thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Tennessee Revenues for July Exceed Budget Estimate by $667.1 Million

Tennessee tax revenues for the month of July exceeded the budgeted estimate by $ 667.1 million , Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Butch Eley announced Thursday .
Overall revenues of $ 1.86 billion in July were $ 689.4 million more than state revenues in July 2019 .
The higher-than-expected revenues for July has the state finishing the 2019-2020 fiscal year in a surplus position of $ 369.2 million against the budgeted estimate and 2.42 percent above last year , despite the impacts of the COVID-19 economic slowdown .
When taking into account the budget adjustments made during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impacts of COVID-19 , total state revenues are $ 488.2 million more than the revised revenue estimate , according to Eley .
The announcement comes on the heels of an American Legislative Exchange Council economic outlook ranking called Rich States , Poor States that put Tennessee 8th in the nation , The Tennessee Star reported .
Being a backward-looking measure on three variables ” highly influenced by state policy ” – state gross domestic product , absolute domestic migration and non-farm payroll employment – Rich States , Poor States doesn ’ t take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eley attributed the state ’ s positive revenue results to two factors .
“ Tax revenue receipts for July recorded significant growth compared to the same month last year and greatly exceeded budgeted estimates because tax extensions made in March resulted in large tax payments being made in July , ” Eley said .
“ Sales and use taxes , which reflect June consumer sales activity , ” Eley added , “ revealed positive progress after three straight months of negative growth with federal stimulus assistance likely supporting a significant portion of Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , July is the final month in the 2019-2020 fiscal year and reported revenues will be subject to final accrual adjustments that may increase or decrease the recorded cash amounts on an audited basis , according to the announcement .
On an individual tax basis , it was a mixed bag of performance in actual revenues versus the budget for both the month of July and fiscal year 2019-2020 .
In total , however , revenues for July were 56.09 % ahead of the budget and 2.39 % ahead for fiscal year 2019-2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600 million against a budget of $ 79 million ( +660.93 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 2.8 billion against a budget of $ 2.6 billion ( +8.75 % ) Income – July $ 95 million against a budget of $ 469,000 ( +20201.28 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 151 million against a budget of $ 103 million ( +46.04 % ) Gasoline – July $ 72 million against a budget of $ 73 million ( -0.90 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 836 million against a budget of $ 873 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July $ 5.7 million against a budget of $ 6.1 million ( -6.48 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 67 million against a budget of $ 70 million ( -4.72 % ) Tobacco – July $ 22 million against a budget of $ 21 million ( +4.92 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 241 million against a budget of $ 241 million ( +0.28 % ) Beer – July $ 1.7 million against a budget of $ 1.5 million ( +9.43 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 18 million against a budget of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Motor Vehicle Registration – July $ 34 million against a budget of $ 29 million ( +17.72 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 334 million against a budget of $ 340 million ( -1.66 % ) Motor Vehicle Title – July $ 2.1 million against a budget of $ 2.2 million ( -4.64 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 22 million against a budget of $ 26 million ( -15.15 % ) Mixed Drink – July $ 7.1 million against a budget of $ 13 million ( -43.46 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 138 million ( -16.13 % ) Business – July $ 19 million against a budget of $ 9.3 million ( +108.63 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 229 million against a budget of $ 212 million ( +8.26 % ) Privilege – July $ 42 million against a budget of $ 36 million ( +16.37 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 441 million against a budget of $ 420 million ( +5.05 % ) Gross Receipts – July $ 13 million against a budget of $ 18 million ( -28.40 % ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a budget of $ 26 million ( -16.03 % ) TVA In Lieu of Tax Payments – July $ 30 million against a budget of $ 29 million ( +2.65 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 368 million against a budget of $ 360 million ( +2.34 % ) Alcoholic Beverage – July $ 7.1 million against a budget of $ 6.8 million ( +3.02 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 77 million against a budget of $ 75 million ( +3.41 % ) Sales and Use – July $ 877 million against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ +4.75 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 9.7 billion against a budget of $ 9.6 billion ( +1.00 % ) Motor Vehicle Fuel – July $ 27 million against a budget of $ 27 million ( +0.91 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 313 million against a budget of $ 289 million ( +8.17 % ) Severance – July $ 3,000 against a budget of $ 61,000 ( -95.08 % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 762,000 against a budget of $ 800,000 ( -4.75 % ) Coin-Operated Amusement – July $ 111,000 against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % ) ; FY 2019-2020 $ 26,000 against a budget of $ 0 ( +36.50 % ) At the conclusion of fiscal year 2019-2020 fiscal year , the four major funds are all ahead of the budget estimates .
“ Even as the state finishes the year with a positive revenue balance , ” Eley cautions , “ the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on future revenues remains a concern .
Thus , we will continue to monitor national and global economic indicators to manage our spending and revenue collections appropriately.
” Eley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the budgeted estimates were prepared and the history of adjustments in light of the anticipated COVID-19 economic impact .
The budgeted revenue estimates for 2019-2020 are based on the State Funding Board ’ s consensus recommendation of November 26 , 2018 , and adopted by the second session of the 111th General Assembly in April 2019 .
Also incorporated in the estimates are any changes in revenue enacted during the 2019 session of the General Assembly .
These estimates are available on the state ’ s website .
On November 19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear updated revenue projections from various state economists .
Following this meeting , on November 26 , 2019 , the board decided to adopt revised revenue growth ranges for the current fiscal year .
The recurring growth ranges adopted include a low of 3.10 percent to a high of 3.60 percent for total taxes and a recurring range low of 3.20 percent to a high of 3.75 percent for general fund taxes .
On March 19 , 2020 in the second session of the 111th General Assembly , the Legislature passed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board ’ s current year revised ranges and the administration ’ s amendment to the proposed budget .
To recognize the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic , the administration ’ s amendment included a reduction of $ 153.8 million of previously projected revenue to acknowledge potential shortfalls .
The governor signed the appropriations bill on April 2 , 2020 and it became Public Chapter 651 , which still recognized an additional $ 396.1 million in total revenue and a corresponding increase in general fund revenue in the amount of $ 345.9 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Assembly reconvened again and , due to the unforeseen economic impact of COVID-19 , elected to lower revenues estimates further for the current fiscal year thereby reducing general fund estimates by $ 500 million .
Consequently , a revised FY 2021 budget ( Public Chapter 760 ) was signed into law on June 30 , 2020 .
The revenue tables for July and fiscal year 2019-2020 are available here .
Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--FOX News Host Tomi Lahren calls Nashville Mayor John Cooper ‘A Little Tyrant’

FOX News host Tomi Lahren tore apart Nashville Mayor John Cooper late last week during her Final Thoughts segment and called him “ a little tyrant ” for how he has managed the city during the COVID-19 outbreak .
Lahren , who recently moved to Nashville , compared the city to her former home of Los Angeles .
“ First it was our mayor ’ s stay-at-home order back in March , which he extended all the way through May , even when our neighboring cities and counties reopened .
Then it was the phased reopening that gave us all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dashed when he pulled the rug out from underneath us about a month ago , returning us to Phase Two , ” Lahren said .
“ Yes , this was after he announced a 34 percent property tax increase to pay for his shutdown after he encouraged BLM protests , which led to the historic courthouse being set on fire and historic Lower Broadway looted and ravaged .
Then it was the mask mandate .
Then it was the announcement Nashville students wouldn ’ t be returning to classrooms .
And when that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little tyrant do ?
He forced bars to close and imposed a 10 p.m. curfew on restaurants , a move that crushed and continues to crush Nashville bars , businesses , employees , musicians and residents who rely on tourism and nightlife to survive.
” Lahren said that Nashville officials are allowing a nearby strip club to stay open until 3 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays and until 5 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays .
She also said Metro Nashville Police officers are spending their time downtown “ making sure masks don ’ t fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city from violent crime .
“ It would seem to me this has far less to do with COVID and far more to do with Mayor John Cooper ’ s personal vendetta against Broadway and Midtown bar and restaurant owners who happen to be his vocal critics , ” Lahren said .
“ None of it makes much sense unless you factor that into the messed-up equation.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

by Eric Lendrum
On April 7th, an amicus brief was filed in favor of Florida’s current ban on using state funds to support “transgender” treatments, with 17 state attorneys general voicing their support for the law.
According to the Daily Caller, the brief’s filing was part of an ongoing legal battle in the state of Florida, where far-left, pro-transgender activists have teamed up with several pseudo-medical organizations to file a lawsuit against the law. The groups involved include the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The law in question states that Medicaid funds cannot be used to cover any transgender operations, including sex change surgery, cross-sex hormones, and puberty blockers.
The 17 states that have filed in support of Florida are: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. In their filing, the AGs argue that the organizations involved in the lawsuit have “prioritized politics over science.”
“The amici States submit this brief in support of Florida’s right to regulate medicine and determine appropriate treatments for Medicaid coverage,” the brief states. “Moreover, there is particular reason to be suspicious of the interest groups in this case.”
Their brief goes on to point out that several European countries, including the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, and Sweden have taken similar steps to crack down on transgender treatments, declaring that “transitioning treatments for minors are experimental.”
The case has already seen a judge order the three organizations to comply with subpoenas ordering them to turn over documents related to their guidance for children suffering from gender dysphoria, the official name for the condition of transgenderism. In addition, Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Biden Administration demanding access to similar internal documents related to the administration’s gender transition policies.
– – –
Eric Lendrum graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was the Secretary of the College Republicans and the founding chairman of the school’s Young Americans for Freedom chapter.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Ohio Public Health Advisory System – New Cases Per Capita

This is the second story in an eight-part series on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System Early in the battle with COVID Ohioans were implored to heed recommended measures from Republican Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton to “ flatten the curve and ramp hospital capacity.
” Experts displayed epidemiological curves showing as many as 62,000 new cases a day , while county and local health departments received epidemiological reports highlighting the projected death toll on each age group within the locale or county .
The Ohio Department of Health projected COVID would infect 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequently killing 35,000 to 80,000 Buckeyes .
A video produced by a Bluffton College professor blew up on social media and the message was clear – take the virus seriously or prepare to deal with more critically sick patients than our hospitals can handle .
Daily 2 o ’ clock pressers routinely covered cases , hospitalizations , ICU visits and deaths .
As it became apparent initial projections were exponentially overstated , Ohioans began to question a one-size-fits-all policy to manage COVID .
On July 2 Governor DeWine introduced the Ohio Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color-coded map that assigned a threat level color to each of Ohio ’ s 88 counties .
The system is supposed to be an early warning indicator of COVID spread by county for use by businesses , communities and local governments .
The threat level is the result of county ’ s grade on seven indicators : case data ( indicators 1-2 ) , symptom data ( indicators 4-5 ) , hospitalization data ( indicators 6-7 ) .
A county in yellow triggers 0-1 indicators .
A county in orange triggers 2-3 indicators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicators .
A county in purple triggers 6-7 indicators .
The advisory system was supposed to push down decision making to local levels .
However , Governor DeWine issued a statewide mask mandate , despite – at the time – a decrease in new cases in high risk counties .
Although a system for predicting and combatting a virus would be difficult to perfect , the broad analysis of cases , symptoms and hospital data is intended to bring wide visibility as a predictive measure .
The advisory system relies more than 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % on symptoms and another nearly 30 % on hospitalizations and ICU occupancy .
The new cases per capita indicator is triggered if greater than 50 new cases are reported per 100,000 people over a two-week period .
New cases include confirmed cases and probable cases .
Probable cases do not contain only confirmed COVID cases and lack certainty about viral prevalence .
As of August 14 , 35 % of Logan County cases are probable – cases that do not have a conclusive laboratory result or are counted due to close contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An increase of just a few cases is punitive for counties with smaller populations .
Morgan county has a population of 14,505 .
As reported on August 13 , over a period of two weeks Morgan County reported 8 cases – when adjusted for per capita calculations , that equates to 55.14 cases per 100,000 people , which triggers the new cases per capita indicator .
Morgan County has had 33 cases since March with zero hospitalizations and zero deaths , yet was moved to code orange – the OPHAS indicates Morgan county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and spread ” and should “ exercise [ a ] high degree of caution.
” False test results are problematic for counties when measuring new cases per capita .
False positives can be enough to push a county into a higher threat level .
False positive results are problematic for individuals , too .
On August 6 Governor DeWine was on his way to Cleveland to meet President Donald J. Trump when he was administered a rapid-return antigen test that was positive .
Later in the day DeWine took a polymerase chain reaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false positive .
Dr. Amy Edwards , associate medical director for infection at University Hospitals in Cleveland , commented on DeWine ’ s false positive during an interview with Cleveland19 saying “ antigen tests are notoriously plagued with issues of accuracy.
” Ironically , just a few days earlier Governor DeWine announced his intent to partner with a multistate consortium to purchase from The Rockefeller Foundation 500,000 antigen tests for use in upcoming months .
Since that statement , Governor DeWine ’ s Press Secretary Dan Tierney talked with The Ohio Star and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying the agreement is still in negotiation and may include other test types .
PCR tests are deemed gold standard .
However , even PCR tests have glitches .
The Journal of American Medical Association , a peer reviewed publication , found PCR tests can render positive results for up to 12 weeks , almost 10 weeks past infectiousness – beyond the window of time when the virus can be transmitted .
Unlike DeWine , other Ohioans do not get an uncontested second opinion .
A Cincinnati mother who is not anonymous to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nameless to readers for fear of backlash in the community ( referred to next as Jane ) , discussed during a phone interview a false positive test her daughter ( herein referred to as Mary ) received when tested at Cincinnati Children ’ s Hospital .
Mary was a soon-to-be college freshman gearing up to attend an out of state school .
Mary went on a road trip in mid-July to meet her roommate for the upcoming year at the roommate ’ s home in another state .
While there , Mary ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been in contact with a COVID-positive friend during an Independence Day celebration .
Consequently , Mary packed and headed back to Cincinnati – calling her parents on the return trip to inform them .
When she arrived home , Mary was met with caution – her family was masked and allowed her to go straight to her room where she would stay , honoring social distancing .
Mary interacted with her family , from a distance , only a few times a day when her parents put meals outside her door and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive a forehead temperature check .
Mary was asymptomatic and feeling healthy , yet out of caution decided to get a test at the drive-up center at Children ’ s .
That test returned negative .
However , because of the exposure during her trip , she was advised to test again in a few days – right before her high school graduation party .
The second test was administered at Children ’ s but this time in the lab .
This second test returned a positive result .
Consequently , Jane cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days later , Mary and Jane received quarantine letters , both containing instructions along with Ohio Revised Code sections to influence their compliance .
Still without symptoms , Jane called Children ’ s and demanded a third test – “ I had to press the issue because the doctor didn ’ t want to do it.
” The third test came back negative .
Despite delivering two negative tests , the county health department still counted Mary ’ s positive test and monitored Mary and her family .
Mary ’ s first and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single step RT-PCR tests .
Mary received indication that the test ’ s validation for use is “ pending before the FDA.
” Mary ’ s second test ( the positive ) was a DiaSorin Molecular test with the following FDA disclaimer : “ this test has not been validated for use in asymptomatic patients , and results should be viewed with caution.
” Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kathryn Huwig was a data and analysis contributor .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--In New Jersey, Rep. Van Drew’s Democrat Challenger – Wife of Patrick Kennedy – Raises Money to Bail

In New Jersey, Rep. Van Drew’s Democrat Challenger – Wife of Patrick Kennedy – Raises Money to Bail out Rapists and Defendants Charged with Terrorism, Kidnapping, Murder

The leftwing Democrat running against Rep. Jefferson H. “ Jeff ” Van Drew ( R.-N.J. ) has put her money where her mouth is , and is raising money to bail out rapists and at least one defendant facing terror terrorism charges at the same time she is challenging the one-time Democrat , who switched parties after voting against impeaching President Donald Trump .
This race for New Jersey ’ s 2nd Congressional District is critical to any chance the Republicans have to regain control of the House , and then there is the race ’ s symbolic importance as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against impeachment – before he dramatically crossed the aisle .
“ It is not enough to simply raise our voices in solidarity , ” wrote Amy Kennedy , the wife of former Rhode Island Democratic congressman Patrick J .
“ Patches ” Kennedy and the son of the late Edward M. “ Teddy ” Kennedy Sr. , in a fundraising letter for the National Bail Fund Network .
“ We have to put real resources to work to dismantle the systemic racism that plaques our country , ” Kennedy said .
The NBFN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for is now a multi-million-dollar operation flush with cash – as are its affiliates around the country – and they are busy , too as Black Lives Matters and Antifa activists continue to get arrested for their conduct in the streets of our cities .
In her letter , the former schoolteacher , who married Kennedy the year after her 2010 divorce from her first husband , the Democrat wrote : “ So today , I am asking for your help supporting those protesting peacefully across the country.
” It is a worthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBFN and its affiliates are bailing out more than “ those protesting peacefully.
” In Minnesota , Greg Lewin , the interim executive director of the NBFN-affiliated Minnesota Freedom Fund , told KMSP-TV reporter Tom Lyden : It is not about the crime , it is about the system , when he was explaining why MFF routinely bailed out sex offenders .
In Lyden ’ s report , he found that MFF paid $ 350,000 to bail out Christopher Boswell , a two-time convicted rapist , who was being held on both sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different cases .
MFF also paid $ 100,000 to bail out Denika Floyd , who was being held on second-degree murder charges for stabbing a friend to death .
Here is that report : The Kennedy family has long ties to Massachusetts , where the NBFN-affiliated Massachusetts Bail Fund sprung a twice-convicted rapist Shawn McClinton .
McClinton was being held on a 2018 aggravated rape charge until MFB paid the $ 15,000 , which put him back on the street .
Thursday , Boston Police arrested McClinton and charged him with raping another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Free Them All , ” the Massachusetts Bail Fund wrote : “ The mission of the Massachusetts Bail Fund has always been to free people from jail .
We are a non-judgmental , abolitionist bail fund .
We post bail for people regardless of charge or court history.
” This was posted after McClinton ’ s most recent arrest .
In Illinois , the NBFN-affiliated Chicago Community Bond Fund paid $ 100,000 to spring Amanda S. Wolf and put her back on the streets – but , this was not straight bail .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 750,000 bail set by Judge Alexander F. McGimpsey .
Once again , Wolf was no peaceful protester – she is charged with terrorism – as law enforcement has Facebook messages between her and her confederate Christian Frezee , which appear to document their plot to use Molotov cocktails to firebomb the municipal building in the village of Lombard , Illinois , roughly 20 miles due west from Chicago .
In one exchange , Frazee asked Wolf if there were any protests in Lombard .
Wolf replied there was : “ Nothing but roadblocks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Van Drew has opposed eliminating bail and in 2017 voted against so-called bail reform when he was in the New Jersey state Senate .
Oh , and Kennedy explains in this video she also wants to defund the police : The district must be one of the least gerrymandered districts in the United States .
The top border of the district is essentially the bottom end of New Jersey , from Atlantic City on the Atlantic coast straight across to the banks of the Delaware Bay , matching up with the Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water .
The Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up , but it is a seat that Van Drew won in 2018 , beating Republican Rep. Seth Grossman by roughly 30,000 votes , 53 percent to 45 percent .
In the 2016 presidential race , there were 206 counties that switched from voting for President Barack Obama in 2012 to voting for New York City developer Donald J. Trump – two of those counties are in New Jersey-2 , Salem and Gloucester – and Trump has a personal interest in helping Van @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep his own .
Neil W. McCabe is a Washington-based national political reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network .
In addition to The Star newspaper , he has covered the White House , Capitol Hill and national politics for One America News , Breitbart , Human Events and Townhall .
Before coming to Washington , he was a staff reporter for Boston ’ s Catholic paper , The Pilot , and the editor of two Boston-area community papers , The Somerville News and The Alewife .
McCabe is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reserve and he deployed for 15 months to Iraq as a combat historian .
Photo “ Amy Kennedy ” by Amy Kennedy .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--St. Paul Primary Winner John Thompson Leads BLM Protest to Police Union Leader’s Neighborhood, Calls

St. Paul Primary Winner John Thompson Leads BLM Protest to Police Union Leader’s Neighborhood, Calls for Violence

Over the weekend , Democratic candidate John Thompson spoke at a Black Lives Matter protest by the home of Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis president Bob Kroll and his wife , WCCO anchor Liz Collin .
Thompson recently won the Democratic primary for District 62A in St. Paul , Minnesota .
Multiple video coverages of Thompson ’ s seven-minute speech show him calling for violence against the “ racists ” of Hugo , Minnesota .
“ Why the f*** is we so peaceful in this brackety-a** neighborhood ?
F*** yo motherf****** peace , white racist motherf****** !
” Thompson shouted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down for twenty f****** dollars , you think we gon na give a f*** about burning Hugo down ?
” Thompson also accused Kroll of membership in the Ku Klux Klan , referring to him as a “ f****** clansman , ” and “ the Grand Wizard.
” Across the street from the police union leader ’ s residence , five teenaged girls and several adults were watching the protest from what appeared to be a cookout by their garage .
Thompson addressed the girls when they attempted to retreat inside : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people !
I ’ m here !
Oh yeah , we pull up !
We pull the f*** up !
Come on over here with yo ‘ Blue Lives Matter ’ self !
Blue Lives ain ’ t s*** !
Hugo don ’ t support black people !
F*** Hugo , Minnesota !
” Thompson finished his speech with a hint at what his time in office might look like , if he were to win November ’ s election .
“ I didn ’ t come here to be peaceful in Hugo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no .
F*** Hugo , Minnesota !
F*** Bob Kroll !
And f*** anybody who support his racist a** !
” Many protestors wore black shirts that read “ BOB KKKROLL MUST GO !
” in white ; some held signs calling for revolution and “ no peace until justice.
” Later on in the videos , protestors can be seen walking and kneeling with raised black power fists on residents ’ private property .
At one point , protestors beat piñatas bearing the likenesses of Kroll and his wife , WCCO anchor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dump their signs and trash across the front of the Kroll property .
Thompson issued an apology the following evening via his Facebook campaign page , referring to his speech as “ inflammatory rhetoric ” that was unhelpful for making a “ positive difference.
” Comments from both his supporters and critics were unforgiving , calling Thompson “ divisive , ” “ hateful , ” and “ racist.
” The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party ( DFL ) , Governor Tim Walz , and Representative Betty McCollum ( DFL-MN-04 ) all endorsed Thompson for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Thompson “ exactly what ’ s needed in the state legislature right now.
” None of his endorsers have published any comment on Thompson ’ s speech .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ John Thompson ” by John Thompson and “ BLM Protest ” by AlphaNews .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Virginia Citizens Defense League Lobbies Virginia Localities to Become Gun ‘Sanctuaries’

Gun-rights activist group the Virginia Citizens Defense League is lobbying 193 local jurisdictions to declare they will not ban guns .
The proposed Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions vary , but contain language stating that a jurisdiction “ shall not exercise any authority granted to it … to regulate or prohibit the otherwise legal purchase , possession , or transfer of firearms or ammunition.
” VCDL president Philip Van Cleave said 22 jurisdictions have already passed his group ’ s non-binding resolutions .
Van Cleave said the resolutions allow politicians to stand up against political maneuvers designed to inconvenience gun owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ § 15.2-915 ( E ) of the Code of Virginia , new legislation allowing local governments to prohibit firearms in government buildings , parks , roads and at events requiring a city permit .
The legislation does not itself prohibit guns , and comes in the wake of a deadly shooting in the Virginia Beach Municipal Center .
Increasing local gun restrictions makes it difficult for law-abiding gun owners to know when and where they are allowed to carry their guns .
Van Cleave said many law enforcement officers support his resolution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time arresting peaceful people who might accidentally violate the laws .
However , the resolutions do not add any new rights .
Local jurisdictions who do not want to add gun restrictions do not have to .
On July 27 , Powhatan County Supervisor Larry Nordvig argued that these resolutions support a tradition of freedom and help protect constitutional rights .
“ It is my hope that this board has the courage to pass on to our posterity the same freedoms that have been passed on to us , ” Nordvig said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ against a similar resolution on December 3 , 2019 .
Supervisor Kristen Umstattd said she considers herself a strong advocate of Second Amendment rights .
She acknowledged that courts sometimes interpret those rights to be more restricted than gun advocates say is correct .
Nevertheless , Umstattd said , “ I think this is unnecessary .
… It just restates our oath of office [ to protect the Constitution and Virginia law ] , it doesn ’ t accomplish anything , and so I ’ m not sure why it ’ s before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Richmond City Council will consider expanding local firearms laws .
Mayor Levar Stoney proposed the new regulation , which will ban firearms specifically during events requiring a city permit .
The mayor ’ s press release specifically states that the new provisions in Virginia law enable the proposed resolution .
The city has already used its new authority to ban firearms in city buildings and parks .
The new Richmond City regulations could ban firearms at protests similar to the “ Lobby Day ” protests earlier this year .
On January 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a controversial gun-rights protest in downtown Richmond .
Fear of violence at the event prompted Governor Ralph Northam to temporarily ban all firearms from the state capitol grounds .
Protesters outside the grounds within Richmond openly carried guns .
CNN reported that despite concerns of violence , the protest was peaceful .
Van Cleave will continue lobbying Virginia cities and counties to pass the VCDL resolution .
The VCDL also wants local jurisdictions to advocate for withdrawal of gun control legislation in the General Assembly .
Eric Burk is a reporter at The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email protected ] .
Photo “ Lobby Day 2020 ” by VCDL.org .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--As Richmond Burns, Mayor Stoney’s Top Priority Is to Let People Get Stoned

Even as rioting damages large sections of Richmond and the Virginia General Assembly convenes in a special session , Mayor Levar Stoney wants lawmakers to take action — not on fighting lawlessness , but to help people get stoned .
Stoney used his bully pulpit to call for the Assembly to legalize marijuana .
He sent a letter to that effect to Gov .
Ralph Northam , House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn ( D-Fairfax County ) and Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw ( D-Fairfax ) .
Stoney tweeted a copy of the letter and said , “ This special session has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I urge our lawmakers to unequivocally pursue restorative justice , on August 18 and going forward.
” Stoney ’ s other wishlist items include a statewide database to track alleged police misconduct ; budget funds for mental health services ; expunge misdemeanors ; and give money for a statewide eviction diversion program .
Stoney ’ s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Virginia Star .
Some question Stoney ’ s timing , especially with his being up for re-election in November .
One of his opponents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Star that Stoney ’ s marijuana push came out of nowhere and , “ He seems to be all over the place lately.
” Attention needs to be paid to Richmond ’ s issues , especially residential areas where people are not able to enjoy their homes and feel safe , Gray said ; adding : The number one issue is thousands of children in the city have no access to internet and computers and we ’ re going fully virtual and will create long-term issues if we don ’ t remedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue is the restoration of peace in our city and putting an end to the lawlessness that ’ s been going on for months .
Another mayoral candidate , businessman Justin Griffin – who vehemently opposed Stoney ’ s downtown development arena – said in email : With on-going violence and rioting , the economic fallout from the pandemic restrictions still being in place , the school system deciding to have all virtual schooling , and a looming budget crisis , it is completely inappropriate to be focusing on legalization of marijuana at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Stoney ’ s focus has always been on what ’ s next for his political career instead of on improving our city government .
When pressed on Stoney objectives , Griffin minced no words : He is focused on that topic because he wants to build his resume for a statewide run .
Just like he asked the Governor for a mask mandate right before the Governor issued the statewide mask mandate , which he now campaigns on saying he pushed for it .
He doesn ’ t want to miss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had something to do with it happening .
It is his way of doing no work but still taking credit for accomplishing something .
He is more worried about his political resume than the people of Richmond .
Morrissey said 13 legislators , including himself , introduced legislation last year to legalize marijuana .
While it has been decriminalized , it has not yet been legalized but is moving in that direction .
Stoney , however , did not say a word about the matter last year so as not to offend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has utterly failed to control the protest movement in Richmond , now he is segueing into legislative matters , ” Morrissey added .
“ That is because Stoney feels he needs to fix relations with his black base .
Four weeks ago there were calls for his resignation after tear gas was deployed against protesters.
” The Democratic Richmond state senator went further : “ Stoney has lost white voters with his handling of the protests , so now he is extending an olive branch to blacks.
” “ There are many state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care of city business first , ’ ” Morrissey said .
“ ‘ Stay in your own lane.
’ ” “ The proof that this is pure theatrics is Stoney said nothing last year when this debate was raging in the General Assembly , ” Morrissey said .
“ Get your own ship in order first , Mayor , and then you can make some suggestions to us.
” Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Levar Stoney ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Levar Stoney .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--COVID-19-Era Public School Models Are Driving Increased Interest in Homeschooling

Virginia parents are increasingly interested in homeschooling due to a fear of COVID-19 and frustration over new public school models .
Organizations ranging from the state-level Home Educators Association of Virginia to local Facebook groups are providing advice , resources and counseling .
HEAV has seen an 80 to 90 percent increase in phone calls , and expects to see a 40 to 60 percent increase in homeschooling families .
Normally , HEAV only sees a 10 percent yearly increase in homeschooling families , according to HEAV director of government affairs Yvonne Bunn .
She said homeschooling families are more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We already knew the sources , where to get curriculum , where to get help , we ’ re connected with other people already , ” Bunn said .
Social media groups are also seeing an increased interest in homeschooling .
Richmond-area Facebook group RVA Homeschoolers has gone from about 800 members to over 1,000 since March , with 100 new members just in the past month .
Group co-administrator Katie Hornung said that before COVID-19 was an issue , she would have new members to add monthly .
Now , Hornung is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these families are only planning to homeschool for a short time – from a semester to two years .
Hornung thinks many of them will be homeschooling families longer than they expect .
“ Honestly , this may normalize some level of homeschooling , ” Hornung said .
Ashland-based Homeschool Resources Group ’ s director Shari Robinson said her organization ’ s social media has national attention , seeing thousands of interested people daily .
Robinson said initially she had a trickle of parents afraid of COVID-19 risks at school , but that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re seeing is a lot of people who are turning to homeschooling because now that the schools have decided what they ’ re doing for the school year it doesn ’ t match up with what the families want , ” Robinson said .
Amanda Idleman administers a Facebook group for homeschooling families who attend the Chesterfield campus of the Chapel , a Richmond-based church .
Her group has grown from 20 to 54 members .
Idleman thinks many parents are frustrated by the virtual learning experience from last spring .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to continue to teach their child , ” Idleman said .
“ Their kids quickly lost the motivation to stay up-to-date on assignments.
” A Facebook search for “ homeschool Virginia ” reveals more than 30 Virginia homeschool groups , some with thousands of members .
Facebook groups are also offering advice on how to manage virtual learning , with some groups linked to specific public schools .
Virtual learning is not the same as homeschooling .
Virtual learning has inflexible requirements about time and learning style set by the school district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be a poor fit for many students .
Young children may struggle to sit in front of a computer all day .
Parents with children in multiple grades will also have to manage multiple class schedules .
Hornung said most Virginia homeschooling families are hybrid families with students both at home and at public schools .
Homeschooling works best for elementary-age children who are not as self-guided .
Older students often reenter public schools to take advantage of social opportunities and facilities like lab sciences .
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeschool their elementary-aged children .
Parents who discover mid-school year that a public school format is not working can switch to homeschooling .
Although there is an August 15 filing deadline for families who already homeschool , first-time homeschoolers can switch at any time .
Homeschooling comes with serious challenges .
Robinson warns of increased costs : parents must buy curriculum and materials , and must also invest significant amounts of time in their students .
Additionally , the 2020-2021 school year will not be a normal year , even for homeschoolers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ families to coordinate activities , and normal field trip destinations may be closed .
Robinson fears that bad experiences trying to homeschool for the first time during a crisis may scare some families away .
Robinson said the flexibility of homeschooling is the key to success .
As a single parent , she worked during the day and taught her children at night .
Robinson also relied on community , asking friends and family to take her kids to events and activities during business hours .
Bunn said not to try to recreate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should have a routine , not a rigid schedule .
“ I would just take it easy because we want them to love education , we want them to love learning , ” Bunn said .
For homeschooling help , HEAV offers resources and counseling at https : //heav.org/ .
Parents can also register for a three-day HEAV sponsored online conference featuring live speakers .
The conference runs from August 25-27 , and the website will go live next week at http : //homeschoolingwithconfidence.org .
For other resources , counseling and classes focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //www.homeschoolresourcesgroup.org .
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Private Schools Offer In-Person Solution to Public Schools’ Online-Only Problem

While many public schools across Virginia will keep their doors closed in lieu of virtual classrooms this fall , a private school may be the in-person educational option parents and students are looking for .
Fork Union Military Academy ( FUMA ) ( 7-12 , male-only ) is one such option .
The boarding military school is known for its “ One Subject Plan.
” Students are enrolled in one subject at a time , allowing them to focus on one specific area of study for 7 weeks at a time .
FUMA will offer in-person classes and athletics programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the health of its students and staff .
Atlantic Shores Christian School ( ASCS ) ( K-12 ) is another private school that will teach its students in physical classrooms this fall .
ASCS is a non-denominational Christian School that builds its educational structure on Christian core values like teaching Christ-like character and building a passion for learning within its students .
Many other private schools , including Free Union Country School ( pre-K-5 ) and all 29 Catholic private schools administered by the Diocese of Richmond will offer either fully in-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2020-2021 school year .
The shift in public schools to online learning has made the in-person education offered by private schools more attractive .
Grace Creasy , the executive director of the Virginia Council for Private Education ( VCPE ) , told WVTF that “ many , many [ private schools ] across the state increased enrollment.
” This bump in enrollment is partially from homes where both parents work .
As USA Today reported in June , virtual learning is a difficult option for many households across the country , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pivoted to virtual classes at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring , “ millions simply disappeared or logged on but didn ’ t participate.
” Indeed , students are slipping through the cracks in an online-only educational model .
Pupils are not attending virtual classes , turning in assignments , or communicating with their teachers .
Teachers themselves have few options for increasing virtual participation .
Study after study after study suggests that online-only classes may not be the best option for many students , especially those that already struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter for EdWeek , Susanna Loed says that “ on average , students do worse in the online setting , and this is particularly true for students with weak academic backgrounds.
” “ What is different in the online setting is that students may have more distractions and less oversight , which can reduce their motivation.
” All of these issues have compounded into an implosion of the K-12 public education system .
The problems may only worsen as more and more schools lean heavier into online learning .
Fauquier County Public Schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shifting to online schooling instead of the hybrid model upon which they had decided over the summer .
Fairfax County Public Schools ( FCPS ) , which will begin the school year entirely online , faced numerous issues with its online learning systems in the Spring .
When asked , 60 % of FCPS parents said they wanted in-person learning .
FCPS has originally planned a hybrid model for the Fall but has since backtracked to online only .
Teachers unions and groups across Virginia have vehemently fought against in-person classes , pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In spite of this , a handful of public schools , like Roanoke County Public Schools ( RCPS ) , will offer in-person or online classes .
For those parents and students that unwillingly face online-only learning from their local public school system , private schools may be an option to explore .
Sam Medley is a journalist at the Tennessee Star and Star News Network .
You can follow Sam at Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Fork Union Military Academy ” by Sparkyhardwood .
CC BY-SA @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Expanded Unemployment Would Cost Virginia $45M a Week, but Fund Is Almost Dry

If Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam opts to expand unemployment benefits by $ 100 a week per person , it would cost the state an additional $ 45 million a week , but the unemployment insurance fund already is set to run out of money in September , state officials said .
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to extend federal unemployment benefits by $ 300 a week , but states would have to supply an additional $ 100 a week , increasing the benefit to $ 400 a week .
The White House later said a state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 100 , meaning states may not have to increase their payments and people would receive an additional $ 300 per week .
Some governors have said they will or likely will provide the additional $ 100 per week to the benefit , and many others , including Northam , have waited to make an announcement .
“ We are continuing to review newly-released details from the U.S. Department of Labor to determine how – and if – we can proceed , ” Alena Yarmosky , Northam ’ s press secretary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would note that Virginia and other states are leading the fight against COVID-19 , and we are doing so with increasingly limited resources .
Governor Northam has repeatedly made it clear that we need more support from the federal government , not less.
” Virginia ’ s unemployment insurance trust fund has become financially less stable since the COVID-19 pandemic hit .
Because of the pandemic and the subsequent regulations , the unemployment system became overburdened with recipients and has not yet recovered .
Before COVID-19 hit , the unemployment insurance trust fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the the fund is set to run out of money at some point next month , Megan Healy , the chief workforce development adviser for Northam , told The Center Square .
The system was unexpectedly burdened with another million people filing for claims .
At the current rate , Healy said Virginia will have to borrow $ 750 million from the federal government to supply its portion of unemployment benefits through the end of the year .
She said the state has to put in its request for a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal government will provide a grant instead so the state does not need to raise business taxes to pay for it .
“ We have been working with our congressional delegation around unemployment insurance and have asked if the loans can turn into grants , ” Healy said .
“ With many businesses struggling now , this extra financial burden of an increased UI tax would be detrimental.
” Stephen Haner , a senior fellow for state and local tax policy at the free-market , Virginia-based Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional funding until the federal government can .
“ It would have been better if Congress had reached a compromise , and that ’ s their shame , ” Haner said .
“ Until Congress gets its act together , yes , Virginia should find the matching $ 100 and draw down the federal funds to keep the supplemental benefits going .
For once , we ’ ll be in a position to put the issue before the General Assembly next week.
” The unemployment bonus will be provided retroactively for recipients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding starting Aug. 2 .
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and West Virginia for The Center Square .
He previously worked for the Cause of Action Institute and has been published in Business Insider , USA TODAY College , National Review Online and the Washington Free Beacon .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Michigan Senate Approves Return to School Plan

The Michigan Senate Saturday passed a three-bill package aiming to provide clarity to kids , educators , and parents for the fall school year .
House Bills 5911 , 5912 , and 5913 , don ’ t require in-person learning for any grade and let local districts decide whether to hold classes in-person or online .
The package requires two student assessments ; one within nine weeks of beginning the school year and another by the end of the year for districts to receive funding .
The plan ties 75 percent of enrollment counts to the previous year and 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding , addressing concerns that many parents may transfer students to another district with a preferred learning method or to another option such as homeschool or cyberschool .
The plan waives for the upcoming year the previous requirement for schools to conduct a minimum of 180 days and 1,098 hours of school .
School boards must publicly reevaluate their learning method plan every 30 days and take comments from parents and guardians .
The bills also require “ at least one two-way interaction per month for at least 75 % of pupils ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the bill summary .
Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , along with Democrat and Republican leaders announced a compromise late Friday night , saying it would bring peace of mind to students , parents , and educators .
“ The bipartisan bills we passed today reflect our commitment to ensuring students receive a quality education and empowers schools to make decisions that are in the best interest of students this fall , ” Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey , R-Clarklake , tweeted Saturday .
The previous Republican plan required in-person education for students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The main bill , HB 5913 , passed with a vote of 23-15 .
Sen. Ericka Geiss , D-Taylor , voted against the bill , opposing the required academic benchmarks .
“ [ Teachers ] are begging us to not add more tasks and tracking benchmarks on top of what exists , particularly when they are already trying to do more with less and have less than adequate funding , ” Geiss said on the floor .
“ This plan accomplishes my two priorities : keeping kids safe and continuing to advance their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Hornberger said in a statement .
“ I ’ m pleased we were able to come to this solution with the governor.
” The Michigan Education Association ( MEA ) and the American Federation of Teachers ( AFT ) issued a joint statement supporting the bills .
“ Legislative compromises are never perfect , and the revised versions of HB 5911-13 under consideration in the Senate today are no exception , ” MEA President Paula Herbart and ADT President David Hecker said .
“ However , those bills provide students , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainty and flexibility on key issues as we head into the 2020-2021 school year.
” Other educators were displeased by the compromise .
The “ governor and legislature abandoned leadership responsibilities and avoided challenges from unions , charters and parents and simply dumped everything on boards and superintendents , ” Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District Nikolai Vitti tweeted Friday night .
The House is scheduled to vote on the legislation Monday .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forbes.com and FEE.org .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--John Fredericks Commentary: Welcome to The Virginia Star!

Welcome to The Virginia Star !
Thank you for taking the time today to read our inaugural edition of The Virginia Star !
We hope you will find us to be a valuable resource for news and information in the Commonwealth !
We are very excited about this new venture : real news in real time .
The Virginia Star will be fiercely local in its core news reporting content , augmented with a national flavor and robust commentary section .
Our offices are based in Richmond and we are an affiliate of the Star News Network .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be covering the real stories in Virginia that the fake news chooses to ignore .
We believe TheVirginiaStar.com will soon grow to be one of Virginia ’ s key resources for the truth .
Our mission is to bring our readers real news without the leftist bias in reporting that unfortunately drives most newsrooms today .
We are going to cover the stories important to our readers that the fake news refuses to do – simply because it doesn ’ t fit their narrative We at The Virginia Star have our own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth .
We know the choices you have for accessing news and information in Richmond , Virginia , and beyond .
Our goal is to be your top choice .
We welcome your feedback and suggestions : email me directly at [ email protected ] And of course send your news tips to : [ email protected ] Thank you for your support and please share our site with your friends and on social media !


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--DeWine, Timken, Householder Learn the Art of Funneling Donations Through Ohio Republican Party

Editor ’ s Note : This is the second of three stories examining Gov .
Mike DeWine ’ s use of pay-to-play when he was attorney general and how the Ohio Republican Party funnels money from donors to individual candidates .
This series also will examine the relationship between the party , DeWine and former House Speaker Larry Householder to FirstEnergy .
The first story in this series is available here .
The Dayton Daily News in January 2014 reported on allegations of pay-to-play in Attorney General DeWine ’ s office concerning an advisory panel .
His calendar shows he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex Arshinkoff , a lobbyist and the chairman of Summit County Republican Party who represented four companies doing business with DeWine ’ s office .
DeWine was not the only Ohio Republican engaging in pay-to-play .
Indeed , previous news reports and public records show the Ohio Republican Party funneled money to DeWine and now disgraced former House Speaker Larry Householder from such donors as FirstEnergy .
Arshinkoff reportedly was a master at the concept of funneling candidate money through the state party .
He also was a key figure in furthering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party chairwoman Jane Timken .
Arshinkoff , who died in 2017 , was the Summit County Republican Party head for approximately 40 years and had earned respect for building the party up in a strong Democratic territory .
His story was told in an obituary on a blog titled GOP Today — United by Core Beliefs , published by Pennsylvania Republican attorney Andrew W. Barbin , who calls himself a friend of Arshinkoff ’ s .
Arshinkoff always insisted that donors give through the party instead of spreading money out through individual candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate .
Barbin said Arshinkoff ’ s final battle was in January 2017 — to elect Jane Timken of Stark County as the Ohio Republican Party ’ s chair .
DeWine and Timken learned their lessons about funneling money through the party .
In FollowTheMoney , the National Institute of Money in Politics reported that between 2009-2016 , political parties played a larger role in attorneys general races in Ohio than any other state .
The state Republican Party gave $ 4.5 million to Attorney General DeWine .
In his political career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , according to data from the National Institute .
( To read the data , click the tab on the upper left that says “ As a candidate.
” ) Of that amount , the Ohio Republican Party gave him $ 8.6 million , making it his top donor of all time , according to the National Institute ’ s data on his top donors , available here .
DeWine loaned himself $ 5.6 million , making himself his No .
2 donor .
The Summit County Republican Party is his No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million .
Coming in at No .
4 on DeWine ’ s donor list is FirstEnergy Corp. , with $ 69,458 in donations .
The company was implicated in Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder ’ s pay-to-play bust by the FBI , according to The Toledo Blade .
Tyler Fehrman was leading an effort to gather signatures to repeal House Bill 6 .
Matt Borges , a former chair of the state party , is accused of bribing Fehrman with money believed to be from FirstEnergy to stop the effort .
Fehrman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the FBI .
The National Institute on Money in Politics provides insight into politicians FirstEnergy donated to , with the data available here .
Over a number of years , those donations included : • Patrick Dewine , 2012 : $ 2,700 ( Gov .
DeWine ’ s son , currently a justice on the Ohio Supreme Court ) FirstEnergy , according to the National Institute , also donated to : The Ohio Republican Party made these donations to Mike and Patrick DeWine and Householder : Tomorrow ’ s story : Jane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quest to become House speaker .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--The John Fredericks Show: Mayor Levar Stoney Responds to Richmond Riots and Looting by Demanding to

The John Fredericks Show: Mayor Levar Stoney Responds to Richmond Riots and Looting by Demanding to Legalize Pot

Live from Virginia Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks was dumbfounded by the recent letter written to the Governor of Virginia by Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney which revealed his top priority was marijuana legalization in the wake of Richmond ’ s violence .
FREDERICKS : Big time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upset , the mayor there .
He ’ s very upset about these looters .
In fact he wrote a scathing letter to the governor .
He did .
That special session coming up .
Scathing !
He said has a top priority that he absolutely , absolutely , demands is done in this special session .
It ’ s the top of his list .
It ’ s his top priority .
I couldn ’ t wait to hear what it was .
I ’ m figuring Levar Stoney mayor of Richmond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education mayor when the dropout rate in Richmond was 20 percent .
Four years later its 30 percent .
So he ’ s like the anti-education mayor .
But I figured you know he ’ s got to have something up his sleeve .
So he has the demand letter to both caucus of the Corn and to the governor .
And I ’ m figuring well he ’ s going to demand that the capitol police protect this city .
He ’ s going to demand that the governor call in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to demand that we get the state police in so that people aren ’ t burnt out of their homes and destruction is not run .
And people on Monument Avenue are trying to move out .
I figured that would be his letter .
No !
Levar Stoney says to the governor I demand my number one priority in this General Assembly special session is we have to legalize pot !
Forget the cops .
Forget if your store is getting burned down to the ground .
No !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to get dobbies !
If we have doobies and pipes in Richmond and we can all get high this is all going to go away .
So he ’ s demanding top priority , get high .
It ’ s like I ’ m living in a game show .
I ’ m living in the Cartoon Network with this guy .
Unbelievable .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Mobile Sports Betting Is Coming to Virginia in 2021

Mobile sports betting will be launching in Virginia by January 2021 at the earliest .
Since legislation was passed by the Virginia General Assembly and became effective July 1st , the Virginia lottery , who has been tasked with regulation and oversight , has been working to turn legal mobile sports betting for Virginians into a reality .
This is where the months-long implementation process currently stands .
On July 15th the Virginia lottery released the first set of sports betting regulations for stakeholders and the public to view and submit any comments or concerns they might have .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and final round of regulations for comment .
The first regulations focused on licensing and consumer protection , while the latest detailed operations and internal controls .
The comment forums for both sets of regulations end on Sept. 9th , according to a state government webpage .
The lottery will then view and possibly implement any suggestions or necessary changes to the regulations .
The lottery board must vote yes or no to approve the sports betting regulations for submission to the Virginia Register for publication by the fixed date of Sept. 15th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kevin Hall said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
Once the Virginia Register publishes the sports betting regulations , the lottery can begin accepting applications for licenses from operators , according to Hall .
“ I would anticipate that we would be in a position by October 15th to begin accepting applications , ” Hall said .
As outlined in the legislation , the lottery has a fixed 90-day window to evaluate the submitted applications from operators .
“ That [ evaluation ] includes reviewing their operational plans , reviewing if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ] checking with their compliance there , ” Hall said .
“ It includes criminal and credit checks of the principal owners of the companies , much like you ’ d do with a casino .
And then there are some lesser licensing components.
” Hall also mentioned that things like job creation in Virginia and credible revenue estimates will be evaluated .
If the Oct. 15th date for the start of applications being accepted is accurate , then the 90-day evaluation window means that the first licenses would be issued by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The lottery can only issue up to 12 and no less than four mobile sports betting permits , State Delegate Mark Sickles ( D-Fairfax ) said in an interview with The Star .
Del .
Sickles was chief patron for one of the bills on Virginia sports betting in the General Assembly .
Many of the major companies are going to be vying for a permit to operate in Virginia .
FanDuel , DraftKings , Penn National Gaming , MGM , Caesars and any other operators with mobile apps should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who worked closely with legislators and sports betting operators told The Star .
If issued permits by the lottery , those companies will then need get their apps live and operational for Virginia , which would not be a lengthy or complicated process as most already have mobile sports betting apps in other states , the lobbyist said .
Operators must apply for a three-year permit and pay a nonrefundable application fee of $ 250,000 as well as another $ 250,000 if the application is approved .
Tax on the permitted operators is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue , according to the legislation .
“ The estimate by professionals [ is ] somewhere between 40 to 50 million [ in Virginia tax revenue ] a year , ” Del .
Sickles said .
“ Its money that was just lying on the table , so that ’ s why I wanted to make sure we could pass a bill .
Lots of people play DraftKings and FanDuel already , we might as well get our share out it and avoid people living on all of the [ Virginia ] borders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bet ] .
” Not all language and requirements in the legislation is viewed by all parties as good or adequate , specifically the stipulation that prohibits any betting on Virginia college sports and all proposition bets on college sports .
“ Having [ sports betting ] conducted in a regulated market is beneficial to Virginia colleges because they would have insight into the betting activity that is currently happening illegally online , on offshore illegal books , ” a sports betting industry expert said in a phone interview with The Star .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are live , they will be able to see how many people leave Virginia to go to Washington D.C. or Maryland to place bets on Virginia college sports , the lobbyist said .
It was the Virginia colleges themselves that asked to be excluded in the legislation , a practice not uncommon in other states , according to Del .
Sickles .
Once operators receive permits and launch their apps , Virginians will be able to bet on all types of professional sports and the outcomes of games featuring non-Virginia college sports .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Rich Anderson Is the New Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia

Rich Anderson is the new chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia .
On Saturday , August 15 , delegates from around Virginia voted in an unassembled election using a drive-through format .
The ranked-choice results saw Anderson win round one with 48.80 percent of the votes , where incumbent Jack Wilson was eliminated .
In round two , Anderson took 62.28 percent of the votes , defeating Mike Schoelwer .
GOP strategist and former RPV chairman John Whitbeck said the results reflect problems in the RPV .
“ We haven ’ t won a statewide race in eleven years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ [ Anderson ’ s ] chairmanship is going to be defined in large part by three things .
Number one , the ability to raise money and keep the party financially secure ; two , his ability to unify the party and all the different factions that have evolved over the years ; and three , what happens in 2021.
” Whitbeck said the 2021 elections for Governor , Attorney General , and the Lieutenant Governor would be critical moments for Anderson .
Anderson is not scared , in fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says his 30 years of Air Force experience prepared him for this role .
“ I ’ m accustomed to going into situations that are less than optimal and having a role in trying to straighten them out and put you on a winning foot once again , ” Anderson said .
Anderson is not giving himself easy jobs .
His first priority is to work for President Trump to win Virginia .
Whitbeck agrees that the November election is critical for the RPV .
However , he thinks the 2020 election is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – do more of Trump ’ s haters or supporters turn out – rather than to the RPV chairman .
“ I don ’ t think the RPV chair should be blamed for anything that happens in November [ 2020 , ] ” Whitbeck said .
Anderson described three goals to help solve the RPV ’ s problems .
First , Anderson wants to significantly increase party fundraising .
Second , he wants to change the RPV culture to register more Republican voters .
Anderson said that culture change involves higher-energy recruitment efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wants to actively recruit competitive Republican candidates to run in every single race in Virginia .
“ In 2019 , I think a factor in our losses was that we just didn ’ t run people in almost three dozen races between the House and Senate .
So those were guaranteed pickups for the Democrats , ” Anderson said .
“ We absolutely have to put people on the field and let them compete.
” Whitbeck thinks that Anderson has a good chance of leading the RPV well .
Anderson does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reputation as a conservative , and is a nice guy , Whitbeck said .
The second place candidate , Mike Schoelwer , thinks Anderson ’ s election indicates a desire for change in the RPV .
“ I think it says the Republican base is fired up , and they want to reelect President Trump , ” Schoelwer said .
“ I congratulate Rich Anderson on his victory and I look forward to working closely with him over the next 90 days to make Virginia competitive for Trump-Pence in 2020 and pulling off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said John Fredericks , Trump-Pence 2020 Delegation Chairman and 2016 VA Trump Chairman .
“ Now that the election is behind us , it is of paramount importance that we put our past differences aside and focus on the next three months .
The stakes are very high.
” Anderson and Whitbeck agreed that the election was contentious .
Anderson said that was a good thing .
Because of COVID-19 , discussion forums between the candidates were held in virtual meetings .
The format allowed more people to attend and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the discussions mostly aligned with his platform issues : better fiscal responsibility , more voter turnout and recruiting a stronger roster of candidates .
Growing up , Anderson was friends with Caldwell Butler ’ s son .
Butler was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates who went on to the United States House of Representatives .
Anderson grew up visiting the Butlers ’ home and hearing political discussions , but Anderson never had political aspirations .
Then , in 2009 , the Speaker of the Virginia House called Anderson and asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I guess I was susceptible to the call to run for office , ” Anderson said .
Anderson became a delegate in 2010 , and served four terms until January 2018 .
After he left office , he joined a number of boards and commissions .
Anderson enjoyed that , but as he watched the RPV party decline , he needed to get back in the action .
In January 2020 , Anderson decided to run , and began visiting all 126 Republican units across Virginia – all the hubs of local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kind of campaign work he wants to see in the RPV .
Although he was feeling optimistic , he was working the phones all the way up until the night before his election .
“ I find in politics when you start running for office , if you start getting confident , you start getting complacent , ” Anderson said .
Although the national Republican Party has a strong , aggressive image , Anderson said that is a weakness for the RPV .
He said that the Democratic Party of Virginia has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RPV officials eventually learn to fight back , he needs candidates and volunteers who can fight .
Anderson said , “ I want individuals who truly have the gut instinct for waging aggressive campaigns.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Richard Anderson ” by Richard Anderson .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--Commentary: Is Free Speech at Stake in November?

The phenomenon of “ cancel culture ” is a real and growing threat to free speech in America .
This rapidly rising threat has caught many Americans off guard .
Since the rise of the nation-state , almost all the serious threats to freedom of speech have come from government or government sponsored agencies .
However , this current threat is not from the government – at least not yet .
Cancel culture is the illegitimate spawn of the Twitter digital mob .
The internet is the malignant , metastasizing slime out of which this Godzilla-like monster has emerged .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought police trolling the internet waiting to smear anyone who engages in political or religious speech not deemed sufficiently “ woke ” by these modern-day fascists .
Tweet or say the “ wrong ” thing , and they descend like vultures , trying , and often succeeding , in getting you fired from your job , or your being harassed , along with your family , in your own neighborhood .
The key to their power to thwart speech is precisely the power to cost the offending persons their jobs and their standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the invention of the internet and social media only the government generally had the power to do .
A national survey found that significant numbers of Americans are afraid to say what they believe .
That fear cuts across the political spectrum : Democrats ( 52 percent ) , Independent ( 59 percent ) , and Republicans ( 77 percent ) .
The only group that feels relatively free to express their political views in contemporary America are “ staunch liberals ” ( 58 percent ) .
Freedom of speech has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1776 .
This essential freedom is in peril in this November ’ s election—perhaps as never before in our history .
Why ?
Currently these anti-democratic censors are seeking to suppress speech by the power of the mob to “ cancel ” your speech and cost you your job unless you refrain from speech , they find unacceptable .
Imagine if these would-be commissars of speech and thought add government power to their weapons of suppression ?
Just imagine the nightmare of the vast powers of the U.S. Justice Department deployed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correct or sufficiently “ woke.
” This could very well happen if Joe Biden , who has been taken over by radical liberals in the progressive wing of the Democrat Party , is elected President this November .
Richard Land , President of Southern Evangelical Seminary , Executive Editor of the Christian Post , and a member of the Evangelicals for Trump .
Photo “ Protest ” by Descrier CC2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-17--FOX Nation Host Tomi Lahren calls Nashville Mayor John Cooper ‘A Little Tyrant’

FOX Nation host Tomi Lahren tore apart Nashville Mayor John Cooper late last week during her Final Thoughts segment and called him “ a little tyrant ” for how he has managed the city during the COVID-19 outbreak .
Lahren , who recently moved to Nashville , compared the city to her former home of Los Angeles .
“ First it was our mayor ’ s stay-at-home order back in March , which he extended all the way through May , even when our neighboring cities and counties reopened .
Then it was the phased reopening that gave us all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dashed when he pulled the rug out from underneath us about a month ago , returning us to Phase Two , ” Lahren said .
“ Yes , this was after he announced a 34 percent property tax increase to pay for his shutdown after he encouraged BLM protests , which led to the historic courthouse being set on fire and historic Lower Broadway looted and ravaged .
Then it was the mask mandate .
Then it was the announcement Nashville students wouldn ’ t be returning to classrooms .
And when that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little tyrant do ?
He forced bars to close and imposed a 10 p.m. curfew on restaurants , a move that crushed and continues to crush Nashville bars , businesses , employees , musicians and residents who rely on tourism and nightlife to survive.
” Lahren said that Nashville officials are allowing a nearby strip club to stay open until 3 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays and until 5 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays .
She also said Metro Nashville Police officers are spending their time downtown “ making sure masks don ’ t fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city from violent crime .
“ It would seem to me this has far less to do with COVID and far more to do with Mayor John Cooper ’ s personal vendetta against Broadway and Midtown bar and restaurant owners who happen to be his vocal critics , ” Lahren said .
“ None of it makes much sense unless you factor that into the messed-up equation.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Nashville Judge who Showed Leniency to Justin Jones is a Democrat who Served on Metro Council

The Nashville General Sessions Court judge who denied a motion to ban left-wing activist Justin Jones from the Tennessee Capitol building , Samuel Coleman , is a Democrat who once served on the Metro Council .
Office of the Criminal Court Clerk Nicholas Kiefer told The Tennessee Star Monday that Jones went before Coleman late last week .
According to the Nashville General Sessions Court ’ s website , Coleman has served as a judge since May 2017 .
He practiced criminal , civil , probate , landlord and tenant law before that .
Coleman served on the Metro Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 through 2017 .
“ Coleman ( Democratic Party ) ran for re-election for judge of the Davidson County General Sessions Court in Tennessee , ” according to Ballotpedia .
“ He won in the general election on August 2 , 2018.
” As The Tennessee Star reported Sunday , Jones has led demonstrations against the police at Legislative Plaza for the past few months .
As reported last year , authorities banned Jones from inside the Tennessee capitol building after he threw a cup at then-Speaker of the House Glen Casada .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ developments on his Facebook page .
“ The judge denied the District Attorney ’ s motion to ban me from the Capitol grounds and require electronic GPS monitoring .
The state filed this motion at the direction of Gov .
Bill Lee ’ s appointed commissioner and stated I was a ‘ danger to public safety , ’ ” Jones said .
“ One important note in the judge ’ s ruling is stressing the seriousness of the government restricting people ’ s constitutional right to free movement especially in issues of moral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported last month , recent protests at the State Capitol have forced the Tennessee Highway Patrol to spend nearly $ 900,000 in overtime costs .
And that ’ s just between May 31 , around the time the protests started , up until June 30 .
As reported in June , Tennessee Highway Patrol officers removed protesters ’ extra equipment from Legislative Plaza after they failed to comply with an agreement made between the two sides .
Demonstrators renamed the plaza the Ida B .
Wells Plaza .
Wells was an early civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Judge Samuel Coleman ” by Judge Samuel Coleman .

Eighteen individuals are now collecting petitions for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District race as of last Friday.
Twelve people are collecting qualifying petitions for the GOP primary, three are gathering petitions for the Democrat primary, and three independents are also accumulating petitions.
The 12 Republicans listed on the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website as collecting petitions are former Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell of Nashville, businessman Baxter Lee of Nashville, Robby Starbuck of Franklin (listed as Robert Starbuck Newsom), Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks of Nashville, former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada of Franklin, Timothy Bruce Lee of Nashville, Annabelle Lee of Madison, Alan Clement Sharp of Nashville, David Vitalli of Brentwood, Stewart Parks of Nashville, and Richie Lee of Nashville.
Among the publicly announced candidates, Tennessee newcomer and former State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus and retired Brig. General Kurt Winstead have not yet been listed as having begun their qualifying petitions process. Hamada has not yet made a decision as to whether or not he is officially entering the race.
Records show that Harwell, Starbuck, Brooks, Baxter Lee, Ortagus, Winstead, Batchelor, and Timothy Bruce Lee have also filed candidate paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). Starbuck has raised $255,066.53 and has $138,741.16 on hand, which Brooks has raised $24,517.00 and has $19,655.34 on hand. The rest filed their FEC paperwork after the year-end December 31, 2022 deadline. The 2022 first quarter January 1-March 31 financial reports, which are scheduled to be released in mid-April, will cover all candidates who have reached the FEC reporting threshold.
Sources tell The Star that several Republican candidates are expected to have impressive fundraising totals.
Clay Faircloth, Richard H. Harris, and Joel Michael Hurbert, all from Nashville, are listed as collecting petitions for the Democrat primary.
Derrick Brantley of Nashville, Patrick O. Halfacre of Hohenwald, and Richard A. Shannon of Franklin are the independents who are collecting petitions. Shannon has appeared on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy. Only Brantley appears to have filed documents with the FEC.
In order to appear on the ballot, candidates are required to collect 25 valid signatures from registered voters and have until noon on April 7 to turn in those qualifying petitions. Candidates who qualify have until April 14 to withdraw their names from the ballot. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office told The Star, unless pending legislation changes things, that they will finalize the ballots on April 21.
The 5th Congressional District consists of parts of Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson counties, and all of Maury, Marshall, and Lewis counties.
– – –
Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected] Follow Aaron on GETTR.
Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Martin Falbisoner. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Commentary: We Can’t Trust Postal Workers with Our Ballots

If you are queasy about entrusting the U.S .
Postal Service with a vastly expanded role in our electoral system in the midst of a crucial election , the following news will exacerbate your nausea .
Last Friday , the National Association of Letter Carriers ( NALC ) followed the lead of the American Postal Workers Union ( APWU ) by endorsing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Thus far , most objections to increasing the role of the USPS in the election process involve the inevitable logistical problems that will accompany a precipitous expansion of mail-in voting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers to inefficiency renders it obvious that the widespread expansion of vote-by-mail is dangerous .
Even if we assume that most postal workers are nonpartisan , there is enormous potential for chaos associated with a wholesale increase in absentee voting .
The leadership of the USPS has already warned most states that millions may be disfranchised by late delivery of ballots .
The Washington Post reports , “ The U.S .
Postal Service recently sent detailed letters to 46 states and D.C. warning that it can not guarantee that all ballots cast by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in time to be counted.
” As alarming as such warnings are , they aren ’ t as perilous as a politicized postal service .
Trump voters simply can ’ t trust their ballots to mail carriers represented by unions that endorse his opponent : This is an excerpt from Friday ’ s announcement by the NALC , and it should be noted that the decision was “ based on the input of our membership.
” In other words , it ’ s probable that most of the people who work in your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ridding themselves of President Trump and getting Biden and Harris elected .
The announcement goes on to attack the Trump administration and demand a vast infusion of taxpayer dollars : “ This pandemic threatens the very survival of USPS .
Yet … the current administration refuses to provide the necessary financial relief that would strengthen the agency during this pandemic.
” The APWU endorsement sounds similar themes : The three items that both endorsements have in common are partisan support for Biden , the none-too-subtle suggestion that the USPS is under attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for taxpayer funds to make up for losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic .
This last claim deserves closer scrutiny .
As it happens , USPS money problems predate coronavirus and even the Trump presidency .
As the Wall Street Journal points out , “ The post office is meant to be self-sufficient , but it hasn ’ t broken even for years .
Total losses since 2007 run to $ 78 billion , according to a May report by the Government Accountability Office.
” Its losses have nothing to do with coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be worried about is the kind of chicanery the politicized USPS routinely perpetrates in states , like Washington , which has had all mail-in elections for years .
In that state the local postal workers attach partisan campaign material to mail-in ballots .
Recently Alicia Rule , a Democratic candidate for the 42nd Legislative District , was dumb enough to post the following on Facebook : “ Ballots arrived today !
Mine was carefully tucked together with a flyer by our neighborhood postal worker .
I am reminded of just how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers union has endorsed our campaign.
” Rule is now under investigation by … er … the USPS Inspection Service .
What do the Democrats have to say about this kind of skulduggery ?
Nada .
Instead , Joe Biden is peddling a new “ voter suppression ” conspiracy theory involving Trump and his evil minions .
As Biden put it , “ They ’ re going around literally with tractor trailers picking up mailboxes .
You oughta go online and check out what they ’ re doing in Oregon .
I mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This asinine claim was based on a couple of tweets showing routine removal of standard blue mailboxes in areas where they have been removed pursuant to very low usage .
This has been going on for many years , of course .
As Matt Margolis points out at PJ Media , the Obama–Biden administration removed thousands of boxes .
Moronic conspiracy theories aside , there are two genuine problems associated with the sudden expansion of the USPS role in our electoral system in the midst of a crucial election .
First , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as they have formally advised no fewer than 46 states in warning letters .
Second , postal workers are by no means nonpartisan .
They are represented by unions that have endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden and clearly hope to assist him in defeating President Trump in November .
Ultimately , a vastly expanded role in our electoral process for the U.S .
Postal Service will result in chaos and chicanery .
Never has it been more important to go to the polls and vote in person .
David Catron is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributor to The American Spectator .
You can follow him on Twitter at @ Catronicus .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--National Media Ignores Boat Parade Phenomenon Sweeping the U.S.

A pro-Trump Boat Parade in Clearwater , Florida on Saturday set the record for the biggest boat parade of all time , shattering the previous world record .
Organizers of the Clearwater boat parade said that over 1,600 boats signed up for the event , and that didn ’ t include last minute arrivals and those who joined in along the route .
All told , as many as 2,000 boats took part , organizers told Fox 13 .
The previous record was set in Malaysia with 1,180 boats .
The massive Trump flotilla in Clearwater was not a one-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been popping up all across the country in recent months , with patriotic Americans expressing support for the president and enjoying a popular summer recreational activity at the same time .
While these pro-Trump rallies have gotten some local media coverage , the corporate media have been ignoring the Trump boat parade phenomenon , focusing instead on “ mostly peaceful ” Democrat-favored anti-Trump demonstrations .
On Saturday , for instance , hundreds of boaters came out to Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey to show their support for President Trump .
On Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parade on Lake George , New York .
Reportedly , up to 1,000 pro-Trump boats cruised the Intracoastal Waterway in Myrtle Beach on July 26 .
A massive Trump boat parade was held on Lake Norman in North Carolina on the 4th of July .
There were massive “ Trumptilla ” boat parades that cruised down the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida from Jupiter to Mar-a-Lago in May and June of this year .
There was also a “ Trumptilla ” boat parade in Tampa Bay on June 14 in honor of the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw a “ Trumptilla ” boat parade on the president ’ s birthday .
Another large boat parade in honor of the president ’ s birthday was held on the Detroit River .
In June , July , and August , Trump supporters in New York held heavily attended “ TrumpStock ” boat parades .
Ahead of a Trump fundraiser in the Hamptons last week , members of the president ’ s family were reportedly in attendance for another huge flotilla , including Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held a couple of big boat parades this year in honor of the president , according to WKRG .
A Sheriff in Oswego County , New York spurred controversy earlier this month when his boat displayed a pro-Trump flag during a Trump flotilla on Oneida Lake .
According to NewsChannel 9 WSYR Syracuse , liberal viewers were outraged .
“ Some are asking how a law enforcement agency can show support or endorsement for a a political candidate , ” WSYR reported .
The Sheriff ’ s office said in response that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of the citizens who were attending this event and to show recognition to the president of the United States for his constant support for law enforcement.
” Oswego County Legislative Chairman James Weatherup , a Republican , told WSYR that the sheriff violated the county ’ s flag policy and the legislature was looking into it .
A boater in Montana was surprised to see a flotilla of pro-Trump boats on Lake Flathead on the 4th of July .
A Trump parade on Lake Murray in South Carolina “ attracted thousands ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June , thousands of Trump supporters hit San Diego Bay to show appreciation for the president .
During the event , there was also a flyover by Trump-supporting pilots .
There was also a huge boat parade for the president held in Newport Harbor in Newport Beach , California over Memorial Day weekend .
This demonstration also featured a flyover by Trump-supporting pilots .
A surprised local took the following video from a kayak .
“ Went out fishing and it turned into a video session of all the crazy people , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the person says on Youtube .
“ It was easily the most crowded I ’ ve ever seen the harbor and I can ’ t say I remember ever seeing so many bad ass yachts out on the water at one time.
” A twelve-year-old girl inspired a massive boat parade for Trump on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri on June 13 .
“ We love all people .
You know , you can bring anyone down , ” said Brad Ekstam , the owner of Fass Fuel Systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ races took part in the pro-Trump event that day .
“ I don ’ t even care what their religion is .
Mine is Christian , but I ’ m not going to shove that on someone , ” he said .
On July 25 , Trump supporters held a “ Keep America Great In 2020 ” Boat Parade on Cedar Lake , Indiana : Trump supporters in Oklahoma held boat parades for the president back in May and on August 1 .
Thousands of people participated in a pro-Trump boat parade in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend .
Notice how wholesome , patriotic and upbeat these pro-Trump demonstrations are , especially compared to the grotesque and violent antifa/BLM demonstrations/riots favored by Democrats .
Although these spontaneous pro-Trump events have been going on for months on America ’ s coasts , lakes , and rivers , there has been little to no coverage of them in the national media .
In July , the Trump Campaign released a press statement pointing out the lack of enthusiasm for Joe Biden , headlined , “ NO BOAT PARADES : ENTHUSIASM FOR JOE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter account rubbed salt in the wound .
“ Did you know there has NEVER been a Biden boat parade ?
How sad !
There is no enthusiasm for Sleepy Joe.
” While the corporate media have been studiously avoiding covering the dozens of pro-Trump flotillas , a couple of MSM rags did feature sneering put-downs of the phenomenon .
Washington Post : Trump ’ s campaign tries to turn the insecurity of his flotilla fixation into a political win The president , however , insisted over the weekend that massive MAGA boat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his campaign has done “ nothing to do this.
” “ I just looked , there are thousands of boats on lakes , rivers and oceans—thousands and thousands of boats , ” Trump marvaled during a press conference on Saturday .
“ We did nothing to do this , ” he added .
“ It ’ s generic .
It just happened.
” Trump told reporters that he believes that there ’ s more enthusiasm now than there was in 2016 .
Sunday night , President Trump released a video message to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their efforts .
“ I just wish I had time , I ’ d get on one of those boats and I ’ d be carrying a flag also , ” the president said .
“ I just want to thank everybody .
I see that , and the whole world is watching , and you people are fantastic , ” he added .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Jail That Released Ibrahim Bouaichi Due to Health Risk of Coronavirus Had No Cases of COVID-19

Ibrahim Bouaichi , an inmate in Virginia who was released on bond from jail due to the Coronavirus pandemic , made headlines last week for allegedly killing his accuser .
At the time of his release , the jail where Bouaichi was held had no recorded cases of COVID-19 .
Bouaichi was arrested for the alleged rape of his ex-girlfriend Karla Elizabeth Dominguez Gonzalez on October 21 , 2019 .
Bouaichi was also held on five additional felonies .
Per Virginia law involving violent crimes , he was held without bail .
Bouaichi ’ s lawyers argued that Bouaichi should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the increased health risks of COVID-19 faced by prisoners .
The lawyers also argued that the jail “ imposed severe restrictions on visitation , ” according to court filings .
At the time of Bouaichi ’ s bond hearing , the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center ( the jail where Bouaichi was held ) allowed visits between inmates and their legal counsel .
The Center also had not recorded any requests from Bouaichi ’ s lawyers for an in-person meeting , according to The Washington Post .
bond for Bouaichi on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dawkins “ did not order electronic monitoring for Bouaichi.
” On the morning of July 29 , Karla Dominguez was found dead outside of her apartment with “ multiple gunshot wounds on her upper body.
” Bouaichi became the prime suspect in Dominguez ’ s murder .
Police spotted Bouaichi on the morning of August 5 .
After a short chase , officers found Bouaichi alive in his vehicle , though he had suffered “ a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
” Bouaichi was taken to the hospital in critical condition .
He died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the time of Bouaichi ’ s release on bond , the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center had yet to record any cases of COVID-19 .
In an interview with The Zebra on May 27 , the jail ’ s Inmate Program Manager Gloria Wright confirmed that there had been no positive cases of COVID-19 up to the time of the interview .
When congratulated on the absence of positive cases by the interviewer , Wright responded with thanks .
“ We do our best to make sure everyone is keeping up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The inmates wear masks and so does the staff.
” The Washington Post also confirmed that the jail had yet to see a single case of COVID-19 .
The Post said that Bouaichi ’ s lawyers claimed that “ jails were potential coronavirus hot spots , although Alexandria ’ s jail had not had a case.
” According to The Marshall Project , Virginian correctional facilities have seen a total of 2,406 cases of COVID-19 and a total of 13 deaths due to the virus between April 8 and the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 0.045 % mortality rate among inmates in Virginia , meaning 99.955 % of inmates that contract COVID-19 survive .
Sam Medley is a journalist at the Tennessee Star and Star News Network .
You can follow Sam on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]