.S. , recently announced by President Donald Trump , the University of Michigan issued a statement vocalizing the school ’ s opposition to the Republican administration ’ s latest move .
Signed by the college ’ s President , Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs , Vice President for Research and Dean at Rackham Graduate School , the letter says that these restrictions have “ led to understandable worry.
” They express resistance to the restrictions on the grounds that “ our Chinese students , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institution through teaching , learning , research and impact on society.
” The president ’ s proclamation , issued May 29 , cautioned against the entry of certain students and researchers as potentially detrimental to U.S. interests : “ The PRC ( People ’ s Republic of China ) authorities use some Chinese students , mostly post‑graduate students and post-doctorate researchers , to operate as non-traditional collectors of intellectual property .
Thus , students or researchers from the PRC studying or researching beyond the undergraduate level who are or have been associated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army ) are at high risk of being exploited or co-opted by the PRC authorities and provide particular cause for concern.
” The proclamation went on to detail the new limitations and restrictions on students and researchers from China .
UMich , whose Ann Arbor , Flint , and Dearborn campuses received a combined $ 831,844,000 in 2017 , also articulated disapproval of recently introduced legislation , which it describes as being proposed by Republican Sen .
Rob Portman ( Ohio ) “ and others , ” not mentioning by name Democrat Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who collaborated with Portman on the bill , which follows a lengthy bipartisan investigation into and suggested strategy to end Chinese theft of U.S. academic research .
The university reassures international students that “ our core values have not changed in the wake of new policies and proposals that target this segment of our community and seek to limit the ability of Chinese students and researchers to study and work at our nation ’ s colleges and universities ” and “ we share their concerns about any changes that would negatively affect individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Please know that the university considers these issues top priorities and will continue to monitor them , strategically engage when opportunities arise and strongly oppose efforts to place inappropriate limits on our international students , faculty and visitors , ” the letter concludes .
Maria Copeland is a Virginia Campus Correspondent at CampusReform.org .
Photo “ University of Michigan ” by the University of Michigan , and “ President Mark S. Schlissel ” is by Mark S. Schlissel .


thetennesseestar--2020-06-15--Commentary: The Deep State Destruction of Rural America

Ever since the heinous killing of an unarmed black man by four rogue police officers on May 25 , protests and riots have consumed America ’ s cities .
These mass protests have mobilized millions of so-called progressives , incited to destructive fury by well-organized provocateurs .
The groups behind this extremism are well known , as are the leftist and anarchist ideologies that propel them .
But another important movement is growing in the United States .
Either neglected or misrepresented in the media as right-wing extremism , this movement originated in rural America , but increasingly it makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or overtaxed household in America ’ s cities .
There is nothing extremist about this movement .
It is founded in common sense and a desire for justice and equal treatment .
As millions of productive Americans find it harder than ever to survive the onslaught of progressive government policies , the movement grows .
The biggest political wild card in American politics today is which of these groups , productive citizens of rural areas and their urban counterparts , or urban progressives , will claim the ultimate allegiance of undecided voters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle , it is convenient that climate activists wish to depopulate rural areas and concentrate Americans into dense urban cores .
Because the more predominant the urban vote becomes in elections , the less likely the average voter is to understand what ’ s happening in rural America .
Using regulations pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act , the Endangered Species Act , and countless other laws and regulations including an exploding body of new regulations designed to prevent “ climate change , ” government bureaucrats and environmentalist litigators are waging an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , miners , loggers , and , increasingly , the residents themselves .
Just to live outside established urban centers is becoming endangered .
In California and other western states , poor forest management has led to cataclysmic wildfires which are being used as the pretext to deny insurance coverage and drive residents out of any fire-prone rural landscapes .
Punitive laws governing logging operations have destroyed entire regional economies as logging companies are driven overseas .
Mining operations are now shut down far more often than they are ever started in America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing national appetite for rare earth commodities to build electric vehicle batteries .
The nation ’ s farmers also are taking hits from this avalanche of regulations .
But some are fighting back .
On May 29 , in Klamath County , Oregon , thousands of farmers and community supporters showed up to protest reduced water allocations , announced earlier this year , which threaten to destroy the region ’ s agricultural economy .
The protesters formed a convoy of more than 2,000 vehicles that passed through downtown Klamath Falls and ended up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon .
This convoy , with a majority of the vehicles either farm tractors or semi rigs , was over 30 miles long .
Overshadowed by reporting on the mayhem that has descended on the rest of America , this protest didn ’ t make the national news .
Even local news was focused overwhelmingly on the tense standoff that weekend between residents and business owners of Klamath Falls , and out-of-town activists who were trying to import the mayhem that gripped cities from Portland to Sacramento .
But how much coverage would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with the urban middle class , quietly is being wiped out , and the media writes off the entire phenomenon as “ privileged ” people getting their long overdue comeuppance .
Nonetheless , the story of the destruction of the Upper Klamath River economy needs to be told , because it is representative of this wider assault .
Environmentalists and bureaucrats , backed by billionaire philanthropists and commercial opportunists , have been waging a one-sided war on small farmers , small business owners , energy and mining interests , and pretty much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ code , tap a keyboard , or in some manner restrict their productivity to intangibles .
One of the biggest rivers in the Western United States that nobody ’ s ever heard of is the mighty Klamath , encompassing a massive 16,000 square mile watershed that straddles Southern Oregon and California ’ s far north .
With headwaters in Oregon ’ s high desert country , the Klamath bends its way west into California through deep canyons , finding the ocean in an estuary roughly 30 miles south of the Oregon border .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast extent and its unique topography , but by its importance to salmon populations .
Until you reach the Columbia River over 400 miles to the north , the Klamath and its tributaries offer the largest spawning habitat for salmon in North America .
Today , not one , but two serious controversies have erupted over how to best restore salmon populations .
The first involves the proposed removal of four hydroelectric dams that are located in the upper Klamath basin .
These dams , three of which are in California and one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are not used for irrigation , but do supply hydroelectric power and offer recreational amenities to tourists and local residents .
At a cost of over $ 400 million , they are likely to be removed by 2022 .
While the precedent-setting planned removal of these dams has been the subject of decades of debate , the most serious controversy is further upstream , and concerns water allocations this year for agriculture .
When the Link River Dam was built at the southern end of Upper Klamath Lake in 1921 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irrigation to what is some of the richest farmland on earth .
By the 1990s over 200,000 acres were planted with alfalfa , barley , garlic , horseradish , onions , potatoes , sugar beets and wheat .
And then came the water wars .
One of the spokesmen for the farmers is Bob Gasser , who is one of the organizers of the “ Shut Down & Fed Up ” movement , formed earlier this year to protest the reduced water allocations in the Klamath Basin .
Gasser says that until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the Klamath River Project received irrigation allocations of around 350,000 acre-feet per year .
This March , after a dry winter , that allocation was cut to 140,000 acre-feet .
Then in April , in meetings with officials at the Federal Bureau of Reclamation , the farmers were told it would be lowered to 80,000 acre-feet , and then in May , to 50,000 acre-feet .
Not only is 50,000 acre-feet far less than the farming economy in the region requires to be sustainable , but many farmers had relied on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and invested in planting crops that will die if the allocation stayed as low as 50,000 acre-feet .
When trying to understand how the fish populations of the Klamath Watershed can be restored , the number of differing answers is equal to the number of experts you ask .
But the general consensus among radical environmentalists is that there should not be any agricultural economy in the Klamath Basin .
This would be consistent with a growing consensus among environmentalists , which comes closer every year to brazenly declaring that rural and exurban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the sake of the planet and its ecosystems and wildlife , people should migrate into existing urban centers .
Only the very wealthy and , of course , the genetically indigenous “ first peoples , ” shall continue to reside in natural settings .
Nonetheless , more reasonable environmentalists , according to the farmers , have not paid sufficient attention to evidence that more water does not always equal more fish .
There are two fish populations at risk in the Klamath watershed .
There are the salmon that spawn in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the suckerfish that inhabit the Upper Klamath Lake—the Lost River sucker and the shortnose sucker .
With respect to the four dams that span mountainous canyons straddling the Oregon-California border , it is likely their removal will have some benefit to salmon populations .
The warm water that pools above and below these dams provides a favorable environment for the spores of parasites that attack salmon populations , so removing the dams will reduce their concentrations .
This is scant comfort to the people who have lived on the shores of these reservoirs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fishing they offer , but removal of these dams is all but certain .
Upstream , there has been no serious discussion of demolishing the Link River Dam , built in 1921 to facilitate the Klamath River Project and with a reservoir that is now the lifeblood of the farm economy .
There is an irony to the environmentalist solutions because they want to withhold from the farmers the water in the Upper Klamath Lake in order to use that water to flush out the parasitic spores downstream , but this dam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did the salmon manage before the dam came along ?
This question , does saving water help the salmon , is what Mark Johnson , a staff biologist with the Klamath Water Users Association , attempted to answer .
“ Right now the flow event in the spring is intended to disrupt the hosts and reduce spore concentrations for the disease , so they took water off the farm allocation and put it onto the environmental management account which allows the agency to send it downstream at their discretion , ” Johnson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Does more water equal more and healthier fish ?
According to the farmers , the answer is no .
They argue that historical data shows that periodic droughts reduce populations of the parasites that attack the fish both in the Klamath River and also in the Upper Klamath Lake .
During droughts the lowered flow in the Klamath River dries out the banks where parasites thrive , and similarly , during droughts , the wetlands surrounding the Upper Klamath Lake also dry out temporarily , causing the parasites that concentrate in those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any complicated controversy over ecosystem management , it ’ s hard to know who to believe .
The farmers point to the fact that over 20 years of maintaining higher water levels in Upper Klamath Lake and maintaining increased , year-round flow in the Klamath River , fish populations have not rebounded .
The farmers contend further that lower water levels in Upper Klamath Lake would result in healthier populations of suckerfish .
The scientists contend that many other variables come into play and it is misleading to attempt to oversimplify the issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooperate over the years .
They agreed to convert 43,000 acres of prime farmland into wetlands in the Upper Klamath Basin .
They have consented to reduced water allocations to raise the level of the Upper Klamath Lake , despite the fact that the water level in the Upper Klamath Lake is unnaturally high because of the irrigation dam .
They have drought-proofed their operations to use and reuse irrigation water , then return it to the river with a lower phosphate content than the amount that occurs naturally in the lake .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the entirety of Eastern and Central Oregon , and yet avoids encompassing a critical mass of cities and college towns that might turn it blue .
Instead , Republican Congressman Greg Walden , who was reelected comfortably by 56 percent in 2018 , represents rural Oregonians .
When a 30-mile-long convoy of rural dissidents packed the roads from Klamath Falls to Midlands in May , Walden took note .
Hopping a ride on Air Force One to Washington , D.C. a few days later , Walden spent much of the flight discussing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another passenger , Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt .
Then on June 9 , the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation restored the original water allocation .
The press release from the Bureau makes for interesting reading ; it makes no mention of the protests or the likely intervention from Washington , D.C .
It reads : The question , of course , is which was it ?
An increase in the forecast amount of available water , or “ ongoing stakeholder input ” ?
Even with the Bureau restoring the water allocation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is only 40 percent of what the farmers get in a normal year .
Many farmers will still have to apply for disaster relief assistance .
But what could have happened , if the 40 percent allocation were not restored , would have been a catastrophe .
The ‘ Science ’ vs. the People The people settled in the Upper Klamath Basin have had to live with this economic uncertainty for over 20 years .
Their knowledge of the basin habitat , the mechanics of the ecosystem both historically and in recent years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ folklore by the experts charged with restoring fish populations .
But the observations by the locals are evidence-based .
Increased river flow and higher lake levels have not resulted in more fish .
No reasonable person would deny that solutions to restoring the salmon population in the Klamath River do not reduce to soundbites and simple answers .
But the fact remains that obviously uncertain scientific theories were sufficient to empower regulators to come within an eyelash of killing an entire regional economy .
As Bob Gasser stated , looking ahead , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the science , and we have a commitment from the secretary of the interior to look into that.
” The difficulties facing farmers in the Klamath Basin are representative of a nationwide problem .
The Department of the Interior is staffed with employees and high-ranking career bureaucrats who , since 1992 , operated for 16 years under Democratic administrations , including eight out of the last 11 years .
As anyone who has dealt with regulators in blue states will attest , the undeniable professionalism of many of the men and women staffing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the culture , which invariably is hostile to business .
Bureaucratic inertia alone is enough to make most federal agencies biased against the people in favor of the environment , always citing “ science ” as the ultimate arbiter .
But on a question as complex as how to manage a watershed that occupies 12,000 square miles , “ science ” is rarely settled .
The fact that “ science ” has become an overused , politicized shibboleth , extends to every area of policy , certainly including the treatment of rural Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people living on acreage , who , when wishing to dig , cut , burn , harvest , hunt , build , bulldoze , or grade , are continuously forced to choose between engaging in stealth criminality or enduring an expensive and prolonged regulatory process with crippling intent and capricious outcomes .
At what point might a critical mass of Americans realize that environmentalist overreach is the reason that homes are unaffordable , freeways are congested , energy costs too much , water is rationed , jobs move overseas , and businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will a critical mass of Americans realize that while reasonable environmental precautions are in everyone ’ s interest , excessive restrictions only serve the agenda of multinational corporations that make more profit when small-but-rising competitors who can ’ t afford to follow all the rules are wiped out ?
When will a critical mass of Americans realize that what happened in Klamath Falls is happening in slow motion everywhere ?
Edward Ring is a senior fellow of the Center for American Greatness and co-founder of the California Policy Center , which he co-founded @ @ @