thetennesseestar--2020-09-01--Bill to End Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Defeated in House Appropriations Committ

Bill to End Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers Defeated in House Appropriations Committee

Delegates in the House Committee on Appropriations voted against a bill Monday that removed qualified immunity for law enforcement officers , making them liable to lawsuits .
The Bill , HB 5013 , sponsored by Del .
Bourne ( D-Richmond City ) , was defeated in Committee after failing to get enough votes to advance to the House floor .
In a brief explanation of the bill to the committee , Bourne argued that HB 5013 allowed victims and their families a proper time in court and made sure that bad actors did not escape repercussions for their actions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ therefore gross negligence , complete abuse , that sort of thing , they do not fall under that , but by getting rid of the qualified immunity it becomes very much a murky line , ” Del .
Davis ( R-Virginia Beach ) said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ For me , the concern was you put law enforcement officers in a position where they become personally at risk , their family becomes personally and financially at risk and can be sued .
“ We don ’ t need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could very easily be life or death second guessing themselves with that grey line and potentially losing their life.
” Davis also said that other police reforms are necessary and more training needs to be provided for specific situations like someone in the middle of a mental health crisis , such as David-Marcus Peters who was shot and killed by a Richmond police officer in May 2018 while experiencing a mental episode .
Committee members voted along party lines except for Delegates David Bulova ( D-Fairfax County ) and David Reid ( D-Loudoun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against reporting the bill .
The bill was defeated by a vote of 11-Y 11-N. “ Delegates Reid and Bulova have always been very open minded and I think voted to represent their communities which value our law enforcement officers a great deal , which is not mutually exclusive of believing there are other places for other types of reform , ” Davis said .
Deputy Mike Imprevento , staff attorney for the Norfolk sheriff ’ s office and member of the Virginia trial lawyers association , spoke against the bill saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only helps plaintiffs and lawyers get rid of important procedural hurdles .
Princess Blanding , the sister of Marcus-David Peters , was one of two people who spoke to the committee in favor of the bill .
Blading urged the committee to put people over profit and politics , and said that there is corruption in Virginia police departments and across the nation .
Currently , there are no bills in the Senate that would eliminate qualified immunity for law enforcement officers .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Delegates in the House Committee on Appropriations voted against a bill Monday that removed qualified immunity for law enforcement officers, making them liable to lawsuits.
The Bill, HB 5013, sponsored by Del. Bourne (D-Richmond City), was defeated in Committee after failing to get enough votes to advance to the House floor.
In a brief explanation of the bill to the committee, Bourne argued that HB 5013 allowed victims and their families a proper time in court and made sure that bad actors did not escape repercussions for their actions.
“It’s qualified immunity so therefore gross negligence, complete abuse, that sort of thing, they do not fall under that, but by getting rid of the qualified immunity it becomes very much a murky line,” Del. Davis (R-Virginia Beach) said in an interview with The Virginia Star. “For me, the concern was you put law enforcement officers in a position where they become personally at risk, their family becomes personally and financially at risk and can be sued.
“We don’t need our officers walking into a situation that could very easily be life or death second guessing themselves with that grey line and potentially losing their life.”
Davis also said that other police reforms are necessary and more training needs to be provided for specific situations like someone in the middle of a mental health crisis, such as David-Marcus Peters who was shot and killed by a Richmond police officer in May 2018 while experiencing a mental episode.
Committee members voted along party lines except for Delegates David Bulova (D-Fairfax County) and David Reid (D-Loudoun County) who voted alongside Republican members against reporting the bill. The bill was defeated by a vote of 11-Y 11-N.
“Delegates Reid and Bulova have always been very open minded and I think voted to represent their communities which value our law enforcement officers a great deal, which is not mutually exclusive of believing there are other places for other types of reform,” Davis said.
Deputy Mike Imprevento, staff attorney for the Norfolk sheriff’s office and member of the Virginia trial lawyers association, spoke against the bill saying that it does not advance public safety and only helps plaintiffs and lawyers get rid of important procedural hurdles.
Princess Blanding, the sister of Marcus-David Peters, was one of two people who spoke to the committee in favor of the bill. Blading urged the committee to put people over profit and politics, and said that there is corruption in Virginia police departments and across the nation.
Currently, there are no bills in the Senate that would eliminate qualified immunity for law enforcement officers.
– – –
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-01--U.S. COVID Response Coordinator Dr. Birx: Minnesotans Haven’t Done Enough to Decrease Spread

U.S. Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx stated in a visit to Minnesota on Sunday that Minnesotans haven ’ t done enough to decrease the spread of COVID-19 .
The visit is part of a cross-country tour to gauge how well states are adhering to coronavirus guidelines .
Birx commended the measures instituted by the state .
However , she said that Minnesotans needed to do more – especially in rural areas .
“ There really needs to be this common-sense adaption to everybody ’ s personal life of wearing a mask , preventing large crowds , really the six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on when you ’ re interacting with individuals.
” Birx stated that masks should also be worn in private gatherings .
“ They make assumptions that there couldn ’ t be anybody that has infection there .
And then they don ’ t wear their masks , and they interact together .
And that creates spreading of the virus among family members and among neighbors.
” Birx also expects people to take initiative and get vaccinated once vaccines are available .
She called the increase in cases “ worrisome this late into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down to every Minnesotan following these common sense paths forward to ensure we protect each other.
” Dr. Birx didn ’ t mention the recently-discovered inflation caused by late test results .
She also didn ’ t mention the Center for Disease Control ( CDC ) report indicating that existing comorbidities skewed the total number of COVID deaths .
“ For 6 % of the deaths , COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned , ” the site states .
“ For deaths with conditions or causes in addition to COVID-19 , on average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causes per death.
” Dr. Birx and Governor Walz conferred after Birx ’ s speech .
A spokesperson for Walz issued a statement on behalf of the governor , calling it “ a productive conversation.
” Walz and Birx apparently agreed that current measures against the virus aren ’ t enough .
Vice President Mike Pence appointed Dr. Deborah Birx in February to address the government ’ s response to COVID-19 .
Prior to the pandemic , Dr. Birx served primarily as the U.S .
Global HIV/AIDS Coordinator .
Birx also stated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is important because of any possible future negative impacts it may have .
“ We don ’ t know the long-term consequences .
So although we say it ’ s only a mild or moderate disease right now , we are starting to see young people with long-term consequences – or at least medium-term consequences.
” As of this week , 89 percent of total reported COVID cases in Minnesota are recovered .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected ] .

U.S. Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx stated in a visit to Minnesota on Sunday that Minnesotans haven’t done enough to decrease the spread of COVID-19. The visit is part of a cross-country tour to gauge how well states are adhering to coronavirus guidelines.
Birx commended the measures instituted by the state. However, she said that Minnesotans needed to do more – especially in rural areas.
“There really needs to be this common-sense adaption to everybody’s personal life of wearing a mask, preventing large crowds, really the six feet social distancing or having a mask on when you’re interacting with individuals.”
Birx stated that masks should also be worn in private gatherings.
“They make assumptions that there couldn’t be anybody that has infection there. And then they don’t wear their masks, and they interact together. And that creates spreading of the virus among family members and among neighbors.”
Birx also expects people to take initiative and get vaccinated once vaccines are available. She called the increase in cases “worrisome this late into the summer.”
“It really does come down to every Minnesotan following these common sense paths forward to ensure we protect each other.”
Dr. Birx didn’t mention the recently-discovered inflation caused by late test results. She also didn’t mention the Center for Disease Control (CDC) report indicating that existing comorbidities skewed the total number of COVID deaths.
“For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned,” the site states. “For deaths with conditions or causes in addition to COVID-19, on average, there were 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death.”
Dr. Birx and Governor Walz conferred after Birx’s speech. A spokesperson for Walz issued a statement on behalf of the governor, calling it “a productive conversation.” Walz and Birx apparently agreed that current measures against the virus aren’t enough.
Vice President Mike Pence appointed Dr. Deborah Birx in February to address the government’s response to COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, Dr. Birx served primarily as the U.S. Global HIV/AIDS Coordinator.
Birx also stated that continued diligence with protective measures against COVID is important because of any possible future negative impacts it may have.
“We don’t know the long-term consequences. So although we say it’s only a mild or moderate disease right now, we are starting to see young people with long-term consequences – or at least medium-term consequences.”
As of this week, 89 percent of total reported COVID cases in Minnesota are recovered.
– – –
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].


thetennesseestar--2020-09-01--Commentary: As Americas Culture Suicides-By-Woke, a New Dark Age Looms

In February , New York was the world ’ s most dynamic metropolis .
By August , the city was more like the ruins of Ephesus .
It is not all that hard to blow up a culture .
You can do it in a summer if you haven ’ t much worry about others .
When you loot and burn a Target in an hour , it takes months to realize there are no more neighborhood Target-stocked groceries , toilet paper , and Advil to buy this winter .
You can in a night assault the police , spit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the coronavirus , and even burn them alive .
But when you call 911 in a few weeks after your car is vandalized , your wallet is stolen , and your spouse is violent , and no one comes , only then do you sense that you earlier were voting for a pre-civilized wilderness .
You can burn down a Burger King in half an hour .
But it will take years to find anyone at Burger King , Inc. , who would ever be dumb enough to rebuild atop the charred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round of arson in 2021 or 2023 .
Today ’ s looter carrying off sneakers and smartphones in 10 years will be tomorrow ’ s urban activist , understandably but in vain demanding stores return to a charred no man ’ s land , to do their fair share , and to help restore the downtown , neighborhood , inner-city , or the “ community.
” Old Liberal Ideas Are Being Destroyed We are living in the most racially polarized climate since the 1960s .
America ’ s past , present , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recalibrated entirely through the lens of one ’ s skin color .
Columbus is reduced to nothing more than another racist white Italian sailor of a half-millennium past .
Grant might as well have fought for slavery in the mind of today ’ s campus ignoramus .
Apparently , the Antifa thug thinks he could just as easily have written the Gettysburg Address or sculpted a statue of Frederick Douglass .
The old liberal ideas of assimilation , integration , and intermarriage are being destroyed by the Left under the specious doctrines of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” or “ how we look is who we are.
” A new fuzzy Jim Crow returns with racially segregated campus safe spaces and theme houses or the race-based reeducation and training sessions in the workplace – all predicated to stop racism !
Somehow selecting strangers on the basis of their race to bully in a restaurant , or targeting old anonymous men and women to beat up in the street by their race , or singling out suburbanites by their race for racial taunts and profanity is redefined as reparatory justice or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one would dare say that the arson , looting , and rhetoric are descending into ever more hate-filled nihilism .
Our collective future of nationalized tribalism will become what always results when citizens identify by superficial appearance or shared religion .
Just go to Lebanon , the Balkans , or Iraq to see what is in store first hand .
To survive , all groups will self-identify , at first quietly , but eventually unapologetically .
Some will form alliances of self-preservation , others will war with each other .
Tribal gangs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our streets of fire and looting , will assume they are exempt from consequences ; and so will their antitheses of vigilantes who band together to guard their stores in the absence of a defunded police .
Liberal elite whites themselves are now uneasy , since the abstract doctrines they so nihilistically advocated , from defunding the police to recalibrating looting as “ redistribution , ” are now becoming reified and closer to home .
They see that when BLM protestors jam a restaurant to demand fealty or lecture on “ white privilege @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wake up the commuter to apprise him of his immorality , the racialists will not qualify their agendas with “ except for woke whites.
” When tribalism is distilled to its innate and terrifying essence , there are never exemptions for individuals : you are reduced to what you appear superficially as to strangers .
The white felon is no different than the white Harvard president , the black shoplifter is the same as the black physicist .
We are all condensed to a sort of collective nothingness , or rather a racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an integral part of American life , appears to be nearly in ruins .
Professional baseball , basketball , and football might have survived the virus , the lockdown , and the recession – and then maybe they might not have .
After all , millions of the bored more quickly than expected got acculturated to the idea of soon not listening to a boring rant from LeBron James or the sad confessionals of Drew Brees .
But what the NBA and NFL , and perhaps MLB won ’ t survive is cultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The NBA existed on the premise that billionaires were willing to pay multimillionaires to lose billions as a prestige lark – as a franchise became a sort of a huge , showy Louis Vuitton bag .
But even billionaires have limits .
Snobbery and appearing cool do not always trump losing the equivalent of a Ferrari every hour or a Gulfstream each week .
The NBA , we are told , is a woke industry .
But it ’ s also the strangest , most nondiverse , right-wing , money-obsessed woke institution in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multimillionaire players are African-American .
Over 90 percent of the billionaire team owners are white .
Yet the entire industry – players , coaches , owners , staff – lecture Americans ad nauseam about their supposed sins .
The monotonous sermons have become transparent medieval redemptions – given the mortal sin that the NBA sold its very soul to a racist , genocidal , and totalitarian China – to recover billions abroad for the billions lost in viewership and attendance at home .
Nondiverse multimillionaires , working for even less diverse billionaires , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of privilege , in the pay of the Chinese Communist Party , is not a way to win back fans .
Universities are in for hard times .
The federal government eventually will get out of the $ 1.5 trillion student loan subsidy business , and force spendthrift colleges to accept their own self-created moral hazards .
Charging $ 30,000-40,000 for tuition over Zoom is a bad business model in a recession .
And the alphabet soups after the names of professors and deans will not make a bit of difference .
Thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially good advertisements for the building of lifelong character on woke university campuses .
Once undergraduate institutions decided to make students socially conscious rather than educated , and once their graduates seem to be neither , then who really finds their mentors essential ?
Our major cities , emerging from lockdown , and on the edge of nightly violence , remind us of what Procopius , the Byzantine historian , saw of Rome in AD 538 , once the cultural and political megalopolis of the world : a mostly deserted shell of weeds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choked fountains , and fortified villas where lawlessness reigned and feuding tribes were what was left of a government that once had enshrined habeas corpus .
No city gets a pass from history , not Athens , not Rome , not Alexandria – not Detroit , Baltimore , or Chicago .
After all , there is no rule that just because Bill Gates and Amazon headquartered in Seattle that its mayor , city council , and state governor will not abandon its signature downtown .
What once made Portland great can be undone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may run the world , but it certainly does not run the New York City government .
Electronic capital really does still have human legs and when the proverbial suited investor thinks he will be infected , short of toilet paper , or assaulted on the street , he leaves , taking his laptop with him .
Bill de Blasio is left to govern , like a horned and bearded Visigoth , over an increasing shell of former grandeur .
To venture into San Francisco is to return in a time machine to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chips , not gold dust , but one likewise lawless , fetid , and safe only for those with private security guards .
To the casual visitor , it appears a lunatic place now recalibrated for the homeless , the looter , the assaulter—and the very rich .
Crimes like public defecation and drug use , or shattering the windows of a parked car window to steal its contents are not crimes unless the targets are the well-connected .
The story of all Dark Ages is that when civilizations finally prefer suicide , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remnants flock to the countryside to preserve what they can – allowing the cities to go on with their ritual self-destruction .
So it has begun to seem this endless summer .
Victor Davis Hanson is an American military historian , columnist , former classics professor , and scholar of ancient warfare .
He was a professor of classics at California State University , Fresno , and is currently the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at Stanford University ’ s Hoover Institution .
He has been a visiting professor at Hillsdale College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Humanities Medal in 2007 by President George W. Bush .
Hanson is also a farmer ( growing raisin grapes on a family farm in Selma , California ) and a critic of social trends related to farming and agrarianism .
He is the author most recently of The Second World Wars : How the First Global Conflict was Fought and Won ( Basic Books ) .

by Victor Davis Hanson
In February, New York was the world’s most dynamic metropolis. By August, the city was more like the ruins of Ephesus. It is not all that hard to blow up a culture. You can do it in a summer if you haven’t much worry about others.
When you loot and burn a Target in an hour, it takes months to realize there are no more neighborhood Target-stocked groceries, toilet paper, and Advil to buy this winter.
You can in a night assault the police, spit at them, hope to infect them with the coronavirus, and even burn them alive. But when you call 911 in a few weeks after your car is vandalized, your wallet is stolen, and your spouse is violent, and no one comes, only then do you sense that you earlier were voting for a pre-civilized wilderness.
You can burn down a Burger King in half an hour. But it will take years to find anyone at Burger King, Inc., who would ever be dumb enough to rebuild atop the charred ruins – to prepare for the next round of arson in 2021 or 2023.
Today’s looter carrying off sneakers and smartphones in 10 years will be tomorrow’s urban activist, understandably but in vain demanding stores return to a charred no man’s land, to do their fair share, and to help restore the downtown, neighborhood, inner-city, or the “community.”
Old Liberal Ideas Are Being Destroyed
We are living in the most racially polarized climate since the 1960s. America’s past, present, and future are in the process of being recalibrated entirely through the lens of one’s skin color. Columbus is reduced to nothing more than another racist white Italian sailor of a half-millennium past. Grant might as well have fought for slavery in the mind of today’s campus ignoramus. Apparently, the Antifa thug thinks he could just as easily have written the Gettysburg Address or sculpted a statue of Frederick Douglass.
The old liberal ideas of assimilation, integration, and intermarriage are being destroyed by the Left under the specious doctrines of cultural appropriation, or “acting white” or “how we look is who we are.”
A new fuzzy Jim Crow returns with racially segregated campus safe spaces and theme houses or the race-based reeducation and training sessions in the workplace – all predicated to stop racism! Somehow selecting strangers on the basis of their race to bully in a restaurant, or targeting old anonymous men and women to beat up in the street by their race, or singling out suburbanites by their race for racial taunts and profanity is redefined as reparatory justice or overdue payback – on the assumption that no one would dare say that the arson, looting, and rhetoric are descending into ever more hate-filled nihilism.
Our collective future of nationalized tribalism will become what always results when citizens identify by superficial appearance or shared religion. Just go to Lebanon, the Balkans, or Iraq to see what is in store first hand.
Tribalism Rising
To survive, all groups will self-identify, at first quietly, but eventually unapologetically. Some will form alliances of self-preservation, others will war with each other. Tribal gangs, as they already do now in our streets of fire and looting, will assume they are exempt from consequences; and so will their antitheses of vigilantes who band together to guard their stores in the absence of a defunded police.
Liberal elite whites themselves are now uneasy, since the abstract doctrines they so nihilistically advocated, from defunding the police to recalibrating looting as “redistribution,” are now becoming reified and closer to home. They see that when BLM protestors jam a restaurant to demand fealty or lecture on “white privilege” or march into a suburb to wake up the commuter to apprise him of his immorality, the racialists will not qualify their agendas with “except for woke whites.”
When tribalism is distilled to its innate and terrifying essence, there are never exemptions for individuals: you are reduced to what you appear superficially as to strangers. The white felon is no different than the white Harvard president, the black shoplifter is the same as the black physicist. We are all condensed to a sort of collective nothingness, or rather a racial “allness.”
The Self-Immolation of Pro Sports
Professional sports, once an integral part of American life, appears to be nearly in ruins. Professional baseball, basketball, and football might have survived the virus, the lockdown, and the recession – and then maybe they might not have. After all, millions of the bored more quickly than expected got acculturated to the idea of soon not listening to a boring rant from LeBron James or the sad confessionals of Drew Brees.
But what the NBA and NFL, and perhaps MLB won’t survive is cultural suicide as players fragment into causes. The NBA existed on the premise that billionaires were willing to pay multimillionaires to lose billions as a prestige lark – as a franchise became a sort of a huge, showy Louis Vuitton bag. But even billionaires have limits. Snobbery and appearing cool do not always trump losing the equivalent of a Ferrari every hour or a Gulfstream each week.
The NBA, we are told, is a woke industry.
But it’s also the strangest, most nondiverse, right-wing, money-obsessed woke institution in America. More than three-quarters of the multimillionaire players are African-American. Over 90 percent of the billionaire team owners are white.
Yet the entire industry – players, coaches, owners, staff – lecture Americans ad nauseam about their supposed sins. The monotonous sermons have become transparent medieval redemptions – given the mortal sin that the NBA sold its very soul to a racist, genocidal, and totalitarian China – to recover billions abroad for the billions lost in viewership and attendance at home.
Nondiverse multimillionaires, working for even less diverse billionaires, finger-pointing at middle-class Americans on the evils of privilege, in the pay of the Chinese Communist Party, is not a way to win back fans.
Institutional Crack-Ups
Universities are in for hard times. The federal government eventually will get out of the $1.5 trillion student loan subsidy business, and force spendthrift colleges to accept their own self-created moral hazards. Charging $30,000-40,000 for tuition over Zoom is a bad business model in a recession. And the alphabet soups after the names of professors and deans will not make a bit of difference.
Thousands of college-educated protesters and rioters are not especially good advertisements for the building of lifelong character on woke university campuses. Once undergraduate institutions decided to make students socially conscious rather than educated, and once their graduates seem to be neither, then who really finds their mentors essential?
Our major cities, emerging from lockdown, and on the edge of nightly violence, remind us of what Procopius, the Byzantine historian, saw of Rome in AD 538, once the cultural and political megalopolis of the world: a mostly deserted shell of weeds, deserted streets, collapsed stone, choked fountains, and fortified villas where lawlessness reigned and feuding tribes were what was left of a government that once had enshrined habeas corpus.
No city gets a pass from history, not Athens, not Rome, not Alexandria – not Detroit, Baltimore, or Chicago.
After all, there is no rule that just because Bill Gates and Amazon headquartered in Seattle that its mayor, city council, and state governor will not abandon its signature downtown. What once made Portland great can be undone in a few weeks.
Wall Street may run the world, but it certainly does not run the New York City government. Electronic capital really does still have human legs and when the proverbial suited investor thinks he will be infected, short of toilet paper, or assaulted on the street, he leaves, taking his laptop with him. Bill de Blasio is left to govern, like a horned and bearded Visigoth, over an increasing shell of former grandeur.
To venture into San Francisco is to return in a time machine to 1855, a boomtown based on silicon chips, not gold dust, but one likewise lawless, fetid, and safe only for those with private security guards. To the casual visitor, it appears a lunatic place now recalibrated for the homeless, the looter, the assaulter—and the very rich. Crimes like public defecation and drug use, or shattering the windows of a parked car window to steal its contents are not crimes unless the targets are the well-connected.
The story of all Dark Ages is that when civilizations finally prefer suicide, they do it easily, and the remnants flock to the countryside to preserve what they can – allowing the cities to go on with their ritual self-destruction.
So it has begun to seem this endless summer.
– – –
Victor Davis Hanson is an American military historian, columnist, former classics professor, and scholar of ancient warfare. He was a professor of classics at California State University, Fresno, and is currently the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. He has been a visiting professor at Hillsdale College since 2004. Hanson was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2007 by President George W. Bush. Hanson is also a farmer (growing raisin grapes on a family farm in Selma, California) and a critic of social trends related to farming and agrarianism. He is the author most recently of The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict was Fought and Won (Basic Books).


thetennesseestar--2020-09-01--Loudoun County Decides to Turn Libraries Into Child Care Centers Without Consulting Library Staff

Loudoun County is closing two libraries to create space for child care centers for county employees .
The move is a response to child care needs caused by the 100 percent virtual learning model embraced by the Loudoun County Public Schools ( LCPS ) .
On Monday , the Ashburn and Rust Libraries began curbside pickup only operations .
“ This proposal was developed without knowledge or input by [ the library Board of Trustees ] or library administration , ” read meeting notes from the August 28 Loudoun County Public Library ( LCPL ) Board of Trustees meeting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ LCBS ) made the decision in a straw poll , but the board is expected to formally vote on the issue in a closed meeting on Tuesday , September 1 .
The child care centers are scheduled to open Monday , September 7 .
No end date to the program is specified , but the LCPL meeting notes state that the facilities will remain as child care centers even after the LCPS transitions to a hybrid learning model .
“ Because of [ the LCPS ’ ] decision to start the 2020-2021 school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the County and LCPS have been assessing the need for child care among county employees and LCPS employees , ” Loudoun County Public Affairs and Communications Officer Glenn Barbour told The Virginia Star in an email .
“ We determined that our employees have a need since students will be home.
” The library ’ s meeting notes state , “ Closing two of the busiest libraries in the county would have major impacts on thousands of citizens ’ access to library services , especially access to computers , in-person staff assistance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collections.
” “ [ LCPL ] Director [ Chang ] Liu and her team have determined that it will be possible to provide curbside service at both libraries , so library staff will still be working full-time within the libraries , ” LCPL Board of Trustees Chair Denis Cotter said in an email to The Virginia Star .
Library staff will not be filling child care roles .
The LCPL has 10 branches , but the Ashburn and Rust Libraries handle 37 percent of items checked in and out of the system , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that the two libraries will provide space for 56 children , out of the 1,000 seats the county needed .
Barbour said the primary intention of the program was to support county and LCPS staff , and registration opens this week .
The county has been considering how to add child care for employees for several weeks .
“ The County assessed many locations throughout the county for this program including schools , community centers , and libraries .
To increase capacity , the Board decided that the use of two of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition to the two library sites , five community centers , 11 elementary schools , and up to three leased facilities will also be used for this program , so services will be provided at multiple locations throughout the community , ” Barbour said .
After the registration for county and LCPS staff is complete , the county expects to have some additional space in the program .
Barbour said , “ We anticipate the program will be advertised to other parents in the community in the coming days .
As I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Director of the Loudoun County Health Department David Goodfriend told The VirginiaStar that the COVID-19 health concerns for children and staff in libraries is the same as in schools or other locations .
“ A key area of concern for large school systems is how they can best assure effective symptom screening , and maintaining six foot distancing and mask wearing at each of their schools , ” Goodfriend said .
He noted that the county has been operating some child care facilities for several months .
“ Definitely we work with them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or concerns with being able to meet those criteria , ” he said .
“ [ At ] the childcare facilities they have had , so far , there have been no concerns , ” Goodfriend said .
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo by Loudoun County Public Library .

Loudoun County is closing two libraries to create space for child care centers for county employees. The move is a response to child care needs caused by the 100 percent virtual learning model embraced by the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). On Monday, the Ashburn and Rust Libraries began curbside pickup only operations.
“This proposal was developed without knowledge or input by [the library Board of Trustees] or library administration,” read meeting notes from the August 28 Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL) Board of Trustees meeting. The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (LCBS) made the decision in a straw poll, but the board is expected to formally vote on the issue in a closed meeting on Tuesday, September 1. The child care centers are scheduled to open Monday, September 7.
No end date to the program is specified, but the LCPL meeting notes state that the facilities will remain as child care centers even after the LCPS transitions to a hybrid learning model.
“Because of [the LCPS’] decision to start the 2020-2021 school year as 100 percent distance learning, the County and LCPS have been assessing the need for child care among county employees and LCPS employees,” Loudoun County Public Affairs and Communications Officer Glenn Barbour told The Virginia Star in an email. “We determined that our employees have a need since students will be home.”
The library’s meeting notes state, “Closing two of the busiest libraries in the county would have major impacts on thousands of citizens’ access to library services, especially access to computers, in-person staff assistance, study space, and browsing of library collections.”
“[LCPL] Director [Chang] Liu and her team have determined that it will be possible to provide curbside service at both libraries, so library staff will still be working full-time within the libraries,” LCPL Board of Trustees Chair Denis Cotter said in an email to The Virginia Star. Library staff will not be filling child care roles.
The LCPL has 10 branches, but the Ashburn and Rust Libraries handle 37 percent of items checked in and out of the system, according to reporting by WTOP. WTOP reported that the two libraries will provide space for 56 children, out of the 1,000 seats the county needed.
Barbour said the primary intention of the program was to support county and LCPS staff, and registration opens this week. The county has been considering how to add child care for employees for several weeks. “The County assessed many locations throughout the county for this program including schools, community centers, and libraries. To increase capacity, the Board decided that the use of two of the nine library branches was necessary. In addition to the two library sites, five community centers, 11 elementary schools, and up to three leased facilities will also be used for this program, so services will be provided at multiple locations throughout the community, ” Barbour said.
After the registration for county and LCPS staff is complete, the county expects to have some additional space in the program. Barbour said, “We anticipate the program will be advertised to other parents in the community in the coming days. As I mentioned, space allowed is limited.”
Director of the Loudoun County Health Department David Goodfriend told The VirginiaStar that the COVID-19 health concerns for children and staff in libraries is the same as in schools or other locations. “A key area of concern for large school systems is how they can best assure effective symptom screening, and maintaining six foot distancing and mask wearing at each of their schools,” Goodfriend said. He noted that the county has been operating some child care facilities for several months. “Definitely we work with them to see if they have any questions or concerns with being able to meet those criteria,” he said.
“[At] the childcare facilities they have had, so far, there have been no concerns,” Goodfriend said.
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo by Loudoun County Public Library.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-01--Virginia House Delegate Member Marcus Simon Weighs in on Amendment One and What it Really Means

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Virginia House of Delegates member Marcus Simon to the show .
During the interview , Simon gave his thoughts on Amendment One which proposes re-districting in Virginia .
He added that it was probably something you would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an untested , unproven concept and experiment that would become ‘ baked ’ into the constitution and difficult to remove .
Fredericks : Northern Virginia Marcus Simon .
Delegate Simon , it ’ s been a long time .
Great to have you back , man .
Simon : Hey John , it ’ s great to be with you .
Fredericks : I know , right ?
Let ’ s get to this Amendment One .
We haven ’ t really paid attention to it since it finally passed the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now it goes on the ballot .
But Amendment One is this is a new way to re-district Virginia or sets the district lines .
One Virginia .
The object is there is about eight people they put together .
Some are politicians and some are regular people .
And they draw the lines rather then they say the politicians or legislators themselves .
And it did pass the Senate and the House two times straight .
Which makes it an amendment .
It ’ s Amendment One on the ballot in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the show the other day .
He blasted it .
He said it was misworded .
He said it was misleading .
Now there ’ s an opposition group saying that this really isn ’ t a good idea .
And I wanted to get your thoughts on it , Marcus Simon .
What is the matter with changing the way we draw the district lines in Virginia that get the politicians out of it ?
Simon : Well I would be all in favor of changing the way we do re-districting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unfortunately , that ’ s not what Amendment One does .
In fact , what Amendment One does is it really solidifies the role of politicians .
You talked about your eight members .
There are 16 members on the commission .
Eight of them are legislators .
You got two Republican senators .
Two Republican delegates .
Two Democratic Senators and two Democratic delegates .
And two Democratic Senators .
So it ’ s going to be your most entrenched and most established members that have been around the legislature for awhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And then we get eight citizens right ?
And there has been a lot of talks that it will be the first time with citizens have a seat at the table .
What they don ’ t talk about is how they pick these citizens .
The eight citizen members these regular folks are actually picked from a list provided by , you guessed it , the same people that pick the citizens are the people who are the legislators .
The leaders of the Republican house of delegates .
And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a list of acceptable members of the commission which are then picked by a panel of judges ?
The judges that serve on that panel are also picked by the legislators , right ?
If you can get politicians out of this and if you can have a system where you have citizens and professionals , academics , good-government types , and objective people drawing districts that were fair and made sense and reflected Virginia I ’ d be all for it .
In fact , I proposed doing just that at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what Amendment One does .
And that ’ s why we are opposed to it .
And like you said in the into here , we haven ’ t talked a lot about it since it passed .
So that ’ s apart of the goal here and the goal here and the mission .
We are establishing a group Fair Districts Virginia is to get the word out to folks that this isn ’ t really what it has been advertised to be .
If you really believe in redistricting reform and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the better , you should vote no for Amendment One .
Fredericks : A lot of republicans are in favor of this obviously because they don ’ t like the district changes that were made by I guess the in academician in California .
A lot of people thought that those were made specifically to get rid of Chris Jones who had a powerful position .
He controlled the money .
Tried to get rid of Kirk Goetz who was the Speaker at the time .
A lot of Republicans thought that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so they were looking for an alternative .
And the Republicans seem to be behind this .
But you also have a lot of Democrats behind it .
Remember , this thing passed both the House and the Senate with Democratic votes two times straight .
Why was it good then but it ’ s bad now ?
Simon : That ’ s a great question .
Just to be clear about who is supporting this .
The exact same people that brought you the gerrymandering 2011 maps of their supporters of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House .
And it ’ s Republican in the Senate .
It ’ s Jack Sockwell and George Barker who are good friends .
I love working with them on a number of important issues who also cut a deal with Bill Howell in 2011 to have everybody to ignore the judiciary commission that Bob McDonnell established and just go back to drawing districts the way they always had and cut House Democrats out of the process .
So that ’ s how we got our districts in 2011 .
That is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing this amendment .
It ’ s the serial jury members of the General Assembly .
And there is a reason they are doing that .
They like to have politicians drawing the maps .
Now the Republicans that are suspicious and academics and special masters and so forth should be very wary of Amendment One .
If you didn ’ t like the results of our most recent re-districting in 2019 that was done by a special master , you really don ’ t like amendment one .
Because what happens with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislative members essentially can veto the commissions ’ maps and send it to the Supreme Court to draw maps instead .
Of course , the Supreme Court and justices won ’ t sit there and draw the maps , they ’ ll do what the court did last time which is to go find a special master or an act of omission from a liberal elite university somewhere to come out and draw the district .
And that ’ s how we are going to have districts done most likely .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for worse that this thing is built to fail .
It requires a supermajority and requires the cooperation of all the parties that people just don ’ t think are realistic .
I think most people think we ’ re going to end up having the Supreme Court draw districts under this Amendment .
It won ’ t be the legislature I guess which is good .
If you didn ’ t like the outcome of the most recent map we ’ ve drawn then you probably won ’ t want to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One is a districting reform that would be baked in the cake in Virginia and part of the constitution for how you come up with how the various state House Delegates and State Senate districts are .
So Marcus , let me ask you this .
I saw one poll recently that somebody showed me .
And I was a little shocked .
Republicans were backing this by 55 percent .
Our thought would have been 90 percent because of what happened to them .
But it was only 55 percent .
Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great question .
Frankly , I think Republicans tend to be a little more skeptical of the so-called reform movements .
I think Democrats to your point we ’ ve have a little more difficulty with our own grassroots because as far as the re-districting of reform it sounds pretty good to people .
We are progressives that want change for the sake of change some times but they don ’ t look at the details .
I suspect that Conservatives as the name suggests are probably a little more skeptical of reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without understanding and knowing what the details are .
So hopefully as we get closer to the election season starting in the middle of September really people will take a little more critical view of this .
And I think also it ’ s important if you have doubts about something and if you ’ re not sure what it does , the idea of baking it into the constitution as you described it , and putting it in there , the constitution is very difficult to change .
And once stuff gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get it out .
To take this untested and unproven concept and experiment how we draw districts and putting it in the constitution .
I think probably a lot of people are skeptical about it .
Listen to the full show here :

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond, WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia, WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 (7-9 PM) Hampton Roads, WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Virginia House of Delegates member Marcus Simon to the show.
During the interview, Simon gave his thoughts on Amendment One which proposes re-districting in Virginia. He added that it was probably something you would not want to vote for because it was an untested, unproven concept and experiment that would become ‘baked’ into the constitution and difficult to remove.
Fredericks: Northern Virginia Marcus Simon. Delegate Simon, it’s been a long time. Great to have you back, man.
Simon: Hey John, it’s great to be with you.
Fredericks: I know, right? Let’s get to this Amendment One. We haven’t really paid attention to it since it finally passed the House and the Senate in the last session. Now it goes on the ballot. But Amendment One is this is a new way to re-district Virginia or sets the district lines. One Virginia. The object is there is about eight people they put together.
Some are politicians and some are regular people. And they draw the lines rather then they say the politicians or legislators themselves. And it did pass the Senate and the House two times straight. Which makes it an amendment. It’s Amendment One on the ballot in Virginia. We had Paul Goldman on the show the other day. He blasted it. He said it was misworded.
He said it was misleading. Now there’s an opposition group saying that this really isn’t a good idea. And I wanted to get your thoughts on it, Marcus Simon. What is the matter with changing the way we draw the district lines in Virginia that get the politicians out of it?
Simon: Well I would be all in favor of changing the way we do re-districting to get the politicians out of it. Unfortunately, that’s not what Amendment One does. In fact, what Amendment One does is it really solidifies the role of politicians. You talked about your eight members.
There are 16 members on the commission. Eight of them are legislators. You got two Republican senators. Two Republican delegates. Two Democratic Senators and two Democratic delegates. And two Democratic Senators. So it’s going to be your most entrenched and most established members that have been around the legislature for awhile.
These are your eight legislative members. And then we get eight citizens right? And there has been a lot of talks that it will be the first time with citizens have a seat at the table. What they don’t talk about is how they pick these citizens. The eight citizen members these regular folks are actually picked from a list provided by, you guessed it, the same people that pick the citizens are the people who are the legislators.
The leaders of the Republican house of delegates. And the two senators and from each party gives a list of acceptable members of the commission which are then picked by a panel of judges? The judges that serve on that panel are also picked by the legislators, right?
If you can get politicians out of this and if you can have a system where you have citizens and professionals, academics, good-government types, and objective people drawing districts that were fair and made sense and reflected Virginia I’d be all for it. In fact, I proposed doing just that at the last session.
But that is not what Amendment One does. And that’s why we are opposed to it. And like you said in the into here, we haven’t talked a lot about it since it passed. So that’s apart of the goal here and the goal here and the mission. We are establishing a group Fair Districts Virginia is to get the word out to folks that this isn’t really what it has been advertised to be. If you really believe in redistricting reform and changing the way we do districts for the better, you should vote no for Amendment One.
Fredericks: A lot of republicans are in favor of this obviously because they don’t like the district changes that were made by I guess the in academician in California. A lot of people thought that those were made specifically to get rid of Chris Jones who had a powerful position. He controlled the money. Tried to get rid of Kirk Goetz who was the Speaker at the time.
A lot of Republicans thought that was kind of a sham for political reasons so they were looking for an alternative. And the Republicans seem to be behind this. But you also have a lot of Democrats behind it. Remember, this thing passed both the House and the Senate with Democratic votes two times straight. Why was it good then but it’s bad now?
Simon: That’s a great question. Just to be clear about who is supporting this. The exact same people that brought you the gerrymandering 2011 maps of their supporters of this amendment. It’s Republicans in the House. And it’s Republican in the Senate. It’s Jack Sockwell and George Barker who are good friends.
I love working with them on a number of important issues who also cut a deal with Bill Howell in 2011 to have everybody to ignore the judiciary commission that Bob McDonnell established and just go back to drawing districts the way they always had and cut House Democrats out of the process.
So that’s how we got our districts in 2011. That is the bi-partisan group of folks that are pushing this amendment. It’s the serial jury members of the General Assembly. And there is a reason they are doing that. They like to have politicians drawing the maps. Now the Republicans that are suspicious and academics and special masters and so forth should be very wary of Amendment One. If you didn’t like the results of our most recent re-districting in 2019 that was done by a special master, you really don’t like amendment one.
Because what happens with this amendment is that any two of the legislative members essentially can veto the commissions’ maps and send it to the Supreme Court to draw maps instead. Of course, the Supreme Court and justices won’t sit there and draw the maps, they’ll do what the court did last time which is to go find a special master or an act of omission from a liberal elite university somewhere to come out and draw the district.
And that’s how we are going to have districts done most likely. I think most people think for better or for worse that this thing is built to fail. It requires a supermajority and requires the cooperation of all the parties that people just don’t think are realistic.
I think most people think we’re going to end up having the Supreme Court draw districts under this Amendment. It won’t be the legislature I guess which is good. If you didn’t like the outcome of the most recent map we’ve drawn then you probably won’t want to vote for Amendment One.
Fredericks: Amendment One is a districting reform that would be baked in the cake in Virginia and part of the constitution for how you come up with how the various state House Delegates and State Senate districts are. So Marcus, let me ask you this.
I saw one poll recently that somebody showed me. And I was a little shocked. Republicans were backing this by 55 percent. Our thought would have been 90 percent because of what happened to them. But it was only 55 percent. Why?
Simon: That’s a great question. Frankly, I think Republicans tend to be a little more skeptical of the so-called reform movements. I think Democrats to your point we’ve have a little more difficulty with our own grassroots because as far as the re-districting of reform it sounds pretty good to people.
We are progressives that want change for the sake of change some times but they don’t look at the details. I suspect that Conservatives as the name suggests are probably a little more skeptical of reform and change for the sake of change without understanding and knowing what the details are. So hopefully as we get closer to the election season starting in the middle of September really people will take a little more critical view of this.
And I think also it’s important if you have doubts about something and if you’re not sure what it does, the idea of baking it into the constitution as you described it, and putting it in there, the constitution is very difficult to change. And once stuff gets in there it’s hard to get it out. To take this untested and unproven concept and experiment how we draw districts and putting it in the constitution. I think probably a lot of people are skeptical about it.
Listen to the full show here:


thetennesseestar--2020-09-01--The Art and History of the Lee Monument

The Art and History of the Lee Monument

RICHMOND , Virginia – Standing 21 feet tall atop a 40 foot base and weighing 12 tons , the statue of Robert E. Lee and his horse is literally larger than life as the General presides over Richmond .
French Beaux-Arts sculptor Marius Jean Antonin Mercié cast the bronze statue in nine pieces – seven for the horse , and two for the rider , according to the monument ’ s National Register of Historic Places ( NRHP ) registration form .
The base , a granite pedestal , was designed by Paul Pujol , a French architect .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of grass in the middle of a traffic circle at Monument Avenue and Allen Avenue .
“ Mercié ’ s equestrian statue memorializes Lee ’ s accomplishments as a military hero of national stature as well as regional significance .
Placement of the statue was intended to perpetuate the memory of Lee ’ s character as a man of heroic action as well as to herald the emergence of a New South from the adversity of defeat and Reconstruction , ” the registration form states .
The idea to build a monument to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1870 , but two rival organizations fought over the project , the form states .
The state took over the project and merged the rival organizations , and in 1887 the new Lee Monument Commission selected a site , given to the state by businessman Otway S. Allen .
Mercié presented several designs to the commission , making changes as needed .
“ The new design reflected his patron ’ s civic and political aims to erect a statue that complemented the monument to George Washington on Capitol Square .
On the order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lee Commission , Mercié agreed to increase the overall height of the statue so that it would be taller than Richmond ’ s Washington monument , ” the NRHP registration form continues .
The sculpture cost $ 17,000 and the pedestal cost about $ 11,000 , for a total of $ 29,000 – over $ 800,000 today .
The Lee Monument Commission was responsible for fundraising efforts .
In 1917 , journalist Lida Rose McCabe recalled that Mercié had already gained fame and wealth after such works as “ The Genius of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the façade of the Louvre , and a famous statue of David .
McCabe wrote that Mercié was also respected in the United States for his statue of the Marquis de Lafayette in Washington D.C. ’ s Lafayette Square .
McCabe describes the sculptor ’ s studio in France and the objects Mercié used to make the statue : “ A life-size plaster model of the statue held center stage in Mercié ’ s beautiful studio .
On the wall hung the saddle , boots , and spurs worn by the Duke de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which he fought on the Union side.
” McCabe wrote .
“ From a chest [ Mercié ] brought forth the General ’ s battle-stained uniform … .
His hat , redolent of powder and time , which had also served as a model , was … atop its plaster counterpart.
” On March 4 , 1890 , The Richmond Dispatch reported that the city Finance Committee approached the city ’ s Common Council and Board of Aldermen asking for $ 7,500 for the unveiling .
“ John Mitchell , Jr. , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a speech , which he began by saying that he was a great admirer of General Lee and ended by asking that those who wore the “ clanging chains ” should be allowed to keep silent and not vote , ” The Richmond Dispatch wrote .
The monument was unveiled on May 29 , 1890 , in front of a crowd that had up to 150,000 participants .
The NRHP registration form says , “ The event unveiled an icon of the cult of the Lost Cause for white Southerners and symbolized the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adversity of defeat and Reconstruction.
” Mitchell was also editor of The Richmond Planet .
On May 31 , 1890 , he wrote in the paper , “ But what does this display of Confederate emblems mean ?
… .
This glorification of States Rights Doctrine — the right of secession , and the honoring of men who represented that cause , fosters in this Republic , the sport of Rebellion and will ultimately result in handing down to generations unborn a legacy of treason and blood.
” In 1890 , the statue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standing in a field .
Richmond grew up around it .
Other monuments were added to the new Monument Avenue , four of them in all , honoring other men of the Confederacy .
In 1996 , a statue of famous Richmond athlete Arthur Ashe was added to the group .
Trees and a grassy median run down the center of the avenue , and houses line the edge .
As Richmond grew , so did the South .
“ Civil War monuments , especially Confederate monuments , are a refraction of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking more to the time period in which they were put up than to the actual war , ” University of Cincinnati historian Christopher Phillips wrote in an email to The Virginia Star .
After George Floyd was killed , protests erupted across the country , and quickly found their way to the Lee Monument .
Protesters have covered the monument with messages against systemic racism and violence .
On Sunday afternoon , Richmond Action Alliance community organizer Crystal Suber was helping at a voter registration booth at the Lee monument .
Suber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s message .
“ I still remember the first time I came down here as a child and looking up and thinking of them as heroes , ” Suber told The Virginia Star .
“ Seeing the monuments , they ’ re big , … they really are beautiful pieces of art , but they were erected with a certain purpose and to stand tall above everyone else and that ’ s not reflective of all people.
” Suber added , “ I am a person of color , so it means something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very bothered by the way history was taught to me then … .
I had to find out for myself and just sort of become more aware of how things really are.
” In a June 1 , 2020 press release , the Sons of Confederate Veterans wrote on Facebook , “ The recent outbreak of violence against not only War Between the States monuments and many other American monuments and sites is a display of crude anti-American criminality….We also condemn those who would use the heartbreaking death of Mr. Floyd to further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still stands , once again without its Confederate compatriots , protected by a lawsuit preventing the state from removing it .
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photos by Eric Burk .

RICHMOND, Virginia – Standing 21 feet tall atop a 40 foot base and weighing 12 tons, the statue of Robert E. Lee and his horse is literally larger than life as the General presides over Richmond.
French Beaux-Arts sculptor Marius Jean Antonin Mercié cast the bronze statue in nine pieces – seven for the horse, and two for the rider, according to the monument’s National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) registration form. The base, a granite pedestal, was designed by Paul Pujol, a French architect. The monument sits in a 200 foot circle of grass in the middle of a traffic circle at Monument Avenue and Allen Avenue.
“Mercié’s equestrian statue memorializes Lee’s accomplishments as a military hero of national stature as well as regional significance. Placement of the statue was intended to perpetuate the memory of Lee’s character as a man of heroic action as well as to herald the emergence of a New South from the adversity of defeat and Reconstruction,” the registration form states.
The idea to build a monument to Lee arose shortly after his death in 1870, but two rival organizations fought over the project, the form states. The state took over the project and merged the rival organizations, and in 1887 the new Lee Monument Commission selected a site, given to the state by businessman Otway S. Allen. Mercié presented several designs to the commission, making changes as needed.
“The new design reflected his patron’s civic and political aims to erect a statue that complemented the monument to George Washington on Capitol Square. On the order of Archer Anderson acting on behalf of the Lee Commission, Mercié agreed to increase the overall height of the statue so that it would be taller than Richmond’s Washington monument,” the NRHP registration form continues.
The sculpture cost $17,000 and the pedestal cost about $11,000, for a total of $29,000 – over $800,000 today. The Lee Monument Commission was responsible for fundraising efforts. In 1917, journalist Lida Rose McCabe recalled that Mercié had already gained fame and wealth after such works as “The Genius of the Arts”, a relief on the façade of the Louvre, and a famous statue of David. McCabe wrote that Mercié was also respected in the United States for his statue of the Marquis de Lafayette in Washington D.C.’s Lafayette Square.
McCabe describes the sculptor’s studio in France and the objects Mercié used to make the statue: “A life-size plaster model of the statue held center stage in Mercié’s beautiful studio. On the wall hung the saddle, boots, and spurs worn by the Duke de Chartres in our Civil War, in which he fought on the Union side.” McCabe wrote. “From a chest [Mercié] brought forth the General’s battle-stained uniform …. His hat, redolent of powder and time, which had also served as a model, was … atop its plaster counterpart.”
On March 4, 1890, The Richmond Dispatch reported that the city Finance Committee approached the city’s Common Council and Board of Aldermen asking for $7,500 for the unveiling.
“John Mitchell, Jr. , a colored member from Jackson Ward, made a speech, which he began by saying that he was a great admirer of General Lee and ended by asking that those who wore the “clanging chains” should be allowed to keep silent and not vote,” The Richmond Dispatch wrote.
The monument was unveiled on May 29, 1890, in front of a crowd that had up to 150,000 participants. The NRHP registration form says, “The event unveiled an icon of the cult of the Lost Cause for white Southerners and symbolized the emergence of a New South from the adversity of defeat and Reconstruction.”
Mitchell was also editor of The Richmond Planet. On May 31, 1890, he wrote in the paper, “But what does this display of Confederate emblems mean? …. This glorification of States Rights Doctrine — the right of secession, and the honoring of men who represented that cause, fosters in this Republic, the sport of Rebellion and will ultimately result in handing down to generations unborn a legacy of treason and blood.”
In 1890, the statue stood alone – contemporary photographs show it standing in a field. Richmond grew up around it. Other monuments were added to the new Monument Avenue, four of them in all, honoring other men of the Confederacy. In 1996, a statue of famous Richmond athlete Arthur Ashe was added to the group. Trees and a grassy median run down the center of the avenue, and houses line the edge.
As Richmond grew, so did the South.
“Civil War monuments, especially Confederate monuments, are a refraction of the war’s realities and outcomes, speaking more to the time period in which they were put up than to the actual war,” University of Cincinnati historian Christopher Phillips wrote in an email to The Virginia Star.
After George Floyd was killed, protests erupted across the country, and quickly found their way to the Lee Monument. Protesters have covered the monument with messages against systemic racism and violence.
On Sunday afternoon, Richmond Action Alliance community organizer Crystal Suber was helping at a voter registration booth at the Lee monument. Suber knows the power of the monument’s message. “I still remember the first time I came down here as a child and looking up and thinking of them as heroes,” Suber told The Virginia Star.
“Seeing the monuments, they’re big, … they really are beautiful pieces of art, but they were erected with a certain purpose and to stand tall above everyone else and that’s not reflective of all people.”
Suber added, “I am a person of color, so it means something very different to me. I was very bothered by the way history was taught to me then …. I had to find out for myself and just sort of become more aware of how things really are.”
In a June 1, 2020 press release, the Sons of Confederate Veterans wrote on Facebook, “The recent outbreak of violence against not only War Between the States monuments and many other American monuments and sites is a display of crude anti-American criminality….We also condemn those who would use the heartbreaking death of Mr. Floyd to further their anti-American agenda.”
Today the monument still stands, once again without its Confederate compatriots, protected by a lawsuit preventing the state from removing it.
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photos by Eric Burk.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-02--Russian Troll Farm Behind 2016 Ruse Hires Left-Wing American Writers, Creates Fake News Site to Targ

Russian Troll Farm Behind 2016 Ruse Hires Left-Wing American Writers, Creates Fake News Site to Target Voters: Report

The Russian group responsible for trolling voters in 2016 is using a phony news website and recruiting American left-wing writers to create content designed to inflame the electorate before the presidential election , according to a report published Tuesday .
Facebook removed a network of accounts and pages Tuesday tied to the Russian Internet Research Agency or people affiliated with the group , the social media platform noted .
The group also recruited a slew of left-wing journalists and activists to produce content about U.S. foreign policy , President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden , media reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better at hiding who they are , but their impact has gotten smaller and smaller , ” Nathaniel Gleicher , Facebook ’ s head of security policy , told The Washington Post Tuesday , referring to the IRA ’ s foreign operations .
IRA created a website called Peace Data , which purports to be a leftwing news outlet that features content focused on American politics , according to Graphika , a social media analytics company Facebook uses to flesh out Russia ’ s influence operation .
A small number of Peace Data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , CNN reported Tuesday .
“ The Russians are trying harder to hide ; they are increasingly putting up more and more layers of obfuscation , ” Ben Nimmo , director of investigations at Graphika , told CNN .
“ But they are still getting caught.
” Nimmo ’ s group released a report Tuesday on the fake news website .
Peace Data ’ s content also painted Biden and his running mate , Democratic California Sen. Kamala Harris , as immoral and puppets for political conservatives , the Post noted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The English-language content on Biden and Harris was noteworthy for its hostile tone , ” Graphika reported .
“ One article by a guest writer accused the pair of ‘ submission to right-wing populism [ … ] as much about preserving careers as it is winning votes.
” “ The operation seemed designed to divide Democratic supporters and to depress support for Biden and Harris , ” Camille François , chief innovation officer for Graphika , told the Post .
Peace Data created fake personas in an attempt to appear legitimate , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for some of the fake personas were created using deepfake technology , the group noted .
The fake personas then recruited American writers and activists online , according to Peace Data ’ s website , which is still active .
The Department of Justice asked a judge in March to dismiss charges levelled against Concord Consulting and Concord Catering , both of which fund the IRA .
The Justice Department asked a federal judge on Monday to dismiss charges against two Russian firms indicted in the special counsel ’ s probe on charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process .
DOJ prosecutors at the time said that neither firm has any intention of appearing for trial for sowing discord during the 2016 election .
Chris White is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Chris White
The Russian group responsible for trolling voters in 2016 is using a phony news website and recruiting American left-wing writers to create content designed to inflame the electorate before the presidential election, according to a report published Tuesday.
Facebook removed a network of accounts and pages Tuesday tied to the Russian Internet Research Agency or people affiliated with the group, the social media platform noted. The group also recruited a slew of left-wing journalists and activists to produce content about U.S. foreign policy, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, media reports show.
“They’ve gotten better at hiding who they are, but their impact has gotten smaller and smaller,” Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook’s head of security policy, told The Washington Post Tuesday, referring to the IRA’s foreign operations.
IRA created a website called Peace Data, which purports to be a leftwing news outlet that features content focused on American politics, according to Graphika, a social media analytics company Facebook uses to flesh out Russia’s influence operation. A small number of Peace Data’s articles reference the 2020 presidential election, CNN reported Tuesday.
“The Russians are trying harder to hide; they are increasingly putting up more and more layers of obfuscation,” Ben Nimmo, director of investigations at Graphika, told CNN. “But they are still getting caught.” Nimmo’s group released a report Tuesday on the fake news website.
Peace Data’s content also painted Biden and his running mate, Democratic California Sen. Kamala Harris, as immoral and puppets for political conservatives, the Post noted, citing Graphika’s report.
“The English-language content on Biden and Harris was noteworthy for its hostile tone,” Graphika reported. “One article by a guest writer accused the pair of ‘submission to right-wing populism [ …] as much about preserving careers as it is winning votes.”
“The operation seemed designed to divide Democratic supporters and to depress support for Biden and Harris,” Camille François, chief innovation officer for Graphika, told the Post. Peace Data created fake personas in an attempt to appear legitimate, according to Graphika’s report. Photos for some of the fake personas were created using deepfake technology, the group noted.
The fake personas then recruited American writers and activists online, according to Peace Data’s website, which is still active.
The Department of Justice asked a judge in March to dismiss charges levelled against Concord Consulting and Concord Catering, both of which fund the IRA.
The Justice Department asked a federal judge on Monday to dismiss charges against two Russian firms indicted in the special counsel’s probe on charges that they meddled in the U.S. electoral process. DOJ prosecutors at the time said that neither firm has any intention of appearing for trial for sowing discord during the 2016 election.
The IRA allegedly created fake personas on Twitter and Facebook to post content aimed at dividing the U.S. voters on divisive issues. Former special counsel Robert Mueller also indicted twelve Russian intelligence officers on charges that they hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and released them through WikiLeaks.
– – –
Chris White is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-02--Third Virus Vaccine Reaches Major Hurdle: Final U.S. Testing

A handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval .
AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S .
The Cambridge , England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial , ethnic and geographic groups .
Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc. , and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany ’ s BioNTech .
“ To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement ; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary , ” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement .
NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency “ is supporting several vaccine trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We have all hands on deck.
” AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine , known as AZD1222 , is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K. , Brazil and South Africa .
Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia .
The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company , Vaccitech .
Meanwhile , a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine .
The National Academies of Sciences , Engineering and Medicine proposed giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders .
Next , older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority .
In following waves of vaccination , teachers , other school staff , workers in essential industries , and people living in homeless shelters , group homes , prisons and other facilities would get the shots .
Healthy children , young adults and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccinations , but would be able to get them once supplies increase .
The panel of experts described “ a moral imperative ” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks , Hispanics , Native Americans and Alaska Natives , and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The National Academies will solicit public comments on the plan through Friday .
There ’ s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development .
“ The first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be the best vaccines , ” Dr. Nicole Lurie , who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration , said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium .
There ’ s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments , because these vaccines will be given to healthy people .
Final testing , experts stress , must be in large numbers of people to know if they ’ re safe enough for mass vaccinations .
They ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways , each with pros and cons .
One problem : Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses , which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and , if one works , to fully vaccinate people .
Another : They ’ re all shots .
Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race , but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests : The Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July .
Neither uses the actual coronavirus .
Instead , they ’ re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “ spike ” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus .
Inject the vaccine containing that code , called mRNA , and the body ’ s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond , priming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the real virus .
These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines , but it ’ s a new and unproven technology .
Britain ’ s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “ viral vector ” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse .
The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein ’ s genetic material into the body .
Once again , the body produces some spike protein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , too , is a fairly new technology .
Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses .
Shots made by Johnson & Johnson began initial human studies in late July .
The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere .
China ’ s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics ’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing .
Making vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jonas Salk ’ s famed polio shots were made .
China has three so-called “ inactivated ” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way .
Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia .
Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries .
Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies .
But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein .
Novavax makes “ protein subunit ” vaccines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles .
There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases , so it ’ s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors .
But it only recently finished its first-step study ; the U.S. government ’ s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall .
Lauran Neergaard and Carla K. Johnson are reporters for The Associated Press .
AP journalist Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report .
The AP Press Health and Science Department receives support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
About the Headline Photo : In this Aug. 14 , 2020 , file photo , laboratory technicians work at the mAbxience biopharmaceutical company on an experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and the laboratory AstraZeneca in Garin , Argentina .
AstraZeneca announced Monday , Aug. 31 , its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. ( AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko , File )

by Lauran Neergaard and Carla K. Johnson
A handful of the dozens of experimental COVID-19 vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof that they really work as a U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval.
AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.
Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.
“To have just one vaccine enter the final stage of trials eight months after discovering a virus would be a remarkable achievement; to have three at that point with more on the way is extraordinary,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.
NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted that his agency “is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed. We have all hands on deck.”
AstraZeneca said development of the vaccine, known as AZD1222, is moving ahead globally with late-stage trials in the U.K., Brazil and South Africa. Further trials are planned in Japan and Russia. The potential vaccine was invented by the University of Oxford and an associated company, Vaccitech.
Meanwhile, a U.S. advisory panel released a draft plan Tuesday for how to ration the first doses of vaccine. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine proposed giving the first vaccine doses — initial supplies are expected to be limited to up to 15 million people — to high-risk health care workers and first responders.
Next, older residents of nursing homes and other crowded facilities and people of all ages with health conditions that put them at significant danger would be given priority. In following waves of vaccination, teachers, other school staff, workers in essential industries, and people living in homeless shelters, group homes, prisons and other facilities would get the shots.
Healthy children, young adults and everyone else would not get the first vaccinations, but would be able to get them once supplies increase.
The panel of experts described “a moral imperative” to lessen the heavy disease burden of COVID-19 on Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and suggested state and local authorities could target vulnerable neighborhoods using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The National Academies will solicit public comments on the plan through Friday.
There’s a good reason so many COVID-19 vaccines are in development.
“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.
There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out — and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.
They’re made in a wide variety of ways, each with pros and cons. One problem: Most of the leading candidates are being tested with two doses, which lengthens the time required to get an answer — and, if one works, to fully vaccinate people.
Another: They’re all shots. Vaccine experts are closely watching development of some nasal-spray alternatives that just might begin the first step of human testing later this year — late to the race, but possibly advantageous against a virus that sneaks into the airways.
For now, here’s a scorecard of vaccines that already have begun or are getting close to final-stage tests:
Genetic Code Vaccines
The Moderna and Pfizer candidates began Phase 3 testing in late July.
Neither uses the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with the genetic code for the aptly named “spike” protein that coats the surface of the coronavirus. Inject the vaccine containing that code, called mRNA, and the body’s cells will make some harmless spike protein — just enough for the immune system to respond, priming it to react if it later encounters the real virus.
These mRNA vaccines are easier and faster to make than traditional vaccines, but it’s a new and unproven technology.
Trojan Horse Vaccines
Britain’s Oxford University and AstraZeneca are making what scientists call a “viral vector” vaccine but a good analogy is the Trojan horse. The shots are made with a harmless virus — a cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees — that carries the spike protein’s genetic material into the body. Once again, the body produces some spike protein and primes the immune system, but it, too, is a fairly new technology.
Two possible competitors are made with different human cold viruses.
Shots made by Johnson & Johnson began initial human studies in late July. The company plans to begin Phase 3 testing in September in as many as 60,000 people in the U.S. and elsewhere.
China’s government authorized emergency use of CanSino Biologics’ adenovirus shots in the military ahead of any final testing.
“Killed Vaccines”
Making vaccines by growing a disease-causing virus and then killing it is a tried-and-true approach — it’s the way Jonas Salk’s famed polio shots were made. China has three so-called “inactivated” vaccine candidates against COVID-19 made this way.
Sinovac has final studies of its candidate underway in Brazil and Indonesia. Competitor SinoPharm has announced plans for final testing in some other countries.
Safely brewing and then killing the virus takes longer than newer technologies. But inactivated vaccines give the body a sneak peek at the germ itself rather than just that single spike protein.
Protein Vaccines
Novavax makes “protein subunit” vaccines, growing harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in the laboratory and packaging them into virus-sized nanoparticles.
There are protein-based vaccines against other diseases, so it’s not as novel a technology as some of its competitors. But it only recently finished its first-step study; the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed aims for advanced testing later in the fall.
– – –
Lauran Neergaard and Carla K. Johnson are reporters for The Associated Press. AP journalist Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report. The AP Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
About the Headline Photo: In this Aug. 14, 2020, file photo, laboratory technicians work at the mAbxience biopharmaceutical company on an experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and the laboratory AstraZeneca in Garin, Argentina. AstraZeneca announced Monday, Aug. 31, its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)


thetennesseestar--2020-09-02--John Fredericks Commentary: Trump Surges as Blacks, Hispanics Abandon Biden

President Trump ’ s re-election campaign , labeled DOA by the fake news legacy media only a few weeks ago , is now surging in the latest public opinion polls and surveys .
Trump ’ s post-convention lift looks more like a rocket than a bounce .
Fresh polling out Monday shows President Donald Trump receiving a post-convention increase in support .
A poll , conducted by Emerson College , surveyed 1,576 voters between August 30 and August 31 to ascertain the impact that both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions may have had on the public .
Emerson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the race , now only trailing former Vice President by two percentage points ( 49 percent to 47 percent . )
This is stunning .
More troubling for national Democrats is Trump ’ s astonishing inroads into minority communities , long taken for granted as reliable Democratic voters regardless of the failure of Democrats to improve their lives .
The same poll found that Biden garnered 77 percent support among Blacks , compared to 19 percent for Trump .
A similar poll taken by Zogby Analytics found Biden leading Trump , 77 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14-19 percent of the Black vote , he gets re-elected in a rout .
Trump earned eight percent of the African American vote in 2016 .
He ’ s doubling that today .
Concerning Hispanics , Trump is currently polling at 37 percent , according to internal polls made available to this writer .
This is exceeding the GOP watermark of 35 percent of Hispanics who voted for George W. Bush in 2000 .
A recent Trafalgar Poll in Minnesota shows a dead-heat , with both candidates locked at 47 percent .
Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one percent .
A Republican presidential candidate has not carried Minnesota since Richard Nixon in 1972 .
As a result , the Biden camp just upped their media spending in the Land of 1,000 Lakes .
Getting into panic mode , Team Biden , holed up in his basement for months , is now faced with new polls showing him losing Michigan to Trump , trailing by two points in a new survey out Monday .
Internal Trump campaign polling shared with me today on a conference call show Trump is moving comfortably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina , Georgia and Arizona .
If Trump wins those states–Biden has to run the table in the rust belt to get to 270 electoral votes he needs to claim the Presidency .
Bottom line : Biden now has to win all of these current toss-up states : Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , Michigan and Minnesota to get elected .
All are tied — and all are moving toward Trump — and away from Biden .
The race is now Trump ’ s to lose .
He ’ s become the betting-line favorite to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Latinos for Trump ” by Michael Vadon .
CC BY 2.0 .
John Fredericks is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star .
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .

by John Fredericks
President Trump’s re-election campaign, labeled DOA by the fake news legacy media only a few weeks ago, is now surging in the latest public opinion polls and surveys.
Trump’s post-convention lift looks more like a rocket than a bounce.
Fresh polling out Monday shows President Donald Trump receiving a post-convention increase in support. A poll, conducted by Emerson College, surveyed 1,576 voters between August 30 and August 31 to ascertain the impact that both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions may have had on the public.
Emerson’s results indicate that Trump has tightened the race, now only trailing former Vice President by two percentage points (49 percent to 47 percent.) This is stunning.
More troubling for national Democrats is Trump’s astonishing inroads into minority communities, long taken for granted as reliable Democratic voters regardless of the failure of Democrats to improve their lives.
The same poll found that Biden garnered 77 percent support among Blacks, compared to 19 percent for Trump.
A similar poll taken by Zogby Analytics found Biden leading Trump, 77 percent to 14 percent.
If Trump gets 14-19 percent of the Black vote, he gets re-elected in a rout.
Trump earned eight percent of the African American vote in 2016. He’s doubling that today.
Concerning Hispanics, Trump is currently polling at 37 percent, according to internal polls made available to this writer.
This is exceeding the GOP watermark of 35 percent of Hispanics who voted for George W. Bush in 2000.
Battleground State Moving to Trump
A recent Trafalgar Poll in Minnesota shows a dead-heat, with both candidates locked at 47 percent. Clinton defeated Trump in MN in 2016 by one percent. A Republican presidential candidate has not carried Minnesota since Richard Nixon in 1972.
As a result, the Biden camp just upped their media spending in the Land of 1,000 Lakes.
Getting into panic mode, Team Biden, holed up in his basement for months, is now faced with new polls showing him losing Michigan to Trump, trailing by two points in a new survey out Monday.
Internal Trump campaign polling shared with me today on a conference call show Trump is moving comfortably ahead in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia and Arizona. If Trump wins those states–Biden has to run the table in the rust belt to get to 270 electoral votes he needs to claim the Presidency.
Bottom line: Biden now has to win all of these current toss-up states: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota to get elected.
All are tied — and all are moving toward Trump — and away from Biden.
The race is now Trump’s to lose. He’s become the betting-line favorite to win re-election in London books.
– – –
Photo “Latinos for Trump” by Michael Vadon. CC BY 2.0.
John Fredericks is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star.
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation.