thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Ohio Legislators Slam Coronavirus Bill Add-ons, Praise Bipartisan Effort

After months of infighting , Congress passed a coronavirus relief bill late on Monday night , prompting Ohio legislators to praise bipartisan measures to provide relief during the novel coronavirus pandemic .
Although it received backlash from a wide array of legislators for its more than 5,500 pages of text — with many saying it was impossible to read completely before the vote — the $ 2.3 trillion bill included a $ 900 billion stimulus package aimed at supporting struggling Americans .
The bill passed late Monday night 359-53 in the House of Representatives and 92-6 in the Senate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Ohio , only Reps. Jim Jordan ( R-OH-4 ) and Warren Davidson ( R-OH-8 ) voted against the bill .
It is now on its way to President Trump ’ s desk .
The bill includes provisions for $ 600 in stimulus checks per person , which falls short of the $ 1,200 checks seen earlier this year .
It also includes an additional $ 300 per week for 11 weeks in unemployment benefits and reopens the Paycheck Protection Program .
Some Ohio legislators said they were grateful for bipartisan measures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass a relief bill .
At least one legislator went after Republicans , saying that they held up a stimulus bill .
“ Seven months after the House passed The Heroes Act , Republicans have finally relented to allow more support to the American people who are struggling through the three pandemics : COVID-19 , economic hardship , and social injustice , ” said Rep. Joyce Beatty ( D-OH-3 ) in a statement .
“ So , let me be clear : the GOP has had a knee on Americans ’ necks by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still falls short of what we need to get through this crisis.
” Others praised specific provisions included in the bill they say will directly support Ohio residents .
Sen. Sherrod Brown ( D-OH ) said he fought for language to end surprise medical bills and for “ key investments in Ohio ’ s military installations.
” “ In the midst of such a difficult year for Ohio , the package we secured tonight will provide critical investments and support for our state .
Ohio families and communities are struggling , and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them the help they need , ” Brown said in a statement .
“ We ’ ll all have more work to do in the months and years ahead , but the Senate passage of this package tonight is an important victory for our state.
” Although some criticized the bill ’ s additional add-ons , which includes many special interests such as abortion policy and funding for a border wall , many agreed that holding up the bill any longer would do even more damage to struggling Americans .
“ Undoubtedly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill , ” said Rep. Brad Wenstrup ( R-OH-2 ) in a statement , who added that he supported provisions that end surprise medical bills .
“ However , our country faces unprecedented circumstances and urgent needs , and I supported this legislation because I know the American people have been counting on us to deliver relief.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--St. Olaf Prof Echoes Call for School to ‘Repent’ of Systemic Racism

The director of St. Olaf College ’ s Lutheran Center for Faith , Values , and Community echoed a call for the school to “ repent ” of systemic racism .
Deanna Thompson wrote an article for the Minnesota school ’ s blog entitled “ Uncomfortable Grace : Drawing on St. Olaf ’ s Lutheran Identity to Guide Our Path to Anti-Racism , ” in which she argued that “ racism is embedded deep within institutions across the United States , including St. Olaf College.
” To support her argument , she paraphrased Lutheran pastor Lenny Duncan , who visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Duncan called on St. Olaf , in good Lutheran fashion , to name the evil in our midst and to confess and repent for the harm that ’ s been perpetuated through the systemic racism that exists on our campus , ” wrote Thompson .
“ While many of us who are White may not see ourselves as agents of racism that harms people of color within and beyond the St. Olaf community , Rev .
Duncan helps us understand that ‘ white supremacy doesn ’ t need active racists to function.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ College , which is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America , should stand upon the “ Lutheran intellectual tradition ” while seeking to remain “ open to insights from other religious and secular traditions.
” Leading Christian theologians took issue with Thompson ’ s understanding of “ repentance.
” R. Scott Clark , professor of church history at Westminster Seminary California in Escondido , California , told Campus Reform that “ Dr .
Thompson calls Lutherans to repent for ‘ systemic racism ’ and takes for granted that we should all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of racism which , in her account , entails a new , decided un-Lutheran definition of repentance.
” “ Where Luther would have us repent for sins of the heart , head , mouth , and hands , of omission and commission , individual and corporate , Thompson would have us repent of systems and immutable characteristics , ” he said .
“ This is ironic since Martin Luther himself came to public attention by complaining about Rome ’ s abuse of the doctrine and practice of forgiveness.
” Clark explained that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into an opportunity for social control and economic advantage , ” putting her definition of repentance on the “ wrong side of the Reformation.
” Furthermore , “ under the doctrine of systemic racism , some are doomed to a seemingly endless and graceless purgatory of self-flagellation for sins committed by no one in particular that call no one in particular to look at his heart , his neighbor , or his Savior for personal forgiveness for personal sins .
Others are apparently righteous merely for being victims of a system .
Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luther objected ?
” Clark said .
“ The Reformed Heidelberg Catechism of 1563 captures well the classic Protestant doctrine of repentance : the putting to death of the old man and the making alive of the new , ” he added .
“ Reformation Christians seek to live their lives not under the law of condemnation ( e.g.
, systemic racism ) but the gospel of God ’ s gracious forgiveness of sinners .
In light of that grace , in union with Christ , we seek to put to death the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to love our neighbors as ourselves , whatever our immutable characteristics or theirs.
” Campus Reform reached out to Thompson for comment and will update this article accordingly .
Benjamin Zeisloft is a Pennsylvania Senior Campus Correspondent , reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform .
He is studying Finance and Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania .
Benjamin also writes for The UPenn Statesman and the Wharton International Business Review .

Gov. Bill Lee said more than 23,000 Tennesseans have received a free COVID-19 test at one of 67 drive-through testing sites over the past three weekends.
“Testing remains one of the most important tools for gaining more information in our fight against COVID-19, and the 23,000 tests we’ve completed over the last three weekends have provided incredibly valuable data,” Lee said in a statement. “We’re grateful to the thousands who came out to receive a test this weekend and we continue to remind Tennesseans: when in doubt, get a test.”
Last weekend alone, 5,153 Tennesseans received a free COVID-19 test. Lee said the free testing is part of the Unified Command Group’s efforts to widen access to testing regardless of symptoms.
“Our weekend sites have been equipped to meet the demand for free testing across the state,” said Dr. Lisa Piercey, Tennessee Department of Health commissioner. “With ample capacity at our county health departments during the week, we continue to encourage Tennesseans to take advantage of free testing at these locations.”
The Tennessee Department of Health has a map of testing sites published on its website. As of Thursday, Tennessee had completed 236,328 COVID-19 tests. That’s more than double the number of tests performed in states like Minnesota, which claims it has the ability to test up to 20,000 individuals in a day, but has yet to surpass 6,000 daily tests.
Between Wednesday and Thursday, Tennessee tested an additional 9,227 residents, according to the Department of Health.
Tennessee has also performed more than twice as many tests as Kentucky, which had tested 81,391 residents as of Thursday.
Most of Tennessee’s COVID-19 tests have been performed by non-state health labs, which account for 225,427 of the state’s 236,328 total tests.
Tennessee now has 14,096 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 237 deaths, and 6,783 recovered patients.
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “North Carolina National Guard Members” by the National Guard. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Virginia Police Increasing Sobriety Checkpoints and Patrols During the Holidays

Virginia is again ramping up its Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign , a program aimed at reducing drunk driving through increased police activity and sobriety checkpoints .
Through December 8 , 2020 , there were 253 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Virginia , up from 249 in the same period in 2019 , according to a press release from Governor Ralph Northam ’ s office .
“ Although fewer vehicles have been on the road during the pandemic , our data shows no decrease in the devastation caused by selfish drivers who choose to get behind the wheel when impaired , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the press release .
“ Many of us will be spending the holidays at home this year , but if you are going out and your celebration involves alcohol , please make a plan for a safe ride home before you start drinking.
” State and local law enforcement will conduct over 700 saturation patrols and 100 sobriety checkpoints from December 18 , 2020 through January 1 , 2021 .
In a saturation patrol , a large number of police officers concentrate in a specific area for a set period of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deter impaired driving .
Checkpoint Strikeforce is a year-long program that resumes periodically around certain holidays .
“ Saturation patrols can have advantages over sobriety checkpoints , including increased effectiveness , reduced staffing , and comparative ease of operation , ” a Centers for Disease Control website states .
Checkpoint Strikeforce also features the “ Act Like It ” ad campaign featuring adults behaving like children .
The intent of the saturation patrols , sobriety checkpoints , and advertisements is to increase the perceived risk of being caught driving drunk .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an increase in drunk-driving related fatalities and crashes across the nation .
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , in December 2018 , there were 839 lives lost in drunk-driving crashes nationwide .
Of the 839 deaths , 285 occurred during the Christmas and New Year ’ s holiday period , ” states a Virginia State Police press release .
Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor Paul Goldman said sobriety checkpoints might be unconstitutional .
In August , he told The Virginia Star , “ Basic law is , you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest them without probable cause … .
Where ’ s the probable cause ?
I haven ’ t done anything wrong.
” There isn ’ t really a good option for someone caught in a sobriety checkpoint , Goldman said , even though they seem to exceed the law .
“ I guess you have to roll down your window , you have to stop , be polite , ” he said .
“ Getting drunk drivers off the road , telling people , ‘ Hey , you shouldn ’ t be driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s a good thing .
But doing it in a constitutional way , that could be a difficult thing .
So how do you combine a good thing with a difficult thing , ” Goldman said .
“ Well , it seems to me you have to err on the side of the Constitution.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Nearly 50K Votes Cast by Voters in Runoff Election Who Didn’t Vote in General Election

Reports from independent data analysts state that nearly 50,000 voters who didn ’ t vote in the general election have voted in the runoff election .
The data culled from the Georgia Secretary of State ’ s office issued a stark contrast to the total number of votes cast in the runoff , which are currently lower overall than in the general election .
According to Georgia Votes , the 50,000 voters make up nearly 3 percent of the registered voters who didn ’ t vote in the presidential election .
There are 21 percent less mail-in ballots than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase of early votes .
The site reflected that Monday marked five consecutive days of lower in-person voting turnout than the general election .
Additionally , Democratic-leaning districts had stronger turnouts this past weekend than their Republican-leaning counterparts .
Over half of the early voters from the general election haven ’ t voted in the runoff election yet .
Over 2.3 million have applied to vote by mail , a 4 percent decrease from the general election .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger issued a press release on Tuesday that his office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud .
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation ( GBI ) and local elections departments will assist the secretary of state ’ s office in over 250 investigations .
The press release noted that approximately 8,000 individuals illegally requested ballots for the runoff election , despite having moved out of the state .
Raffensperger ’ s announcement followed the decision to conduct a signature matching audit , after nearly a month of representatives and constituents alike requesting one .
The latest poll favors Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock over Republican incumbents David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perdue by up to five points , and Warnock leads Loeffler by seven points .
However , the latest poll ’ s sample size is smaller than a preceding poll which depicted Perdue leading Ossoff by up to three points and Loeffler leading Warnock by six points .
Over 1.6 million individuals have cast their vote for the runoff election at the time of publication .
January 5 is the date for the runoff election .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ People Voting ” by Wyofile Wyofile .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Fairfax, Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano Says His Office Will Not Seek Cash Bail

Fairfax Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Steve Descano ( D ) announced Monday that he would not be seeking cash bail for non-violent offenders , formalizing a policy he and his prosecutors have been practicing since Descano took office in January 2020 .
“ I ’ ve long said that the laws on the books should match the values in our hearts .
Cash bail is unjust , racially biased , and doesn ’ t make our community safer , ” Descano said in a Twitter announcement .
“ That ’ s why my office won ’ t request it and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end it.
” In a Washington Post op-ed Descano said , “ Simply put , cash bail creates a two-tiered justice system : one for rich people and one for everyone else .
People who sit in jail risk losing their jobs for nonattendance , which , in short order , could lead to the loss of their housing , and in some cases the loss of custody of their children .
Facing these rippling consequences , many people simply opt to plead guilty in exchange for their immediate release , often plunging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the criminal justice system.
” Descano is part of a growing list of Virginia prosecutors who are moving away from cash bail .
Norfolk Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Greg Underwood ( D ) was among the first to institute the practice in Virginia , according to Republican candidate for the House of Delegates 83rd district Tim Anderson .
Anderson is a Virginia Beach lawyer whose practice includes criminal defense .
“ There was this push that basically cash bonds keep poor people in jail while people with means get out , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race thing where it impacts people of color more , ” Anderson said .
“ So , there is a pretty much nationwide push to eliminate bail from the criminal justice equation.
” Bail is a system designed to incentivize people awaiting trial to show up for their court date .
Anderson provided an example : “ So I get arrested for a DUI , and I go in front of a magistrate .
The magistrate says I get out of jail once I pay $ 2,500 , for instance .
And so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to court , I ’ m found guilty or not guilty , it doesn ’ t matter , and then at the end of the case , when it ’ s all over , I get my $ 2,500 back.
” “ If I don ’ t go to court , I skip , then I lose my $ 2,500 , ” he said .
“ But nobody really has money anymore to post bail , ” Anderson said .
Instead , people reach out to a bondsman who pays the bail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the case , the bondsman gets the $ 2,500 bail he paid back .
For that service , the bondsman charges the defendant a fee that is ten to fifteen percent of the bail .
“ What people are looking at is basically , this is just really a way for insurance companies and bondsmen to make money off the criminal justice system , ” Anderson said .
“ Literally , there are people right at this minute that are sitting in jail pre-trial that can ’ t pay the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay , and they ’ re sitting in jail , ” Anderson said .
“ But somebody who may have the means would be out of jail , and that is happening right now in the Commonwealth , for sure.
” Without cash bail , non-violent defenders are released on an unsecured bond — a promise to show up for court .
Anderson said , “ Look , as a criminal defense lawyer , I probably don ’ t have a lot of heartburn over people charged with non-violent misdemeanor not having to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that commit more serious non-violent crimes like stealing a car should have some sort of incentive like bail or ankle bracelet monitoring .
The advantage of cash bail , according to Anderson .
is that it doesn ’ t cost the government anything .
Bail is its own incentive , and bail bondsmen are privately incentivized to make sure their client appears in court .
In the Washington Post op-ed , Descano wrote , “ We rely on a comprehensive suite of pretrial services to pair individuals with the interventions and supervision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping the community safe and incentivizing that person to show up to court.
” Hampton Roads-area bail bondsman Rodger Hopkins said , “ There are movements all across the country .
They love saying people are languishing in jail , that you just have tens of thousands of people languishing in jail simply because they can ’ t afford bail , but that is false.
” Hopkins said that in some other states including North Carolina , bail is often set absurdly high , but in Virginia , if someone can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bail , it ’ s because they don ’ t have a co-signer and the traditional social stability that will make sure they come back to court .
Legally , bondsmen are only allowed to charge a fee that is 10-15 percent of the bail , and bondsmen offer payment plans .
“ The Norfolk Commonwealth ’ s Attorney , he thinks that bail bondsmen make a living off indigent people and people of color and so forth , folks that can ’ t afford to get out .
[ So , ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own.
” Hopkins said because of the lack of bail in Norfolk , the Norfolk police have a huge list of wanted persons .
“ If you have a bail bondsman bonding people out , we ’ re going to find them , ” Hopkins said .
State Senator Chap Petersen ( D-Fairfax ) said that making a blanket policy banning cash bail is a bad idea .
Petersen is a lawyer with experience in criminal justice .
“ To simply say that every single person that comes before the court , somehow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they come back somehow through pretrial services , I just think that ’ s a little bit naive , ” Petersen said .
He does agree that cash bail has been abused , with unnecessarily high bails set for defendants .
Petersen said that ending cash bail for local community members who have committed minor , non-violent offenses might work , but there ’ s no good solution to make sure people from out of state or country appear in court .
“ Ending cash bail is a nice slogan , ” Petersen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of the day the most effective way to keep a community safe.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Michigan to Get $91,000 Data Breach Settlement

Nearly 500,000 Michiganders ’ data was breached , for which the state will receive $ 91,000 .
The breach compromised consumer names , email addresses , passwords , physical addresses , phone numbers and , in some cases , Social Security or tax identification numbers , and the last four digits of credit card numbers and expiration dates .
The settlement includes an immediate payment of $ 750,000 divided among the states .
The remainder of the $ 2 million amount is suspended because the company can ’ t pay it .
Of the compromised Michigan consumers , 5,234 potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identification numbers compromised .
Upon disclosing the breach in September 2019 , CafePress offered two years of credit monitoring and theft resolution services for free to those whose Social Security numbers and tax identification numbers were affected by the incident .
“ As a growing number of services and customer-driven amenities become available online , a consumer ’ s personal information is more at-risk now than ever before , ” Nessel said in a statement .
“ While there are steps we as consumers can take to protect our own personal information from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must also take appropriate measures to safeguard that data to ensure their customers are protected from predatory attempts to capitalize on that information.
” Under the settlement , CafePress has agreed to protect consumer personal information from cyberattacks , including providing : • A comprehensive information security program with regular updates to keep pace with changes in technology and security threats as well as regular reporting to the CEO concerning security risks ; • An incident response and data breach notification plan that is required to encompass preparation , detection , and analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; • Personal information safeguards and controls , including encryption , segmentation , penetration testing , logging and monitoring , a risk assessment program , password management , and data minimization ; • Clear notice to consumers concerning account closure and data deletion ; and Nessel ’ s office joined the investigation with the attorneys general of Connecticut , Indiana , Kentucky , New Jersey , New York , and Oregon .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FEE.org .
Previously , he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Biased Media Gives Jon Ossoff a Pass on China, Georgia GOP Says

Members of the Georgia Republican Party on Tuesday said the media is “ turning a blind eye ” to Democrat Jon Ossoff ’ s ties to the Chinese Communist Party .
Ossoff wants to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate .
“ At a time when Georgians want to be certain that their elected officials aren ’ t compromised by China , the mainstream media is doing its best to ensure that voters never learn the truth about Jon Ossoff , ” said GAGOP spokeswoman Abigail Sigler , in an emailed press release .
“ Ossoff ’ s inability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the CCP should be all the people of Georgia need to know — they can not trust him to stand up to our adversaries and put Americans first.
” Members of the Georgia GOP , in their press release , said the following : • Ossoff took money from PCCW , a Chinese company tied to the country ’ s communist government .
• Ossoff failed to disclose his relationship with PCCW in his May disclosure .
• When pressed about why he did not include PCCW in his document , Ossoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Earlier in December , Ossoff ’ s campaign “ changed its tune on payments the Democrat received from a Chinese Communist Party-linked media conglomerate in Hong Kong , after Georgia Republicans filed an ethics complaint alleging he ‘ knowingly and willfully ’ failed to disclose the payments in a May financial disclosure.
” • Ossoff has yet to answer whether China is the only Communist government he has done business with .
“ Even as ‘ polling suggests Ossoff ’ s China scandal is hurting his election chances ’ and Eric Swalwell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese spy Christine Fang is helping the GOP press Jon Ossoff about his financial ties to China , ’ mainstream reporters are standing down when it comes to Ossoff pushing on the countless unanswered questions about his business dealings with the CCP , ” according to the GOP press release .
“ Instead , Ossoff ’ s scrutiny from mainstream ‘ journalists ’ consists of observations about how ‘ sweet he is , ’ praise for his academic credentials , and gushing about being in his presence , ” the press release said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perdue ( R-GA ) and U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) are on the January 5 , 2021 ballot for the U.S. Senate against Ossoff and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Raphael Warnock , respectively .
The two races will determine whether Republicans or Democrats control the majority in the U.S. Senate .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Jon Ossoff ” by Jon Ossoff .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Statement of The Star News Network Editorial Policy on Stories About Calls for Martial Law in the Un

Statement of The Star News Network Editorial Policy on Stories About Calls for Martial Law in the United States of America

It is the policy of The Star News Network that we will publish no stories about calls for martial law in the United States made by public figures or private individuals at any of our online news websites , which currently consist of The Tennessee Star , The Ohio Star , The Michigan Star , The Minnesota Sun , The Georgia Star News , and The Virginia Star .
At the federal level , the imposition of martial law is exceedingly rare .
It conjures an image of soldiers in the streets , arresting citizens at will .
But as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ martial law has no specific definition , though it can be defined as a period of time when “ certain civil liberties may be suspended , such as the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures , freedom of association , and freedom of movement.
” The news outlet cited JRANK , an online legal library as its source .
As best we can determine , martial law has only ever been declared by one sitting President , Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War , and even then only in two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 1862 to 1866 , martial law was only broadly applicable to “ rebels , ” presumably Confederate soldiers .
In the second instance , from 1864 to 1865 , it was applied only to the state of Kentucky .
During World War II , President Franklin Delano Roosevelt approved Governor J.B. Poindexter and Lt. General Walter C. Short ’ s decision to declare martial law in Hawaii , which at the time was a federal territory and not a state , after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 , 1941 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there in 1944 .
The very idea that a president could impose martial law during peace time – an idea which President Trump has rejected – could lead to civil unrest unlike anything we have seen in modern history .
It could lead to violence in the streets , from both sides of the political aisle .
It could get Americans hurt , or even killed .
The Star News Network feels that it is irresponsible in such turbulent times to add fuel to the proverbial fire .
In the extremely unlikely event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to impose martial law in the United States , we will report on it .
Until then , we will publish no stories on public or private figures who call for its imposition in this country .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Georgia Voters Sue Fulton County, Allege Illegal Ballot Scanning Corresponding with Vote Spike

A group of Georgia voters filed a lawsuit in Fulton County Superior Court earlier this week against the individual members of the Fulton County Board of Elections and individually against Richard Barron , Fulton County Elections Director .
The lawsuit focused on the security footage presented by Trump ’ s legal team during the Georgia Senate hearing , popularized as the “ suitcase ballots ” video .
The plaintiffs alleged that the group of workers seen on video illegally scanned thousands of mail-in ballots hidden underneath skirted tables .
They also claimed that those ballots may be fraudulent .
Voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( VOTERGA ) , a nonpartisan and non-profit election integrity coalition , organized the aggrieved voters into a group of plaintiffs .
Election officials have roundly dismissed the claim that the suitcase ballots were abnormal .
They asserted that the cases containing the ballots were regular containers , and that no poll workers or monitors were asked to leave that evening .
However , rebutting claims alleged that neither the containers or skirted tables were protocol .
VOTERGA ’ s press release stated that the lawsuit emphasized an alleged connection between the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irregular surge of votes .
“ After scanning was complete , an election line feed showed an unprecedented vote spike that turned the election in favor of Presidential candidate Joe Biden , ” stated VOTERGA .
According to the press release , the lawsuit cited four affidavits from “ experienced hand count monitors ” that claim to have handled irregular mail-in ballots during the first audit .
“ They contend the ballots did not have creases from mailing , were not marked with a writing instrument and were on unusual ballot stock , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other affidavits include one from a recount monitor who saw 9 unlocked ballot bags and a poll manager who participated in testing on many live ballots that were also left unsecured.
” The description of the affidavits included those filed previously in other election lawsuits .
The lawsuit also alleged that the county failed twice to fulfill Open Records Requests , to count votes for write-in candidates , and to respond properly to election irregularities .
“ Four of the counts allege that votes cast by voters within the county and across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at State Farm Arena , ” stated the press release .
“ The petition contends that such actions by the Defendants violates their oath of office to prevent fraud.
” The voters petitioned for a temporary injunction to inspect Fulton County ’ s absentee ballots visually , rescan mail-in ballots under a forensic examination , examine copies of Dominion Voting Machines ballot images and election reports .
Under Georgia law , only a court order can make available cast ballots for public inspection .
In an exclusive interview with The Georgia Star News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were more voters who wanted to sign on as plaintiffs than he ’ d anticipated .
“ We have hundreds of volunteers , ” explained Favorito .
“ We just [ explained ] last weekend in our meeting that we were going to sue the county for what they did at State Farm .
And we asked if anyone would like to serve as plaintiffs .
We only really needed 2-4 – but so many wanted to do it [ that ] we ended up with nine plaintiffs.
” Favorito added that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the firm Maddox & Harding .
“ He represented us when we went to the Georgia Supreme Court a few years ago .
We lost that case , but then the U.S. District Court last year basically overturned the Georgia Supreme Court and ruled that we were correct all along because it [ the election process ] wasn ’ t verifiable , auditable , and repeatable , ” stated Favorito .
“ The Georgia Supreme Court ruled against us because they didn ’ t apply strict scrutiny for the right to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposite conclusion with the same [ type of ] case.
” The Georgia Supreme Court case that Favorito was involved in occurred in 2009 .
The subsequent U.S. District Court case was filed by a different set of plaintiffs , and occurred last year .
Favorito also testified on his findings before the Georgia House of Representatives last week .
Earlier this week , the House called suddenly for a second hearing , scheduled for Wednesday morning .
“ I think this suit has a better chance of success than other suits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Favorito told The Star News .
“ There ’ s nothing esoteric about it.
” According to Favorito , the voters ’ lawsuit was filed late Tuesday night .
He informed The Star News that Fulton County Superior Court has deducted fees but has yet sent a stamp-approved copy by the time of press .
Favorito expressed displeasure with state and local election officials ’ responses to voting irregularities .
“ It greatly disturbs us that we had to spend our time and money to do this because Fulton County and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intent on covering this up , ” stated Favorito .
As Breitbart News reported , Fulton County Elections Director Richard Barron orchestrated the acceptance of a $ 6.3 million grant from the Mark Zuckerberg-funded Center for Technology and Civic Life “ Safe Elections ” project at a meeting of the Fulton County Board Commissioners with no public discussion in early September : The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted to accept a $ 6.3 million grant from the Mark-Zuckerberg funded Center for Technology and Civic Life “ Safe Elections ” project at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It proceeded without asking a single question about the name of the group providing the funding , the origin of the funding , or the details of what the funding would be used for… Later in that meeting , Fulton County Elections Director Richard Barron told the Fulton County Board of Commissioners how he was able to secure the grant for the county , but failed to mention the name of the funding group–CTCL–or the fact they had only one day earlier , on September 1 , received a $ 250 million donation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife Priscilla Chan , to fund the Fulton County grant .
“ I went this summer and sought some grant funding , which the BOC approved today for over $ 6.3 million , and we ’ ve also received $ 5 million in COVID funding .
And then with the $ 3.5 million soundings request today , that totals $ 14.5 million more in additional investments for we ’ re going to be — we were able to secure a lot of new polling places for , if we clean them afterwards , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , postage and absentee ballots that we have to mail out , ” Barron told the Fulton County Board of Commissioners at their September 2 , 2020 board meeting .
As The Star News reported , Fulton County has failed to provide ballot transfer forms to document the chain of custody of an estimated tens of thousands of absentee ballots deposited in drop boxes during the November 3 presidential election as requested in a Star News Open Records Request , though it has promised to provide whatever documents it may discover by January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-23--Emails Obtained by FBI Detail How Hunter Biden Landed Ukrainian Gas Gig in 2014

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thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Rep. Tim Burchett Slams COVID Stimulus, Demands Veto

A Tennessee Congressman is taking a stand against this week ’ s COVID-19 stimulus package passed by Congress .
“ We need to quit funding foreign countries , ” Rep. Tim Burchett ( R-TN-02 ) told The Tennessee Star by email .
“ Americans are struggling right now , I don ’ t know what the magic number is for direct payment but I know the amount needs to be more than $ 600.
” Burchett voted against the bill , and has been railing against it since early this week .
“ Coronavirus relief for small businesses and working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t going to happen when only a few Washington politicians like Nancy Pelosi get a seat at the negotiating table , ” Burchett said in a Monday press release .
“ We are sent here to represent our communities , but like so many other representatives , I was never given the opportunity to speak on behalf of East Tennesseans .
It ’ s a disgrace Speaker Pelosi used her coronavirus package to con House members into voting for her progressive government funding bills.
” On social media , Burchett ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed .
He slammed Congress for voting to spend hundreds of millions of dollars overseas while Americans struggle .
“ I am calling on President Trump to veto the COVIDbus , ” he said in a Wednesday Facebook post .
“ Struggling families and small businesses get pennies while billions of American taxpayer dollars are sent overseas .
Congress needs to get back to Washington and make this right , even if we have to work through Christmas.
” On Twitter , he also asked President Donald J. Trump to veto the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump ] , ” he said .
“ Call us back !
Make us work thru Christmas if needed .
Americans are suffering.
” After passing the bill , Pelosi and the rest of Congress drew criticism for what was viewed by many as a paltry $ 600 in direct payments to Americans , many of whom have lost their jobs due to the government ’ s forced lockdowns over the past several months .
When Trump demanded $ 2000 for every American and $ 4000 for couples Tuesday night , Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats would attempt to pass a measure by unanimous consent Wednesday , upping the direct payments to $ 2000 .
That move was too little , too late for Burchett .
“ They are the majority , ” Burchett said .
“ They could have already done this .
They got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
” Many , including Burchett , noted that the bill provided billions for foreign interests , much more than what was afforded to the American people .
“ Americans get penny ’ s [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billions to foreign interests , ” he said on Twitter .
Trump ’ s son Eric took to Twitter too , posting a graphic with a breakdown of some of the spending in the bill that was not aimed at relief ordinary Americans : Pete D ’ Abrosca is a contributor at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network .
Follow Pete on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office now lists 24 individuals as collecting petitions in the campaign for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
There are 16 Republicans, four Democrats, and four Independents collecting qualifying petitions for the TN-5 race.
Candidates of all parties have until noon on April 7 to turn in their qualifying petitions, a deadline which is fast approaching. Candidates must collect 25 valid signatures from registered voters in the district. Those seeking the Republican nomination must be verified as bona fide Republicans by the Tennessee Republican Party in order to appear on the GOP primary ballot.
Challenges have been filed against the bona fide Republican statuses of the three carpetbaggers in the race, Morgan Ortagus, David Vitalli, and Robby Starbuck. Action will occur on those challenges after the April 7 filing deadline.
On the Republican side, Morgan Ortagus, former Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell of Nashville, businessman Baxter Lee of Nashville, Robby Starbuck of Franklin (listed as Robert Starbuck Newsom), Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks of Nashville, Timothy Bruce Lee of Nashville, Annabelle Lee of Madison, Alan Clement Sharp of Nashville, David Vitalli of Brentwood, Stewart Parks of Nashville, Richie Lee of Nashville, General Kurt Winstead of Franklin, Tres Wittum of Nashville, Jeff Beierlein of Nashville, and Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles are listed as collecting petitions.
Former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada of Franklin is still listed as collecting petitions but he dropped out of the race and endorsed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in the GOP primary.
On the Democrat side, Clay Faircloth, Richard H. Harris, Justicia Rizzo, and Joel Michael Hurbert, all from Nashville, are collecting petitions.
Derrick Brantley of Nashville, Patrick O. Halfacre of Hohenwald, Daniel J. Cooper of Spring Hill, and Richard A. Shannon of Franklin are the independents collecting petitions.
The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office has been updating its list on a weekly basis. This list is current as of Friday, April 1.
Reports are expected to be available for the January 1 through March 31, 2022 Federal Election Commission campaign finance first-quarter period in the coming days. Those reports are expected to shed significant light on which candidates are considered viable. The bulk of the field entered the race after the December 31, 2021 reporting deadline.
The primaries are scheduled for August 4, 2022.
The newly-redrawn 5th Congressional District consists of parts of Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson counties, as well as all of Maury, Marshall, and Lewis counties.
– – –
Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected] Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, and Parler.
Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Andrew Can Huss.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Commentary: Under Biden, the Term ‘Illegal Alien’ May Become Illegal

If you agreed with President Trump ’ s “ Make America Great Again ” approach to governance , then brace yourself , as all of it could soon be subject to dismantling if Joe Biden is successful in his bid for the presidency .
The changes will be of both the macro and micro variety .
Some that appear minor are actually very significant .
One such example is the war on language , specifically the term “ illegal alien.
” “ Illegal alien ” has been targeted for elimination by the anti-borders Left for several years now , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a Biden presidency .
One of their favorite lines of attack is the mantra “ no human being is illegal , ” as if identifying a person ’ s legal status is equivalent to dehumanizing the person .
There has also been much effort to classify the term as a racial slur .
This is Political Correctness 101 intended to get people thinking based on emotions , not facts .
This attack on language is a modern-day version of “ newspeak ” from Orwell ’ s 1984 .
Violent rioters are actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ investing in our children ’ s future , ” and illegal aliens are “ undocumented immigrants.
” Not surprisingly , the push for this revisionist language is coming largely from the media .
The Associated Press stylebook , the lodestar for journalist diction , had long recommended the term “ illegal alien.
” That changed in 2013 when the AP reversed course , calling on members of the press to stop using the term when referring to a person in the country illegally .
Today one would be hard-pressed to find any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper or network news program .
Upon sober analysis , the term “ illegal alien ” is both factually and legally correct .
The fact is that many of the “ undocumented ” aliens illegally present in this country do have documents , just not the right ones .
These documents may range from those unlawfully obtained , like social security cards or social security numbers , fraudulent driver ’ s licenses , or other documents legally obtained such as “ cedulas , ” the term commonly used for matricular identification or driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its citizens in the United States , or licenses .
The term “ undocumented immigrant ” is far less accurate than “ illegal alien.
” The term “ immigrant ” only applies to a person who has either legally entered the United States as a lawful permanent resident or has been adjusted to that status while in the United States .
While the Left will argue that illegal aliens ’ presence in the country is no crime , their entry into the country is .
The Immigration and Nationality Act ( INA ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , does not make reference to undocumented immigrants .
Instead , the law expressly uses the term “ illegal alien ” when referring to a person who has either illegally entered the United States or violated the terms of his admission , such as overstaying a visa .
For example , in Title V of The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 , which added provisions to the INA , there are five references to “ illegal alien ” alone while the term “ undocumented ” is not mentioned once .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the implementation of President Obama ’ s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents , U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen said in a footnote that “ The Court also understands that there is a certain segment of the population that finds the phrase ‘ illegal alien ’ offensive .
The Court uses this term because it is the term used by the Supreme Court in its latest pronouncement pertaining to this area of the law.
” Indeed , the Supreme Court of the United States and every federal circuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal alien ” when referencing someone not lawfully present in the United States .
But rather than adhere to what is factually and legally correct , anti-borders activists are working diligently to change the public ’ s perceptions about those who violate our laws and the movement behind them .
Biden ’ s team is gearing up to assume power .
Whether that will happen is yet to be seen .
Nonetheless , the radical Left is pushing them to implement their wish list which includes blanket amnesty , a halt to border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t expect much pushback , as Biden has been more than willing to appease the extremist factions of his base .
A great asset to pushing this agenda through will be the gradual but steady replacement of language that is deemed unhelpful to the cause .
Remember that next time you are scolded by a politician or media figure for even thinking about illegal aliens .
Dale L. Wilcox is executive director and general counsel at the Immigration Reform Law Institute , a public interest law firm working to defend the rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the negative effects of illegal migration .
Photo “ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--U.S. Rep. Mark Green Has ‘Grave Concerns’ About ATF’s Latest Plans

U.S. Rep. Mark Green ( R-TN-07 ) has sent a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives expressing what he called “ grave concerns ” over that agency ’ s intention to impose regulations on stabilizing braces for firearms .
This , according to a press release that Green ’ s staff published on his website this week .
According to the website Arsenal Attorneys , this classification “ can mean the difference between a firearm equipped with such a brace being classified as a pistol and thus not subject to the National Firearms Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registration and payment of a $ 200 tax.
” Green , in a letter Tuesday to acting ATF Director Regina Lombardo “ that ATF ’ s guidance on this action infringes on the 2nd Amendment rights of all Americans.
” “ While in the past , ATF has issued classification letters for various braces , this notice appears to rescind those previous letters and evaluate braces on an undefined case-by-case basis .
Gun Owners of America has noted ATF states that things like caliber will be an objective factor , but doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weight and length as objective factors , but similarly doesn ’ t provide any specific weights or lengths .
In other words , ATF ’ s objective factors will be a secret , and will be interpreted entirely subjectively , ” Green wrote .
“ Additionally , this notice appears to be illegal .
ATF is only providing a 14-day comment period on the proposed guidance .
My understanding is the Gun Control Act mandates a 90-day comment period .
ATF ’ s notice is a reckless example of bureaucratic overreach at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I urge you to rescind this notice , and I respectfully request a formal response by December 31 , 2020.
” According to Arsenal Attorneys , violation of the requirements of the National Firearms Act is a felony potentially subjecting the offender to several years in prison and permanent loss of firearms rights .
Arsenal Attorneys is based in Washington , D.C. and works on legal issues as they relate to firearms , according to its website .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--The Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil W. McCabe Weighs in on Extravagant Stimulus Package a

The Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil W. McCabe Weighs in on Extravagant Stimulus Package and Removing Pelosi

Live from Music Row Wednesday 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 Tennessee Star National Correspondent Neil W. McCabe to the newsmakers line .
During the third hour , McCabe weighed in on the recently passed $ 2.3 trillion stimulus package that passed the House and the Senate the other evening and whether or not President Trump would veto it .
He also detailed how Nancy Pelosi might lose her position as Speaker of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to flip only 10 seats .
Leahy : I am in the studio with the original all-star panelists Crom Carmichael .
And on our newsmaker line our Washington correspondent for the Star News Network , Neil W. McCabe .
Good morning , Neil .
McCabe : Crom , Michael , good morning , and Merry Christmas to you .
Leahy : Well , the Grinch came to Washington on Monday .
And the Grinch in the form of Nancy Pelosi put together a 5,593-page spending package that included a little bit of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her special interest friends .
She gave this bill to the members of the House six hours before they were required to vote on it .
It passed both the House and the Senate but the president is saying not so fast .
Tell us what ’ s going on with this Neil .
McCabe : Well only in Washington D.C. can a $ 900 billion corona relief bill cost $ 2.3 trillion .
Leahy : ( Laughs ) That ’ s a good point .
So the president has implied or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now as I understand it he could actually because of the timing and because of the way they don ’ t include Sundays in the count .
Even though it ’ s past Monday night I think they ’ ve got to transmit it to him in a formal way .
And the bottom line is he could actually exercise what they call a pocket veto .
In other words , if he fails to sign it before noon on January third when they adjourned for a new Congress , then it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have that right ?
McCabe : Right , because what happens is the session of Congress expires .
So you ’ re seeing a flurry of bills with senators and congressmen right now .
Well , these bills will never see the light of day because you go back to zero on January 3 .
And so it ’ s one of the games it ’ s playing .
You know , I ’ ve often said that the calendar is more powerful than policy or politics when it comes to Capitol Hill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re seeing now is the function of senators and congressmen who need to go home for Christmas and they will do anything .
They will vote for anything to get them out of town .
And the reporters on Capitol Hill will start making jokes about the jet fumes from Reagan National Airport sort of seeping into Capitol Hill .
In the hallway , people start saying wow , you really can smell the jet fumes of the planes at the airport .
You ’ ll see literally before one of these big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cars idling in the parking lot with interns at the steering wheel .
And the senators and congressman will literally run down the stairs in front of the Capitol and jump into the car and some intern will then drive them to the airport .
That is what ’ s going on right now .
It doesn ’ t matter what the bill says .
These guys have to go home and Trump is really playing this well .
If he has it in him to actually go forward and veto this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what he said last night in a four-minute video he said two things .
Number one this $ 600 a person stimulus check is a pittance .
I want you to increase it to $ 2,000 per person .
That ’ s number one .
and number two he said get rid of all the waste and fraud in this bill .
Now , it ’ s a 5,593-page bill .
I think 10 pages are for Coronavirus relief and the other 5,083 pages are a waste .
And then Nancy Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll do it !
We ’ ll do it !
Well , she ’ s referring to the $ 2,000 and not about eliminating waste and fraud .
What do you say , Neil ?
McCabe : That is going to be very interesting because you know , these lobbyists a lot of them are paid on success fees .
And so , you know , if a university hires a guy to slip in a few million dollars to study butterflies the lobbies don ’ t get paid until the law or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a great bill because of Christmas and the jet fumes .
This is a great bill to throw things on top of .
But it ’ s another example of how you know for the last four years everybody gets what they want except for Trump .
That the Egyptian Military is getting more money than Trump is getting for his wall is just indicative of how Congress has played this guy .
And it ’ s really been brutal to watch .
Carmichael : Yeah .
I understand Jordan is getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : I think Tucker Carlson reported that last night .
But this is not new Neil as you pointed out .
This is unfortunately how Congress works and it ’ s exactly how Congress and the Founding Fathers predicted the Congress would work if you didn ’ t constrain them .
And the constraints started to come off in the 1930s with FDR ’ s agencies and all of those things .
And then the passage of the Social Security Act .
But what ’ s interesting is in the 1950s Eisenhower in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money on roads in the US you had to do it as a defense appropriation .
And every five miles of an interstate there has to be one mile that is straight .
And that ’ s how you can land an airplane on it in the case of an emergency .
In order to make it a defense department appropriation the interstate highways all have every five miles , they have at least one mile or substrate interstate .
McCabe : Well , there you go .
I mean , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi and the Democrats would spend money to build a wall in Berlin before they built it on the Mexican border .
Leahy : A question about this .
I ’ m hearing some rumblings .
Some rumblings that Nancy Pelosi in the new Congress which will convene on January the third may not have a lock on being re-elected as Speaker .
Are people just blowing smoke or is there a reality to that ?
McCabe : It ’ s very interesting that Congresswoman Fudge from Cleveland , Ohio was put into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She was the Democrat two years ago that said she would challenge Nancy Pelosi .
Nancy Pelosi has three sorts of factions that back her .
She has nearly 50 Congressmen just from California alone .
The California delegation is behind her .
She has the Congressional Black Caucus which is completely behind her and has backed her every step of the way .
She pushed for impeachment because of pressure directly from the Congressional Black Caucus .
And then of course she has you know her chairman who basically owes their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had challenges .
This will be her third time going for Speaker in this iteration .
She ’ s had challenges the first few times and she ’ s been able to sort of handle it .
The fact is that to become Speaker you need 218 votes .
It ’ s not a plurality .
So if three people are running and nobody gets 218 , you keep going until somebody gets 218 .
What ’ s she at now 223 , 224 ?
If you flip 10 moderate Democrats then basically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Certainly , the Republicans could combine with some people .
You know , they only need 10 Democrats and they could put in their own Speaker and really take over the whole chamber .
That ’ s the problem when these margins are so close .
We ’ re certainly going to see that in the Senate .
We ’ re going to see it up close and personal when Pelosi is up for Speaker herself .
Carmichael : Neil , let me ask you a quick question .
There are two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One in Iowa and one in New York .
and the one in New York has still not been certified .
The one in Iowa , the Republican one by six votes .
The challenger the Democrat who is the incumbent is now challenging that .
In 1984 the Democrats refused to seat a Republican in Indiana .
Who wants a very very close vote ?
Do you think there ’ s any chance that the Democrats will seat the two Democrats who lost ?
McCabe : No .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play games with a margin this close .
If they have 20 votes or 40 votes they would do it .
Leahy : Interesting point Neil McCabe .
Thanks so much for being with us .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Crom Carmichael Discusses the Politicization of the COVID Vaccine and Government Run Education

Live from Music Row Wednesday 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 outlined the politicization of the COVID-19 vaccine which some have suggested servicing Blacks and Latino ’ s as top priority over Whites 75 years and older .
He later discussed Joe Biden ’ s recent Secretary of Education nod Miguel Cardona of Connecticut whose state is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : So obviously , you know Anthony Fauci , you know , very interested in the vaccine .
Took less than a year .
Nation ’ s leaders need to be taking it .
Joe Biden taking it Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took it , you know , she ’ s like 30 years old .
And she went to the front of the line because she said it was a national security issue .
Carmichael : That she needs to be vaccinated ?
Leahy : No , she claimed it was a national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s interesting to me is all the politics involved in the discussion .
Because what was the left has claimed that people over 75 are too White .
Which by the way raises another question with a potential Biden presidency .
But the claim is that and the people are 75 or the ones who are most at risk .
So the CDC went and did their pretzel maneuver before they finally came down and said , okay people who are at risk over 75 should get it .
Not people over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So they went over the thing .
Then you had people who said well people in prison need to get it and they and they base that based on minorities .
But the problem is that only a third of the prison population is Black .
Two-thirds of the population is not Black .
So now the now you have this question of what you have this finite number of vaccines to give .
And you have some people who are saying that Black people need to be at the front of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you go into a prison , do you vaccinate only Black people first ?
Leahy : You know Ayanna Pressley part of the gang , she wants that .
Leahy : She wants prisoners to get it first before you know White Americans over 75 .
Carmichael : But my question , is there a lot of white prisoners .
Does she want White prisoners to get it at the same time instead of people who are at risk over 75 ?
Because there are two issues here .
One is distribution .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a finite number of vaccination doses .
Carmichael : There ’ s a finite number .
So how do you divide that up ?
And you ’ re seeing government “ at work ” and how it ’ s thinking about this because it ’ s not thinking about it from the standpoint of what ’ s necessarily best .
They ’ re all of these political forces , which is the point I ’ m trying to make here .
This is why the government doesn ’ t work very well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what it does .
For example , we ’ re going talking about in the future if Biden is what I believe is the next president .
If he is the next president , he will be an illegitimate next president .
But he ’ s still the president .
And he will be inaugurated .
And so we ’ ll have an illegitimate president sitting in the Oval Office and he ’ ll be picking people .
Carmichael : And they ’ ll be illegitimate but they ’ ll have powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this country is the media who is probably is the most distrusted institution in the country now .
And deservedly so .
Leahy : Deservedly so .
And they lie .
They outright lie and cover-up .
Carmichael : What they ’ ve become is ideological partisan fanatics .
and it ’ s important that we include all of those things because you can be an ideological fanatic and you can tell the truth .
But you can ’ t be an ideological partisan fanatic and tell the truth you just can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ve got the media .
then the second-worst institution is K through 12 education .
And that ’ s because it is it fails .
It gets all this money and it fails .
And so this is what we should be discussing because under Biden K-12 education is going to actually get even worse .
Leahy : And it ’ s going to get worse very fast .
Leahy : That ’ s hard to imagine that it would get worse .
And he ’ s apparently picking for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Connecticut .
His name is Miguel Cardona .
He ’ s 45 years old and his big accomplishment Crom is… Carmichael : No , his big accomplishment is he ’ s Hispanic .
Carmichael : That ’ s the reason he ’ s picked .
He checks that box .
Now .
What else has he done ?
Leahy : He is requiring in the state of Connecticut that as required learning for every student Black studies and Latino studies should be part of it .
Carmichael : And Connecticut ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Going down the tubes .
Carmichael : Really ?
Even though this great person has forced the high schools to teach these courses that he thinks will help society ?
But yet Connecticut is going down the tubes ?
Leahy : Totally going down the tubes .
He also is focused on English as a second language , achievement gaps , and school desegregation .
These are important issues .
What I ’ m not seeing is anything here about reading writing and arithmetic or anything about civics .
And by the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve never had a student participate in our Constitution Bee is Connecticut .
Carmichael : Well , you ’ re going to have other states now that probably don ’ t have anybody qualified have to compete .
but it ’ s really sad for low-income kids .
And Biden will fight charter schools .
Leahy : It ’ s already out there .
Carmichael : They ’ ll do everything to fight those things .
A person that says a family that ’ s poor and Black should not have a chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who says they should not have that right is racist .
Period .
Carmichael : And they should be called out as such .
And it ’ s the worst form of racism because it ’ s destroying that person ’ s possibilities for their entire life opportunities to advance .
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 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Commentary: Charlie Brown’s Christmas Message to America

Parents and children across America breathed a sigh of relief when it was announced that “ A Charlie Brown Christmas ” would air on public television after all .
This classic favorite seemed ready to disappear like everything else in 2020 when Apple TV obtained the rights and planned to air the program on its streaming service , instead of broadcast TV as has been done since 1965 .
This holiday tradition began when a television producer approached cartoonist Charles Schulz with a general idea regarding an animated special featuring the Peanuts gang .
Having seen the commercialization of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his project on the true meaning of Christmas as told in Luke 2 .
When asked why , he responded : “ If we don ’ t do it , who will ?
” What was it that drove him to relentlessly invest his time and talents in this project ?
Perhaps he was compelled by the events he saw unfolding on the national stage regarding religion in school .
School prayer was once promoted to encourage the development of good character and citizenship .
In 1951 the New York State Board of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voluntarily recited at the beginning of each school day .
It read : “ Almighty God , we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee , and we beg Thy blessings upon us , our parents , our teachers and our Country.
” After almost a decade of reciting this prayer daily without controversy , some parents suddenly found it objectionable , claiming it violated the First Amendment ’ s Establishment Clause by establishing a state-imposed religion .
This claim was rejected by the New York Supreme Court and two appeals courts , finally making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 1962 case Engel v. Vitale .
The Engel v. Vitale decision held that the lower three courts had been wrong : the prayer did indeed violate the Establishment Clause .
The majority did not cite a single Supreme Court case in its opinion ( except in a footnote ) , overturning more than 200 years of public-school practice .
The dissent argued that the Establishment Clause was designed not to prohibit government involvement with religion , but to prohibit the establishment of a state-sponsored church .
The majority decision , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity of sharing in the spiritual heritage of our Nation , ” noting numerous instances of religion in the public square , such as “ In God We Trust ” on our money , “ God Save This Honorable Court ” at the opening of Supreme Court sessions , and prayers in Congress .
Engel v. Vitalecreated a domino effect and soon Bible reading and the Lord ’ s prayer were taboo in schools as well .
It was against this backdrop that Charles Schultz wrote “ A Charlie Brown Christmas.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrought by the Supreme Court to trickle down to actual practice .
The beliefs of public-school administrators in National Association of Secondary Schools Principals ( NASSP ) polls give us a small glimpse of the effects .
Middle and high school administrators named the development of “ moral and spiritual values ” as the second most important task of public schools in 1966 .
By 1992 it ranked last .
Thus , in our recent past , school officials recognized the importance of instilling common values and a common heritage .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for in 1966 “ A Charlie Brown Christmas ” received the Emmy for Outstanding Children ’ s Program .
This came despite the fact that the climax of Schulz ’ s Christmas program showsLinus reciting Luke 2:8-14 .
Coming to the phrase “ Fear not , ” he drops his blanket , a poignant symbol of reliance on God .
Casting away his dependence , he shows that his true security is in faith , not in material things .
In these secular times , Linus ’ s recitation in “ A Charlie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way some children will learn the true meaning of Christmas : And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field , keeping watch over their flock by night .
And , lo , the angel of the Lord came upon them , and the glory of the Lord shone round about them : and they were sore afraid .
And the angel said unto them , ‘ Fear not : for , behold , I bring you good tidings of great joy , which shall be to all people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city of David a Savior , which is Christ the Lord .
And this shall be a sign unto you ; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes , lying in a manger.
’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God , and saying , ‘ Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace , good will toward men .
Linus concludes by saying , “ That ’ s what Christmas is all about , Charlie Brown.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ recitation of the nativity narrative takes place on a public-school stage , and likewise do not recall a time when prayer , Christmas pageants , and Bible readings were allowed in public schools .
It ’ s time we remind them .
Cheri Pierson Yecke is a retired professor of history and political science and served as the Commissioner of Education under Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--New Jobless Claims Decrease to 803,000, Economists Expected 888,000

The number of Americans filing new unemployment claims decreased to 803,000 last week as the economy continued to suffer the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , according to the Department of Labor .
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics ( BLS ) figure released Thursday represented a decrease of new jobless claims compared to the week ending Dec. 12 , in which there were 885,000 new jobless claims reported .
Roughly 20.4 million Americans continue to collect unemployment benefits , according to the BLS report Thursday .
Economists expected Thursday ’ s jobless claims number to come in around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New jobless claims fell below 1 million in the first week of August , which was the first time the weekly claims had fallen below 1 million since March .
“ The recent surge in COVID cases has led to many states reimplementing lockdown measures and other business restrictions that will likely crimp the labor market recovery in the short run , ” Deutsche Bank economists said , according to Yahoo Finance .
“ We have already begun to see some evidence of this in the high-frequency data , with changes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly correlated with the state ’ s growth in COVID cases.
” Investors , meanwhile , have focused on the passage of the coronavirus relief bill , according to CNBC .
Congress overwhelmingly passed a $ 900 billion stimulus package Monday , which included direct payments of $ 600 and $ 320 billion in small business support , but President Donald Trump threatened to veto the bill Tuesday .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged at the end of November , surpassing 30,000 for the first time in the index ’ s history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to CNBC .
The U.S. economy surged by a record 33.1 % in the third quarter .
However , in a sign of the economic recovery slowing , the U.S. added just 245,000 jobs in November , while unemployment fell to 6.7 % , according to the Department of Labor data released Dec. 4 .
U.S. retail sales plummeted by 1.1 % in November even as holiday shopping began , a Department of Commerce report showed Dec. 16 .
Jobless claims hovered around 200,000 per week before the pandemic , according to WSJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency in March as coronavirus spread rapidly around the world .
Average coronavirus cases and deaths per million have been increasing steadily in the U.S. since mid-October , according to The COVID Tracking Project .
On Wednesday , the U.S. reported 3,131 new coronavirus-related deaths and 188,614 new cases while 117,777 Americans remained hospitalized from the virus .
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Unemployment Insurance Claims Office ” by Bytemarks .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Federal Officials in Memphis Catch More Convicted Felons Using Handguns

Four convicted felons in west Tennessee have additional legal problems this month after federal officials said they somehow obtained firearms , with one man allegedly using his gun to assault a federal employee .
Bernard Jones , 35 , pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of a federal employee and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence .
This , according to a press release that members of the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Western District of Tennessee published Monday .
“ According to information presented in court , on September 4 , 2019 , at approximately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process of committing the crime of burglary of a motor vehicle .
Meanwhile , the victim , a U.S .
Postal Service employee , was preparing to take First Class mail from the Jet Cove Annex to the Memphis Processing & Distribution Center in downtown Memphis .
While loading the mail into his USPS staff vehicle , the victim , observed someone moving around inside his personal vehicle parked approximately 50 yards away in the employee parking lot at the Memphis Priority Mail Annex .
The victim drove the staff vehicle near his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his pickup truck , ” the press release said .
“ The defendant shot multiple times at the victim as he escaped in his postal vehicle .
As the victim drove away , the defendant followed him in a Nissan Sentra and continued to shoot .
During the course of the investigation , United States Postal Inspectors determined two bullets struck the hood and several other locations on the postal vehicle .
Law enforcement located two 9MM Luger shell casings from the shooting scene .
The suspect , along with a female accomplice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nissan Sentra.
” Postal inspectors said they later identified Jones as the shooter .
Jones , a convicted felon , also belongs to the Gangsters Disciples Street Gang .
Authorities have scheduled Jones ’ sentencing for March 24 , 2021 .
For the aggravated assault offense , Jones faces a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison followed by three years supervised release and a fine of $ 250,000 .
For the firearm offense , he faces a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years and up to life imprisonment ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supervised release , the press release said .
Members of the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Western District of Tennessee this month also announced the following : • Joseph Morris , 39 , received a sentence of 150 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime , according to a press release .
• Federal authorities indicted Jason Wayne Autry , 46 , of Holladay , Tennessee , for being a felon allegedly in possession of a firearm , according to a press release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Townsend , 60 , of Paris , Tennessee , has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm , according to a press release .
There is no parole in the federal system .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Trump Vetoes Defense Spending Bill, Says It’s ‘Gift’ to China and Russia, Lacks Section 230 Reforms


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Crom Carmichael on How Operation Warp Speed is President Donald Trump’s Accomplishment Avoiding Glac

Crom Carmichael on How Operation Warp Speed is President Donald Trump’s Accomplishment Avoiding Glacial Speed Bureaucracy

Live from Music Row Wednesday 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 to discuss President Trump ’ s success with Operation Warp Speed acknowledging how the president was able to find a way around all the bureaucracy that is normally a part of the FDA process .
Leahy : We are joined in the studio now by the original all-star panelist and our very good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Good morning Crom .
Leahy : It is the last show for The Tennessee Star Report in 2020 today .
Carmichael : Well , we ’ ll try to make it very good .
Leahy : So we ’ re off and we get to sleep in .
Carmichael : You get to sleep in .
I get up early for the radio show .
But not like you .
Nothing like you .
Leahy : No 3:30 a.m. for Crom .
( Chuckles ) I don ’ t blame you .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , January 4 , 2021 and we ’ ll see how that all plays out Crom .
Carmichael : I have a prediction by the way for the Georgia Senate races on Monday the fourth because we ’ re going to be running prediction markets with a company called consensus point .
Leahy : We will wait .
I ’ ll be very interested in your prediction .
Carmichael : We will be running essentially two panels .
One is a national panel and then within the national panel , we ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll know what the national panel says and we ’ ll know what the Georgia panel says within that national panel and we ’ ll see if there is a meaningful difference .
Leahy : That ’ s going to be very interesting and I look forward to hearing what the prediction panel says on it .
Well , you know when Donald Trump announced in March that he was going to establish Operation Warp Speed… Carmichael : No .
That ’ s not accurate .
I want to be clear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says he coined the term Operation Warp Speed .
Carmichael : He says he ’ s going to put it in place .
In fact , he already has .
Biden already has .
Leahy : A revisionist history .
Anyway , when Donald Trump began the process of getting a vaccine ready in less than a year the left-wing critics said , oh , he ’ s just blowing smoke .
It ’ ll never happen .
It ’ s happened .
Carmichael : Now , here ’ s what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they said it would never happen because they assumed that the FDA would continue to operate the way it has historically .
And that is things moving at a glacial pace .
And I think I ’ ve talked about this before Michael that the reason the FDA is slow in approving drugs is that Big Pharma likes it that way .
Big Pharma likes it to be expensive so that little companies that might be creating drugs before they get to the phase three trials are forced to sell out to Big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies go through phase one and go through phase two .
Now , in this case , the reason that Big Pharma jumped in the first of all , they put a person in charge of Operation Warp Speed who was not part of the FDA .
And so he was able to circumvent completely .
He had the authority to circumvent all the bureaucrats at the FDA .
And he did .
But the other thing is that the federal government funded Operation Warp Speed and took the risk out of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a drug can be created if the bureaucrats get out of the way .
Now the FDA still exists .
All this did was show what is possible .
But now that it is done , we now have Joe Biden taking his vaccine .
Now , this is a person who six weeks ago said he wouldn ’ t take it because he didn ’ t trust Trump .
Leahy : That ’ s right .
He did say that .
Carmichael : Yes , he did and so did Kamala Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed in that six weeks period in terms of Trump being president of the United States .
He is still president .
Operation Warp Speed , contrary to what Joe Biden might say is something Trump did not Biden .
But what ’ s interesting is that he took it and then an hour after that candidate Biden claimed that the president had no plan for addressing the virus .
And warned that Americans , this is from The Wall Street Journal , and warned that Americans couldn ’ t trust Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With today ’ s vaccination Biden essentially is admitting that he didn ’ t have a clue what he was saying or didn ’ t believe it .
But what ’ s interesting is that Biden now says that there ’ s still much work to be done .
And here ’ s the greatest concern now .
And that is if Biden will actually stop Operation Warp Speed before it ’ s finished and then claim that something else has to be done , I think that ’ s entirely possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do nothing .
Just do nothing and Operation Warp Speed will be completed and the population will be vaccinated by sometime in the spring .
But it ’ ll be interesting to see if he will do that .
Then you have this relief bill of 5,593 pages , which is a lot like the Obamacare bill .
Carmichael : Because a lot of congressmen and women voted against it simply because they didn ’ t know what was in it .
Leahy : They had at least six hours to read over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no way to pass a $ 2 trillion bill .
It was over two trillion by the time you added it all up .
But here ’ s what ’ s really interesting about that .
For those people who do know the big chunks of it , it really reveals what is important to the Democrat Party .
One is a lot of funding for state and local government .
A lot of funding for government-run schools Leahy : They ’ ve claimed not .
They claimed that not to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said no money for state and local schools .
And I thought that can ’ t be true .
Carmichael : That ’ s false .
What we should be doing Michael we should be holding journalist full-time journalists to account in the same way the police are held to account .
Police have a job to do and when they break the law of their job , then they should be held accountable .
And journalists have a job to do .
It ’ s not like a law that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their industry , and that is , to tell the truth .
To seek the truth and then to tell the truth .
And so the the the equivalent of somebody who is too lazy to seek the truth , but just repeats what they ’ ve heard from somebody else who then turns out to have not told the truth that is to me similar to a policeman who is engaged in some kind of abusive behavior .
Leahy : Well , you ’ re just describing The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on The Georgia Star News yesterday .
Carmichael : Tell us a bit about that .
What we ’ re some of the things that they said in their article that were just flat out wrong .
Give us a few examples .
Leahy : Well they mischaracterized one of our stories .
They said that we claimed that an audit showed that there was a changing of the votes .
We didn ’ t claim that in the article at all .
We simply said that a Trump supporter alleged that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedicated four paragraphs of their article to us .
Every one of those four paragraphs had false statements in it .
We sent them a correction .
They saw it and they corrected half of them .
They haven ’ t corrected the other half .
They also claimed that we were a misinformation super spreader .
And they conflated our verifiable , accurate , and fact-based news stories with something like Diamond and Silk did .
Totally different .
Totally different .
But what ’ s interesting about this Crom is you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Times false reporting with a couple of other things .
There was a report done by a group I ’ d never heard of before .
It ’ s a progressive nongovernmental organization .
It ’ s a 501-c4 that was founded by the Moveon.org and SEIU employee union guys .
They get 25 million bucks a year .
We don ’ t know exactly where it comes from .
Supposedly it comes from donations around the world under a hundred bucks .
I ’ m not quite buying it .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save the rainforest etc .
They ’ ve decided now the disinformation in Georgia is the number one priority and they released a study that said that there are 20 “ super spreaders ” out there that have an outsized impact on the Georgia election .
The George Star News according to them is one of those 20 .
Carmichael : Well congratulations .
You could be added to the list of influential publications .
Leahy : I know .
I know .
I know .
The New York Times had so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have corrected half of them but they haven ’ t corrected all of them .
But they ’ re lumping us in with “ false and misinformation.
” They didn ’ t lay a glove on us and we ’ re punching back .
Carmichael : Well Lin Wood I know has filed a lawsuit claiming that the ballots for the Senate race and must follow the laws passed by the legislature and not the consent decree .
Leahy : They should !
He ’ s right .
Carmichael : So what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now filed a suit before the election so he can file a suit after the election and they can ’ t claim he should have filed it before the election .
Leahy : Which is what they ’ ve done in many other cases .
Carmichael : Which they ’ ve done in other cases .
So he ’ s done the wise thing from a legal standpoint .
It ’ s a little bit like what Jim Roberts is doing by having to kind of make sure that he now comports with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has his referendum he passes scrutiny .
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 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Pfizer, U.S. Reach Deal for 100 Million Additional Coronavirus Vaccine Doses

The Trump Administration has purchased an additional 100 million doses of Pfizer ’ s coronavirus vaccine , the drugmaker announced Wednesday .
The new agreement means that Pfizer will supply 200 million doses to the United States , according to the company ’ s statement , which will be distributed through July 2021 .
Also included in the deal is the option to purchase an additional 400 million doses .
“ With these 100 million additional doses , the United States will be able to protect more individuals and hopefully end this devastating pandemic more quickly , ” said Pfizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward to continuing our work with the U.S. government and health care providers around the country.
” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar also touted the agreement , saying that it will “ give Americans even more confidence that we will have enough supply to vaccinate every American who wants it by June 2021.
” “ Securing more doses from Pfizer and BioNTech for delivery in the second quarter of 2021 further expands our supply of doses across the Operation Warp Speed portfolio , ” he added .
The development will likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in vaccine supply .
Though Pfizer and Moderna ’ s vaccines have already begun to be administered , demand nationwide remains extremely high amid the surge in coronavirus cases and deaths .
Pfizer ’ s vaccine was granted emergency use authorization from the FDA on Dec. 11 , followed by Moderna ’ s vaccine one week later .
The country is on track to issue approximately 20 million vaccine doses before the end of the year , according to the Associated Press , though both shots require two doses to be effective .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Trump Authorizes Russiagate Special Counsel to Use Classified Information for Grand Jury Proceedings

President Donald Trump on Tuesday authorized the Department of Justice to use classified information in grand jury proceedings connected to a special counsel ’ s investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe .
In a memo released through the White House , Trump authorized the attorney general “ to use classified information as he deems necessary in connection with his review , including in a grand jury or other proceeding.
” It was not immediately clear if the White House memo signals a development in the investigation or that grand jury has been empaneled in the probe , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Durham .
Attorney General William Barr said in an interview last week that Durham has recently made “ significant progress ” in his investigation .
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Barr tapped Durham May 13 , 2019 to conduct a review of the government ’ s Trump-related intelligence activities during the 2016 presidential campaign .
Durham ’ s investigation appears to be following up on findings from a Justice Department inspector general ’ s report that criticized the FBI for withholding information from the Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to get warrants to surveil Carter Page .
FBI investigators relied heavily on the Steele dossier in applications for the surveillance warrants .
The IG report criticized the FBI for failing to verify allegations from the dossier , which was funded by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee .
Durham has secured one criminal conviction in the investigation .
Former FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith pleaded guilty on Aug. 19 to altering an email from the CIA in June 2017 regarding ex-Trump aide Carter Page ’ s relationship with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a special counsel on Oct. 19 , a maneuver that will likely add political protection to the investigation during the Biden administration .
The order appointing Durham to the role authorized him to produce interim reports about the investigation .
Durham has had access to classified information since the beginning of his investigation .
Trump issued a declassification memo on May 23 , 2019 , that directed the leaders of various intelligence community agencies to share information with the Justice Department to assist with the Durham probe .
John Ratcliffe , the director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he has provided Durham with around 1,000 pages of documents to the Justice Department in order to assist with the investigation .
In his memo last year , Trump authorized Barr “ to declassify , downgrade , or direct the declassification or downgrading of information or intelligence that relates to his review.
” Barr , who is stepping down as attorney general on Wednesday , has declassified a series of documents related to Crossfire Hurricane , the FBI ’ s investigation of the Trump campaign , as well as the Steele dossier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected Durham to finish investigation this summer , but that it was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Donald Trump ” by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff .
CC BY 2.0 .
Background Photo “ Department of Justice Building ” by Coolcaesar .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Fauci: Americans Should Not to See Their Kids for Christmas

Dr Anthony Fauci has revealed that he and his wife won ’ t be spending time with their three adult children for Christmas this year and urged other Americans to do the same as coronavirus cases continue to surge in the U.S .
The nation ’ s alleged top infectious disease expert told The Washington Post it would mark the first Christmas not spent with his three daughters since they were born .
“ I ’ m going to be with my wife – period , ” Fauci told the outlet on Monday .
“ The Christmas holiday is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is my birthday , ” said Fauci , who is turning 80 .
“ And Christmas Day is Christmas Day .
And they are not going to come home … That ’ s painful .
We don ’ t like that .
But that ’ s just one of the things you ’ re going to have to accept as we go through this unprecedented challenging time.
” Fauci said the U.S. has “ a big problem ” with COVID-19 and stressed many Americans missbehaved and ignored health guidelines over Thanksgiving and warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as usual.
” “ Look at the numbers — the numbers are really quite dramatic , ” he explained .
“ Stay at home as much as you can , keep your interactions to the extent possible to members of the same household , ” Fauci said .
“ This can not be business as usual this Christmas because we ’ re already in a very difficult situation , and we ’ re going to make it worse , if we don ’ t do something about it.
” Fauci said the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent spirit ” of Americans who are “ not wanting to comply with public health measures.
” He urged resilience , qualifying that the pandemic is “ an unusual situation ” and is “ not going to last forever.
” “ It is highly likely that with vaccines being distributed , that we will be back to normal by next Christmas , ” Fauci said .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Police Video Drops of Raphael Warnock’s Domestic Abuse Incident: Ex-Wife Told Police Warnock is a ‘G

Police Video Drops of Raphael Warnock’s Domestic Abuse Incident: Ex-Wife Told Police Warnock is a ‘Great Actor, Phenomenal at Putting on a Really Good Show’

Police footage of the domestic abuse allegations against Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock by his ex-wife , Ouleye Ndoye , surfaced late Tuesday night .
Fox News released clips of the footage during a segment of Tucker Carlson Tonight .
Warnock ’ s ex-wife , Ouleye Ndoye , explained to police that Warnock had run over her foot while attempting to drive away with their two children .
Warnock and his ex-wife , Ouleye Ndoye , stood in front of police , each giving their account of what occurred .
Warnock claimed that he believed Ndoye wasn ’ t near his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” what Ndoye was telling police .
“ This man ’ s running for United States Senate , and all he cares about right now is his reputation .
And I work at the mayor ’ s office , and this is a big problem .
I ’ ve been trying to be very quiet about the way that he is for the sake of my kids and for the sake of his reputation , ” explained Ndoye , breaking into tears .
“ I ’ ve tried to keep the way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time and today he crossed the line .
So that is what is going on here .
He is a great actor , phenomenal at putting on a really good show.
” No charges were filed against Warnock for the incident .
Additionally , police noted that Ouleye didn ’ t present any discoverable injuries .
The incident between Warnock and Ndoye occurred this past March , less than a week after the White House declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency .
Days after the incident , Warnock filed for divorce .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ three years , having two children together before finalizing their divorce in May of this year .
The video surfaced with a little less than two weeks before the election runoffs on January 5 .
“ Any allegation of domestic abuse should be taken seriously , and the allegations made against Raphael Warnock in this video are deeply troubling , ” stated Republican Party of Georgia spokeswoman Abigail Sigler .
“ Warnock ’ s silence on these disturbing allegations is deafening , and he owes the people of Georgia answers about what exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s character have surfaced recently .
Last week , a coalition of black ministry leaders rebuked Warnock for his stance on abortion .
The leaders told voters to avoid voting for Warnock and Ossoff , calling the two candidates ’ political stances “ unbiblical.
” The Georgia Star News reached out to spokespersons for Warnock ’ s campaign about Ndoye ’ s testimony to their candidate ’ s character .
Warnock ’ s campaign didn ’ t issue a response by press time .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Police Cam Video ” by Fox News .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-24--Virginia Beach Public Schools Postpones Decision on Winter Sports Season

The Virginia Beach City Public Schools ( VBCPS ) postponed its decision Tuesday on whether to cancel the divisions ’ high school winter sports season this year because of current COVID-19 data of the area .
Last week , Virginia Beach Superintendent Aaron Spence wrote in a letter to families that if either the percent positivity or the 7-day daily average of cases – two indicators used in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s K-12 School Metrics – does not improve to the “ yellow range ” by Tuesday , the winter sports season would be cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicators had not improved , but Spence said in a statement that he decided to postpone any decision on winter sports after monitoring regional health data and speaking with individuals , including other superintendents and local health officials .
“ While we may , ultimately , still need to cancel the winter season , acknowledging the reality of our current health metrics does not mean we must be inflexible to other data points and potential changes at the state level , ” Spence said .
“ Therefore , over the next couple of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitor our health metrics , talk with our neighboring school divisions , and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Virginia High School League ( VHSL ) , engage with our colleagues on exhausting all possibilities before making any final decision , ” he continued .
Spence also did not provide a specific date for when the school division would make a final decision on winter sports , only that he would communicate again as new information becomes available .
VHSL winter sports involve cheerleading , gymnastics , wrestling , swim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and field .
The Virginia Star reached out to Spence and several other school officials for comment , but did not get any responses before press time .
Unlike VBCPS , many other school divisions throughout Virginia , such as Henrico County and Richmond , have already made a choice on whether to cancel winter sports due to the coronavirus pandemic or push forward with the season .
As of Friday , 23 school divisions and 40 individual high schools from different areas have decided to not participate in winter sports this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City County Public Schools is the only school system in the Virginia Beach region to have canceled already .
Some of the localities that decided to continue with their seasons include : Greene , Louisa , Albemarle and Orange counties as well as Charlottesville City , among others .
Under the adopted VHSL Championship +1 schedule , basketball and cheerleading teams across the Commonwealth were allowed to begin practices and tryouts on December 7 , with the first basketball games starting this past Monday .
Indoor track and field , wrestling , swim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 14 , and the seasons for those sports kick off at the end of the month on December 28 .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]