thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--Crom Carmichael Discusses the Improbability of Unity Under a Biden Presidency

Live from Music Row Friday 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 the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
During the second hour , Carmichael discussed a recent WSJ article that pointed out some interesting historical facts relating to uniting the country under certain presidencies and later outlined how there could be no unity under a Joe Biden presidency .
Leahy : We are joined now by our very good friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crom , good morning .
Carmichael : Michael , how are you , sir ?
Leahy : We were talking during the break here that even some left-wingers have questions about this election .
Carmichael : Well , the irregularities , I don ’ t believe that it ’ s necessarily the voting machines .
Could be but I think it ’ s in the counting .
I think that the fact that you had as you pointed out in Atlanta the so-called pipe burst .
Of course , the pipe that burst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had nothing to do with the area where they were counting votes .
But then they sent the Republicans home and they proceeded to count votes while they weren ’ t there .
And low and behold while the Republicans weren ’ t there that ’ s when all the votes went to Biden .
Carmichael : I ’ m sorry .
I don ’ t buy that .
I just simply don ’ t buy that .
Now , how you can track it down and catch it ?
I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you can ’ t track it down and catch it then you don ’ t know whether you can prove it .
And that that may be a problem in each of each state across the country .
Now to me , I think that Trump has an uphill battle to become the next president , even though I am absolutely convinced that if Biden is the next president , he literally stole the election .
Now , but having said that we need to take what we ’ ve learned from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t happen on January fifth in Georgia .
Carmichael : The Republicans need to make sure that every single vote that is counted in that state in that election is checked and verified .
And anybody who moves into the state for the purpose of voting to turn around and move out should be arrested and convicted for voter fraud .
Because that ’ s exactly what that is according to Georgia law .
You have to have the intent of becoming a citizen if you just move in stay in a motel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m sorry .
That doesn ’ t make it not make intent .
You will not change your driver ’ s license .
You would not have changed your residency .
These are things that you ’ re to do .
So it ’ s up to Republicans to do their job and I hope they will .
Now there ’ s an interesting article though in The Wall Street Journal by a guy named William Galston who is a leftist .
But he ’ s kind of an intellectual leftist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he writes is just garbage in the sense that it makes no real sense .
But this particular article while at the end of the day , it doesn ’ t make a lot of sense it raises some really interesting historical facts .
And so the title to his column is Biden ’ s Tough Job : Uniting Americans .
And he points out for example the Nixon campaign .
His campaign theme was to bring us together again .
Carmichael : Yes .
And then Bill Clinton , his theme was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ( Leahy laughs ) That was Clinton ’ s .
Leahy : There are so many punch lines for that .
( Laughs ) Carmichael : And here ’ s Barack Obama .
“ Determination to heal the divisions that have held back our progress.
” And he was citing Abraham Lincoln .
Now Abraham Lincoln actually did want to heal the country and he got shot in the head for wanting to do so .
It ’ s really quite interesting .
Then he calls about Jimmy Carter .
He says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way .
“ For myself and for my nation , I want to thank my predecessor and all he has done to heal our land.
” Can you picture Biden saying that ?
Leahy : He will not say that .
Carmichael : Well if he does say it everybody in the audience will be laughing out loud because it would be the most disingenuous statement .
Now Gerald Ford .
This is just classic .
I ’ m going to get to the funny part .
Carmichael : But this is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of interesting because he says ‘ bringing the country together is really hard.
’ Do you think ?
So , Gerald Ford , he said Gerald Ford deserves accolades for 895 days of his presidency .
He worked to mend the nation ’ s fabric torn by Vietnam , Watergate , and the Central Intelligence Agency ’ s misdeeds .
Let ’ s fast forward to today and replace Vietnam with the Middle East .
Let ’ s replace Watergate with the FBI and the Steele dossier .
Let her place the CIA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leahy laughs ) So it ’ s really interesting .
Now the thing that he doesn ’ t mention is that Gerald Ford accomplished nothing that he wanted to accomplish because he was facing a veto-proof Congress .
A veto-proof Congress .
And remember the button that Gerald Ford wore ?
Carmichael : And did he whip inflation ?
Carmichael : So it really is fascinating .
Leahy : So , you know , there are some highly paid Republican consultants who thought back in 1974-75 that that motto would be a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Carmichael : But the Democrats they would pass a bill through the house passed a bill through the Senate .
Ford would veto it because it would be a particularly bad bill .
the legislation that was passed in the first two years after Ford in 1974 to 76 some of the legislation that was passed there was some of the worst past in the history of our country .
But that ’ s because Ford ’ s veto is meaningless .
They would pass a bill in the morning the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ override The veto in the afternoon .
So that ’ s what was happening through Ford ’ s two-plus years as president .
What ’ s interesting about this is that now you have president-elect and he ’ s saying what are the that Biden could do that would be bipartisan ?
He says one thing he could do that would be bipartisan is to not sic the justice department on President Trump himself .
Now he claims that that would be bipartisan because Trump did it to Hillary Clinton .
Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t do that to Hillary Clinton .
Actually , it was a justice department through the special prosecutor that was sicked on Trump .
So Galston got has his characters backward .
Now he does point out Trump ’ s audience during his rallies would say lock her up , lock her up .
But he didn ’ t attempt to lock her up .
He did not do that .
But the left wants to lock Trump up and anybody from his administration .
Carmichael : Yeah , anybody from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing he says is that Biden should lead off with a legislative agenda that is bipartisan .
He says , for example , the speedy vaccine distribution and adequate supplies of personal protective equipment .
Well , that ’ s what Trump is going to do before he leaves office .
Leahy : He ’ s already done that .
Carmichael : He ’ s already done that .
then he says he should not call for a national mask mandate .
In fact , he should ask the states to take care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what Trump does .
So his idea of bipartisan is to copy Trump .
Now , I suppose that Republicans will be happy about that to the extent you can be happy about a mask mandate at the state level and groupings of eight people other than the governors of the states who can have fancy parties .
Leahy : Don ’ t even get me started on that one .
That ’ s a full program .
Carmichael : So let ’ s look at what the big issues are and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden is .
What has he said about immigration ?
He has said he ’ s going to open the floodgates to the terrorist countries so that terrorist Muslims can come into the country .
Leahy : And increase the annual refugee limit from 18,000 to 125,000 .
That ’ s an 800 percent increase from hotbeds of terrorism .
Leahy : He wants hotbeds of terrorists to come into Tennessee .
Carmichael : He also has said he ’ s not going to build one more foot of the wall .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carmichael : Now the walls that have been built have been very successful .
In fact , there was a wall built in South Texas , and the Hispanic population in the counties on the Texas side of that wall increased their votes for Trump .
Leahy : Yes , I saw that .
Carmichael : Yeah , and so so if anybody would recognize the benefit to the walls that Trump has built it would be the people living on the American side of the walls .
And whether or not that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad thing is reflected by their votes .
Taxes .
What does Biden want to do on taxes ?
Well , he wants to tax people making hundreds of thousands of dollars .
But apparently , he wants to lead the people who are worth tens of billions of dollars , he wants to leave them completely alone .
Leahy : By the way in the five o ’ clock hour we had a call from Susan who was getting up early and going to her job as a server at a restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard all the time and able to make it now , but she ’ s working two jobs right now .
That ’ s the person who needs tax relief .
Joe Biden will not give it to her .
Carmichael : Right .
That ’ s exactly right .
In fact , he wants to raise the middle-income taxes by repealing the entire Trump tax cut .
But still , that doesn ’ t affect Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg who are his buddies .
We will have more regulation , education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other three items that I had just kind of the took me five minutes to write down on whether or not Joe Biden will reach out and try to heal the country .
Leahy : Yeah healing .
What kind of healing is this going to be ?
Not the kind you want .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--In Sworn Statement, Prominent Mathematician Flags up to 100,000 Pennsylvania Ballots

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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--2020-11-21--Mike Pence to Georgia: We Will Count Every Legal Ballot, And Throw Out Every Illegal Ballot

CANTON , Georgia – Vice President Mike Pence , looking and sounding very much like an election winner , told thousands of supporters in Canton , GA Friday that they must pray for America and that they also must vote for U.S. Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) and U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) in January of next year .
As reported , Perdue and Loeffler , both Republicans , are on the January 5 , 2021 ballot for the U.S. Senate against two Democrats , Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock , respectively .
Pence thanked Loeffler , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first U.S. senator to call to confirm U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett .
“ You all remember when Judge Amy Coney Barrett went through her confirmation two years ago .
And the leading Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee said she was concerned about Judge Barrett ’ s Catholic faith .
She said ‘ the dogma lives loudly within you , ’ ” Pence said Friday .
“ And their [ liberal ] allies in Hollywood have attacked Judge Barrett ’ s faith ever since .
But I have news for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats who want to join them .
That dogma lives loudly in me .
That dogma lives loudly in you .
And the right to live and worship according to the dictates of our faith lives loudly in the Constitution of the United States of America .
That is why for our liberties , for our future , for all the foundation of values that have made this country great , we need Senator David Perdue and Senator Kelly Loeffler back in the United States Senate.
” Loeffler addressed the crowd .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against socialism in this country.
” And she encouraged her supporters to vote early .
“ We are the last line of defense against this country making a change to the left that we won ’ t get to undo for maybe two , three , four , or five generations , ” Perdue said .
Many people in the crowd chanted “ Stop The Steal ” over and over again , referring to allegations that people committed vote fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election to put former Vice President Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd that U.S. President Donald Trump , the incumbent , “ will keep fighting until every legal vote is counted and every illegal vote is thrown out.
” “ We are going into an unknowable season .
We don ’ t know what the future holds , but in my house we know who holds the future , ” Pence said .
“ Again with those ancient words from the ancient text .
Remember that if His people who are called by His name will just humble themselves and pray and turn He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always done , ” Pence said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger and Gov. Kemp Certify Election Results, Leave it to Trump C

Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger and Gov. Kemp Certify Election Results, Leave it to Trump Campaign to Contest Results

ATLANTA , Georgia – Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger certified the election results on Friday afternoon officially , following completion of the statewide vote audit .
Raffensperger held a brief press conference in which he validated the results of the recount and indicated that election integrity could be improved upon .
“ Working as an engineer throughout my life , I live by the motto that : ‘ Numbers don ’ t lie.
’ As Secretary of State , I believe that the numbers that we have presented today are correct , ” he said .
Raffensperger also stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brian Kemp and the legislature to improve election procedures .
He acknowledged the surge of mail-in ballots overwhelmed the state ’ s current security measures , and he supported future laws implementing photo ID for absentee voting .
According to the risk-limiting audit report , the recount only discovered about a .11 percent variation in the differences between total vote counts and a .0099 percent variation in the overall margin .
Currently , Biden ’ s lead is 12,284 .
Prior to the recount , Biden led Trump by 14,101 votes – over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incited criticism initially due to the impossibility of signature matching for absentee ballots and the limited number of monitors allowed to oversee the recount .
Skepticism grew after two discoveries totaling over 5,000 previously uncounted votes .
Both discoveries were dismissed as human error .
A majority of those lost votes were for Trump .
A bipartisan cohort of legislators and activists have called the audit a “ fake.
” They have demanded that Raffensperger implement a thorough review of the absentee ballots beyond counting and increase oversight to one monitor per table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were incidents such as votes lost due to glitches from Dominion Voting Systems machines .
These electronic voting systems experienced glitches in other states as well .
Another incident occurred according to eyewitness testimony of multiple ballot-counting machines used though they were reported as missing security seals .
Those seals are meant to show a machine hasn ’ t been tampered with , and are both sturdy and difficult to remove .
Officials also claim that the seals are tamper-evident , but past researchers have proved that to be false using simple tools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Party of Georgia Chair David Schafer reported that Fulton County election officials continued to count ballots in secret after telling the media and Republican observers that they were shutting down their tabulation center for the night .
In a press conference following Raffensperger ’ s official certification of the votes , Kemp stated that he shared concerns with other legislators and constituents about the integrity of the election .
However , Kemp explained that he was required to adhere to state law .
“ Following Judge Ginsburg ’ s ruling yesterday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s office to formalize the certification which paves the way for the Trump campaign to pursue other legal options in a separate recount if they choose , ” the governor said .
“ Georgia has runoff elections for two U.S. Senate seats , and a public service commissioner scheduled to occur over the next several weeks .
We demand complete explanations for all discrepancies identified that our citizens will have complete confidence in our elections .
In the runoff election , we can not have lost memory cards or stacks of uncounted ballots.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sampling audit comparing ballot signatures to registration signatures , and that legislators should consider applying the same photo ID standards to mail-in ballots .
The governor ’ s certification of the results marked the first time since Election Day that he has spoken out on the integrity of the election .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Brad Raffensperger ” by Brad Raffensperger .
Background @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--Ohio AG Dave Yost Files Lawsuit Against Car Dealership Accused of Failing to Provide Car Titles

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a lawsuit against a used car dealership in the state for failing to provide titles to buyers , according to a statement released by the attorney general ’ s office on Friday .
The lawsuit seeks reimbursement for a state fund used to help used car buyers resolve title problems .
Yost filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Worldwide Auto Sales on Tuesday after receiving complaints from around 80 Ohio residents .
The suit accuses the company , operating as Cincinnati Auto Wholesale , of failing to deliver vehicle titles and warranties to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details of the sale .
It also alleges engagement in “ unfair and deceptive acts , ” according to a statement from Yost ’ s office .
The company “ displayed for sale and sold used motor vehicles without obtaining a certificate of title for the vehicles in their name , and without possessing a bill of sale for each motor vehicle displayed , offered for sale , or sold , ” according to the suit .
The Loveland-based company , which was owned by Anthony Blevins and Charles Reynolds , is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were taken for a ride of lies and deception , ” Yost said .
“ People who do business like that better buckle up , because the next stop is justice.
” Yost ’ s suit is seeking reimbursement for the Title Defect Recision fund , which is used to make payments to buyers who were not given proper title within 40 days after a vehicle ’ s purchase .
The attorney general ’ s office has made more than $ 226,000 in payments from the fund .
In addition to reimbursement for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking declaratory relief , injunctive relief and civil penalties .
The suit was filed in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--Court Declines to Block Construction of Mountain Valley Pipeline

The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to stay a Biological Opinion , a type of permit , from the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service for the Mountain Valley Pipeline ( MVP ) , according to Reuters .
The Wednesday decision allows construction of the 303 mile natural gas pipeline to go forward while the courts consider the merits of other legal challenges to the pipeline .
The MVP website states that the pipeline will bring economic benefits and tax revenues to local areas in Virginia and West Virginia , and will allow distribution of natural gas from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Opponents say the pipeline is unnecessary , dangerous , and too expensive .
“ One of the more recent arrows in the quiver of the environmentalist and progressive wing of energy stakeholders has been to block infrastructure , ” said Nick Loris , Joyce Morgan Fellow in Energy and Environmental Policy at the Heritage Foundation .
Loris said that in the past decade , environmentalists who don ’ t want fossil fuels to be used have begun targeting pipeline projects .
“ Their approach has been one , let ’ s make some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threats to ecology and to soil and to any type of risk of an accident .
But I think it fits under the umbrella of a larger framework that we need to transition away from conventional sources of energy like coal , oil , and natural gas , and one of the ways to do that is to block that infrastructure , ” Loris said .
Lieutenant Governor candidate Delegate Sam Rasoul ( D-Roanoke ) said in a Thursday press release , “ Mountain Valley Pipeline is the most expensive pipeline on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that once Joe Biden takes office , he should revoke permits allowing the pipeline to be built .
“ Building this pipeline using thousands of out-of-state workers in Southwest Virginia during an escalating public health emergency is creating an unnecessary and dangerous risk to the communities along the proposed route and beyond , ” he said .
“ While the court ’ s decision is a disappointing temporary setback , the fact remains that the same court already has stayed another permit , known as Nationwide Permit 12 , which MVP needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wetlands along the 303-mile route in West Virginia and Virginia , ” Rasoul said .
“ And MVP still lacks a permit to cross the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia as well as a 25-mile buffer zone over which construction is still barred by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission .
Without those permits , the project will never be completed.
” According to Loris , the U.S. already has a broad network of pipelines under the ground , and many residents near older pipelines might not know that they ’ re near one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas , particularly in the past 12 years or so , we have a lot of it , it ’ s affordable , it ’ s cheap , and it ’ s reliable , it makes economic sense to ensure that we meet the demands for homes and businesses with natural gas.
” “ I think the argument for the pipeline is , not only are we helping to deliver affordable , reliable energy to homes and businesses in the area , but we are also doing it in a more environmentally friendly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Loris said , “ Most people will live [ near ] a natural gas pipeline or even an oil pipeline and not even know that that ’ s the case , since [ the pipelines have ] been built before they really became all that confrontational.
” “ The National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Department of Transportation have reported that natural gas pipelines are the safest form of energy transportation in the U.S , ” MVP official Shawn Poesy wrote in a newsletter .
Loris said that although there might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas resources , policy makers should consider the hidden costs .
Natural gas is cleaner than coal , according to Loris .
Additionally , without a pipeline , coal and natural gas have to be transported by rail .
Utilities often use either natural gas or coal to generate electricity .
“ What does that mean for energy prices , what does that mean for home heating costs , but also what does that mean for the environment ?
Are we better off environmentally when these pipelines aren ’ t built , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the answer might seem like yes , but you have to look at what the alternative might be , and if the alternative is choosing coal , or the alternative is needing to build more transmission lines for renewable power sources , there ’ s environmental impacts for pretty much everything we do.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--Extended Unemployment Benefits Federal Program Ending in Virginia

Approximately 20,000 Virginians who have been relying on extended unemployment benefits over the last several months amidst the coronavirus pandemic will no longer receive those payments come Saturday .
The Virginia Employment Commission ( VEC ) announced Wednesday that it has been notified by the U.S. Department of Labor that the Extended Benefits Program in Virginia will end on November 21 .
The program , which began back on May 31 , covered people who had already exhausted their regular unemployment benefits ( UI ) , and any pandemic emergency unemployment benefits , or those who had no right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were on those extended benefits were getting the same amount of money that they were getting weekly [ before ] , but it was just an extension of their weeks , ” Joyce Fogg , a VEC spokesperson , said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ And it was up to 13 weeks , but not everybody got 13-weeks .
It was 50 percent of what your traditionally unemployment entitlement was.
” Under normal circumstances , extended benefit payments would be split 50-50 between the VEC and the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic the state ’ s half was being covered through CARES Act money , meaning the program was entirely federally funded , Fogg said .
The Department of Labor decides whether states can continue to receive extended benefits based on a calculation of unemployment rates , called the insured unemployment rate , over a 13-week period and a given threshold .
Virginia ’ s threshold for extended benefits is five percent and , as of November 15 , the insured unemployment rate had dipped to 4.66 percent , a signal to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer necessary .
Extended benefits are not gone forever though .
“ Yes , it can come back , ” Fogg told The Star .
“ [ the program ] triggers on and triggers off.
” Fogg said that if the state ’ s insured unemployment rate increases above the five percent threshold again , then the Department of Labor can start up the program again , but only after a 13-week reevaluating period .
If coronavirus conditions keep getting worse and more statewide restrictions are enforced , that could cause lots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covered by extended benefits were notified by the VEC about the program ending on Monday night through the Gov2Go website , according to Fogg , and the last effective date to claim extended benefits was this past Sunday .
Overall , the VEC has had 1.4 million unemployment claims made this year and paid out over 9 $ billion in benefits , Fogg said .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--New TikTok Video Out of Los Angeles Mocks Conservative Georgians During U.S. Senate Election

ATLANTA , Georgia – In an apparent display of coastal elitism , a new TikTok video tries to lampoon conservative Georgia residents as gullible enough to vote for either Raphael Warnock or Jon Ossoff — if someone dupes them into it .
The two Democrats want to represent the Peach State in the U.S. Senate .
The caption over the video says “ Me in Los Angeles talking to voters in Georgia ” and features an unidentified man , apparently posing as a woman , and speaking in an exaggerated Southern accent while he tries to solicit support for Warnock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make clear if this is a real or a mock phone call .
The man , holding a phone to his ear , asks for a woman named Petunia in Decatur and engages “ Petunia ” in small talk about the weather .
“ I am so sorry to bother you on the Lord ’ s Day , but I just want to make sure y ’ all were all set up for our runoff election for Senate on January 5 , ” the unidentified man said .
Later , after the pretend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the camera , peers closer to it , drops the fake Southern accent and says “ Whatever it f***ing takes.
” “ This is what the west coast supporters of Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock think of Georgians .
They make no effort to conceal their contempt .
They flaunt it , ” Shafer tweeted .
“ If there are two things Southerners love it ’ s outsiders getting involved in our affairs and condescension .
Keep trying stuff like this , it ’ s worked so well in senate races thus far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jorgenson .
Twitter user @ MeryLee , though , told Jorgenson that “ we may speak with a twang and a smile on our face but we recognize phony condescension.
” “ I am sure she got off the phone , had herself a good sweet chuckle while the ego is patting himself on the back cuz he thinks he put 1 over on her , ” @ MeryLee tweeted .
Jorgenson , according to The Washington Post ’ s website , is based out of Washington , D.C. and is a video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Department of Satire ” and various scripted series for the newspaper .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ TikTok Video ” by Washington Post TikTok Guy Comma Georgia .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--Arlington Prosecutor Deghani-Tafti Battles to Not Prosecute Marijuana Possession Violations

Arlington County Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Parisa Deghani-Tafti is in an unusual battle for a prosecutor — she ’ s fighting for a lower penalty to be imposed on a defendant alleged to have been transporting 50 pounds of marijuana at the Reagan National Airport .
According to reporting by the Washington Post , Judge Daniel Fiore II refused to accept a plea deal arranged by Deghani-Tafti , a move that also forced Fiore to recuse himself from further involvement in the case .
Now , Deghani-Tafti is arguing to have the original deal applied — one that would give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having his felony charges dismissed , according to the Washington Post .
“ Parisa will not prosecute simple possession of marijuana and support decriminalization and legalization , with appropriate government regulation , ” Deghani-Tafti ’ s 2019 campaign website states .
Deghani-Tafti has clashed with other judges for her controversial stance on enforcement of marijuana laws , leading to a case before the Virginia Supreme Court , according to the Washington Post .
She claims that judicial resistance to her policies is “ judicial activism.
” Deghani-Tafti ’ s approach is part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they will not enforce specific laws .
Heritage Legal Fellow and former prosecutor Zack Smith told The Virginia Star that the whole thing is an example of what happens when prosecutors decide not to prosecute broad swaths of law .
“ It highlights the breakdown in the system that happens when a lot of these rogue prosecutors take it upon themselves to implement their own vision of what laws should and should not be enforced and really usurp the role of the state legislature in doing that , ” Smith said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ job is to push for the strongest case they can make , and the public defender ’ s job is to push for the best outcome for their clients .
Smith said it is not surprising or bad that public defenders would accept lenient arrangements .
Smith also said that traditionally prosecutors , not judges , are responsible for determining on a case-by-case basis what cases to prosecute .
Broadly speaking , Smith said , “ The judges instincts are certainly correct when they ’ re confronted with what these rogue prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s something that traditionally has not been done by their office , and so they ’ re inclined to push back.
” He added , “ But I think that when that happens , you also run into a new set of problems , with judges potentially taking on a role that their branch of government is not designed to take on.
” Democratic politicians in Virginia are pushing for new laws legalizing marijuana .
Smith didn ’ t weigh in on the pros and cons of marijuana legalization , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not up to prosecutors to choose to ignore current law .
He said that if Virginians think marijuana should be legal , the law should be changed .
Smith said , “ It ’ s really a troubling trend .
Whenever you see these prosecutors refusing to enforce the laws , it creates a lot of chaos , it makes our communities less safe , it harms victims in their communities , and it really does create a lot of problems in our system of criminal justice.
” Eric Burk is a reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Parisa Dehghani-Tafti ” by arlingtonva.us .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--RPS Has Worst Graduation and Dropout Rates in the Commonwealth

Richmond Public Schools ( RPS ) has both the lowest graduation rate and the highest dropout rate among school districts in the state of Virginia , Superintendent Jason Kamras said .
In the daily RPS direct newsletter for Wednesday , Kamras gave an update on the graduation and dropout rates from the 2019-20 academic year for the school districts high schools .
Included within Kamras ’ online newsletter was data from a presentation given to the school board on Monday by RPS chief academic officer Tracy Epp .
“ Our graduation rate remains the lowest in the Commonwealth , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote Kamras , who has served as superintendent since 2018 .
According to the data presented by Epp , the on-time graduation rate for the school division went up from 70.7 percent in 2018-19 to 71.6 percent in 2019-20 , while the dropout rate decreased by 1.1 percentage points to 23.2 percent in the most recent academic year .
Despite the overall positive changes , the data also showed several negative trends for RPS , to which Kamras wrote were among his “ gravest ” concerns .
Huguenot High School registered a slight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on-time graduation rate , but George Wythe High School saw the biggest change with its on-time graduation rate plummeting by 10 percent between the 18-19 and 19-20 school years , bringing the overall rate to 50 percent .
George Wythe also experienced a large increase in its dropout rate at 12.2 percent for the 2019-20 academic year .
Specifically for RPS subgroups , on-time graduation rates for students identified as Hispanic/Latino ( -7.0 percent ) , multi-racial ( -7.7 percent ) and English learners ( -12.1 percent ) all decreased .
Additionally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent ) students and English learners ( +13.3 percent ) increased .
The data presentation did not include any details on how the spring school closures because of the coronavirus pandemic may have impacted the 2019-20 numbers .
In an effort to combat the aforementioned negative trends , RPS has launched three new programs over the past six months .
Two of the programs are specifically designed for English learners , while the other is for people who dropped out of RPS schools in the past .
¡Con Ganas !
is for English @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offering intensive language courses and academic support .
The Newcomer Academy helps immigrant English learners who have been in the United States for up to one year .
A combined 237 students are currently enrolled in the two programs , according to Kamras .
The dropout program , named the Secondary Success Center , is available to any resident of Richmond City between the ages of 17 and 21 .
Not all the data from the presentation was bad , however .
Thomas Jefferson , Armstrong and John Marshall high schools as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to graduation rates and decreases in dropout rates .
Also , graduation rates increased for students that are Black , economically disadvantaged and have disabilities .
“ We still have a long , long way to go , but I truly believe that we are now on the right track , ” Kamras wrote .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Jason Kamras ” by Richmond Public Schools .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--Articles of Impeachment Filed Against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer


thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--Minnesota Man Enters Plea in Police Station Fire Amid Unrest

MINNEAPOLIS , Minnesota ( AP ) — A Minnesota man pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to commit arson for helping set fire to a Minneapolis police station during civil unrest in the days following the death of George Floyd .
According to an indictment , Bryce Michael Williams , 26 , of Staples , went to the Third Precinct building on May 28 where a crowd of hundreds gathered .
At one point , the crowd began shouting , “ Burn it down , burn it down ” and a fence that surrounded the building was torn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fence , and surveillance video footage showed him holding a Molotov cocktail while others lit the wick .
Another man carried the device inside and used it to light the fire .
The burning of the precinct and dozens of other buildings led the governor to call in the National Guard to quell the unrest that followed Floyd ’ s death .
Floyd , a Black man in handcuffs , died May 25 after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin , who is white , knelt on his neck .
Floyd repeatedly said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been charged with murder and manslaughter .
Three other officers were charged with aiding and abetting .
All four of the officers worked out of the Third Precinct before they were fired .
Several others have also been charged in the precinct fire .
Williams is the only one to plead guilty so far .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-21--Mayor John Cooper’s Latest Coronavirus Limit on Gatherings Is Similar to ‘Game of Duck Duck Goose,’

Mayor John Cooper’s Latest Coronavirus Limit on Gatherings Is Similar to ‘Game of Duck Duck Goose,’ Conservative Watchdog Says

Nashville Mayor John Cooper has placed new limits on gatherings just in time for Thanksgiving , leading one conservative watchdog to liken all the mayor ’ s decrees to a “ game of duck duck goose.
” With the dramatically named “ Rule of 8 , ” Cooper announced a limit of eight for public and private gatherings .
The limits start Monday .
He tweeted , “ Limit public and private gatherings to 8 people .
Record COVID hospitalizations are straining hospitals .
Restricting social contacts is critical to stopping the spread of COVID .
Please reconsider any plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ household , including Thanksgiving.
” Justin Owen , CEO of the Beacon Center of Tennessee , lambasted Cooper ’ s latest decree in a statement he gave to The Center Square .
“ Now , he wants to barge into our homes and count heads like it ’ s a game of duck duck goose , ” he said .
“ Even setting aside the constitutional issues it raises , restricting family gatherings by government force is not an effective solution to dealing with the pandemic anymore than his arbitrary and job-killing restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses.
” During Metro ’ s weekly COVID-19 briefing , Cooper blamed his new restrictions on what he said were record hospitalizations across the state , NewsChannel 5 reported .
Additionally , all indoor extracurricular activities for Metro Nashville Public Schools are on pause until further notice .
A total of 11 percent of hospital beds and 8 percent of ICU beds are available in Middle Tennessee hospitals , the Metro Nashville Health Department said Friday .
The restriction doesn ’ t affect gatherings that have already received permits , WSMV reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stricter when evaluating new permits .
This includes sporting events , such as the Tennessee Titans and Nashville SC , and concerts at the Ryman Auditorium and other locations .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Tennessee Senate Republicans Return McNally as Lieutenant Governor, Johnson as Majority Leader

The Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus on Thursday voted unanimously to renominate Lt .
Governor Randy McNally to a third term , among other leadership votes .
The caucus also announced that Senator Jack Johnson ( R-Franklin ) and Senator Ken Yager ( R-Kingston ) will return to their top leadership roles as Majority Leader and Republican Caucus Chairman , respectively .
Others elected to caucus leadership positions include Senator Ferrell Haile ( R-Gallatin ) as Treasurer , Senator Dawn White ( R-Murfreesboro ) as Secretary and Senator Shane Reeves ( R-Murfreesboro ) as Chaplain .
The caucus tweeted , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who received unanimous approval from their GOP colleagues today for their respective caucus leadership positions .
We welcome @ VoteDawn to her new leadership role as Caucus Secretary .
.
.
” The meeting was held as lawmakers prepare to open the first session of the 112th General Assembly on Jan. 12 .
Senate Republicans hold a 27-6 super majority .
McNally ( R-Oak Ridge ) said in a statement , “ As I reflect back on over forty years in the General Assembly , I can not think of a more dedicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Senate at this moment .
An effective team not only has to have the right players , but those players ’ talents also need to be deployed effectively .
Our Senate team is an effective team .
I am humbled once again to have been chosen to help lead this great group of leaders.
” Johnson tweeted , “ I am humbled to have been re-elected Senate Republican Majority Leader by my @ tnsenategop peers .
It ’ s an honor to have the opportunity to serve our state and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee.
” Yager tweeted , “ @ SenateGOP nominates Speaker McNally for another term and elects its officers for 112th general Assembly Honored to re reelected Caucus Chair @ HaileforSenate @ SenJohnson @ VoteDawn @ SenShaneReeves @ tnsenate # winners “ .
Tim Burchett , former Knox County mayor and a candidate for the U.S. House District 2 , was one of those congratulating McNally .
He tweeted , “ I love @ ltgovmcnally .
Randy had surgery the night before my Dad died and he showed up 30 minutes after he passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yard drive him.
” The Tennessee Republican House Caucus will choose its leaders Tuesday , with only one position being contested , the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .

The Arizona U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) recently revealed that 22 Arizonans have been indicted for drug-related charges following a multi-year investigation of a South Phoenix criminal street gang.
“According to the criminal complaints filed last week, in January 2020, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) began an investigation targeting a drug and firearms supplier in South Phoenix. In February 2021, in conjunction with the DPS investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Violent Street Gang Task Force began investigating the Lindo Park Crips (LPC), a criminal street gang operating in South Phoenix,” according to a press release from the USAO.
The release outlined that DPS and FBI investigators targeted LPC members and drug suppliers, ultimately leading to a major bust. Investigators reportedly found over 2,000 grams of cocaine, 35,000 counterfeit pills suspected to contain fentanyl, 26 grams of methamphetamine, four and a half grams of crack, 32 doses of MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy or XTC), and weapons, including 17 firearms and eight Glock conversion devices.
All 22 defendants are charged with either conspiracy to distribute cocaine or fentanyl, and some are charged with actual possession of the drugs. Furthermore, several are charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm in relation to drug trafficking.
According to the release, these charges incur heavy fines and jail time if convicted. For the drug charges, a conviction for conspiracy to distribute or intent to sell the amount of cocaine charged in the complaint carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine, while a conviction for the amount of fentanyl can be up to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Moreover, a conviction for illegally possessing a firearm carries jail time up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine.
Most of the 22 individuals come from Phoenix, but others hail from cities across Arizona, including Avondale, Florence, Buckeye, and Goodyear. The youngest defendant is Jesus Salazar, 24, of Avondale, while the eldest is 62-year-old Terry Lee King of Phoenix.
The USAO stated that this case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCFETF) operation which seeks to dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States.
All defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
As The Arizona Sun Times reported, Border Patrol agents recently seized 4.2 kilograms of fentanyl and 2.1 kilograms of heroin at a highway checkpoint at the El Centro Station. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBS) said the drugs confiscated had an estimated street value of $190,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states that as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on the person’s tolerance. Based on that statistic, this bust alone involved enough fentanyl to kill over 2 million people.
According to statistics from CBS, 3,513.15 kilograms of illicit fentanyl were confiscated in May, which would hypothetically be enough to kill 1,756,575,000 people under the DEA’s metric.
– – –
Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Phoenix Police Department” by Phoenix Police Department.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Commentary: Americans See Through the Mainstream Media’s Lies About Voting Fraud

Last weekend , it was the American people ’ s turn to announce they are nobody ’ s fools .
On Saturday and then again on Sunday , ordinary citizens from all over the United States gathered in Washington , D.C. to demonstrate , in both senses of the word .
They demonstrated against the Democrats ’ theft of the presidential election from Donald Trump .
And they demonstrated that tens of millions of Americans know very well that the election was stolen .
Ice-road truckers in Alaska know it was stolen .
Pineapple farmers on Molokai know it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprised , if I were backpacking in Papua New Guinea or rafting up the Amazon or climbing some Himalayan mountain in Nepal , to encounter a remote tribe whose first question would be : “ How are the recounts going ?
” The triumph here is that the news about the election theft has been disseminated in spite of the best efforts of the Democratic Party and mainstream media to quash it .
Of course , the treason of the Democrats , and the staggering perfidy of the press , have been twin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nothing , not even the media-abetted bid by Barack Obama and company to bring down Trump ’ s presidency , could quite have prepared us for this historically brazen attempt to steal it – and then lie about it .
Not only are the media lying about the steal , they ’ re smearing the people who are doing the job they should be doing .
They ’ re casting Rudy Giuliani , who accomplished more real positive change in the lives of more American citizens than perhaps any politician in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They ’ d have you believe that Victor Davis Hanson , a classicist of incomparable learning , wisdom , and accomplishment , is some kind of clown .
Meanwhile , they expect us to take seriously the pontifications of idiots whose only achievements are collecting paychecks from AT & T ( owner of CNN ) or Comcast ( owner of NBC ) to stare into a camera and pretend to be knowledgeable .
Idiots like the absurd Wolf Blitzer , who proved on “ Celebrity Jeopardy ” in 2009 that not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s too stupid and egomaniacal to realize he ’ s a colossal ignoramus .
Idiots like Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo , a pair of preening buffoons , each stupider than the other , who , if they were serving up their inanities next to you at a neighborhood bar instead of on a TV screen , would make you decide immediately to settle up and call it a night .
Idiots like the repulsively self-important Christiane Amanpour , whose moral compass is so utterly broken that the other day she compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then there ’ s Anderson Cooper , whom I ’ ve never been able to figure out .
Some CNN hacks doubtless worry that they ’ d end up sleeping under a bridge if they declined to be Jeff Zucker ’ s lapdogs .
But why does a Vanderbilt heir want that job ?
One of the stunning revelations of this ever-growing scandal is that there are many more top-ranked politicians and journalists than one ever realized who totally lack a conscience—and whose cravings for power and fame plainly outweigh their need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to realize that so many of the supposed crème de la crème in America are so vomitously unprincipled , but I suppose it ’ s better to know the truth than to live with an illusion .
In any case , the consequence of this dire situation is that , instead of getting vital news about the vote theft from the broadcast or cable news networks or any of the country ’ s major newspapers or newsmagazines , we ’ re getting it from people on YouTube whom many of us had never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago .
One of them is the comedian Steven Crowder , who has posted several impressively well-informed videos about the election scandal .
Others include reporter Tim Pool , cartoonist Scott Adams , and writer Andrew Klavan .
This is nothing new .
During the Antifa and BLM violence , Americans had a right to expect responsible on-the-spot reportage by all the mainstream media .
Instead , while MSM talking heads jabbered on from the safety of New York and Washington and Atlanta studios , we had to rely for live coverage on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Andy Ngo .
Kudos , naturally , to all of these intrepid souls who have done the real work that mainstream journalists no longer deign to do .
But who ever imagined , as recently as a decade ago , that we would have to turn to these latter-day versions of the Soviet-era samizdat to get the straight dope on the biggest news stories ?
I ’ ve mentioned that a lot of people in remote corners of the world know that there was vote fraud .
Oddly , however , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places like Manhattan and L.A. have clung to the media lies and refuse to be shaken loose .
Most of these are people who are supposed to be smart .
But they seem to have abandoned reason .
So it is that even as all those folks were rallying outside the Supreme Court last weekend , I found myself engaging in ( or witnessing ) online exchanges with left-wing diehards whose refusal to abandon their mantra that “ there ’ s no evidence of fraud ” – no matter how much evidence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made them sound like denizens of a psych ward .
Of course , the mental debility on display here – namely , Trump Derangement Syndrome – has been around for years .
The crucial difference is that until now , manifestations of TDS could be dismissed with relative equanimity as cries of impotent rage by the sore losers of a fair election .
Now , however , we ’ re hearing the vengeful howls of fools and knaves who – no longer impotent , alas – are so blinded with hatred for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close their minds to the most obvious facts , to jettison their belief in fair democratic elections , and to wink at a coup .
Bruce Bawer is the author of While Europe Slept , Surrender , and The Victims ’ Revolution .
His novel The Alhambra was published in 2017 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Court: Tennessee Can Enforce Down Syndrome Abortion Ban

NASHVILLE , Tennessee ( AP ) — A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Tennessee can begin outlawing abortions because of a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome , as well as prohibit the procedure if it ’ s based on the race or gender of the fetus .
Tennessee Republican Gov .
Bill Lee enacted the so-called “ reason bans ” earlier this year as part of a sweeping anti-abortion measure .
The law gained national attention because it banned abortion as early as six weeks — making it one of the strictest in the country — but it included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was immediately blocked by a lower federal court just hours after Lee signed it into law .
However , the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ’ decision will allow the state to enforce the reason bans while abortion rights groups continue their court battle against that law .
The plaintiffs , which include Tennessee abortion providers being represented by reproductive rights groups , had argued the ban was improperly vague , but the court disagreed .
Currently , more than a dozen states have similar reason bans in place .
“ These bans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempting to limit the constitutional right to abortion care and to create stigma , ” said Nancy Northup , president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights , in a statement .
“ Decisions about whether and when to continue or to end a pregnancy are best made by the individual and their family.
” The Attorney General ’ s office said in a statement that they “ appreciate the Sixth Circuit lifting the lower court ’ s injunction ” and looked forward to continuing defending the statute .
“ Our law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender , or diagnosis of Down syndrome of the child and the court ’ s decision will save lives , ” Lee said in a statement .
“ Protecting our most vulnerable Tennesseans is worth the fight.
” Immediately following the appeals court ruling , the plaintiffs ’ attorneys filed a request in lower federal court for a temporary restraining order to block the reason bans once again , but this time argued the law illegally prohibits a patient from “ obtaining constitutionally protected pre-viability abortion care.
” “ ( The ) Sixth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and explicitly declined to issue any ruling with respect to plaintiffs ’ claims that the Reason Bans violate patients ’ constitutional right to pre-viability abortion , ” the attorneys wrote .
The court had not issued a ruling on that as of Friday evening .
Down syndrome is a genetic abnormality that causes developmental delays and medical conditions such as heart defects and respiratory and hearing problems .
According to the National Down Syndrome Society , about one in every 700 babies in the United States — or about 6,000 a year — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results from a chromosomal irregularity .
The rarity of the condition has prompted abortion rights groups to paint the Down syndrome bans as part of yet another thinly veiled effort by lawmakers to continue chipping away at a patient ’ s right to an abortion .
Kimberlee Kruesi is a reporter for The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : In this Nov. 10 , 2020 , file photo , Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee speaks with reporters in Nashville , Tenn. A federal appeals court ruled Friday , Nov. 20 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortions because of a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome , as well prohibit the procedure if it is based on the race or gender of the fetus .
Earlier this year , Lee enacted the so-called “ reason bans ” as part of a sweeping anti-abortion measure that he signed earlier this year .
( AP Photo/Mark Humphrey , File )


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Cobb County BOE Denies Ballot Shredding-After Videos Produce Evidence of Ballot Shredding

The Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration is defending itself after being accused of shredding election documents during Georgia ’ s controversial recount .
President Donald Trump ’ s attorney Lin Wood tweeted videos shot by a witness who identified herself as Susan Knox and said she was outside the Jim R. Miller Event Center , where ballots were stored , on Friday .
She documented a mobile shredder company destroying documents , which she called ballots .
In one tweet , Wood said , “ Why was an A1 Shredding & Recycling http : //a1shreds.com truck picking up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election office in Cobb County , , GA minutes ago ?
They may be destroying evidence .
Cobb County GA Patriots need to demand answers NOW !
!
!
” Wood tweeted pictures from outside a warehouse storeroom with boxes and a trash can with documents .
He said , “ What election/materials are in these bins being picked up at the election office at Jim R. Miller Park this morning by A1 Shredding & Recycling ?
Absentee ballot envelopes ?
?
?
Cobb County , GA Patriots must DEMAND answers NOW.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Cobb County , GA Patriots , check with Sheriff & Police Departments & demand full investigation of possible obstruction of justice & evidence destruction today.
” In another tweet , Wood said , “ Susan Knox is a warrior for TRUTH .
# FightBack “ .
Wood also tweeted , “ Looks to me like they may be destroying election documents in Cobb County , GA. What do you think ?
# FightBack Against Election Crimes ” .
The Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration issued a statement , available here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chatter about some document shredding.
” According to the statement , a vendor routinely shreds certain “ non-relevant ” documents after elections .
They did this work at the Jim R. Miller Event Center on Friday .
The board said they did not shred ballots .
They say they disposed of : This is the latest in a series of irregularities that have led to charges of massive fraud in the election , especially in Georgia .
A district judge denied attorney Lin Wood ’ s motion to delay certification of the Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Wood had presented 17 affidavits alleging potential voter fraud .
Although the judge dismissed the case , Wood stated that he will appeal the case to the Eleventh Circuit court .
One witness reported that several batches of ballots were in “ pristine ” condition , and had an entirely different texture and feel to them , The Star News reported .
Wood said that the evidence presented by fellow attorney Sidney Powell will overturn the election , The Star News reported .
He confirmed this during The John Fredericks Show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss on Thursday .
“ I ’ ve not only talked with Sidney , I ’ ve met with her in length .
I ’ ve seen the evidence .
So I know what she said in her press conference yesterday is one hundred percent accurate , ” stated Wood .
“ The elections in this country have been fraudulent for several election cycles.
” Wood explained that the evidence showed consistent software used throughout nearly all electronic voting systems in the country – especially Dominion Voting Systems .
According to Wood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been flipping voting totals and manipulating counts as far back as 2016 .
He went so far as to claim that President Donald Trump won the popular vote in 2016 .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
The Georgia Star News ’ Corinne Murdock contributed to this report .
Photo “ Garbage Bin ” Lin Wood .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Mass Protest at CNN: Your Fake News Gig Is Up

ATLANTA , Georgia – Americans who once belonged to the political left , whether White , Black , straight or gay , assembled in front of CNN ’ s headquarters in Atlanta Saturday and explained why no one should ever again trust mainstream news outlets .
Brandon Straka , who organized this # Walk Away Rescue America rally , said people are leaving the political left because they realize that MSNBC , CNN , Anderson Cooper , Don Lemon , and others don ’ t tell the truth .
Instead , Straka said those same outlets function as the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Straka said he once despised Trump .
He said the mainstream media informed him that Trump ridiculed a physically disabled reporter at a political rally — and Straka believed everything that the media fed him .
Straka , who is gay , also said he spent his entire adult life voting off his minority status because the media told him that only Democrats care about marginalized groups while Republicans are “ greedy , straight White people.
” “ When I realized that Donald Trump did not mock a reporter ’ s disability — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — I became completely confused and shocked and I didn ’ t understand what was going on .
You know why ?
Because I f***ing trusted you people .
I thought you were honest .
I thought you were the good guys .
I thought you told the truth .
I thought you cared about Black people and brown people and LGBT people the way you claim to .
But you don ’ t care about us .
They are using us .
All of us .
They don ’ t care about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care about Asian people .
They don ’ t care about White people either .
They don ’ t care about anybody .
They only care about power and control , ” Straka said while he pointed at the CNN building .
“ Those are the only things that CNN and the mainstream media care about .
They will lie , cheat , omit , deceive blatantly and patch up anything they need to patch up for their chosen candidates .
If they need to bury evidence then they will .
Most appalling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person in this country , we are selectively and intentionally targeted by the liberal media in this country to keep us suspended in a state of fear and terror and victim mentality , believing we exist in a country of systemic racism , systemic oppression , trapped in a system from which we can not succeed and we can not break free .
It is a huge , colossal lie.
” Political commentator Shemeka Michelle told the crowd that people who manage social media outlets will ban people when they post messages that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , ignore videos of Black men killing each other and Black women twerking .
“ We don ’ t know what ’ s true .
We don ’ t know what ’ s not true .
We don ’ t know where we are headed .
We don ’ t know what will happen next .
That is a terrible feeling to not be certain about where we are or where we ’ re going .
It ’ s a bad feeling .
I have learned enough in the last three years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If Rudy Giuliani came out and Sidney Powell came out and Jenna Ellis came out and gave the press conference that they gave the other day and all these sons of bitches can do is talk about Giuliani ’ s hair dye then we are on the right track , ” Straka said , referring to the gathering those three people had with the media to discuss alleged voter fraud .
“ If they can ’ t report a single thing that happened at that press conference besides how much Giuliani was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be sweating.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--As Jobless Claims Increase, Some States Employment Rates Are Bouncing Back

The number of individuals who filed for unemployment benefits last week increased to 742,000 , the first increase in five weeks , according to new data published by the U.S. Department of Labor .
The number of people who filed for state unemployment benefits in the week ending Nov. 13 grew by 31,000 from the previous week ’ s revised level of 711,000 , according to the Nov. 19 report .
In October , the U.S. gained 638,000 jobs and the national unemployment rate fell to 6.9 percent compared to the near historic high of a 14.7 percent at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobless claims hit a record 6.9 million in March .
The previous week ’ s unemployment level was revised up by 2,000 from 709,000 to 711,000 .
The four-week moving average was 742,000 , a decrease of 13,750 from the previous week ’ s revised average , the department stated in a news release accompanying the data .
The previous week ’ s average was revised up by 500 from 755,250 to 755,750 .
The unemployment rate drop “ can be attributed in part to the fact that a lot more businesses are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , as states have gradually loosened restrictions , ” Adam McCann , financial writer at WalletHub , says .
“ In addition , many people who became unemployed during the COVID-19 crisis were temporarily laid off , and either have already been rehired by their former employers or expect to be eventually.
” According to an analysis of unemployment data by the personal finance website , some state ’ s employment rates have bounced back more than others .
WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across four key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each state ’ s unemployment for the month of October and compared it to data from October 2019 and January 2020 .
The analysis also compared continued claims in October 2020 to October 2019 and each state ’ s overall unemployment rate .
States in which employment rates bounced back the most were Iowa , Nebraska , Vermont , Missouri , South Dakota , Montana , Utah , Minnesota , Alaska and South Carolina .
States whose unemployment numbers were still suffering were Arizona , Maryland , Massachusetts , the District of Columbia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , Louisiana , Nevada and Hawaii .
According to the Department of Labor , the highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending Oct. 31 were in California ( 8.3 ) , Hawaii ( 8.3 ) , New Mexico ( 8.0 ) , Nevada ( 7.6 ) , Georgia ( 6.5 ) , Pennsylvania ( 6.4 ) , Alaska ( 6.2 ) , Massachusetts ( 6.2 ) , District of Columbia ( 6.0 ) , and Illinois ( 5.7 ) .
The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , California ( +5,293 ) , Massachusetts ( +3,383 ) , Alabama ( +1,704 ) , and Louisiana ( +1,626 ) .
The largest decreases were in Georgia ( -13,426 ) , Illinois ( -6,357 ) , Kentucky ( -4,830 ) , Texas ( -3,934 ) , and New Jersey ( -3,725 ) .
Bethany Blankley is a contributor to The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Biden Promises No Nationwide Shutdown

Biden Promises No Nationwide Shutdown

Former Vice-President Joe Biden on Thursday said he would not implement a nationwide shutdown as part of his effort to combat the coronavirus .
“ I ’ m not going to shut down the economy , period .
I ’ m going to shut down the virus , ” Biden said at a news conference in Wilmington , Delaware .
“ I ’ ll say it again .
No national shutdown.
” However , he added that capacity restrictions in businesses , restaurants , and other venues would still be necessary .
Biden ’ s statement followed a meeting by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the National Governors Association , made up of five Republican and five Democratic governors to come up with a plan to address the covid-19 virus .
The former V.P .
said “ there was widespread agreement about getting economic relief to the states , delivering a free vaccine to everyone and providing additional funding for the National Guard ” The Hill reports .
Biden also said there ’ s support for a national mask mandate , according to The Hill .
“ We discussed the implementation of a national mask mandate — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have imposed requirements and recognized the need for universal masking , ” Biden said .
“ North , south , east and west .
It ’ s not a political statement .
It ’ s a patriotic duty.
” The former Vice president ’ s statement contradicts what he said in August , that he would do “ everything possible to get COVID-19 under control ” including shutting the country down .
This past week numerous states have begun issuing new restrictions and shutdowns on restaurants , businesses and public venues amid rising @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Commentary: Entrepreneurship Is Accelerating at the Fastest Rate in Decades During This Pandemic

New Needs , New Business Opportunities Other entrepreneurs are identifying fresh needs and unmet demand during the pandemic and are inventing new technologies as a direct result of this unprecedented experience .
FEE just concluded its weeklong Entrepreneur Week series of free webinars aimed at inspiring teenagers and young adults to be entrepreneurial .
One of the panelists was Stanford University senior , Antonia Hellman , who along with her brother Ethan recently founded Toucan , a virtual events and social platform , as an immediate response to the pandemic shutdowns .
According to Hellman : “ Toucan is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have more human interactions at their virtual events .
This started after my brother , who is a sophomore at Stanford , and I got sent home from school and we realized that the default videoconferencing tools were simply not good enough to keep communities together .
We were not only physically isolated from all of our friends , but our connection wasn ’ t facilitated at all by these existing tools .
The default was to hop on a Zoom call .
After we had a couple of events where 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little squares , and they all turned off their microphones and cameras and the conversation just died , we realized that we needed a different solution that actually allowed people to have fun interactions virtually .
That way we could keep those communities together.
” The pair then sat down at their kitchen table and plotted the development of Toucan , which uses advanced technology to closely replicate human interactions virtually .
Toucan officially launches next week .
Another panelist at this week ’ s webinar series was John Chisholm , longtime entrepreneur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Your Inner Company : 10 Steps To Discover , Launch , and Scale Your Ideal Business .
In his book ’ s newly-released paperback edition , Chisholm says that the pandemic is a great time to start a new business and he offers tips for starting a company during times of crisis .
Chisholm writes : “ Most importantly , crises create new needs .
During the 2020 COVID-19 virus crisis , people needed to connect with friends and family despite an inability to travel , exercise despite gym closures , get food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and much more .
Some of these new needs ended with the lockdowns ; others will continue indefinitely .
You have to assess not only which needs you can best serve , but also , since those needs will require investment by you , how long they will last .
Assessing this will require talking to many people , weighing much data , and taking some risk .
The longer you keep asking questions , the clearer the picture becomes.
” As we enter the final weeks of a very difficult year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can seem that 2020 offers little to celebrate .
Yet , the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a burst of entrepreneurial ambition leading to new businesses , new inventions , and new pathways of prosperity for many Americans .
The creativity , ingenuity , and determination to take risks and persevere that this year ’ s entrepreneurs have demonstrated can be a beacon for all of us , and a reminder that our entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Biden’s Transition Team Is Stacked with Former Facebook and Zuckerberg Insiders

At least seven former higher-ups of Facebook or the charity run by its founder , Mark Zuckerberg , have secured positions in President-elect Joe Biden ’ s transition team , despite Democratic Party officials labeling the social media giant among the biggest threats to American democracy .
Biden announced Friday that former Facebook Director of Public Policy Louisa Terrell would direct his White House Office of Legislative Affairs , which will put her in charge of advancing Biden ’ s agenda in Congress .
Terrell , who lobbied for Facebook from 2011 through 2013 , currently oversees legislative affairs for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s appointment to the influential Biden administration post comes shortly after Biden campaign spokesman Bill Russo said in a now-deleted tweet that Facebook was “ shredding the fabric of our democracy ” for allowing disinformation to propagate on the social media network following the election .
Democratic National Committee Chief Mobilization Officer Patrick Stevenson also tweeted following the election that Facebook and the Republican Party are “ the two biggest institutional threats to our democracy.
” Biden told The New York Times editorial board in January that Zuckerberg is “ a real problem.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big fan of Facebook , as you probably know , ” Biden said .
“ I ’ ve never been a big Zuckerberg fan.
” The Biden transition team told Politico on Monday that it supports the criticisms the campaign levied against Facebook .
Politico previously reported that at least two former Facebook board members serve positions in Biden ’ s transition team .
Biden transition co-chair Jeff Zients served on the Facebook board of directors from 2018 to early 2020 , and Erskine Bowles , who held a seat on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , serves as an advisor to the transition team , according to Politico .
Zients reportedly left Facebook due to disagreements with how disinformation was handled on the network and Bowles left after Facebook leadership refused to follow his political advice , according to The Wall Street Journal .
Politico also reported that a former Facebook executive who helped the company navigate the FTC ’ s probe into Cambridge Analytica , Jessica Hertz , was named general counsel for Biden ’ s transition team in September , an appointment that was criticized by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The ultimate arbiter for ethics for the Biden transition was a senior regulatory official for Facebook up until a few months ago , at a time when progressives and the Biden campaign are fighting against the right-wing agenda of Facebook , ” said the Director of the Revolving Door Project , Jeff Hauser , according to Politico .
And at least three individuals serving posts on Biden transition agency review teams recently worked for Zuckerberg ’ s charity , the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative .
Former Facebook engineering director and current Chan Zuckerberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biden transition agency review team for the Executive Office of the President , Management and Administration .
Also serving on the agency review team with Recordon is former Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Technical Program Manager Austin Lin .
Lin , who according to his LinkedIn profile held the same title during a brief stint at Facebook in 2017 and 2018 , also serves on Biden ’ s agency review team overseeing the National Security Council .
And Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Director of Engineering Andrew Nacin holds a seat on the Biden agency review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Biden transition team did not immediately return a request for comment .
Andrew Kerr is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Mark Zuckerberg ” by Anthony Quintano .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Andrew Cuomo to Receive Emmy for His ‘Masterful Use of Television’ During Pandemic

Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo will be awarded the International Emmy Founder ’ s Award for his coronavirus daily briefings , a Friday press release said .
Cuomo will get the award “ in recognition of his leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic and his masterful use of television to inform and calm people around the world , ” an International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences press release said .
Cuomo will receive the award during the live awards show Monday morning .
“ The Governor ’ s 111 daily briefings worked so well because he effectively created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines , and stories of success and failure , ” International Academy President & CEO , Bruce L. Paisner said , according to the press briefing .
“ People around the world tuned in to find out what was going on , and New York tough became a symbol of the determination to fight back , ” Paisner continued , according to the press release .
Cuomo ’ s first media briefing ” was March 2 and his last was June 19 , the press release said .
The briefings were watched by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationally on major cable news channels , and globally Oprah Winfrey , former Democratic Vice President Al-Gore and Director Steven Spielberg are among those who previously received the Founder ’ s Award , the press release said .
Cuomo ’ s office didn ’ t immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .
Eva Obadia , a senior director with the Emmys ’ , directed the DCNF to the press release .
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--New Model Will Reduce Medicare Part B Drugs Costs, Save Taxpayers $85 Billion Over Seven Years

President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a new drug payment model Friday that will significantly lower the cost of Medicare Part B drugs , in a move the president said was a threat to “ Big Pharma.
” Beginning in early January , the Most Favored Nation Model will test an innovative way for Medicare to no longer pay high-cost , physician-administered Medicare Part B drugs than the lowest price charged in similar countries .
Following the president ’ s recent Executive Orders to lower drug prices and improve access to life-saving medications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beneficiary access to Medicare Part B drugs , make them more affordable , and address the disparity of drug costs between the U.S. and other countries , Trump said at a White House news conference at the White House .
The program is being administered through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is estimated to save American taxpayers and beneficiaries more than $ 85 billion over seven years .
The model “ will be the most significant single action any administration has ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” HHS Secretary AJ Azar said .
CMS Administrator Seema Verma said the president was taking on “ the entrenched special interests that have stymied patient-centered reforms in Washington for generations ” and that the new model will protect seniors , not the middle men .
“ The current system creates incentives for drug manufacturers to price Medicare Part B drugs as high as they can in the U.S. system because the program pays doctors more when they prescribe more expensive drugs , even when a lower cost , clinically-equivalent alternative is available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most Favored Nation Model will lead to lower drug prices for seniors.
” She also noted that premiums are down in Medicare Part B from 34 to 60 percent .
In the last three years , the Trump administration has lowered premiums across the board on the exchange , increased price transparency , enabled portable digital records , reduced regulatory burdens , and afforded more options for patients , she said .
As of November 2020 , patients have more than 1,600 plans offering insulin at 66 percent less the cost than they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Historically , Part B costs resulted in taxpayers paying “ whatever drug companies wanted to charge , ” Varma said .
“ It ’ s no wonder that American seniors are paying twice as much as seniors in other countries are paying.
” A new rule change , the American Patients First drug pricing blueprint , released in May 2018 , addressed high out-of-pocket costs , foreign subsidies plaguing Medicare Part B , Azar said .
Over the last five years , Medicare Part B drug costs increased at an annual rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of the change in Medicare Fee-for-Service Part B benefit spending from 2015 to 2019 .
Medicare Part B drug spending of $ 30 billion in 2019 made up 14 percent of total Medicare Fee-for-Service Part B spending , up from 11 percent in 2015 .
Medicare Part B drug spending has also grown faster than drug spending in Medicare Part D and the U.S. as a whole , HHS notes .
In a new report released Friday , the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation found that between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fee-For-Service drug spending per enrollee grew at 8.1 percent , more than twice the per capita spending on Medicare Part D ( 3.4 percent ) , and nearly three times as high as overall retail prescription per capita drug spending ( 2.9 percent ) .
While state Medicaid programs and Medicare Advantage plans have tools in place to reduce certain drug costs through price negotiations , current law requires the Medicare Part B program to pay for most drugs administered by physicians at the average sales price in the U.S. in addition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely been able to set these prices independent of market forces , which has resulted in Americans paying more than double in other countries , according to the study .
“ This anti-competitive system leaves taxpayers and American seniors on the hook for paying the highest drug costs in the world , ” HHS said in a statement .
The model payment will include two parts : a drug payment amount that will phase in the lowest price in other similar countries by blending it with the average sales price , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the same for each model drug , HHS reports .
The model will accelerate the phase-in of the MFN Price if drug manufacturers increase U.S. prices faster than inflation and the lowest price in other similar countries .
The model ’ s flat per-dose add-on will remove the incentive for participating physicians , hospitals and other providers to furnish high-cost drugs , HHS says .
Beneficiaries ’ cost sharing on this add-on payment will be waived .
The CMS will test paying based on the MFN Price for 50 Medicare Part B @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Part B spending .
These 50 drugs and biologicals account for approximately 73 percent of Medicare Part B drug spending although they only represent less than 10 percent of Medicare Part B drugs .
Under the new model , all Medicare-participating physicians , hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers in the U.S. and territories will be paid through this new payment system instead of the current average sales price plus 6 percent add-on .
Bethany Blankley is a contributor to The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Kemp Calls for Audit of Georgia’s Absentee Ballot Signatures

Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp called on Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Friday to complete a sample audit of the signatures on the absentee ballots cast in the general election .
Kemp ’ s recommendation came two days after the state completed a full hand recount and audit of the election results in the presidential election .
Raffensperger ’ s office finished a weeklong hand recount of the more than 5 million votes cast in the Nov. 3 presidential election late Wednesday night .
Election workers are required to review the signatures on absentee ballots before they are scanned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot request form is received via mail by county election offices , workers compare the signature on the request form to the voter ’ s signature on file .
The state ’ s online portal for absentee ballot requests requires voters to use their driver ’ s license number to confirm their identity , officials said .
The ballot is returned in a discreet envelope that voters sign , agreeing to an oath .
Kemp said Raffensperger should order election workers to go back and compare the signatures on absentee ballot request forms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kemp said he has spoken to General Assembly leaders about proposing legislation that would require photo identification to be submitted with absentee ballots .
President Donald Trump , who lost the state to presumptive President-elect Joe Biden by more than 12,000 votes , has been calling on state officials , throughout the week , to review absentee ballot signatures .
Kemp said Friday he was contacted by several Georgians who were concerned about the signatures .
Raffensperger ’ s office released Wednesday the rejection rate for absentee ballots with signature issues .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rejection rate was the same as the 2018 general election ’ s rate .
Kemp also said many Georgians questioned the hand recount ’ s accuracy because it uncovered more than 5,000 missing votes .
“ It is important for Georgians to know that the vast majority of local election workers did their job well under unprecedented circumstances , and I thank them for their service , ” Kemp said .
“ However , it ’ s quite honestly hard to believe that during the audit , thousands of uncounted ballots were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a presidential election.
” Raffensperger ’ s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment after Kemp spoke Friday afternoon .
Kemp , however , said Raffensperger expressed support for the proposed photo identification requirement .
Raffensperger presented the certified election results to Kemp ’ s office Friday afternoon , and the governor formalized the certification but demanded Raffensperger provide a full explanation for the recovered votes ahead of Georgia ’ s runoff elections in January for U.S. Senate and public service commissioner .
“ In the runoff election , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stacks of uncounted ballots , ” Kemp said .
“ We must have full transparency in all monitoring and counting .
Every legal vote must be counted , and the security of the ballot box must be protected.
” Nyamekye Daniel has been a journalist for four years .
She was the managing editor for the South Florida Media Network and a staff writer for The Miami Times .
Daniel ’ s work has also appeared in the Sun-Sentinel , Miami Herald and The New York Times .
Daniel is a staff reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brian Kemp ” by Brian Kemp .
Background Photo “ Georgia Capitol ” by DXR .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--CDC Director Says School ‘One of Safest Places’ for Children, Data Supports In-Person Learning

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield said school “ is one of the safest places ” for children and data supports in-person learning .
Redfield stressed the importance of adhering to data during a White House press briefing Thursday .
The CDC director also said “ data-driven decisions ” are what should lead discussions regarding “ institutions or what we ’ re doing for commercial closures.
” “ For example , as was mentioned last spring , the CDC did not recommend school closures … nor did we recommend closures today .
I will say , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited data .
Today there is extensive data that we have , ” Redfield said .
“ We ’ ve gathered over the last two to three months and confirm that K-12 schools can operate with face-to-face learning and they can do it safely and they can do it responsibly , ” he continued .
Redfield said coronavirus infections originated from “ the community and the household ” and not in schools .
Redfield referred to what Dr. Deborah Birx , coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force , said about “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of spreading the coronavirus .
“ The truth is , for kids , K-12 is one of the safest places they can be ; from our perspective , [ they should ] remain in school , ” Redfield said .
Redfield stressed using data and not basing decisions off of emotions .
“ It ’ s really important that following the data , making sure we don ’ t make emotional decisions about what to close and what not to close , ” Redfield said .
“ Data strongly supports that K-12 schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning , really are not where we ’ re having our challenges and it would be counterproductive from a public health point of view just in containing the epidemic if there was an emotional response to say , ‘ Let ’ s close the schools , ’ ” Redfield said .
The CDC director expressed his confidence they will end the coronavirus pandemic and referred to Vice President Mike Pence and Dr. Anthony Fauci ’ s message of hope that the pandemic is coming to a close .
Redfield also urged Americans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand-washing , ” be wary of crowds , and back the data that is connected to schools “ and institutes of higher learning.
” The CDC didn ’ t immediately respond to The Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .
Mary Rose Corkery is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--NFL’s Sunday, Monday Night Ratings Hit to New Lows

According to Breitbart , Sunday Night Football ’ s Patriots-Ravens game last weekend was down 31 percent over last year ’ s Week 10 game making it the season ’ s least-watched Sunday game , Sports Media Watch reported .
“ Ratings have dropped for all 11 NFL games on NBC this season , with viewership down for all-but-one , ” SMW reported .
Meanwhile , ESPN ’ s Monday Night Football ( Vikings-Bears ) averaged 11.45 million viewers and was the series ’ second-best Week 10 audience since 2015 , it was still down 28 percent over last season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CBS due to the Masters , Fox earned 18.24 million viewers Sunday with its Buccaneers-Panthers game becoming the most-watched game since 2016 when a Week 16 game earned 18.40 million viewers on Fox on Christmas Eve .
However , the Seahawks-Rams and Bengals-Steelers games on Fox lost twenty percent and 13 percent respectively , Breitbart reports .
Airing opposite was CBS Bills-Cardinals game which was down 35 percent .
The NFL has seen its TV ratings consistently decline over the past few seasons .
A survey by Surveymonkey suggests one reason , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided watching and attending NFL games this past season , many gave reasons related to players kneeling during the national anthem .
Interestingly , both those who support and oppose the kneeling sought to avoid the NFL .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Charlie Brown Holiday Specials Temporarily Returning to TV

Because of the coronavirus pandemic , Christmas and Thanksgiving will look quite different this year for millions of Americans across the country , but at least one tradition will make the holidays feel like normal again .
The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS ) announced this week that the company had reached an agreement with Apple TV+ to allow broadcasts of two Charlie Brown holiday specials to air on TV in November and December .
Many Charlie Brown fans were dismayed when news came out in October that Apple TV+ had obtained the exclusive rights to Peanuts catalog , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas specials , but now fans have something to look forward to .
Thanks to the deal , “ A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving ” and “ A Charlie Brown Christmas ” will air ad-free on PBS and PBS Kids on November 22 and December 13th , respectively , at 7:30 p.m. EST .
The classic holiday specials will also be available to stream ad-free on Apple TV+ .
The Thanksgiving episode was released on the platform on November 18 and will be free to stream from November 25 through November 27 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 and will be available for free from December 11 to December 13 , PBS said .
The deal between PBS and Apple TV+ was struck too late this year for the “ It ’ s the Great Pumpkin , Charlie Brown ” episode to make a temporary return to television , the first time since 1966 the Halloween special did not air on network TV .
October ’ s news that everybody ’ s favorite Peanuts characters would not be on TV this holiday season garnered lots of disapproval from fans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have signed a Change.org petition to “ Bring the Peanuts specials back to broadcast TV !
” The PBS announcement did not say whether the Charlie Brown holiday specials will return to public television after 2020 .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-11-22--Bill Outlaws Locking Down Healthy, Has Veto-Proof Majority to Override DeWine Veto

The Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that originated in the Ohio Senate – Senate Bill 311 ( SB311 ) – by a vote of 58 – “ yea , ” 30 – “ nay , ” with 11 representatives not voting .
SB311 limits the Ohio Department of Health Director ’ s order-issuing authority and was sent to Governor DeWine ’ s desk – he has already vowed to veto the bill .
However , according to Ohio state Representative Jon Cross ( R-Kenton ) in an interview with The Ohio Star “ there were three members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – it needs 60 votes for a veto-proof supermajority and we will have 61.
” The bill passed the state Senate on September 23 with the exact number of votes needed ( 20 ) to override a DeWine veto – the final tally was 20 in favor , 13 against .
SB311 proposed loosening pandemic powers since its drafting by Senators Rob McColley ( R-01 ) and Kristina Roegner ( R-27 ) back in May .
The bill was in the Health , Human Services and Medicaid Committee for two hearings where it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the fall session .
“ Senate Bill 311 restores the voice of millions of Ohioans when it comes to decisions regarding health orders , ” said Roegner .
DeWine took verbal swipes at the bill during a Thursday COVID briefing attended by The Star , calling the legislation a “ disaster , ” and then delivering several anecdotes against the bill .
McColley pointed out the flaw in DeWine ’ s anecdotal logic , taking to Twitter during the governor ’ s assault on the bill that a super-majority of senators approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state House with 60-or-more votes , the Ohio Department of Health would not lose its ability to declare and enforce quarantines and isolations , and it would also hold on to the power to “ approve methods of immunization ” and take actions necessary to encourage vaccines .
Clarifying the purpose of isolation and quarantine is one of the goals of the bill according to Roegner , who says the measures are “ designated for people who have been medically diagnosed with an illness or have been in direct contact with someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general principle of quarantining the healthy came under fire when the New England Journal of Medicine released a study revealing that strict adherence to masking , distancing and sanitization measures , coupled with quarantining , failed to stop the spread of COVID – the group under strict measures actually produced more cases of COVID than a group that didn ’ t quarantine and followed more relaxed rules .
During a press conference called by DeWine on November 9 Ohio ’ s new Chief Medical Officer Bruce Vanderhoff conducted the briefing alongside doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lofgren – each leading one of Ohio ’ s three COVID zones .
The doctors discussed the increase in COVID hospitalizations but pointed to the dual , and larger , issue of staffing .
“ We are quarantining healthy people right now , ” said Cross .
“ We are quarantining healthy doctors and healthy nurses.
” Ohio health care systems felt the brunt of shutdowns early in the state ’ s pandemic response as hospitals were forced to forego elective procedures to keep their spaces empty for the surge of COVID patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Amy Acton predicted – cases peaking at 60,000 in a day .
COVID patients didn ’ t show up , revenue from elective surgeries was cut off and other Ohioans stayed away from hospitals out of fear of contracting COVID .
Consequently , hospitals were forced to shut down wings , close and furlough workers .
Ohio ’ s largest employer , Cleveland Clinic , estimated their financial impact from COVID policies to be “ nearly $ 1 billion.
” “ We have a far greater challenge and threat , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother of three from Rocky River in an interview with The Star .
“ Despite the Constitution clearly outlining the roles of the three distinct branches of government , a central tenant to American democracy and government , I have watched our Governor expand and abuse his power over the last eight months .
His role as an executor of the law has been completely abandoned as he continues to act unilaterally in decisions affecting the entire state of Ohio.
” Cross concurs with the notion that the balance of powers matters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons why we need to have checks and balances , ” said the representative .
Cross said he believes that if the governor is making an error that courts can overturn orders – which many have , as The Star reported .
But Cross added there is a unique , all-important role the legislature plays – acting as the voice of the state , the 11.7 million people comprising Ohio .
“ Orders that require everyone to stay at home , that shutter polling locations on the eve of an election , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open and which have to close , orders that require everyone to cover their faces or establish a curfew , are but a few of the examples of the extreme overreach of government and defy our basic liberties as American citizens , ” said SB311 primary co-sponsor Roegner .
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 ] .
Photo “ Ohio Statehouse ” by Alexander Smith @ @ @ @ @