thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Breitbart Author Susan Berry Sees the Silver Lining as Parents Awaken to Other Education Options

Live from Music Row Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Breitbart author Susan Berry to the newsmakers line .
At the end of the third hour , Berry discussed what she saw as a silver lining in response to the COVID shutdown affecting the education for children attending public schools .
She added that this was the “ bolt of lightning ” that has jolted parents into paying more attention to what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a more pro-active approach in their child ’ s education .
Leahy : We are joined by my good friend and colleague at Breitbart and an expert on education matters , Susan Berry .
Susan , before the break I asked you if you thought this year would present a fundamental change in how K-12 education is done in America .
Will which is now 50 million .
Will that start to decline as these other options grow ?
Berry : Well I think that it will start to decline .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this country attend public school .
And I think that will still be the case for a while .
But I think we are going to see as parents try out other methods because they are forced to .
Necessity is the mother of invention .
I think parents will be trying new things .
And I think that we will see other education ideas that will take the place of public schools .
Even though online learning is not the best for young children , I think there has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for it for high school kids .
And I think that high school kids can deal with online learning .
I mean we have now students that are just beginning college that graduated high school beginning college online .
They are just going to be having online classes .
And I think that older kids can deal with that .
And I think that it also introduces a certain amount of flexibility .
You don ’ t have to sit in a classroom all day long .
You can do other things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You have other time to do your homework during the day .
It doesn ’ t have to be done at night .
I think that it ’ s going to introduce whole other flexibility into other kid ’ s schedules .
For younger kids , I think we are going to see more of the small schools .
I think private schools are opening .
There are some states that are not allowing private schools to believe it or not .
Leahy : Yes .
Like California .
That seems unconstitutional to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that ’ s being challenged .
But in many states private and religious schools are opening .
And I think we ’ ll see even in religious schools you may some children that are not of that particular faith trying to get into those schools because they might be the best schools that are open and that are providing a good education .
So I think parents are going to be just thinking about school in a different way .
And I think that ’ s really what the most exciting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much as its been difficult and stressful dealing with the virus and all of these restrictions .
This is really an exciting time for parents to think about school in a different way .
They ’ ve had an opportunity to observe what their children are learning now during the shutdown starting in March .
And I think that a lot of parents were awakened by that .
They are not really happy about some of the things their kids have been learning .
We are seeing a lot of push back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parenthood and other groups .
The other LGBT groups that have had their agendas inserted into public school curricula .
They are trying to get into online learning now because they know that a lot of parents are going to be using more remote learning or virtual learning programs .
And they are trying to see if they can insert themselves into that because that ’ s how they ultimately get their connection with kids through those groups .
Leahy : How about the politics of this .
If you are a parent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting and you are just fed up with the way the public schools are handling this and you are going to put up $ 5,000 or $ 10,000 a year to put your kid into a self-created neighborhood mini school with a couple of other parents or send them to a private school .
Are you going to start saying why am I paying state and local taxes for a public school I ’ m not using ?
And would the impact of that be ?
Berry : Absolutely .
I think that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years .
( Chuckles ) I mean would rather just not have to deal with it because they don ’ t want any intrusion of the government into their education system that they are using for their children .
But you have a lot more parents that are going to be doing home education or micro-schools or even sending their kids to private schools .
You are going to have more parents saying hey , why am I spending money on taxes for everyone else ’ s kids and my kids are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more people start to think about that I think you are going to see a backlash against taxation for public schools .
I really think that this whole year has changed public school education in this country .
It has opened up so many other issues and ideas .
And I think that ’ s a good thing .
I really do .
I think that it ’ s great for parents to take on more responsibility for their child ’ s education .
For many parents as soon as your child or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preschool or you send them on the bus and that ’ s all you have to think about .
What happens between 8:30 in the morning and 3:00 in the afternoon you don ’ t have to really worry about it because other people are taking care of it .
I think that ’ s gone .
It ’ s time for parents to really start to look at what their children are doing .
It started with the Common Core .
The anti-Common Core movement .
That ’ s a decade old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started to get more involved in what their kids were learning .
And now this is another big bolt of lightning that ’ s hit parents and is forcing them to really take a sharp look at what their kids are learning and how they are being educated .
Leahy : Although much of the schooling now particularly K-12 public schools are a mess .
What I find interesting Susan here is you have quite an optimistic view of where this may lead us .
Berry : I do .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of an , as I called it before a bolt of lightning .
You had to have some kind of a crisis in order for parents to take a look at what ’ s happening with their children .
Look at just how many young people are now members of Congress and are ultra-liberal .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Facebook Announces Restrictions on Groups Like QAnon and Antifa

Facebook announced Wednesday that it will take further action against pages , groups , and Instagram accounts associated with anarchist groups and other groups “ tied to violence.
” The social media website said it will expand their “ Dangerous Individuals and Organizations policy ” to censor groups who reportedly pose a “ significant risk ” to public safety , such as QAnon , the company said in a statement .
Facebook is also taking action against “ offline anarchist groups that support violent acts amidst protests , ” the statement said .
Facebook already has policies in place to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and organizations or individuals who advocate for violence are banned from the website .
“ However , we have seen growing movements that , while not directly organizing violence , have celebrated violent acts , shown that they have weapons and suggest they will use them , or have individual followers with patterns of violent behavior , ” the statement said .
Though Facebook will continue to allow users to post content supporting the groups , they will not allow anyone related to dangerous groups to organize on the platform , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations and those encouraging riots , including some who may identify as Antifa , we ’ ve initially removed over 980 groups , 520 Pages and 160 ads from Facebook , ” the statement said .
“ We ’ ve also restricted over 1,400 hashtags related to these groups and organizations on Instagram.
” Facebook has removed around 800 groups , 100 pages , and 1,500 advertisements linked to QAnon , according to the statement .
Around 300 hashtags were blocked on Facebook and Instagram , restrictions were imposed on around 2,000 groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 10,000 accounts on Instagram .
The social media website said it will ban any non-state actor or group that qualifies as dangerous from the platform , according to the statement .
Kaylee Greenlee is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Antifa Supporters ” by cantfightthetendies .
CC BY 2.0 .

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


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Commentary: Sweden’s Results Suggest We Should Stop Quarantining Healthy Children

Fall hasn ’ t even arrived yet , but some US schools are already announcing closures during the sixth month of the coronavirus pandemic .
On Sunday , news broke that a Georgia school district announced it will close a third high school after 25 students tested positive for the coronavirus .
“ On behalf of the Superintendent , please be advised that we are , effective immediately , temporarily closing in-person learning at Creekview High School , ” the school said in a statement .
The announcement came shortly after media reported that a 15-year-old Georgia boy in Gwinnett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the child had pre-existing conditions .
( There were conflicting reports on this front , but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution appears to have received clarification from the state confirming the child did have pre-existing conditions . )
It should be noted , however , that it appears the 15-year-old did not get the virus at school .
Media reports indicate that Gwinnett County , home of Georgia ’ s largest school district , was in a virtual-only school format .
This is tragic news and an inauspicious beginning to the school year .
Schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the difficult decision of determining whether they should open or institute virtual learning ( or a “ hybrid ” of both ) .
The question of whether children should be permitted to congregate to learn and play is a highly relevant issue .
It extends well beyond public schools and includes child gathering of all kinds : private schools , homeschool groups , summer camps , clubs , outdoor groups , parties , “ learning pods , ” and more .
The death of a teenager is a tragic reminder that there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course schools , businesses , and organizations take .
“ Stay home , stay safe ” may be a nice catchphrase , but we should not presume that staying at home is safer , and we should definitely resist making that choice for others .
With fall approaching , it ’ s important to understand that evidence suggests that children gathering to learn should be the least of our worries as far as COVID-19 .
A panel of medical experts who spoke to NBC last month agreed that children are the least likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This has been a strange pandemic because usually for respiratory viruses , children are the first and most substantially affected , ” Dr. C. Buddy Creech , an associate professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville , told the network .
“ This has really been a flip of that , where it ’ s our adults , and particularly older adults , that have been more affected.
” When the pediatricians were asked by NBC if they would send their own children back to school in the fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Yes.
” “ Absolutely.
” “ Without a hesitation.
” “ I have no concerns ” —and government data show why .
American children make up roughly 22 percent of the population , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) data show , but they account for just 2 percent of COVID-19 cases .
A forthcoming study out of the United Kingdom , billed as one the largest to date on studying the coronavirus in schools , suggests we have little to fear from allowing children to gather to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools in the UK .
And though the raw data has not yet been made public , the results of the study have .
“ A new study that has been done in UK schools confirms there is very little evidence that the virus is transmitted in schools.
” Professor Russell Viner said of the forthcoming Public Health England study .
“ The risks to children from Covid are very low… ” This was precisely what public health officials in Sweden concluded earlier this year when they decided to leave its schools open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s schoolchildren were not in school , Swedish children continued to go to class .
Masks were allowed , but not required , and some measures were taken to encourage social distancing .
Sweden ’ s approach was highly controversial , but the results of its policy were not .
Not one Swedish child has died—inside of school or outside—and children comprise a lower percentage of COVID-cases than neighboring countries .
A report last month from Sweden ’ s health agency found that there were 1,124 confirmed COVID-19 cases among children in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 , roughly 0.05 percent of children under 19 .
That ’ s exactly the same rate—0.05 percent—as Finland , which recorded 584 cases during the same period , even though Finland closed its schools .
( Moreover , Swedish children actually account for far fewer COVID cases overall , just 2.3 percent , compared to 8.2 percent of Finnish children . )
Sweden ’ s public health agency declared that its school policy had “ no measurable impact ” on the spread of the virus .
These results might come as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not a surprise to the architect of Sweden ’ s health strategy .
Early in the pandemic , Anders Tegnell expressed that above all else he was confident that health officials had made the right decision by allowing schools to remain open .
“ We feel more and more confident about [ not ] closing schools , ” Tegnell told TV host Trevor Noah in May .
“ It ’ s not something that really is going to be effective for this kind of disease .
Schools don ’ t seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this epidemic.
” Gathering to Play and Learn Is Fundamental to Children The results from Sweden and the UK are important because research shows that allowing children to gather to play , learn , and explore is fundamental to their physical and mental health .
Their attentional , emotional , and cognitive skills are sharpened when they interact with other children in settings that allow them to freely interact with and learn from others .
It strengthens immune systems , psyches , and character .
If we opt to shelter children from social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screens all day , we sever them from some of the most important and effective learning pathways .
Fear of COVID-19 is understandable , but if we fail to manage that fear we risk damaging our most precious resource .
The scholar Peter Gray , a research professor of psychology at Boston College , has shown that children are natural learners who thrive when given the freedom to play and explore .
Much of this learning , Gray writes , is social and moral education children learn through their social interactions with other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary natural means of every child ’ s social and moral education , ” Gray writes .
“ It is through play that children learn to get along with others .
In play they must take into account the other children ’ s needs , learn to see from others ’ points of view , learn to compromise , learn to negotiate differences , learn to control their own impulses , learn to please others so as to keep them as playmates.
” This is a form of natural learning through social interaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through a school lesson or homework assignment .
Depriving children of social interaction has consequences beyond lost learning , however .
Gray and other psychologists link the documented increases in anxiety and depression in children to trends showing a general decline of free play , a consequence of education systems that increasingly forego free learning for formalized instruction , such as worksheets and test prep .
While the detriments of rigid classroom instruction are apparent , emerging evidence suggests social isolation is even worse .
A recent Wall Street Journal article ( paywalled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already-high levels of anxiety and depression in young people have surged during the pandemic , particularly in adolescent girls .
One recent nationwide study , Jargon points out , found that nearly 80 percent of girls in grades fifth through eight reported feeling more lonely and isolated since the COVID outbreak began .
Older teens reported similar results , and clinical experts said the decline in mental health stems from quarantine life .
“ All of the things that a year ago were increasing girls ’ depression have been exacerbated by the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinical psychologist and author of Reviving Ophelia : Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls , told Jargon .
“ Our recommendations were that girls spend more time with other girls , that they spend more time outside the home and that parents encourage girls to take more risks in order to develop skills on their own .
Most of those things aren ’ t happening now because of Covid.
” It is not necessary to put children through this .
The best scientific evidence we have shows that children have the least to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points out , the common flu is far more dangerous for children than the coronavirus .
A society that deprives children of the basic freedom to gather to play , learn , explore , and socialize does them a grave injustice , one that will result in far more harm than good .
Fortunately , we have ample evidence and real-life examples that show the costs of quarantining healthy children far outweigh the benefits .
Jonathan Miltimore is the Managing Editor of FEE.org .
His writing/reporting has been the subject of articles in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CNN , Forbes , Fox News , and the Star Tribune .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Operation Legend Crime-Fighting Task Force Produces Arrests in Memphis

U.S. Attorney General William Barr this week announced that federal agents have arrested several people in Memphis on federal charges as part of Operation Legend .
This , according to a press release that U.S. Department of Justice officials published on their website Wednesday .
As part of Operation Legend , federal law enforcement agencies work with local and state law enforcement officials to fight violent crime , according to the press release .
“ Seven defendants [ in Memphis ] have been charged with federal offenses , with some defendants charged with multiple offenses , ” the press release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with being an alien in possession of a firearm while illegally or unlawfully in the United States .
• One defendant , who lives in Memphis , was charged in an out-of-district federal case with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine .
• Two defendants have been charged with being unlawful users of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm and making a material false statement when acquiring a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee ( FFL ) .
• Two cases remain under seal , but the charges are as follows : One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and two defendants were charged with theft from an FFL .
The feds did not name the people they arrested .
Federal officials launched Operation Legend in Kansas City , MO in July .
They soon expanded the operation to Chicago , Albuquerque , Cleveland , Detroit , Milwaukee , St. Louis , Memphis , and Indianapolis .
“ Since the operation ’ s launch , there have been more than 1,000 arrests , including defendants who have been charged in state and local courts .
Of those arrests , approximately 217 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the press release said .
“ These numbers exclude Indianapolis , whose operation was just announced last Friday .
In addition , nearly 400 firearms have been seized by the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives.
” As The Tennessee Star reported last week , Department of Justice officials sent 16 federal investigators to Memphis on temporary assignment for 90 days .
This , followed by 24 permanent agent assignments from the FBI , DEA , ATF , and Homeland Security Investigations ( HSI ) .
Chris Butler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--George Washington Entrepreneur Author Jon Berlau Talks About Washington’s Unknown Accomplishments

Live from Music Row Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed well-known economist and author George Washington Entrepreneur Jon Berlau to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , Berlau discussed recent accolades and elements of his recent book about George Washington as an accomplished man in many areas .
He added that it was impressive how even though Washington ’ s education ended around 15 years of age that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in areas that he would work in .
Leahy : We are joined now by my very good friend .
The well-known economist and author .
He has a great book .
We ’ ve talked about it before on George Washington .
George Washington Entrepreneur .
Jon Berlau .
Good morning Jon .
Berlau : Thanks so much , Mike for having me on to talk about George Washington Entrepreneur .
Leahy : Let me just read some of the descriptions here of your book .
Some of the blurbs .
Amity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time when others downgrade so many historical figures , Jon Berlau lifts a worthy man higher , George Washington .
Berlau gives us a fascinating tour of Washington ’ s business side illuminating the relationship between entrepreneurial , military and political achievement .
Amity Shlaes says this is a fabulous book .
You can ’ t get any higher praise than that Jon .
Berlau : I was honored for her to praise George Washington Entrepreneur .
She ’ s a fine historian herself of Calvin Coolidge .
She ’ s into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things about the new deal and other parts of our era .
So I was really honored to have that and others including you having the praise of the book .
Leahy : Now look .
I am a huge history buff as you are .
And I ’ ve read biographies of historical figures my entire life .
Which is like a long time of reading historical biographies .
And George Washington and Abraham Lincoln perhaps are the two figures in American history of whom most has been written .
How many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 500 ?
I mean there ’ s a lot .
Berlau : Yes .
I ’ d say at least over 100 .
Yes .
Leahy : Quite a few .
And yet this is really quite remarkable Jon .
You came up with a concept and a way of looking at George Washington that was unique .
And so how did you come to that point of view ?
Berlau : Well I study as you know at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and before that , I was a journalist for publications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form businesses .
And also the government red tape that kind of gets in their way .
And when I was hearing Mount Vernon and the scholars there have been helpful to me .
Rebuilding about 15 years a whiskey distillery he had started and it just blew my mind .
I had no idea that here George Washington who I revered .
I think I was in the boat with most Americans who had trouble relating as opposed to Franklin and Jefferson was how he did the whiskey distillery business .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other businesses he was in like he was in flour mills .
He was the first to bring mules to America .
Provide a big hand to early American inventors with machines like the steamboat .
I just realized that he was in his own way as creative and as much of a genius as say , Jefferson , Franklin , and Hamilton .
And that all of his business correspondence which there was so much of they hadn ’ t been able to put it online .
So this was a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to him .
Leahy : You ’ ll find this interesting Jon .
Which was the one of him to be the first one to bring mules to America .
Interestingly enough just 20 miles from our studios here in downtown Nashville in Columbia , Tennessee which is the only city in America that once a year celebrates , wait for it , mule day .
Berlau : That ’ s wonderful .
That ’ s wonderful .
Well , mules still have their uses .
Their uses at the time were they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things .
But like in Afghanistan they were used to carry things and people and places where they didn ’ t really have roads .
They ’ re still used in a lot of different capacities .
And we still have to thank George Washington who ’ s known among mule breeders and enthusiasts as not only the father of our country but the father of the American mule .
Leahy : What ’ s interesting about that Jon is that if you look at the scope of somebody ’ s life and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their life that was significant ?
For many people being the guy that brought mules to America would be one single accomplishment that would be significant .
And yet it ’ s only one of many accomplishments of George Washington .
Berlau : Yes .
That ’ s the thing .
He ’ s so overshadowed of course and deservedly so by being a great general and a great president .
Voluntarily giving up power twice that it overshadows him .
He might have very well if he hadn ’ t done those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as one of America ’ s first entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial genius that he was .
Leahy : Yes .
The element that I think distinguishes George Washington in leadership in the country was not necessarily his speaking ability but his ability to access circumstances .
Be they in business , or in war , or in politics .
To gather in the information .
To think about it and then determine the right course of action .
A very common sense practical American way to go .
Berlau : Yes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would not say a word during public sessions of the constitutional convention .
But I was surprised by in going through his writings , which are accessible online .
And I tell readers in George Washington Entrepreneur how much of an articulate writer he could be in saying things .
And how much in his business correspondence and other things like writing letters to the British haggling over tobacco and other things .
And the things he wrote about politics in his farewell address .
He could be very articulate and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learned from experience and listening to people .
But he read things from everything from political philosophy to how to ride a horse .
He wrote self-help books on how to be a better horseman .
Leahy : So here ’ s another quote about your book from a good friend of mine Craig Shirley .
“ Just when you think a scholarship on a first president has been exhausted , along comes a book like George Washington Entrepreneur to open your eyes and impart new knowledge about our greatest president .
Berlau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s from Craig Shirley , the well known Reagan biographer and also the biographer of Newt Gingrich and the author of Mary Ball Washington who was the mother of George Washington .
Tell us a little bit about his early life , the death of his father when he was 12 or 13 ?
And his relationship with his mother which formed him into this practical common sense get it done , guy ?
Berlau : Yes .
Well , he did not have , privilege is a word thrown out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t among the poorest of the poor when he grew up but wasn ’ t as privileged as the other Founding Fathers .
Leahy : Who grew up on some of the biggest plantations in Virginia at the time .
Berlau : Right .
George Washington ’ s father died when he was 11 .
And then his older half brother went to English boarding schools .
His family could not afford that or send him to college .
So his formal schooling ended around the time he was around 13 or 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have gone to another school .
There is actually not that much known about his life before he was say like 15 and started writing letters on his own .
And we don ’ t know who his specific teacher was .
We do know he had lesson plans .
So he just basically started something of self-education when he was like 13 or 14 .
But he read books about mathematics .
Books that usually went along with his work .
He read about mathematics .
He started out as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ books about surveying to help him with that job .
He learned from his older brother half brother Lawrence who had lived at Mount Vernon and owned it at the time .
Mount Vernon was actually meant to be his .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photo “ John Berlau ” by the Competetitve Prize Institute .
Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Commentary: The Google v. Oracle Supreme Court Case Could Have Lasting Effects on the Music Business

Commentary: The Google v. Oracle Supreme Court Case Could Have Lasting Effects on the Music Business and Tennessee’s Economy

With the COVID-19 pandemic , racial justice protests and the looming presidential election dominating the headlines , the upcoming Supreme Court case , Google v. Oracle , has been all but forgotten .
It may seem like an inconsequential lawsuit between two Silicon Valley rivals fighting over a coveted piece of technology .
But that analysis is wrong .
The case has enormous potential consequences , not just for the two companies in dispute , but for countless Tennesseans and the state ’ s economy .
That ’ s because a ruling in favor of Google would absolutely devastate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Google v. Oracle centers around the two tech firms ’ battle over the intellectual property rights to Java .
Oracle owns the popular software program .
Once Google failed to secure a license with Oracle to use Java in its products , the search engine giant allegedly stole large portions of the copyrighted program ’ s code .
Google then installed that reproduced Java code in Android , the company ’ s mobile operating system .
In the face of all notions of fairness , common sense and intellectual property law , Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rip off Java code .
Now , nearly a decade after the initial lawsuit was filed , the Supreme Court is finally scheduled to hear the case in a matter of weeks .
Ruling against Google is so important for the future of intellectual property that several important music organizations , from Tennessee ’ s Songwriters Guild to the Recording Industry Association of America , have filed Supreme Court amicus briefs .
The briefs argue that Google ’ s outrageously expansive interpretation of fair use – if applied generally – would cripple the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a common defense against copyright claims .
The principle of fair use allows certain small portions of copyrighted material to be replicated , often for education or parody .
But , to qualify as fair use , previous rulings have consistently established that the replication must be “ transformative ” in nature .
This rule prevents companies from stealing copyrighted material for financial gain and claiming fair use as justification .
The restriction on claims of fair use is particularly important in the music industry , where independent artists and songwriters rely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creations from theft .
Strict , well-defined rules are essential for inventors , designers and artists to function .
And yet , Google is essentially arguing that “ fair use ” should be extended to include large-scale , verbatim replications of copyrighted work .
As the Songwriters Guild ’ s brief put it , “ the more amorphous and unreasonably expansive the analysis and application of the fair use doctrine , the harder it becomes to establish the value of the copyrighted work during licensing negotiations that are the lifeblood of the creative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YouTube video platform already produces one-third of all streams but only 8-percent of all revenue , in part because of the company ’ s exploitation of fair use .
If the Supreme Court sets a precedent that weakens it even further , it is no question that Google and other big corporations will seize on the opportunity to abuse Tennessee ’ s musicians further .
Google v. Oracle isn ’ t just a battle between two Silicon Valley behemoths .
Rather , the outcome of the lawsuit could bear serious consequences for American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that depend upon it .
Tennesseans should be particularly invested in the result of the case .
The well-being of their music industry and economy may ultimately be at stake .
Drew Johnson is the founder of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research and the former national director of Protect Internet Freedom .
He currently serves as a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research , where he researches economic and tech policy issues .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Ohio COVID Case Measures – Questionable Overall, Punitive for Small Counties

This is the third story in an eight-part series on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System On July 2 , Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine introduced the Ohio Public Health Advisory System ( OPHAS ) .
The color-coded map assigns a color to each of Ohio ’ s 88 counties that is supposed to be indicative of each county ’ s COVID spread .
According to the Ohio COVID site : The OPHAS categorizes each of Ohio ’ s 88 counties in one of the following four categories : • Level 3 – Red : 4-5 indicators triggered ; advisory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Level 4 – Purple : 6-7 indicators triggered ; advisory : only leave home for supplies and services .
Each county is graded on the following seven indicators : new cases per capita ; sustained increase in new cases ; proportion of cases not in a congregate setting ; sustained increase in Emergency Department ( ED ) visits for COVID-like illness ; sustained increase in outpatient visits for COVID-like illness ; sustained increase in new COVID hospital admissions ; Intensive Care Unit ( ICU ) bed occupancy .
A county triggers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when positive cases trend up over five consecutive days in the last three weeks .
According to the alert indicator details found on the Ohio coronavirus website , if the number of daily new cases continually increases day-over-day , then that means the virus is spreading more in a county .
In the graph above , the red line represents the onset date of the positive case and the blue line represents the test date .
The graph was produced by Dr. Douglas Frank , of Dr. Frank Models , who noted : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area under the curves .
Note that these are testing dates , and the cases are date of onset .
Because there is a lag between the day a test is given , and when a test is completed , reported , and assigned to a date , the red curve lags the blue one.
” The graph appears to show that increased testing caused increased positive cases .
Testing uncovers active infections .
Testing also results in more false positives , according to the Journal of The American Medical Association – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick up positive results for up to three months , well beyond infectiousness .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) discloses additional reliability issues with the RT-PCR test and DiaSorin Molecular test ( noted in a previous article that discussed a Warren County college-bound woman ) .
Melanie Amato , the press secretary of the Ohio Department of Health ( ODH ) , told The Ohio Star , “ The total number of diagnostic tests for COVID-19 reported to ODH is 1,905,419 .
These numbers include PCR and molecular tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals , private labs and the ODH lab .
Daily numbers are available on the coronavirus.ohio.gov website and are presented by result date.
” Based on this response , it appears the only antigen test administered in Ohio was the test given to Governor DeWine that returned a positive result prior to his visit with President Donald Trump .
It is important to note in May the ODH changed its testing methodology .
Prior to May , tests were given to the sickest patients with COVID symptoms – even then a test required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncovered patients sick with COVID , consequently , Ohio ’ s positive test rate was comparatively higher .
As of August 20 , the Ohio positive test rate is 4.1 % – the World Health Organization and Johns Hopkins indicate that a rate near 5 % indicates the virus is under control .
As testing increased the average age of cases dropped significantly .
The average age of hospitalization decreased a bit , while the average age of death didn ’ t budge .
While tests drove up cases , there were slight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The increase in hospitalizations may mean some hospitalizations , as CDC Director Robert Redfield noted , may be a consequence of incentive for hospitals .
The drop in hospitalizations-to-deaths may also mean therapies improved .
Increases in positive tests – even without substantial upticks in hospitalizations and declines in deaths – are not viewed positively by Ohio decision makers .
Positive tests are trumpeted as a sign of risk instead of relief .
In March , Amy Acton said over 100,000 Ohioans were likely already infected .
Five months later when Ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ milestone troubling .
This may signal the administration is ignoring the relief provided by herd immunity .
The CDC conducted three separate random sample tests at 10 points around the country to monitor antibodies and the prevalence of COVID in the U.S. population .
CDC Director Redfield has repeatedly claimed existing case count may be 10 times higher around the country – and in June estimated 5 % to 8 % of the population had been infected .
On April 20 , Ohio recorded a total of 112,003 cases .
Based on Redfield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 1.1 million infections – about 9.6 % of the Buckeye state .
DeWine and Lt .
Governor Jon Husted repeatedly point to studies from American Red Cross and statistics from independent lab results around Ohio claiming the statewide infection rate is somewhere between 1 % and 3 % .
However , those numbers do not represent randomized samples .
Acton committed to a 1,200-person randomized antibody sample back in April .
As of August 20 , those results remain elusive .
Those results are gaining in importance as a new study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity may now be possible at infection rate of 10 % .
Smaller population counties in Ohio , like Hardin County , do not have much wiggle room for error when it comes to positive test results .
Between July 1 and July 15 , the average number of cases in Hardin County blipped from one-per-day to two-per-day .
This slight increase triggered the sustained increase in new cases indicator .
Indicator 2 counts probable cases ( without a confirmed lab results ) .
The Star learned “ cases in indicator 2 are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amato , between July 29 to August 18 only 4 % of cases include probable results .
The 4 % is an average for all of Ohio , as was cited in article two of this series Logan County reports 35 % probable cases in their overall case totals – indicating significantly lower probable cases in other counties .
Probable cases include epidemiologically linked cases -a case unconfirmed by a lab result that is counted positive because the unconfirmed case was in close contact for longer than 15 minutes with a lab confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are included , numbers reflect non-confirmed cases .
For instance , Delaware County , Ohio recorded a COVID case and then used the epidemiological link standard to assign positive cases to each immediate family member of the confirmed case , The Star learned from a Delaware official .
A few confirmed cases , probable cases , or even false positives can produce mini upticks .
This scenario is exacerbated with pop-up test sites and testing initiatives targeting asymptomatic and curious constituents .
This can be problematic for rural areas – spots DeWine has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of concern .
Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Kathryn Huwig was a data and analysis contributor .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Glenn Davis Joins John Fredericks to Discuss the Democratic Zoom Scam and Keeping Their Per Diem

Live from Virginia Thursday 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 Republican member Glenn Davis to the program .
During the interview , Davis weighed in on the current Democratic decision in Richmond to move all meetings to Zoom .
He added that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up about legislation and was equally upset about Democrats keeping their $ 210 .
per diem while they work from home on their couches .
Fredericks : Joining us now on the John Fredericks show is Glenn Davis .
They kicked him out of Richmond .
They kicked them out .
But the Democrats have good things going here .
They don ’ t have to deal with Republicans .
They can go on Zoom .
They can cut them off if they don ’ t want to hear what they have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They can pass all their crackpot stuff and get $ 210 per day per diem while sitting home in their pajamas .
Glenn Davis will be talking about that and the other nonsense that ’ s going on there .
The reason the Democrats got out of town is they don ’ t want anybody actually going to downtown Richmond and having to face upfront reality with what another Democratic regime does to a city .
Burn down the F-word all over the place .
F this .
F that .
On every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Everything closed .
Burned out .
That ’ s their city .
They wanted to get out of there and not bring attention to it .
Glenn Davis great to have you , man .
Davis : Good morning John .
I can ’ t wait to get this book you just talked about .
Fredericks : Just go to blitz411.com and you can get it for free .
Just do that .
And they ’ ll have it there in about a week .
So Glenn Davis your tweet yesterday really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you tweeted out a picture where you were trying to get out of the committee meeting .
And it said you couldn ’ t get out of the meeting because there were already 100 people there and you took a screenshot of your computer and tweeted that out .
Therein lies the issue .
Why did Eileen Filler-Corn and the Caucus of the Corn kick everybody out of Richmond ?
Davis : Actually that was the floor .
That was the full floor session that I could not get into .
Which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety that they could bring us back into the basketball arena and keep us safe once but couldn ’ t do it twice .
And that just blows me away .
I give credit to the ( Inaudible talk ) .
They did a hell of a job John .
There was well over six feet between desks .
Remember we are on a big basketball court .
They did a great job .
And they didn ’ t want to do it a second time .
They felt we should be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our couches .
Like you said , doing this remotely .
Being able to be basically muted .
And you can imagine the whole problem it creates for the Republican Party when we can not raise points of order quickly enough remotely .
You can imagine the problems we have with more rural legislators than the Democratic Party does .
Up there in Northern Virginia , they don ’ t have issues with broadband .
But you go to Roanoke or west of Roanoke you start having issues .
Those are Republican legislators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those issues .
And yes John , yesterday I had to get out of the web app and go to the desktop app and I guess maybe they only bought the 100 person thing of Zoom .
And because there are 100 legislators , the problem is if you put some clerk staff on there than there isn ’ t enough room for the rest of us .
And I couldn ’ t get back into my floor session .
And when I got back in , Todd Gilbert our minority leader brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were having the same issue that couldn ’ t get in .
We had to literally go into a pause and then they had to re-read a long resolution all over again because it ’ s not valid to lead it when some of us got kicked out .
It ’ s a mess , John .
Fredericks : I had Nick Freitas on the other day and he is a former House Delegates member .
He is a House Delegates member running for Congress on Pepper and former House Delegates member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And they went absolutely crazy over the fact that the Democrats didn ’ t even follow the rules .
They manipulated them .
You are supposed to wait for five days .
I guess the Senate is meeting in the science museum .
You guys were in a basketball arena .
It was perfectly safe .
The last time you met I think you guys were outside under a tent or something .
Now all of a sudden they decide because of COVID , we can ’ t meet legitimately even though they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t meet for several days .
I understand from House Delegates members that the way it was set up on Monday was fine .
Everybody had a mask on .
Plenty of social distancing but yet they have to make a political statement and then get out of town .
But then they voted themselves the per diem of $ 210 a day .
The per diem is set up by taxpayers to pay to go to Richmond .
Meal , hotel .
It ’ s not a lot of money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 210 and they are sitting at home in their pajamas .
What ’ s up with that ?
Davis : Every Republican voted against that .
A lot of times when those come up that are big votes and we go into recess and we talk about things and vote in a block .
I will tell you I ’ m proud to be a member of this Republican caucus because that didn ’ t happen .
The resolution prior went through .
They immediately threw up 5 to 16 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ get paid that $ 210 per day There was no knowledge about this by any person on our side of the House .
It got thrown up there and everyone voted against us without having a discussion about it .
Which I felt was a great moment for the Republican caucus .
It just shows the integrity that we have in our caucus .
And when we say we ’ re for fiscal responsibility and not fleecing the taxpayers we mean it .
Just so people understand , that $ 210 is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our responsibilities , to fulfill our obligations .
We still get paid to spend the day doing the people ’ s business .
That $ 210 is on top of that for like you said John , travel .
For lodging and meals and everything else that we don ’ t have to do when we are sitting at home on our couch .
I feel it was kind of absurd .
My colleagues thought it was absurd .
Democrats didn ’ t When they use the term fleecing of America and fleecing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s exactly what happened to the taxpayers under Democratic control .
Fredericks : Look , it ’ s outrageous .
One of my theories is the reason they went home is to make a statement that nobody can go out during COVID and everybody has to go home and sit in a box with a hazmat suit on .
That ’ s basically what the Democrats position is now .
That ’ s why they don ’ t want to open up schools .
They don ’ t want college football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beating Trump in November .
I don ’ t know what they ’ re going to do when Trump wins again .
Jump out of windows .
I have no idea , Glenn .
Because he is going to win again .
No doubt in my mind .
All this is going to be for them for naught .
One of my other theories is if you go downtown it ’ s horrifying , right ?
For people that have not been there for a while since January or February since you guys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the buildings are boarded up .
There is the F-word on every single piece of plywood .
You can ’ t walk there without wanting to vomit .
Its burned down .
Looted .
Broken glass still strewn all over the street .
They ’ ve not cleaned up the graffiti .
Everything is closed .
You can ’ t eat out .
You can ’ t get a cup of coffee .
It ’ s turned into a horror show .
Is part of the reason you think is the Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get out of there so you didn ’ t bring attention to a Democratic city that they control that has been basically burned out ?
Is that possible that that came into play ?
Listen to the full segment here :


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Virginia General Assembly 2020 Special Session Day 3: House Remains Stalled, Senate Advances More Bi

Virginia General Assembly 2020 Special Session Day 3: House Remains Stalled, Senate Advances More Bills

While the House continued its quick , procedural sessions , the Senate and the Senate Judiciary Committee continued to advance bills centered around criminal justice reform and policing .
Before the Senate convened in-person in its new home for the 2020 special session at the Science Museum of Virginia , the Judiciary Committee held a meeting where it reported and referred more bills .
During the Judiciary Committee ’ s meeting , it referred many bills on the docket to the Finance Committee relating to Senate Democrats ’ overall agenda including sentencing reform on specific criminal cases , expungement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dispose of a criminal case and the creation of a mobile crisis co-response team throughout Virginia for instances when someone is having a mental episode .
Notably , two similar bills prohibiting the use of neck restraints by law enforcement officers , one sponsored by Sen. Morrissey ( D-16 ) and the other by Senate Minority Leader Sen. Norment ( R-3 ) , and a bill authorizing localities to establish law enforcement civilian review boards , sponsored by Sen. Hashmi ( D-10 ) , were referred to the Finance Committee .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled start time of noon because the Judiciary Committee ran long .
After the standard opening procedures , Senate Clerk Susan Clarke Schaar announced bills on their second reading in the uncontested and regular calendars .
In the regular calendar was SB 5032 , which eliminates the mandatory minimum jail time for assaulting a law enforcement officer – among others – and changes the punishment from a felony to a misdemeanor .
The Senate agreed to the judiciary substitute of the bill with amendments by a voice vote .
The amendments to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back into a felony , instead of a misdemeanor as originally written , but gave a judge or jury to reduce the chargeback to a class 1 misdemeanor if no bodily harm was done .
Once the committee substitute was adopted , the Senate engrossed the bill and advanced it to the third and final reading where it will officially be passed or defeated .
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Saslaw ( D-35 ) then moved that all bills on first and second reading , in the regular and uncontested calendar , be passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate agreed upon .
Shortly after a 35-minute recess , the Senate adjourned at 1:35 p.m. to reconvene Friday at 10 a.m. for a very short pro forma session .
The House ’ s second virtual session today , again featuring Speaker Filler-Corn and House clerk Suzette Denslow in the empty chamber , lasted less than 45 minutes as it continues to go through a five-day procedure to formalize the virtual sessions and truly begin advancing bills .
As part of those procedures , House Resolution 514 was read for a third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point of personal privilege period , Del .
Coyner ( R-Chesterfield ) spoke briefly about fixing the current inequalities in Virginia with online learning , especially for disabled and poor students and students that live in rural areas with limited access to high speed internet .
Del .
Van Valkenburg ( D-Henrico ) followed up by talking about the effort to bring down COVID-19 cases so schools can operate normally and making sure public education has the resources and support to adequately help students .
Lastly , House Minority Leader Del .
Gilbert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential rules to govern delegates who did not have their video-enabled in the Zoom conference call to make sure nobody outside of the House is joining the session .
The House adjourned at 12:37 p.m. to reconvene virtually Friday at noon .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ The Science Museum of Virginia ” by David Bjorgen .
CC BY-SA 2.5 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Richmond Area Trump Supporters Feel Optimistic About Upcoming Election

MECHANICSVILLE , Virginia – Local Virginia Trump supporters have high hopes for the presidential election in November and believe that Trump will secure another four years in office .
At a gathering set up by the Trump Virginia campaign , people from various towns and counties surrounding Richmond came to show their support for the campaign and form a collective focus on the highly important last stretch before the election .
Despite some polls giving Biden a lead over Trump in various states , those who attended the small rally are not lacking confidence .
“ I think [ Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” local resident Paul Thiel told The Virginia Star .
“ I think we ’ re doing better in Virginia this year than we did last time by far.
” When asked if Trump can win Virginia , a state that has voted for the Democratic nominee in every presidential election since 2008 , and capture its 13 Electoral College votes , their optimism remained the same .
“ So far , I think [ the Trump campaign ] has done well.
” local resident Jessica Collette told The Star .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan , they worked with our county as a whole , activating the groups that are already here , getting into those core groups and then getting out into the community .
They have already got plans on how we are going to kind of attack the county for door knocking , making sure that people are contacted , and they know that their vote is going to be important come November.
” Another woman said that Trump can win Virginia if the same people who voted for him in the last election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his term vote .
For context , Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton won Virginia in 2016 with 49.7 % of the vote to Trump ’ s 44.4 percent , according to BallotPedia , a digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections providing accurate and objective information about politics at all levels of government .
One man when asked about Trump ’ s prospects in the Commonwealth brought up the protests and riots that have taken place this summer in parts of downtown Richmond and other cities around the state since the murder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people are tired of the weekly demonstrations .
With the presidential election on November 3rd only 75 days away , both Biden and Trump supporters realize that this is the home stretch and the coming months will be a wild , wild ride .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] John Fredericks is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star .
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Scholar Urges More Parental Choice in Pandemic-Era Schooling, Criticizes Fairfax County

Some scholars argue more parental choice could provide the best value for students as public schools across Virginia offer virtual learning or a combination of in-person and virtual schooling to curtail the spread of COVID-19 .
Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam will allow schools to reopen with a phased-in approach , which can lead to in-person schooling , but only if schools can maintain social distancing .
Because of limited space , many schools are unable to provide in-person schooling for every student five days a week .
To address this , Fairfax County Public Schools has opted to begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person instruction .
Fairfax County government , however , has launched a Supporting Return to School ( SRS ) program , which will permit some kindergarten through sixth-grade students to access in-person educational child care programs at 37 of the county ’ s public school buildings for a monthly fee based on household income .
Space will be limited for the program because each classroom will be allowed to hold only 10 students .
Households that make $ 52,399 a year or less will be charged $ 80 per month , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scale .
Households that make $ 131,000 or more a year will be required to pay $ 1,472 per month .
Corey DeAngelis , the director of school choice at the libertarian think tank Reason Foundation , criticized the school system for forcing parents to pay for in-person schooling when their tax money already goes to providing schooling .
Although he credited Fairfax County for using a sliding scale to determine costs , he said parents should not have to pay more money for something their tax dollars are meant to provide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the stick here , ” DeAngelis said in a phone interview with The Center Square .
Regardless of the sliding scale , DeAngelis said lower-income families still are hurt the most by these costs because they do not have additional money to spend .
If schools can not provide the same level of education services they normally provide , DeAngelis said taxpayers should not have to provide the same amount of money to these schools through their taxes .
Rather , he said , parents should be allowed to opt into alternative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordinarily would go toward public schools .
This would be similar to other school-choice programs nationwide , which allow parents to use government vouchers to send their children to charter schools or private schools with government money instead of public schools .
In the current system , DeAngelis said parents are being charged twice for the same services they received in previous years .
Families that have higher income have opted into alternative schooling options for their children , such as microschools , during the pandemic .
DeAngelis said low-income families also should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that charging parents twice likely violates the state constitution , which guarantees free K-12 education for children .
Until this year , he said this always has been interpreted to mean in-person schooling , which would make charges for the same services unconstitutional .
Lucy Caldwell , the director of news and information for Fairfax County Public Schools , told The Center Square in an email the SRS program is not run by the public school system , but by the county .
She said public schooling will be provided virtually , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees , not public school employees .
“ [ Fairfax County Public Schools ] is continuing to work on plans for a phased reopening of schools expected to initially serve small cohorts of students who experience most difficulties with virtual learning – as soon as possible , ” Caldwell said .
“ FCPS remains focused on providing a strong start to the virtual beginning of the school year.
” Christian Braunlich , the president of the free-market Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy , said the SRS program does not violate the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One is dayc are , ” Braunlich said .
“ They are different.
” The office of public affairs for Fairfax County did not respond to a request for comment .
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and West Virginia for The Center Square .
He previously worked for the Cause of Action Institute and has been published in Business Insider , USA TODAY College , National Review Online and the Washington Free Beacon .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Ohio School District Goes Big on Face Shields, Then State Bans Them

The Ohio Department of Health ( ODH ) banned students last week from wearing face shields as a substitute for masks , according to Fox 19 .
The ODH cited a CDC report that said “ there is currently not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of face shields , ” and the health organization also said it “ does not currently recommend use of face shields as a substitute for masks.
” In August , the ODH mandated the use of face coverings , for all K-12 students returning to in-person schooling .
In the initial order , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ material that covers a person ’ s nose , mouth , and chin.
” This new ruling affects Dayton Public Schools ( DPS ) which announced in June that it would be investing in clear face shields for all students to wear .
In a press release , Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli said that the district had already spent $ 28,000 on the face shields after receiving guidance that they were acceptable .
DPS had originally planned to re-open fully with a two-foot social distancing requirement and use re-usable face shields to prevent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Dayton Daily News .
The face shields would have been sanitized by students and left at the school .
The school district has since moved to online-only education for at least the first 9 weeks of school .
It is unclear if the face covering ban had anything to do with the decision , or what will be done with the already purchased face shields .
In a press conference earlier this month , Governor Mike DeWine said the state would be giving school districts “ great leeway ” on the type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to a question specifically about face shields , DeWine said Ohio was “ not trying to micromanage.
” “ I think the consensus in the medical community is let ’ s not nitpick , don ’ t be judgmental , put something on , ” DeWine said .
“ And I think that ’ s what the goal should be.
” Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Congressman Seeks to End Park’s Designation as Lee Memorial

FALLS CHURCH , Virginia ( AP ) — A northern Virginia congressman is pursuing legislation to remove Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee ’ s name from the official designation at the historic mansion where he lived before the Civil War .
The home , overlooking the nation ’ s capital and surrounded by Arlington National Cemetery , is a National Park Service site officially known as “ Arlington House , The Robert E. Lee Memorial.
” Congress renamed the site in 1972 to add Lee ’ s name and designate it as a memorial to him .
But Democratic Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Arlington House , said it ’ s time that Lee ’ s name be stripped .
“ Part of the reckoning with the history of racism and slavery in America and in our own community has been a reexamination of public symbols , ” Beyer said in a statement to The Associated Press .
Beyer ’ s plans for legislation comes as descendants of a family enslaved at Arlington House have been lobbying for a name change .
In addition , David Rubenstein , who donated $ 12 million to support restoration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he believes Lee ’ s name should be removed .
The site itself has been closed for renovations and is expected to reopen later this year .
Beyer , in his statement , cited the requests from descendants of the enslaved as part of his rationale for pursuing the change .
He also cited the mansion ’ s history , noting that “ ( t ) he choice of Lee ’ s home for the site of a national military cemetery was intended to be a punitive measure against Lee , who himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposed erecting Confederate monuments.
” The mansion ’ s history is fascinating and complex .
It sits atop a bluff overlooking the Potomac River , with an unparalleled view of Washington .
Surrounding the mansion is Arlington National Cemetery , which draws nearly 4 million visitors a year .
It was built by George Washington ’ s adoptive grandson , George Washington Parke Custis , who maintained the mansion as something of a shrine to Washington .
Custis ’ daughter later married Robert E. Lee ; they were wed at the home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of years before the Civil War .
When the war began , Lee ’ s family fled the home and Union commanders seized the property .
They soon chose to use the land as a burial site for Union soldiers , planting the seeds for Arlington National Cemetery while also rendering the site forever inhospitable to the Lee family as a home .
The debate over Lee ’ s name at Arlington House comes as Confederate monuments and markers are being reconsidered across the South .
In neighboring Fairfax County , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ E. Lee High School for the late congressman John Lewis .
In Richmond , the state is battling in court for authority to remove a century-old statue of Lee that long anchored the city ’ s famed Monument Avenue .
And in Congress , Beyer and others are seeking to remove statues of Lee and other Confederate figures from the U.S. Capitol .
Craig Syphax of Arlington is one of the descendants of Arlington House slaves who requested Beyer take action .
The Syphax family traces its roots to both Mount Vernon and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syphax married Maria Carter in a ceremony at Arlington House .
It is now generally acknowledged that the unusual honor granted to that slave wedding is because Maria Carter was the illegitimate daughter of Parke Custis and a slave named Arianna Carter .
Parke Custis later granted freedom to Maria Syphax and her children , and set aside 17 acres on the property for her family to live .
Generations of Syphaxes achieved prominence in a variety of fields .
Craig Syphax said Lee ’ s name should be removed not only because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but because it overstates Lee ’ s importance to the history of the site .
“ He ’ s not the headliner for all the history that ’ s occurred there , ” Syphax said .
“ To the degree that he is a headliner , he ’ s a headliner for all the wrong reasons.
” Another Syphax descendant , Tracey Syphax of Trenton , New Jersey , said he knew nothing about his family history growing up .
He said learning his family history in his adult years helped give him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the degree Arlington House is able to tell its full story , rather than narrowly focusing on Lee , he thinks it can help all Americans have a new outlook on our shared history .
“ We all get to a better place if we start telling the true history of America , ” he said .
Matthew Barakat is a reporter for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : In this July 17 , 2014 , file photo , the historic Arlington House mansion is seen at Arlington National Cemetery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressman is pursuing legislation to remove Confederate Gen. Robert E.Lee ’ s name from the official designation of the historic mansion where he lived before the Civil War .
The home , overlooking the nation ’ s capital and surrounded by Arlington National Cemetery , is a National Park Service site officially known as “ Arlington House , The Robert E. Lee Memorial.
” ( AP Photo/Cliff Owen , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Richmond City Council Delays Gun Ordinance Vote

The Richmond City Council chose to delay a vote on an amendment to its firearms ordinance .
The council heard over an hour of public comments and discussion in the virtual meeting on Thursday afternoon .
Eventually , the council members concluded they needed more time to clarify questions about vague wording in the amendment .
Councilwoman Kristen Larson said , “ The sense that I ’ m getting from my fellow council members ( and this is where I am , ) I have some concerns about the enforcement as well as the legality of this.
” The council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a special meeting on September 8 , 2020 , at 4 p.m .
The amendment was proposed by Mayor Levar Stoney , and is based on new legislation passed within the Virginia General Assembly that authorizes cities to pass gun regulations .
The amendment substantially expands a 2019 ordinance that bans carrying “ any firearm within any City-owned building , park , or recreation or community facility.
” The new amendment adds verbiage outlawing possessing and transporting “ firearms , ammunition , or components or combination thereof.
” Additionally , the amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operated by the city , including city-operated portions of buildings not owned by the city .
The most controversial addition is a clause that bans firearms and ammunition on public streets and sidewalks “ or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public ” that is adjacent to an event that would require a city permit .
The amendment is a response to gun-rights demonstrations such as the January 20 “ Lobby Day ” and the more recent August 17 protests held as the Virginia General Assembly began its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern about the definition of “ adjacent ” and how that might affect private property owners during protests and other events .
Council Vice President Chris Hilbert said , “ I ’ m very concerned about the word ‘ adjacent . '
” Hilbert asked if they could legally use more clear wording in the ordinance than what is specifically stated in the Virginia statute .
Nevertheless , Hilbert clarified , “ I am absolutely for this .
I think there ’ s no question in my mind that people are coming to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
That ’ s exactly what they ’ re doing.
” “ That ’ s what I ’ m concerned about , is people going out purposefully intimidating someone to silence them .
That is absolutely wrong and unconstitutional , ” Hilbert said .
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Report: All Schools Safe to Reopen

The latest report from the Minnesota Department of Health ( MDH ) reveals that all schools are safe to reopen for in-person learning models , according to county case numbers .
The MDH released this information as part of an updated report published every Thursday .
According to Governor Walz ’ s “ Safe Learning Plan ” issued at the beginning of this month , schools will determine if they can sustain an in-person learning model by the number of new coronavirus cases per 10,000 people in their county over a 14 day period .
High school in-person learning models @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases ; elementary school in-person learning models are an option for 49 or less cases .
According to the MDH ’ s latest report over 88 percent of counties have 19 or less cases , compared to 29 or less cases in 11 percent of counties .
Overall case rates per county have been steadily falling since mid-July .
The day before MDH published its latest report , the state recorded its highest single-day death total in over two months .
All 17 deaths were those over the age of 60 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In response to this news , state health officials remarked that parents aren ’ t testing their children for fear of losing out on in-person schooling .
“ We ’ re hearing troubling reports of some parents who want to have in-person learning so badly that they are deciding not to get symptomatic children tested for COVID , ” said Minnesota ’ s Epidemiologist , Dr. Ruth Lynfield .
“ [ They ’ re ] thinking that if their child is confirmed to have COVID , it will impact the metrics to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning.
” Health officials later admitted that these reports were sourceless and “ mostly anecdotal.
” Even so , Lynfield argued that citizens should still take these rumors seriously , and encouraged families to get testing and to self-quarantine if they ’ re feeling ill. “ I really think people need to respect the virus , and I think people should be alarmed at the amount of community transmission we now have.
” Many elementary and high schools are scheduled to begin their fall semesters in several weeks time .
Corinne Murdock is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Kim Gray Interview: Mayor Stoney Dodges Procurement Rules Awarding $1.8M to Donor Shell Company Whil

Kim Gray Interview: Mayor Stoney Dodges Procurement Rules Awarding $1.8M to Donor Shell Company While Richmond Students Go Without Technology For School

Live from Virginia Wednesday 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 Richmond mayoral candidate Kim Gray to the show .
During the interview , Gray discusses her call for an investigation into Mayor Levar Stoney who awarded a donor a $ 1.8 million contract to remove statutes avoiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this money could have been spent on helping kids get the technology they need to be back in school after Labor Day .
Fredericks : Kim Gray with us .
She has called on him to resign .
No .
I ’ m sorry she ’ s called on an investigation into his handling .
She hasn ’ t called on him to resign .
Some other people have done that .
Sorry about that Kim , I don ’ t want to misstate that .
Fredericks : Kim , what is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , I think that from all indications it should have cost a whole lot less than we as taxpayers paid for .
And the contracts went to a close friend and political ally through a shell company that was created only a few days before he came up with this emergency monuments .
Since the removal council has voted unanimously to remove monuments .
So , you got ta ask yourself why this $ 1.8 million contract went out the door .
Fredericks : OK .
So let ’ s break this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss whether or not the statutes should have been removed .
The council voted to remove them that ’ s fine .
So we all get that .
What becomes an issue is how do they get removed ?
They get removed , first of all , it costs the city $ 1.8 million .
Fredericks : And the company that got awarded the contract to take them out was a shell company that was put into business 10 days before they got $ 1.8 million .
The third thing we find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And after you voted to get the statues out whether it took a week , five days or 15 days really didn ’ t matter once you announced they were coming down .
To me another week wouldn ’ t have mattered .
So we got a no-bid at $ 1.8 million .
Now we have other people saying they were charging $ 180,000 a day .
We could have done that $ 20,000 or $ 30,000 a day .
So who got the money ?
And how did he bypass procurement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city commission .
There ’ s a long bureaucracy you have to go through right ?
How did he get all this done in a week ?
Gray : It was under emergency provisions because of the civil unrest he used that excuse and reason for why he could justify spending this kind of money .
And just put that in perspective .
A person earning $ 36,000 a year which is above our Richmond medium .
We have a lot of people in poverty who would have to work 50 years to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been more than 5,000 laptops for students .
We still have more than a third that don ’ t have laptops .
And school is fast approaching .
It ’ s wasteful and in the wake of us needing those dollars to recover from COVID-19 and the civil unrest that has much of our city boarded .
Fredericks : So you asked for an investigation and Levar Stoney ’ s chief of staff Lincoln Sanders I recall said the other day , well we went out .
We asked a bunch of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They don ’ t want to have their names out there because of Charlottesville and this and that .
But companies have come forward and said well nobody contacted me .
I would have done it for $ 30,000 a day that would have been a fraction of the $ 1.8 million .
Other companies have come forward .
Why weren ’ t they asked ?
Gray : That ’ s a good question .
And I ’ ve heard from several contractors who do work with the city and many of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want to be named because they don ’ t want to have any retribution .
They do this kind of work and they said they were never approached about it .
It ’ s really interesting to find that this contract went out the door during a time that we are in need of additional revenues .
A close friend and a political ally of the mayor got a contract that looks and appears to be a lot more than it should have cost us , taxpayers .
Fredericks : Full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gray for mayor .
We think she ’ ll be fantastic .
The way it works is there is nine wards in Richmond for a candidate to win on the first ballot .
They have to outright win a plurality in five of the wards .
If they don ’ t and they only win three or four then it goes to a runoff of the top two finishers .
So that ’ s the way it works .
Let me ask you this .
The shell company that Stoney created called Team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that was created 10 days before they got the money .
It was created .
So it didn ’ t exist .
It was just created .
Also , the guy that created it , a guy by the name of Henry obviously I can ’ t think of his first name .
I ’ m doing this off memory .
But his last name is Henry .
He created this .
Devon Henry .
I ’ m sorry .
When we checked the records , Devon Henry gave $ 4,000 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So it ’ s a Stoney donor .
So let me get this straight .
You are a Stoney donor .
You gave him money .
You create a shell company 10 days ahead of time .
Then you get $ 1.8 million .
Then you do the work .
Then other people come out and say I would have done the work for a fraction of that .
We got overcharged .
And he was a donor .
Doesn ’ t that smell a little fishy to you ?
Gray : No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules are there to protect the citizens .
And those procurement rules were ignored .
And under the guise of the fact that he said it was an emergency situation .
And we ’ ve seen this happen in the past .
And I don ’ t think that it was justified .
I think that if it were a 10-day process we could have gotten requests for proposals out and bid it out .
And I ’ m certain that it would not have cost $ 1.8 million .
Fredericks : My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor went to the governor and asked for the emergency powers to be extended so he could bypass through an emergency all of the normal procurement processes in Richmond that are put in place just to stop this kind of cronyism thing .
But I guess my question is , let me ask you this .
If the statues took another 15 days to be taken down but you guys announced we ’ re going to be taking them down August 17 .
That was Monday .
Not July whatever it was .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get the right firm .
We ’ ve got to put out the bids .
It ’ s going to be August 17 .
That ’ s our target date .
What would have happened Kim ?
Gray : That ’ s a good question .
They did take a break for the holiday .
I think that ’ s the Fourth of July holiday .
So I mean where ’ s the emergency ?
That ’ s what a lot of people have asked .
You have to wonder why a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ putting information out about who actually got the contract .
It ’ s just doesn ’ t past the smell test .
It really doesn ’ t .
Fredericks : Well the mayor ordered the crews to start working on July 1 .
This was in direct contrast to the council .
The recommendation .
The recommendation that he got from City Attorney Haskell Brown who said that hey if you do this you ’ re going to get sued .
Just go through the regular order .
I mean just go through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tough to sit here and say we get the mobs , we get the statues .
We get it .
They have to come down .
OK. Fine .
Say they are coming down .
And say it ’ s going to take two or three weeks .
We ’ ve got children that can ’ t go to school and that don ’ t have a computer and can ’ t learn .
And so we don ’ t want to waste money so they can ’ t have a computer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not a person in Richmond that would have been upset over that .
They would have said , well that makes sense .
Instead , we get this thing jammed through .
Goes to a donor .
They gouge the city .
The money is gone .
Everything is bypassed .
Now we find out there is another 75 documents that have not been released that people are trying to get .
What do you think is going to be in those documents , Kim ?
Gray : That remains to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve asked for a full-on investigation because what they can hide for certain reasons but they can not hide from a subpoena from a prosecutor or a court .
So I think transparency is key here and we ’ ve got to follow the money and understand exactly what happened .
These are our tax dollars at hand .
This is not his personal fund .
The last time I checked the GoFundMe which they had established which I have questions about .
There was $ 25,000 in that account .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve made it up to but I ’ m certain it ’ s nowhere near the $ 1.8 million that have been spent on this contract .
And then in addition to that any dollars that come in philanthropically could be used to get our children broadband access and computers .
We still have a third of our children with school starting right after Labor Day who don ’ t have RPS laptops and access to the internet .
This is a major crisis situation .
And nobody is telling me what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to reach them .
So that is the biggest emergency we are facing right now .
Listen to the full interview here :


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Ohio Sports Are a Go, Will Have Restrictions.

Ohio will be allowing all sports this fall .
Governor Mike Dewine said in a press conference Tuesday that sports instill “ discipline , brings order , structure in the lives of student-athletes , and certainly brings joy to those athletes and certainly to their families as well.
” Other concerns mentioned were the mental health of students not allowed to play sports , and the importance of a final season for many student-athletes graduating next year .
The order allows sports to be played not just by K-12 athletes competing in school leagues but includes “ youth , collegiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sports , ” to take place in the state , as long as guidelines are followed .
The guidelines are range widely from the number of spectators allowed in indoor venues to the protocols for travel to and from games .
Social distancing requirements include six-foot gaps between players waiting in lines , a ban on congregating before or after events , and hand sanitizer being easily available for participants .
Spectators will be required to sit with their family units , spaced six feet apart from other groups .
Indoor facilities like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrestling , will have limited seating .
The requirement will allow either 15 % of the available seating to be occupied , or 300 people , whichever is less .
How seating will be assigned should there be a shortage is not included in the guidelines , and it is likely school districts will be in charge of deciding .
The order requires that everyone involved in sports including spectators , coaches , athletes , trainers , and officials are subject to daily symptom checks .
Anyone with symptoms of the virus will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be mandatory for anyone at a sporting event not currently involved in the game , including players on the sidelines .
There are some exceptions to this rule , including people under ten years of age or who are medically incapable of wearing masks .
Anyone who comes into contact with a person infected with the coronavirus will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days and anyone with the coronavirus will need to be cleared by a doctor before returning to sports activities .
The order states that all organizers involved , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sponsoring organizations enforce the restrictions and even designate a person to help ensure that participants are following the new rules .
State and local law enforcement are allowed to help with enforcement , and people found guilty of violations are subject to a fine of up to $ 750 and up to 90 days in jail .
Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Ben on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--Common Ground: Democrat Justin Fairfax Talks Solutions for COVID, Criminal Justice and Police Reform

Live from Virginia Thursday 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 Democratic State Senator and Mayoral nominee for 2021 , Justin Fairfax to the show .
During the show , Fairfax discussed his objectives for the current session and the top pieces of legislation that they will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lieutenant Governor Democrat Justin Fairfax , full disclosure who has also announced he will be a 2021 candidate for Governor .
We predicted that Justin Fairfax is going to be the 2021 Democratic nominee for governor , and he is with us now .
Fairfax : Good morning John .
Great to be with you as always .
Hello to all your listeners and to all Virginians .
Wonderful to be with you .
Fredericks : OK. We have a lot to talk about today .
Let ’ s start with the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , the state Senate has decided under the Godfather Dick Saslaw the Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw the Democrat from Fairfax to stay in session in person .
Have media coverage there .
They are at the science museum .
There is plenty of social distancing and masks .
The House though decided to leave and go electronic .
Why did you guys decide to stay ?
Fairfax : We are again as you mentioned at the science museum .
We were there back in April and an earlier reconvened session and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I normally do as lieutenant governor .
And we found in the way that we did it back in April .
As you mentioned there is plenty of social distancing .
We all have our masks on and we are washing our hands and sanitizing .
And absorbing all the precautions that you need to preserve .
And we have the space to do it safely .
We are being very efficient .
We ’ re getting the people ’ s business done .
We are dealing with critical issues now for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic difficulties that our country is facing .
But Virginia is doing a much better job at handling this then other states are with the COVID-19 pandemic .
And the ongoing efforts there .
I think we ’ ve been very effective there with our response .
And of course with criminal justice reform and policing reform .
This is really a very urgent issue .
We ’ ve passed landmark legislation just the other day at the committee .
And I look forward to coming to the Senate .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know John for the last two years on critical issues including Medicaid expansion .
Gun violence prevention .
Women ’ s reproductive health care .
I ’ ve cast some really consequential tiebreaking votes .
And I ’ m ready to do so on policing and criminal justice reform if it comes to that .
Fredericks : Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax , you mention justice reform .
What are the top pieces of legislation that you are favoring that you would like to see passed in this special session on justice reform ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ John some of the really key items that were passed out of committee that I believe will be signed into law by Governor Northam .
One will be banning chokeholds which we saw in Minneapolis .
George Floyd with an officer with a knee on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds and killed him in cold blood in front of the world .
And that sparked so much of the change now that we ’ ve seen worldwide .
So that is critical that we do that throughout the Commonwealth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warrants .
That ’ s how Breonna Taylor was killed in Kentucky .
And of course , tracking officers who abused unjustified uses of force .
Excessive force .
Making sure they can be de-certified and not simply moved from law enforcement agency to law enforcement agency .
I should say that there is a lot of support of course from the community and activists but also from law enforcement .
I have met with law enforcement personally .
We talked through a lot about these issues .
They understand that here in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards and want to make sure that we are not having really bad officers that make it more difficult and ruin the reputation that so many good officers and some of the good departments .
It ’ s critical that we make these reforms that are transparent .
And I think that we ’ ve also got to go even further than just those policing reforms .
We ’ ve got to reform our criminal justice system here in Virginia .
Senator Joe Morrissey is carrying a very consequential bill around sentencing reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opt for a jury trial .
But also to have a judge sentence them .
Right now juries do the sentencing phase recommendations in Virginia .
We are one of the only six states that do that .
It usually results in harsher sentences for people .
And presents an inequity in our system .
We are looking forward to that bill coming to the floor .
Senator Louis Lucas again carrying some police reforms .
We are very supportive of those .
And once we get done with this we will look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should abolish the death penalty in the Commonwealth of Virginia .
I think we need what is called John , conviction integrity units .
These are units that have been started in states and cities around the country and what they have found is that there are numerous people who have been wrongfully accused .
Wrongfully convicted .
Many who have spent decades in prison only to find out that they were actually innocent of the charges and should never have been accused , convicted , and prosecuted in the first place .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a dozen people who have been exonerated and who were falsely accused and falsely convicted .
So I ’ m really pushing heavily for that .
There are other reforms that we need to put in place .
But we ’ ve got to be focused on justice and fairness .
And Senator Mamie Locke made a powerful speech yesterday on the floor of the Senate talking about the need for justice and fairness .
And I ’ m going to be a champion for that .
Fredericks : I just want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s happening now , when you talk about criminal justice reform people immediately go to the extremes and they are thinking about what ’ s going on in Fairfax right now with Commonwealths Attorney Descano there where they are not prosecuting people there for indecent exposure .
They go to extremes .
Nothing that you mentioned here is extreme .
In fact , I back all of it .
I ’ m the Trump Delegation Chairman in Virginia .
I can ’ t believe in today ’ s day and age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentencing .
That ’ s why you have a judicial system .
That ’ s why you have a judge .
They have to take more broader view .
Also , a judge is made aware of things a jury isn ’ t .
So I am 100 percent in favor of that .
Senator Bill Stanley , one of the most conservative Senators you are going to find in a southside Republican .
He ’ s in favor of that .
I ’ ve been in favor of abolishing the death penalty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-life .
Either you are pro-life or not .
I don ’ t see how you can make a distinction .
I ’ m just not in favor of it .
And I ’ ve been in favor of abolishing that forever .
And I ’ m also in favor of your integrity .
Fredericks : The conviction integrity unit .
Because look if you Michael Flynn you are in favor of that .
OK ?
This works on both sides .
If you are Ted Stevens you are in favor of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrongful evidence .
And so why anybody would be opposed to that I don ’ t know why .
I don ’ t know why you would be opposed to that at all .
So I favor all of those .
Let ’ s get back to reforming blue .
Policing reform .
You want to ban chokeholds .
I think you ’ ll probably get a majority of people that saw the George Floyd thing .
That kind of makes sense .
There was also an incident in New York City or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those have to go .
What was the other thing you mentioned ?
Fairfax : I also mentioned banning what I called are no-knock warrants .
These are warrants that are often executed on a home against a suspected offender .
Usually at night .
And so it ’ s police breaking down someone ’ s door without announcing themselves .
And that often leads to very violent bouts or situations that can and should be avoided .
And Breonna Taylor is the most recent example of a tragedy that happened when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innocent EMT who is working the COVID-19 pandemic trying to help us all get through this in Louisville , Kentucky .
And yet , police do a no-knock warrant at her house .
End up firing shots that killed her .
And there is still an injustice ongoing on there .
Nobody has truly been held accountable for that .
And that we believe has to stop .
It puts obviously people and citizens at danger and risk .
And it also puts police in danger and risk .
That has to change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enhancing them so that if an officer again has substantiated to abuse of excessive force that there is an investigation into excessive force .
They can ’ t simply move from city to city and county to county and do that same kind of policing in the next community .
And then of course it would track that statewide creating a database that we think is really important .
Civilian review boards that have the appropriate power of authority to help a community investigate these types of issues when they happen .
Excessive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust in the community .
Then we talk about what ’ s called which Marcus-David Peters Alert which is when someone is having a mental health issue that we ’ re sending mental health professionals to respond rather than responding solely with guns .
And we see the tragedy that happened when that occurs .
So these again John as you mentioned , there is so much common ground here .
Listen to the full interview here :


thetennesseestar--2020-08-21--On New Podcast, Gov. Bill Lee Talks Juggling Public Safety Versus Keeping Tennessee’s Economy Going

Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee said this week that protecting public safety while also protecting the state ’ s small businesses during COVID-19 is his administration ’ s primary “ balancing act ” and it was “ heartbreaking ” to watch small businesses close .
Lee also said he and other state officials used stimulus money to help the state ’ s business owners .
Lee discussed this on a new episode of the Beacon Center of Tennessee ’ s Over-Caffeinated podcast .
Beacon is a right-of-center think tank .
“ As a small business guy , the idea of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business goes philosophically against what most of us actually believe should be happening , except in the case where there is an imminent public threat , ” Lee said .
“ We now know more about what is happening here .
We also recognize it ’ s not just about people ’ s lives but their livelihoods.
” Lee also said Tennessee had to keep its economy going even as he and other state officials worked to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 , knowing some people would get it and even die from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to give states stimulus money through the CARES Act , one of the very first things we did was pull aside $ 200 million and designate it for small business relief , companies that are $ 10 million in revenue and below .
We developed a plan for that .
That was in addition to $ 200 million we put in the state budget for businesses to use against Coronavirus relief , ” Lee said .
“ We had just announced last week $ 83 million more .
My belief about stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses .
That is how you ’ re going to stimulate the economy .
That is how you ’ re going to keep them moving .
That is how you are going to keep people ’ s jobs coming back .
It ’ s been heartbreaking to watch small businesses close.
” Beacon President Justin Owen , meanwhile , said on the podcast that government “ can protect both lives and livelihoods.
” “ It doesn ’ t have to be one or the other .
And I think the people who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some states , are under this false assumption that they can just shut on and off the economy like it ’ s a light switch .
You can ’ t do that .
It affects real people , ” Owen said .
“ And there ’ s also this element of elitism that ‘ If everyone just goes home and works on the laptop at their kitchen table for a few months that we ’ ll be OK. ’ For the vast majority of workers in our country that ’ s not feasible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their work is in a plant .
Their work is in a grocery store and in places where they have to physically be .
To say that they are not essential is really a slap in the face .
I ’ ve never met a person who said my paycheck is not essential to me.
” During the podcast , Lee said that a lack of civility in politics “ does not contribute well to the dialogue in this state.
” Lee also said that , academically , children learn better in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already have enough deficit in learning that we don ’ t need to add to that , ” Lee said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Bill Lee ” by Bill Lee .