thetennesseestar--2020-12-27--Commentary: The ‘Expert Consensus’ Favored Alcohol Prohibition, Too

Most people today regard America ’ s experiment with alcohol prohibition as a national embarrassment , rightly repealed in 1933 .
So it will be with the closures and lockdowns of 2020 , someday .
In 1920 , however , to be for the repeal of the prohibition that was passed took courage .
You were arguing against prevailing opinion backed by celebratory scientists and exalted social thinkers .
What you were saying flew in the face of “ expert consensus.
” There is an obvious analogy to Lockdowns 2020 .
My first inkling of this prohibition history came in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James Gillis from the 1920s .
He was against prohibiting alcohol production and sale on grounds that the social costs far outweighed the supposed benefits .
What surprised me was the defensiveness of his comments .
He had to assure his listeners that he was personally for temperance , that alcohol was indeed demon rum , that it ’ s true that this nasty stuff had caused terrible things to happen to the country .
Still , he said , outright bans are too costly .
Why was he so cautious in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1920s , he was one of the few famous American public figures ( H.L .
Mencken was also among them ) who dared to speak out against what was obviously a disastrous policy .
Reading this sent me down a rabbit hole of literature at the time in which it was argued by many leading intellectuals that Prohibition made perfect sense as a necessary step to clean up the social order .
To sum up the “ science ” behind Prohibition , society had tremendous numbers of pathologies on the loose and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : liquor .
There was poverty , crime , fatherless households , illiteracy , political alienation , social immobility , city squalor , and so on .
You can look carefully at the data to find that in all these cases , there is a common element of alcohol .
It only stands to reason that eliminating this factor would be the single greatest contribution to eliminating the pathologies .
The evidence was incontrovertible .
Do this , then that , and you are done .
To be sure , the argument wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patten ( 1852-1922 ) was chair of the Wharton School of Business .
His late 19th-century argument for alcohol prohibition featured a complicated argument concerning the weather in America .
It gets cold then hot then cold and alcohol consumption seems to track these changes , driving people to drink ever more until their lives fall apart .
As summarized by Mark Thornton , who is the leading scholar on the economics of Prohibition and its history , “ For Patten , alcohol is a product with no equilibrium in consumption .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or one becomes a drunkard and self-destructs.
” The most influential pro-Prohibition economist of the next generation was the rock star academic and social progressive Irving Fisher , whose contributions to making economics more about data than theory are legendary .
So was his push for eugenics .
No surprise if you know this period and such people , but he was also a passionate opponent of all alcohol .
It was he who made a decisive difference in convincing Congress and the public that a complete ban was the right way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Its Worst ( 1927 ) lays it all out .
The same year of its publication , Fisher called for a roundtable at the annual meeting of the American Economic Association .
His own account is revealing .
Clearly his colleagues were either bamboozled by the prevailing “ science ” or afraid to disagree with the reigning orthodoxy .
Even as political establishments were being corrupted , crime and liquor lords were rising up all over the country , and tens of thousands of speakeasies were thriving .
Claiming that Prohibition had created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. – a figure that was frequently cited as authoritative , Fisher wrote the following : To see how the $ 6 billion figure was calculated and to observe the rest of the astonishing mathematical gymnastics behind the “ science ” backing Prohibition , have a look at Thornton ’ s detailed presentation .
It ’ s a perfect picture of pseudoscience in action .
But it was hardly unusual for the time .
The Journal of the American Medical Association said of alcohol prohibition in 1920 : “ Most of us are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most beneficent acts ever passed by a legislature.
” Reading through all this literature , I ’ m reminded of the CDC scientific conclusion that closing restaurants during a pandemic will save lives – a conclusion based on a study so weak that anyone with a passing familiarity with statistics and causality can immediately observe its failings ( the same study , if it demonstrates that , would also demonstrate that masks make no difference in virus spread ) .
Another obvious case was the brutal and unscientific closures of schools .
Also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were routinely and publicly denounced as secret drunks , shilling for bootleggers , or just not following the science .
They were the outliers and stayed that way for a decade .
What finally broke Prohibition was not the replacement of one scientific orthodoxy for another but the noncompliance on the part of most of the population .
When enforcement became unviable , and FDR saw opposition to Prohibition as politically advantageous , the law finally changed .
When we look back on American history , Prohibition stands out as one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times .
The very idea that the government , on its own authority and power , was going to purge from a Western society the production and distribution of alcohol , strikes us today as a millennarian pipedream , one that turned into disaster for the whole country .
We could say the same about lockdowns in 2020 .
Indeed , measuring the absurdities on a scale of extremism , the idea of lockdowns , with forceful human separation , mandatory masking , and the practical abolition of all large gatherings , fun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more sadistically preposterous than alcohol prohibition .
The madness of crowds , often backed by the “ best science , ” never goes away .
It just finds new forms of legal expression in new times .
Only once the crowds come to their senses do the real scientists make a comeback and prevail , while the fake science that backed despotism pretends like it never happened .
Jeffrey A. Tucker is Editorial Director for the American Institute for Economic Research .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-27--Two Georgia Representatives to Challenge Electoral College Votes

Two of Georgia ’ s representatives plan to challenge the Electoral College votes during the January 6th session of Congress .
Representative Jody Hice ( R-GA-10 ) and Representative-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene ( R-GA-14 ) will join a congressional coalition in objecting the electoral college votes .
Hice met with the President Donald Trump to strategize their objection to the Electors earlier this week .
Others in the meeting included Trump ’ s legal team , Vice President Mike Pence , members of the House Freedom Caucus , Greene , and several other congressional members .
The House Freedom Caucus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalition of conservative Republicans in the U.S. House .
In addition to Hice , current members include Representatives Andy Biggs ( R-AZ-05 ) , Chip Roy ( R-TX-21 ) , Ted Budd ( R-NC-13 ) , Warren Davidson ( R-OH-06 ) , Jeff Duncan ( R-SC-03 ) , Michael Cloud ( R-TX-27 ) , Ralph Norman ( R-SC-05 ) , Scott Perry ( R-PA-10 ) , Steve King ( R-IA-04 ) , Randy Weber ( R-TX-14 ) , Dr. Paul Gosar ( R-AZ-04 ) , Dr. Ted Yoho ( R-FL-03 ) , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also stated that she plans to challenge the results repeatedly .
“ The media obsessively investigated and cried [ ‘ ] Russian collusion [ ‘ ] for 4 years , ” tweeted Greene .
“ The same media refuses to investigate and report the 2020 stolen election .
On Jan 6th , Americans will be shocked at what has occurred .
And outraged at those who are willing to turn a blind eye.
” During the January 6th session , Congress members may object to the results offered by each state as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be signed by at least one senator and one representative .
Each objection will be considered during a recess period , in which the House and Senate will convene amongst themselves to debate and vote on the objection .
These meetings are limited to two hours ; each individual may speak only once , and not for more than five minutes .
In order for a state ’ s electoral votes to be rejected , majority votes must arise from both the House and Senate .
It is unclear whether objections will clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats still maintain their House majority .
Additionally , some Republican leaders in the Senate have expressed doubt about obtaining Republican support in the Senate for an objection .
“ In the Senate , it would go down like a shot dog , ” stated Senate Whip John Thune ( R-SD ) .
“ And I just don ’ t think it makes a lot of sense to put everybody through this when you know what the ultimate outcome is going to be.
” Trump deemed Thune and all others pessimistic of objecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” – slang for “ Republicans In Name Only.
” “ Republicans in the Senate so quickly forget .
Right now they would be down 8 seats without my backing them in the last Election , ” tweeted Trump .
“ RINO John Thune , ‘ Mitch ’ s boy ’ , should just let it play out .
South Dakota doesn ’ t like weakness .
He will be primaries in 2022 , political career over !
!
!
” Pence will preside over Congress on January 6th .
Corinne Murdock is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photos “ Rep Jody Hice ” and “ Rep-Elect Marjorie Taylor-Greene ” by Rep Jody Hice and Marjorie Taylor-Greene .

by Thomas Catenacci
A group of 27 Republican congressmen urged President Donald Trump to order a Justice Department-appointed special counsel investigation of “legitimate questions” about election irregularities.
The Republican congressmen asked Trump to direct Attorney General William Barr to appoint the special counsel, according to a letter obtained by Politico that was sent to the White House on Wednesday. Reps. Lance Gooden, Paul Gosar, Louie Gohmert, Scott Perry and Jody Hice were among the 27 congressmen who signed onto the letter.
“The American people deserve a definitive resolution to the uncertainty hovering over the outcome of our election, but legitimate questions of voter fraud remain unanswered,” the congressmen wrote.
Barr said on Dec. 1 that the Department of Justice has yet to find any evidence of election fraud that could sway the result, sparking criticism from conservatives. Trump hesitated when asked if he still had confidence in Barr.
“The Department of Justice has been asked on multiple occasions to launch an investigation into this matter, but inaction from the Department along with public comments made by the Attorney General indicate a lack of willingness to investigate the irregularities your campaign and other elected officials across the nation have alleged,” the Republican congressmen continued.
“The appointment of a Special Counsel would establish a team of investigators whose sole responsibility is to uncover the truth and provide the certainty America needs,” they added.
Several news organizations including The Associated Press and Fox News declared former Vice President Joe Biden the winner of the election on Nov. 7. Trump’s campaign has filed numerous lawsuits alleging widespread fraud, but courts across the country have handed the campaign many defeats.
Texas filed a new lawsuit against Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin Tuesday arguing the states altered their election procedures illegally. Alabama and Louisiana have expressed interest in joining the suit, according to Newsweek.
“Our Country stands at an important crossroads,” the lawsuit said. “Either the Constitution matters and must be followed, even when some officials consider it inconvenient or out of date, or it is simply a piece of parchment on display at the National Archives.”
“We ask the Court to choose the former,” it continued.
– – –
Thomas Catenacci is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-27--Liberty University Student Launching Canary Academy Offering Homeschooling Classes and Consultation

When her mom began working full-time , Chesterfield homeschool student Nasiyah Isra-ul started developing personalized home school plans for her younger brother , while she was still 15 .
Her plans took off – she began developing plans for other families in their homeschool group .
Now , three years later and a college sophomore , she ’ s launching Canary Academy to bring her programs to families across the U.S. , thanks to a $ 10,000 grant from the National Society of High School Scholars .
Isra-Ul is launching Canary Academy in April or May 2021 , which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and budgeting help for families with kids K-8th grade .
Isra-ul said parents can decide how much help they want .
“ What we want to do is leave it up to the parents to make the final decision as to how they want to homeschool , ” she said .
“ Our goal is to help parents homeschool better , but not to take control.
” Isra-Ul is also offering classes , but she ’ s starting with just two : a first grade science class , and an eighth grade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she explained the science course : it will feature eight to ten units of science overview featuring projects , experiments , videos , games , and lessons from instructors .
She said the course is less reading focused .
“ Our first grade science program is mainly project-oriented as the majority of our courses will be.
” Isra-Ul said the program also includes workbooks so parents can limit their kids ’ screen time .
Isra-Ul is consulting with experts , including educational and product design consultants .
Her goal is to make sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel .
She also needs to fill roles on the board of directors , hire staff and volunteers , and build partnerships with other organizations .
For now , Isra-Ul is still testing the programs with a few families , but when she launches she ’ ll have capacity for limited consultations for 75 families and 50 students in the classes .
To enroll or find out more , visit : canaryacademyonline.com Isra-Ul ’ s experience with her brother revealed a need for a one-stop-shop for homeschooling help and personalized learning experiences .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ my mom ] with homeschooling my younger brother , I realized how difficult it was , especially with the different types of curriculum you have to choose from , planning out the entire week and then the entire month and then the entire school year , calculating grades , handling records , and making sure you align with state requirements for homeschooling as well .
And I realized there had to be an easier way to be able to do this.
” Isra-Ul ’ s brother was constantly bouncing from curriculum to curriculum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his learning needs .
“ I developed a course for him out of what I saw where his strengths and turned that course into an online program for him.
” Her brother asked her to develop another course for him the following year .
So Isra-Ul developed a course compiling resources from the internet and textbooks .
“ I was making it more fun .
I was doing videos , animation .
And it wasn ’ t so much quiz based as it was project-learning based , ” Isra-Ul said .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course content more effectively .
“ That ’ s where he really is .
I ’ m a reader and I love to read books , so for me it wasn ’ t that big of a deal , but for my brother , he needed something that was more hands-on , ” Isra-Ul said .
Other families in the homeschool community saw Isra-Ul ’ s work and asked her to build programs for them , allowing her to test and develop her programs .
On top of launching Canary Academy , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studying early childhood education with a minor in history .
She ’ s part of a Messianic Hebrew congregation , and she said God is leading her to build Canary Academy .
“ I believe that the Creator has a plan for every person , and I believe that my calling is to be an educator .
And that ’ s why I ’ m going into the profession that I ’ m in , ” she said .
“ I prayed about it : ‘ I don ’ t know what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ And I got the answer back : ‘ Teach the little children . '
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-27--State Representative-Elect Mortensen Introduces Proposal to Suspend Gov. Walz’s Pay

State Rep.-elect Erik Mortensen ( R-Shakopee ) has promoted a proposal calling for the suspension of Gov .
Tim Walz ’ s pay until Minnesotans are back to work .
Mortensen , who was elected in November to the Minnesota House , posted a “ bill ” on Facebook calling for the suspension of Gov .
Walz ’ s pay .
The bill calls for Walz ’ s pay to be suspended until his COVID-19 emergency orders restricting businesses are revoked .
“ Finally found the perfect present for Governor Tim Walz , ” reads Mortensen ’ s post .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of work , he shouldn ’ t receive a paycheck either.
” The bill was posted with the hashtag “ # StandUpToWalz , ” which Mortensen has repeatedly used while promoting his protests against the governor ’ s orders .
His protests have included inviting friends over for Thanksgiving and an 800-mile tour to four different restaurants that are open despite lockdown orders .
Mortensen is not the only Republican to call for cutting Walz ’ s salary .
Earlier this year , State Rep. Steve Drazkowski also called for the governor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was “ only right that he feels the pain of the economic damage he has caused.
” “ I look around the state and I see businesses which were supposed to temporarily close but are now permanently shut down , ” Drazkowski said .
“ Workers who were supposed to be furloughed for a short time have now lost their jobs entirely.
” The same day that Mortensen posted his “ present ” for the governor , he released a letter to all elected officials in Minnesota .
“ As a life-long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoulder to shoulder with my neighbors across the state and fight to shield one another from these unconstitutional over-reaches from ever happening again , ” the representative-elect wrote .
“ Will you join me ?
” Judah Torgerud is a freelance journalist working with Alpha News to keep the people informed and bring the truth to light .
Image “ Erik Mortensen ” by Erik Mortensen .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-27--Virginia Business Community Praises COVID-19 Stimulus, but Seeks State Action for Full Benefits

Virginia business advocates praised the COVID-19 stimulus package passed by Congress but said additional state action is necessary for businesses to receive the full benefits of the legislation .
The $ 900 billion COVID-19 stimulus provides about $ 325 billion in aid to small businesses nationally , including $ 284 billion for forgivable Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) loans , $ 20 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loan grants , $ 15 billion for live venues , independent movie theaters and cultural institutions and another $ 12 billion for businesses in low-income and minority communities .
Congress ’ bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised regarding the first wave of PPP loans .
The bill simplifies the forgiveness applications and makes the loans tax deductible at the federal level .
The deductibility applies to loans that already have been received and any loans received in the second wave , which would prevent a hidden tax increase on businesses .
Virginia does not automatically conform its tax code to the federal code , however , which means state action would be necessary to ensure Virginia business owners receive the ability to deduct the loans on state taxes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ code to the federal tax code when it is in session .
Gov .
Ralph Northam ’ s administration announced its intent to do that this year but made the announcement before Congress included the tax deductibility .
“ This [ bill ] would be a sizable relief for small business owners in Virginia , ” Nicole Riley , the Virginia state director for the National Federation of Independent Business , told The Center Square .
The NFIB is the largest small business association in the country .
Riley said the NFIB welcomed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time when businesses were struggling and unsure whether they ’ ll be able to continue offering services .
She said the deductibility provision and the simplification of the forgiveness applications cleared some of the challenges businesses otherwise would be facing .
The NFIB is asking the General Assembly to fully conform its tax code to the federal code so businesses can receive the full benefits of the deductibility .
Robert Melvin , the director of government affairs at the Virginia Restaurant , Lodging & Travel Association , made similar comments .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hotels by allowing them to apply for up to 3.5 times their monthly payroll with the PPP loans , which he said will help those businesses that have been the most harmed by COVID-19 restrictions .
It also creates a temporary 100 % business deduction for meals .
“ Federal relief has been a real lifeline , ” Melvin said .
Melvin said he supports the state fully conforming its tax code to the federal tax code so businesses get the full relief .
Riley and Melvin also said the state should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already are struggling to make money .
Melvin said much of the COVID-19 spread has occurred in private settings rather than within businesses that have been following health and safety guidelines .
Small businesses that already received PPP loans would be able to apply for additional loans in the second wave if certain conditions are met , such as the business having 300 or fewer employees , a 25 % revenue decline in any quarter or having used or plan to use the money they received from its previous PPP loan .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan can apply if it has 500 or fewer employees .
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and West Virginia for The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-27--AT&T Updates Public on Progress of Restoring Phone and Internet Service After Christmas Day Blast in

AT&T Updates Public on Progress of Restoring Phone and Internet Service After Christmas Day Blast in Nashville

AT & T officials announced Saturday that they were working “ around the clock on recovery efforts ” after an RV exploded Friday in Nashville , outside an AT & T transmission building .
The blast caused extensive damage and knocked out phone and internet communications throughout Middle Tennessee .
In a press release AT & T officials said they had two portable cell sites operating in the downtown part of Nashville .
They also said they were deploying an unspecified number of additional portable sites throughout the Nashville area and the surrounding region .
“ At our facility , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be getting power to the equipment in a safe and secure way .
Challenges remain , including a fire which reignited overnight and led to the evacuation of the building , ” AT & T officials said in the press release .
“ Currently , our teams are on site working with safety and structural engineers .
They have drilled access holes into the building and are attempting to reconnect power to critical equipment .
Technical teams are also working as quickly as possible on rerouting additional services to other facilities in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee Star reported , Metro Nashville authorities have imposed a curfew on parts of downtown after the massive Christmas Day explosion damaged at least 41 businesses on Second Avenue and collapsed one building .
The blast went off at 166 Second Avenue North around 6:30 a.m. Friday .
Nashville Mayor John Cooper said he had spoken with Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee .
The governor , Cooper said , was working to declare a civil emergency .
That declaration would allow members of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to work with the Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Second Avenue , Cooper said .
Cooper also announced that Nashville officials established a curfew from 4:30 p.m. Friday until 4:30 p.m. Sunday .
The curfew extends from Fourth Avenue to the Cumberland River and from the James Robertson Parkway down to Broadway .
The Christmas Day explosion collapsed one residential building , said Nashville Fire Chief William Swann at a Friday evening press conference .
Swann did not say which one .
He also said that the structural integrity of surrounding buildings “ are in question.
” The blast injured at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with information about this case to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-26--At 1PM Saturday, FBI Special Agent in Charge Says No Person or Persons of Interest Identified as Res

At 1PM Saturday, FBI Special Agent in Charge Says No Person or Persons of Interest Identified as Responsible for Christmas Morning Bombing

During an early afternoon press conference in Nashville Saturday , authorities asserted that investigators had not identified a person or persons of interest in the Christmas morning bombing .
Shortly before the press briefing , CBSNews.com reported that person of interest had been identified : “ A law enforcement source told CBS News a person of interest has been identified in connection to the Christmas morning explosion in Nashville .
The person is connected to the RV that exploded.
” However Doug Korneski , the Special Agent in charge of the FBI Memphis field office denied the report during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can ’ t confirm anybody or any individuals that we ’ ve identified .
As we mentioned , we have over 500 investigative leads and we ’ re following up on every one of those .
There are a number of individuals we are looking at , so at this point we are not prepared to identify any single individual , ” Korneski said .
But after the briefing by Nashville authorities , CBS News ’ Chief Justice and Homeland Security Correspondent Jeff Pegues seemed to contradict investigators , tweeting , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person of interest tied to the explosion that rocked Nashville on Christmas.
” Agents and officers from the FBI , ATF , Metro Nashville Police Department , Tennessee Highway Patrol , and the TBI , along with forensic and behavioral specialists – an investigative team numbering into the hundreds – are all working to process and then clear the massive crime scene .
“ We ’ re starting at the outermost perimeter of the area and working inward , ” Korneski said .
“ We hope to have the area complete and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nashville within the next day or so.
” He explained that as evidence was gathered and cataloged , authorities could release the area back to City of Nashville for inspections to determine the soundness of the structure .
In all , authorities said that 40 buildings were impacted by the blast .
Officials say that there is no evidence to suggest Nashvillians are at any further danger from additional bad actors .
“ We currently believe there are no active threats , ” Korneski said .

by Joe Mueller
Attorneys general from 26 states are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower-court decision upholding a California law banning the raising or importing pork, veal or eggs if the animals are confined.
The Supreme Court announced on March 28 that it would hear the pork industry’s challenge to California’s Proposition 12, a law restricting confinement practices in animal agriculture. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on Oct. 11.
Prop. 12 was approved by 63% of California voters in 2018. The law established minimum space requirements based on square feet for calves raised for veal, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens. It banned the sale of products from those animals if they were “confined in a cruel manner,” defined as in areas below minimum square-feet requirements.
The case, National Pork Producers Council v. Karen Ross, the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, focuses on the regulation of animal products outside of California by prohibiting the in-state sale of products traceable to the animal being confined in a “cruel manner.” The Pork Producers and others argue the law violates the Interstate Commerce Clause and general constitutional restrictions against “extraterritorial regulation.”
The brief filed by the attorneys general states California consumes 13% of the nation’s pork and imports 99.87% of pork consumed. The attorneys general argue the “entire impact of Proposition 12 will be visited on out-of-state producers that, though they have no vote in California, must remodel their farms (or reduce their herds) to comply with the law.”
“Under no circumstances should the state of California be allowed to dictate to Missouri farmers and ranchers how they can raise and confine breeding pigs, egg-laying hens, and veal calves,” Missouri Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt said in a statement. “Further, California is attempting to impose their will on Missouri farmers and ranchers by threatening to deny entry into the California market if those farmers and ranchers don’t comply with their pointless regulations. Missouri’s farmers and ranchers have been tending to their land and livestock for generations, they don’t need Californian politicians telling them how to do their jobs.”
Of the 19 briefs filed with the Supreme Court on the case last week, all urged the court to reverse the lower court’s decision, with the exception of two neutral parties providing economic information.
A brief filed to persuade the Supreme Court not to hear the case was filed last year by The Humane Society of the United States, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Equality, The Humane League, Farm Sanctuary, Compassion in World Farming USA, and Animal Outlook. They stated the Pork Producers’ argument uses a “dormant Commerce Clause” to stop in-state sales of certain pork products from “animals confined in cruel and unsanitary conditions that threaten the health of California consumers. … Because that prohibition applies only to sales inside California, moreover, producers outside California are free to confine animals however they choose for products sold outside the state.”
States represented by the attorneys general are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
– – –
Joe Mueller covers Missouri for The Center Square. After seven years of reporting for daily newspapers in Illinois and Missouri, he spent the next 30 years in public relations serving non-profit organizations and as a strategic communications consultant.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Nashville Police Announce Death of Anthony Warner in Christmas Bombing

Just hours after confirming that 63-year-old Anthony Quinn Warner was under investigation for an explosion that rocked downtown Nashville on Christmas , the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department ( NMPD ) confirmed that Warner died in that explosion .
Earlier Sunday , MNPD ’ s Public Affairs Manager Don Aaron told The Tennessee Star that Warner was “ under investigation , ” but did not say whether he was officially a suspect or a person of interest .
Rumors of Warner ’ s involvement in the bombing , which injured three in the early morning hours Friday , Christmas day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local authorities searched his home in Antioch , Tennessee .
Shortly thereafter , it was reported that Warner had gifted his property to a Los Angeles woman , Michelle Swing , in November .
It was the second property that Warner had given to Swing , who said she did not know that Warner ’ s property was in her possession .
She declined to comment on the specifics of her relationship with Warner .
The bombing , which occurred on Second Avenue in Nashville , did significant damage to a building owned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused major service outages in Tennessee , and even caused Friday afternoon flights at Nashville International Airport to be grounded .
Warner worked in the IT industry , and Nashville Mayor John Cooper described the bombing as an “ infrastructure attack.
” “ Well , those of us in Nashville realize that on Second Avenue there is a big AT & T facility and the truck was parked adjacent to this large , historic AT & T facility , which happens to be in downtown Nashville , somewhat surprisingly , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Sunday morning .
“ And to all of us locally , it feels like there has to be some connection with the AT & T facility and the site of the bombing , ” Cooper continued .
“ You know , and that – that ’ s just – that ’ s a bit of just local insight because it ’ s got to have something to do with the infrastructure.
” An official motive for the attack has not been revealed .
Pete D ’ Abrosca is a contributor at The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Follow Pete on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-27--Nashville Police Confirm Anthony Quinn Warner ‘Is Under Investigation’ for Christmas Day Bombing

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department ( MNPD ) Sunday morning confirmed to The Tennessee Star that Anthony Quinn Warner is officially under investigation in the Christmas morning explosion that rocked downtown Nashville , injuring three people .
“ That person is under investigation , ” Don Aaron , MNPD Public Affairs Manager said by email .
Aaron did not confirm whether Warner is officially a person of interest or suspect .
Warner was first named by several media outlets Saturday afternoon as “ a person of interest , ” a step further than law enforcement has done on the record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources tell us that Anthony Quinn Warner , a Nashville area resident , had a similar make and model RV , ” Jeff Pegues said on Twitter .
Warner , 63 , is unmarried and has no children , reportedly worked in the IT industry .
At one point , he held a license as an alarm contractor , and specialized in making burglar alarms .
A man of the same age and with the same name was convicted on a felony charge of possessing a controlled substance in Davidson County , Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catherine Herridge of CBS reported Saturday afternoon that authorities ’ “ leading theory ” is that Warner was killed in the explosion , which allegedly originated from a recreational vehicle parked on Second Avenue in Nashville .
Federal agents searched Warner ’ s home in Antioch , Tennessee Saturday .
Google Earth images of the address show a recreational vehicle similar to the one that exploded in Nashville parked on the property .
But the home no longer belongs to Warner .
In a mysterious twist , multiple news outlets have confirmed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one searched by law enforcement Saturday , to a Los Angeles woman .
“ Warner gave a $ 160,000 house in November 2020 for free to Michelle Swing , who is a resident of South Flower Street in Los Angeles , ” according to International Business Times .
“ The ownership of another house had already been transferred to her by Warner in the previous year.
” Swing reportedly told Daily Mail she had no idea she was the owner of the property .
“ In the state of Tennessee you can deed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or their signature or anything , ’ she reportedly said .
“ I didn ’ t even buy the house he just deeded it over to me without my knowledge .
So this all very weird to me , that ’ s about all I can say.
” In January 2019 , Warner reportedly gifted a $ 249,000 home in the same town to Swing .
The home reportedly belonged to his father , Charles B .
“ Popeye ” Warner , who died in 2011 , according to an online obituary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother Steve Warner , who reportedly died of cancer in 2018 .
He is survived by a sister .
Warner owned the property for less than five months before giving it to Swing .
Asked whether she had ever met Warner , Swing declined to answer .
“ I ’ ve been told to direct everything else to FBI , ” she reportedly said .
Several news outlets interviewed some of Warner ’ s neighbors , who confirmed that he mostly kept to himself .
Tony Rodriguez lived in the duplex searched by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He told The Washington Post that he had never spoken to Warner , and did not know his name .
Rodriguez said that Warner posted “ No Trespassing ” signs on the property , particularly on the recreational vehicle that was allegedly used in the bombing .
He confirmed that a computer motherboard was confiscated from Warner ’ s home by investigators Saturday , and said that Warner would often tinker with an antenna above the home .
The Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) interviewed a top Nashville realtor about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Nice guy .
You know , he was a techie guy – don ’ t mean anything negative about that .
He would do this thing and leave .
He didn ’ t bother anybody .
He did his thing and leave , ” Steve Fridrich reportedly said of Warner .
Fridrich contracted Warner to IT work for him over a period of years .
News4 reported that the FBI asked Fridrich if Warner was paranoid about 5G technology .
Fridrich could not confirm .
The motive for the bombing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unknown at press time .
But the explosion occurred outside a building owned by AT & T , causing significant damage and outages across Tennessee .
The outages even caused Friday afternoon flights to be temporarily grounded at Nashville International Airport .
Nashville Mayor John Cooper described the bombing as an “ infrastructure attack.
” “ Well , those of us in Nashville realize that on Second Avenue there is a big AT & T facility and the truck was parked adjacent to this large , historic AT & T facility , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhat surprisingly , ” he told Margaret Brennan on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” Sunday morning .
“ And to all of us locally , it feels like there has to be some connection with the AT & T facility and the site of the bombing , ” he continued .
“ You know , and that- that ’ s just- that ’ s a bit of just local insight because it ’ s got to have something to do with the infrastructure.
” Significant to the investigation appears to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 minutes leading up to the explosion .
Betsy Williams , owner of a building on Second Avenue , recalled the loudspeaker message in an interview with The Tennesseean .
“ Evacuate now .
There is a bomb .
A bomb is in this vehicle and will explode , ” the message said , according to Williams .
Williams said she woke up around 4:30am to the sound of gunshots , which caused her to call the police .
Police responded to several shots fired calls , and noticed the suspicious recreational vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the warning message began to play .
Six police officers are being hailed as heroes for their roles in evacuating residents near the scene of the explosion .
“ Whoever did it did give fair warning , ” Williams reportedly said .
The vehicle exploded around 6:30am , while a bomb squad was en route .
Pete D ’ Abrosca is a contributor at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network .
Follow Pete on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--AT&T Officials Make Big Progress Restoring Service After Damage from Nashville Explosion

AT & T officials announced Sunday that they have restored more than 75 percent of their mobility sites impacted by Friday ’ s explosion in downtown Nashville .
As reported , an RV exploded Friday in Nashville , outside an AT & T transmission building .
The blast caused extensive damage and knocked out phone and internet communications throughout Middle Tennessee .
Company officials said in a press release that they expect additional improvements as more equipment comes back online .
“ Mobility service in the Birmingham and Huntsville , Alabama areas is now operating normally , ” AT & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to connect generator power to equipment and refuel generators as needed .
We expect to activate power to at least four additional floors of the building during the day today and are working on the cooling equipment to manage the temperatures in the facility .
Teams are assessing equipment on the building ’ s lower floors for any damage caused by the flooding of the building.
” AT & T officials also said that they had restored power to four floors of their building in Nashville .
On Saturday they pumped more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building ’ s basement , but they also said that access to the building ’ s lower floors was limited .
“ Teams are working to safely bring additional equipment online and reroute services through other facilities in the region .
While mobility services have been restored in many areas , we still have more than 17 portable cell sites on the air to aid in communication , including for restoration teams and first responders , ” AT & T officials said .
“ We are bringing in additional resources to support the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and expect to have a fleet of 24 additional trailers of disaster recovery equipment on site by the end of the day.
” AT & T officials also said that their building sustained significant damage , including to the elevators , some beams/columns , and the building ’ s façade .
“ Additionally , we are contributing $ 100,000 to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation to support area businesses impacted by the recent explosion and to help law enforcement collect information for their ongoing investigation , ” AT & T officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 41 businesses on Second Avenue and collapsed one building .
The blast went off at 166 Second Avenue North around 6:30 a.m. Friday .
Nashville Mayor John Cooper said he had spoken with Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee .
The governor , Cooper said , was working to declare a civil emergency .
That declaration would allow members of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to commit to rebuild Second Avenue , Cooper said .
The Christmas Day explosion collapsed one residential building , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Friday evening press conference .
Swann did not say which building .
He also said that the structural integrity of surrounding buildings “ are in question.
” The blast injured at least three people .
Members of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department told The Tennessee Star Sunday that they are officially investigating Anthony Quinn Warner in the Christmas morning explosion .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

by Peter Hasson
Twenty-eight congressional Democrats signed a letter Wednesday condemning the Department of Education for ruling that public schools that allow biological males who identify as transgender to play girls’ sports are violating Title IX civil rights legislation.
Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined 27 House Democrats in signing the letter, which charged that the department’s order “discriminates against transgender youth” by restricting girls’ sports to biological females.
“The decision of the Department of Education to issue a determination targeting transgender student athletes on the eve of Pride Month is not coincidental. It is a transparent example of their campaign against the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ children,” Connecticut Rep. Jahana Hayes, the letter’s lead signer, said in a press release.
The DOE on May 15 issued a ruling stating that public schools that allow biological males into girls’ athletics are violating Title IX, which protects women’s access to education and athletics.
The Department of Justice previously backed a lawsuit filed by high school girls in Connecticut who said the liberal state’s transgender policies violated their rights.
Sports across the country are on hold due to the novel coronavirus, but biological males who identify as transgender have previously racked up accomplishments in female athletics.
Franklin Pierce University runner CeCe Telfer, for example, won an NCAA DII women’s track championship in May 2019. Telfer is a biological male who identifies as transgender.
University of Montana runner June Eastwood, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, was named the Big Sky Conference’s female athlete of the week in October 2019. Both Eastwood and Telfer previously competed on their university’s men’s team before switching to the women’s team.
Rachel McKinnon, a biological male who identifies as transgender, won women’s cycling world championships in both 2018 and 2019.
Wednesday’s letter isn’t the first instance of Democratic politicians arguing in favor of allowing biological males into female athletics.
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar in February 2019 called for an investigation into USA Powerlifting for barring biologically male athletes from women’s events.
A piece of Democratic legislation called the Equality Act, which passed the House with unanimous support from Democrats, would require schools to allow biologically male athletes into girls’ sports, if the male athletes identify as transgender.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, pledged to get the Equality Act passed into law within his first 100 days in office, if he wins the November election.
“Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time,” Biden wrote in a January tweet. “There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights.”
– – –
Peter Hasson is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Commentary: Donald Trump is The Essential Man

Once upon a time , there was a president called Ronald Reagan – a model of decency and probity , at once great and self-effacing , who , above all , was truly in love with America and saw it as his sacred mission to preserve and strengthen American freedom .
During his eight-year tenure , he revitalized the U.S. economy , snapped us out of what his disastrous predecessor had referred to as “ our malaise , ” and helped bring down the Soviet Union .
Then he walked off into the sunset .
And for the next seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do with mediocrity and self-dealing .
Both parties were dominated by crime families – sorry , I mean political dynasties .
The Bushes were uninspiring .
The Clintons were pure slime .
The 1960s had introduced a toxic counterculture rooted in reflexive oikophobia .
It had grown apace ever since .
The Bushes did nothing to resist it ; Clinton himself was very much a part of it .
In a famous speech at the 1992 Republican convention , Pat Buchanan warned that America was in a “ culture war ” – a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He was right .
But he identified the primary enemy as gays .
In fact , the culture war had nothing to do with gays .
It was about , among other things , professors who praised Marx and kids who wore Che t-shirts .
After 9/11 , it was also about people who , not knowing a thing about Islam , whitewashed it and claimed that America had deserved the jihadist attacks .
Buchanan ’ s speech was a great gift to the counterculturists : it enabled them to paint the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but of bigotry .
He wasn ’ t alone .
There were plenty of Republican politicians who , instead of being clear about the nature of the culture war , lazily played the anti-gay card .
Meanwhile the real enemy within grew , all but unopposed .
Then along came Barack Obama .
He was the enemy within .
His memoir Dreams from My Father suggested that he had far more affection for Kenya and Indonesia than for America .
His mentor , Jeremiah Wright , was a virulent America-hater .
During the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healer of America ’ s oldest wounds .
He turned out to be a divider .
Soon after taking office , he ran off to Cairo to tell pretty lies about Islam .
In the years that followed , the enemy within cemented its control over large swathes of academia , big business , and the news media .
Poisonous academic notions about group identity , victimhood , oppression , and white supremacy went mainstream .
And instead of using his unique position as America ’ s first black president to resist all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hero Rides In – On an Escalator All seemed lost .
Then Donald Trump came down that shiny escalator , introducing a campaign with a simple slogan : “ America First.
” At first his candidacy looked like a stunt .
But his performance in the primaries opened our eyes .
For the first time since Reagan , we saw a worthwhile alternative to cowardly careerist politicians with no convictions and no cojones – pols who were , at worst , aggressively pushing a divisive , anti-American agenda and , at best , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Media commentators , themselves products of the post-1960s counterculture , pronounced Trump a buffoon and a vulgarian ; millions of Americans , however , looked at him and saw a potential savior – a real warrior who shared their love of America and who , it seemed , might just win the culture war .
Like Reagan , Trump actually seemed to care about ordinary Americans .
The Bushes and Clintons had gotten rich as “ public servants ” ; Trump , a billionaire , stood only to lose money by throwing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longtime New York fixture , he was famous for hiring smart people regardless of their sex , race , or sexual orientation .
He supported same-sex marriage long before Obama or Hillary Clinton did .
During the campaign , unlike GOP candidates before him , he never came close to gay-bashing .
Yet the Left portrayed him as a bigot , and veteran GOP bigshots accused him , hilariously , of having sullied a party that had once oozed dignity and class .
Meanwhile , Obama , Clinton , and Biden conspired to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump presidency with lies about nefarious foreign ties .
In fact , it was Hillary and Biden , all along , who had the nefarious foreign ties .
The four years that followed Trump ’ s inauguration were crowded with triumphs , domestic and foreign , of the sort that no president in our lifetimes—not even Reagan—had dreamed of achieving .
And every day , the media , in lockstep , deep-sixed those triumphs while bashing Trump .
Quite simply , over the course of the Trump years , what had once been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and went mad .
Word went out that everything was racist ; that there are dozens of genders and that you are whatever sex you say you are ; and that police departments should be defunded .
The death of a previously obscure Minneapolis thug led to months of destructive riots all over the country , and even abroad .
The culture war had finally come to a head .
In George Floyd , the former counterculture had found its unworthy martyr .
In Trump , law-abiding Americans had found their hero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their mainstream masks and were doing everything they could to bring the president down .
During his presidency , Trump has seemed almost to be acting alone , with members of his own administration and party lined up against him .
Except in the final days of Richard Nixon ’ s presidency , when have we ever seen a president so alone ?
When in recent American history , except during the New York mayoralty of Rudy Giuliani , had so positive a turnaround been so obviously attributable to a single individual ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ being saved by a single “ great man ” can be dangerous .
In the last century , it led to the dictatorships of Hitler , Stalin , Mao , and several others .
But facts are facts : Trump , today , is America ’ s essential man .
Though surrounded by enemies in the White House , on Capitol Hill , and all over Washington , he ’ s enjoyed an unprecedented level of public support .
Never – and this assertion seems unarguable – have so many Americans loved their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so implicitly , or been so certain of his genuine concern for their welfare .
Watching Trump rallies on TV , I ’ ve often found myself thinking : if only Adams or Jefferson or Franklin could see this !
Because this wasn ’ t by any means a Communist-style cult of personality , with people feeling scared not to cheer .
This was the real thing – a good thing – a democratically elected leader being applauded by ordinary citizens from every imaginable kind of background for keeping his promises and for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterculture-bred “ journalists ” who “ reported ” on these peaceful patriotic events depicted the participants as scum .
Then , toward the end of Trump ’ s term , cities around America erupted in violent riots by members of what once would have been called the counterculture , and the same “ journalists ” depicted those participants as heroes .
The theft was breathtaking in the insane lust for power , and the contempt for opponents , that made it possible .
It was stunning in its brazenness .
Which made sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advanced apace – in what has been called “ the long march through the institutions ” – the counterculture had grown used to easy conquests .
It apparently hadn ’ t expected much in the way of resistance this time , either .
The whole scenario is quite clear .
They ’ re just like schoolyard bullies .
Because Trump supporters are honest , good-mannered , and peaceable , they take us for wimps .
And alas , some old-line Republican members of Congress , who at this point are perhaps all that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden presidency , are wimps – prepared to roll over to maintain a factitious peace .
The majority of our Supreme Court justices – who , against all logic , denied that Texas has standing to challenge the presidential vote in another state – are wimps , too .
But we can ’ t let their passivity prevail .
We need to make it clear that , peaceable though we are , we ’ re not wimps – and we ’ re not suckers .
In this climactic battle of our decades-long culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or be prepared to lose in ways beyond imagining .
Bruce Bawer is the author of While Europe Slept , Surrender , and The Victims ’ Revolution .
His novel The Alhambra was published in 2017 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Overdose Outnumber Coronavirus Deaths in San Francisco

The number of San Francisco residents who have died from drug overdoses this year far exceeded the number of residents who have died from the coronavirus .
621 people have died in San Francisco of drug overdoses – that equates to nearly four times as many as have been killed by COVID-19 .
A report in the Chronicle noted on Saturday : Fifty-eight more people died of drug overdoses in San Francisco last month [ November ] , bringing the yearly total to at least 621 .
That compares to 441 deaths in all of 2019 .
The latest numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly two people a day by the end of the year and dwarf the 173 deaths from COVID-19 the city has seen so far this year .
The drug crisis has been exacerbated by fentanyl , a powerful opioid that can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine .
The pandemic has intensified the drug epidemic in San Francisco by disrupting city services and forcing many people , who often rely on others to help save them if they overdose , to use in relative isolation .
The most recent data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention ’ s ( CDC ) indicates that approximately 81,230 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in the 12-months ending in May 2020 , a new record .
“ The increases in drug overdose deaths appear to have accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic , ” the CDC noted .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Mark Green and Tulsi Gabbard Oppose CDC on COVD-19 Vaccine Distribution Policy

U.S. Rep. Mark Green ( R-TN-07 ) and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ( D-HI-02 ) have introduced a resolution urging federal officials to revise their decision to prioritize healthy workers over elderly Americans as they distribute the COVID-19 vaccine .
This , according to a press release that Green and Gabbard published this week .
About 87 million essential workers will receive the vaccine before or at the same time as elderly Americans 65 years and older , including those with high-risk health complications .
This , per guidance from members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC is based in Atlanta .
“ For months , the CDC has warned us of serious health complications and high mortality rates among Americans 65 years and older .
We ’ ve seen that a staggering 79 percent of COVID-related deaths have been among Americans over the age of 65 .
So why is the CDC now recommending that many younger workers can get the vaccine before those who we know are far more vulnerable from this virus ?
” Green asked .
“ It ’ s shameful that the CDC ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young and healthy workers , the majority of whom are under the age of 65 , ahead of our grandparents and at-risk seniors .
I urge the CDC to revise its decision and start distributing the vaccine based on science , not politics.
” Gabbard , meanwhile , said “ it has been scientifically established that the COVID vaccines are highly effective in preventing vaccine recipients from developing severe or life-threatening symptoms.
” “ However , it has not been scientifically established that the vaccine is effective in preventing vaccine recipients from spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Therefore , we are calling on the CDC to deploy the vaccine in a way that prevents great harm and loss of life for the most vulnerable , by prioritizing those over 65 years of age and those who have comorbidity factors.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Image “ Tulsi Gabbard ” by Tulsi Gabbard and “ Rep Mark Green ” by Rep. Mark Green .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Four California Small Business Owners Share Their Struggles to Survive Under Lockdowns

California small businesses are crumbling under the weight of a new stay-at-home order and a lack of meaningful financial assistance .
Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom issued a new region-based lockdown order for California on Dec. 3 , forcing more California businesses to close their doors or severely limit operations .
“ We are at a tipping point in our fight against the virus , and we need to take decisive action now to prevent California ’ s hospital system from being overwhelmed in the coming weeks , ” Newsom said in a statement announcing the new restrictions .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state into five distinct regions : Northern California , the Bay Area , Greater Sacramento , the San Joaquin Valley , and Southern California .
Regions automatically enter into a stay-at-home order when intensive care unit bed availability falls below 15 % .
As of Tuesday night , Northern California is the only region of the state not under the new stay-at-home order , which prohibits indoor or outdoor restaurant seating and forces bars , hair salons , museums , and other entities to close .
“ California small businesses have been pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find ways to remain open , ” Mark Herbert , vice president of California ’ s Small Business Majority , said in a Dec. 17 statement .
A Lake Research Partners poll of 418 small businesses in California conducted for Small Business Majority between Nov. 10 and Nov. 23 revealed that “ one-third have cut employee hours , a quarter have reduced employee wages , and another quarter have changed their business model.
” Now that California has tightened restrictions further , the number of small businesses being forced to cut employee wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daily Signal spoke with several Los Angeles County small business owners to find out how they are surviving under the lockdown measures and what they would like to say to Newsom and to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti if given the opportunity .
Howard Konishi says he has a passion for introducing people to new hobbies and interests .
That ’ s why , in 2013 , he opened Top Out Climbing Gym to share his love of rock climbing with his community .
“ My philosophy is , anyone that walks into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to decide whether they want rock climbing in their lives or not , ” Konishi told The Daily Signal in a phone interview Dec. 16 .
For some , he said , climbing can have a positive impact on their lives “ mentally , physically , and they can make friends as well.
” For the first seven years of owning the gym , Konishi said , the business grew more every year .
At the start of 2020 , the gym had about 800 members with a core staff of 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lockdowns in March , Konishi , 39 , thought he would only have to close his business for three weeks .
He said he was happy to do so in order to keep his community safe .
Over the past nine months , the gym was able to reopen for only three weeks during the summer before being forced to close again .
“ It almost seems like we are a forgotten industry , ” Konishi said , adding that it ’ s frustrating when one sees another business , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep operating , but you are forced to shut down .
“ It ’ s almost like paying for a house … that you can not live in , but you are still expected to pay property taxes and rent and all that stuff .
It ’ s tough .
I know it ’ s for the good of the community , but I am just trying to survive here.
” Since the gym already operated under a check-in system and because climbing naturally requires distance between individuals , Konishi says he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his business safely if he were given the opportunity to reopen .
Gym members have called Konishi and begged him to reopen , explaining that their children are depressed and need a social outlet in their lives .
The gym owner has had to tell them that the situation is out of his control .
If given the opportunity to talk with Newsom and Garcetti , Konishi says , he would ask the leaders to give him and other business owners a chance to reopen because “ we know our industry better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Financially , the gym has been surviving on the business ’ savings and the generosity of some loyal members who are still paying their membership fees as a way to support the business , but the money is running out .
“ Next month , I don ’ t know if I ’ m going to be able to make my rent payment on time , ” Konishi said .
The dream of being able to reopen and have climbers back in the gym , even at limited capacity , is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Sometimes , I will walk throughout the facility .
Even though it ’ s empty , I imagine climbers climbing on the wall , ” Konishi said before pausing for a moment to regain his composure as he held back tears .
“ I can see climbers climbing on the wall , and people being happy , and you know that image helps me get through the tough times.
” The travel industry has suffered significant financial losses during the pandemic as nations close borders and even some states discourage travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awareness of the pandemic ’ s impact on airlines and cruise lines , travel agencies have been largely forgotten , says Anastasia Mann , owner of Corniche Travel .
Mann , 73 , opened her own travel company 33 years ago and has 24 employees , some of whom have been with her since the beginning .
“ My goal is to protect [ my employees ] , ” Mann told The Daily Signal in a Dec. 16 phone interview .
The federal Paycheck Protection Program provided the company some relief , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money be used within 60 days , Mann said .
Once the two months were up , she immediately had to cut staff hours and wages .
Now , Mann is dipping into her personal savings in order to pay her staff and provide them with insurance .
“ I am depleting my own savings in order to protect my employees , ” she said .
“ I don ’ t know what else to do , but obviously , I can not do that forever , which is why we need a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel companies ?
“ We have zero options , ” Mann said .
“ We don ’ t have takeout or delivery .
We can not tell someone to get on an airplane.
” To make a challenging situation even harder , California ’ s minimum wage will rise to $ 12 an hour for businesses with 25 employees or fewer , and $ 13 an hour for businesses with 26 or more employees , on Jan. 1 .
The Golden State ’ s labor laws require that when the minimum wage goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be double the new minimum wage .
That means Mann will be required to increase her salaried employees ’ annual pay by about $ 5,000 each .
The salary increase means that “ my business , which [ has ] basically a [ 1 % to 2.5 % ] margin at most for potential profit , is screwed , ” Mann said , adding , “ It ’ s like beating a horse that ’ s already drinking out of an empty [ trough ] .
” She said she would like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labor law because right now , it would only add “ insult to injury.
” The Red Ball Fun Zone in Long Beach , California , combines high-energy exercise with fun and games for kids .
David Cain , owner of the gym for kids , launched the business to show young people just how fun exercise can be .
“ It was like a Disneyland of fitness , ” Cain said of the gym in a Dec. 16 call with The Daily Signal .
Cain ’ s passion for children ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nonprofit five or six years ago called America ’ s Healthy Kids , which hosts high-energy exercise events , usually outdoors , for kids and families .
But now , both Cain ’ s nonprofit and his gym , which he opened less than a year before the pandemic , have been completely shut down since March .
Under the stay-at-home order , gyms are allowed to operate outdoors , so Cain asked the city for permission to do so .
With his experience hosting outdoor exercise events for the nonprofit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to outdoor child-friendly workouts .
But the city declined his request because it classified him not as a gym , but as an amusement and entertainment center .
The city also said his workouts were too high-touch as they incorporate balls and other objects .
Cain said he would require the children to wear gloves , but still the city said he had to remain closed .
To make matters worse , Red Ball Fun Zone is located in the Long Beach Town Center shopping mall , which is owned by the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cain because he can not afford to pay his rent .
Meanwhile , Cain estimates that the Sam ’ s Club big-box store located in the same shopping center as his business has had “ between 1.3 [ million ] and 1.5 million people walk through ” since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The small business owner says what he really needs now is a grant , not loans , because “ I already took on my debt when I opened this business .
I already took on my risk.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eminent domain [ should ] come in here somewhere .
When the government takes what you have , they should pay you for what they took.
” Cain did receive a grant from the city of Long Beach for $ 7,000 , but he also owes the city $ 74,000 in rent .
Cain is determined to reopen his business , even if he has to relocate and “ move to another county … because L.A. County … they are crushing everybody , ” he said .
Angela Marsden , the owner of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention when she posted a video on her Facebook page that quickly went viral .
In the video , Marsden is close to tears as she points out an outdoor dining area set up by a movie crew just a few yards away from her closed outdoor patio restaurant .
Marsden was forced to close her restaurant ’ s patio under California ’ s Dec. 3 stay-at-home order , which allows restaurants to operate only through delivery and pickup services .
When she arrived at her restaurant on Dec. 4 to give her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groceries , Marsden saw the movie crew ’ s dining area .
The city had given the film company a free pass to set up a large tent with tables , chairs , and a catering truck , which Marsden said felt like “ a slap in my face.
” “ I ’ m losing everything , ” Marsden said on the viral video .
“ Everything I own is being taken away from me .
And they set up a movie company right next to my outdoor patio .
… They have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have shut us down .
We can not survive .
My staff can not survive.
” In an interview with PragerU ’ s Will Witt published Dec. 9 , Marsden said she has lived in California for 28 years and despite the challenges , does not want to flee the state .
“ I don ’ t want to leave this place in disarray , ” she told Witt .
“ Somebody has to start telling the truth.
” The hypocrisy has become so intolerable , Marsden says , that she felt she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians tell small businesses they have to close and people must stay home , that puts restaurant owners and other business owners in the position of having to “ make a choice now between eating and having a place to live.
” What California needs now , she said , are politicians who will “ think outside the box and … think with their heart and … think for their people.
” Virginia Allen is a news producer for The Daily Signal .
She is the co-host of The Daily Signal Podcast and @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Minimum Wage Hikes Set for 2021 Imperil Businesses Struggling Amid COVID Shutdowns

More than 80 states and local municipalities are slated to see minimum wage hikes in 2021 , even as business owners continue to struggle during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Employment Policies Institute , a non-profit based in Washington , D.C. , that studies how public policy impacts employment growth , released a comprehensive list of the minimum wage increases that will go into effect next year and in subsequent years .
“ Minimum wage increases are demonstrated to cause job losses even in times of economic health , ” said Michael Saltsman , EPI ’ s managing director .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing the cost of labor as businesses are dealing with forced closures or a drastic drop in revenue .
Employers and employees will pay the price for these misguided good intentions.
” Starting Jan. 1 , 2021 , eight states will have a minimum wage of $ 12 an hour or higher , topped by California at $ 14 .
The others include Washington , Massachusetts , Colorado , Arizona , Maine , New Jersey and Oregon .
The five cities with the highest hourly minimum wages next year will be Emeryville , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seattle , Wash. , ( $ 16.69 ) ; SeaTac , Wash. , ( $ 16.57 ) ; Sunnyvale , Calif. , ( $ 16.30 ) and San Francisco ( $ 16.22 ) .
In addition , seven states ( Alaska , California , Minnesota , Montana , Nevada , Oregon and Washington ) and 43 cities and counties will no longer allow employers to factor in a credit for tips when paying employees .
Several states have also passed laws to gradually increase the minimum wage over a number of years to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2019 , the Congressional Budget Office predicted that a national $ 15 minimum wage , something that unions have been demanding for years , would result in a loss of 1.3 million to 3.7 million jobs .
Economists at the University of Miami did an updated analysis in October that found a $ 15 minimum wage would mean a loss of 2 million jobs , with more than half coming from bars and restaurants .
Such job losses would be due to a number of factors , including employers reducing staff sizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fewer people eating out as menu prices rise to pay for the increased wages .
“ Even before the pandemic , some of these markets that were experimenting with higher minimum wages were seeing a decrease in restaurant jobs , ” Saltsman said .
“ With all of the shutdowns , a lot of places that were on the brink have been pushed over the edge.
” EPI notes that grocery store prices have remained relatively stable over the last five years , growing 3.8 percent .
The cost of eating out during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Increasing menu prices to meet the $ 15 minimum wage mandate could then incentivize people to eat at home more often , thereby decreasing the ability of bars and restaurants to make up for rising labor costs .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--MIT Continues to Pay Prof Who Took Jeffrey Epstein Donations, Even After Severe COVID-19 Cuts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology physics professor Seth Lloyd — who accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — will continue to receive compensation from the university , and will eventually return to his teaching job .
As Campus Reform previously reported , Lloyd was fully aware of $ 850,000 donated to MIT over a period of 15 years .
He was the direct recipient of $ 225,000 in research donations received after Epstein ’ s conviction .
Lloyd also failed to disclose a $ 60,000 “ personal gift ” from Epstein .
The university placed Lloyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administrative leave in January .
In December , MIT Provost Martin Schmidt announced the decision of a senior faculty review panel charged with determining Lloyd ’ s punishment .
The panel found Lloyd guilty of violating the school ’ s conflict of interest policy .
By “ failing to inform MIT that Epstein was a convicted sex offender , ” Lloyd violated the school ’ s faculty misconduct policy .
Schmidt recommended that a set of disciplinary actions will “ limit ” Lloyd ’ s compensation , ability to solicit donors , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before resuming his teaching responsibilities , Lloyd “ will be expected to undergo training on professional conduct.
” Although Lloyd will continue to receive some degree of compensation and will eventually return to his teaching after being placed on paid leave for nearly one year , the university announced earlier in 2020 hiring freezes and other cuts to employee compensation as a result of COVID-19 financial strains .
In April , the university stated that it would pause hiring “ except for essential personnel.
” The administration encouraged all units to “ rework @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflect anticipated additional savings from the hiring pause.
” The university also suspended merit increases for faculty .
Campus Reform reached out to MIT 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 .
Photo “ Professor Seth Lloyd ” by MECHE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is by John Phelan CC3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Joe Biden’s About to Floor It to a Green Future – Straight into State Speed Traps

Joe Biden needs to put the pedal to the metal as he races toward his goal of ridding America ’ s energy sources of carbon emissions by 2035 .
But the president-elect ’ s headlong rush toward a green future may be slowed by a snarl of political speed limits in the states .
One of Biden ’ s most ambitious aims is to completely clean up the electrical grid , today powered mostly by fossil fuels , in only 15 years .
Many energy executives consider that goal quixotic because it would require a breathtakingly fast transformation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dirty power plants to upgrading thousands of miles transmission lines .
To do that , Biden needs to engineer a major expansion of federal power over the regulatory authority of the states – a daunting political task .
States control energy policy and their mishmash of requirements to boost wind and solar power don ’ t go far enough to achieve Biden ’ s 2035 goal .
That is why he is expected to push for a federal clean electricity standard – a law forcing utilities to provide a lot more power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – perhaps the single most important piece of Biden ’ s sweeping climate plan – is likely to face stiff opposition in Congress .
Major utilities , even those voluntarily pursuing clean energy , don ’ t like to have their hands tied by government mandates and have successfully opposed them in the past .
Lawmakers from states dependent on fossil fuels have shot down proposals for a federal standard , including one backed by the Obama administration , on concerns that their residents would see their bill rise to pay for clean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and solar energy .
“ A federal standard is so important because it provides the incentive to investors and developers to scale up those renewable resources , which we need to do at a much faster clip to achieve a safe climate future , ” says Mike O ’ Boyle , director of electricity policy at Energy Innovation .
“ But the politics around a standard can be very difficult.
” Many items on Biden ’ s long climate to-do list are low-hanging fruit for his new team , led by former Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be secretary of energy , ex-Secretary of State John Kerry , who will serve as climate czar , and New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland , who is slated to head the Interior Department .
Biden will have the authority to mandate the federal purchase of zero-emission vehicles , rejoin the Paris Agreement , restrict energy drilling on public lands , and restore stringent fuel economy standards for cars and trucks .
But the truly transformational part of his agenda , greening the grid by 2035 , would require an almost fantastical acceleration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the nation with buy-in from Congress and the states .
Last year developers installed 13 gigawatts of new solar capacity and 9 gigawatts of wind power – a pace that would have to more than triple starting immediately for Biden to come close to hitting his goal , according to a study by the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California , Berkeley .
As the coronavirus economic slump drags on , Biden is selling his climate agenda as a job creator .
It would require developers to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farms annually for the next 15 years .
Employment in the energy industry alone would increase by the equivalent of about 8.5 million jobs lasting a year as positions in the renewable sector more than replace those lost in retrenching coal and natural gas operations , the UC study says .
Biden ’ s ambition is roughly in keeping with the findings of climate scientists who say the U.S. economy needs to be carbon-free by 2050 as part of a global effort to stave off the worst effects of climate change .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaned up first to enable the other big sources of carbon pollution – transportation and industry – to slash emissions too .
Plugging an electric car or “ green ” assembly line into a dirty grid amounts to running in place .
In a sign of how much the landscape has shifted in just the last decade , the struggle between Biden and the power industry isn ’ t over whether it needs to end emitting carbon into the atmosphere .
The issue is how quickly it must act .
A growing number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service and Duke Energy of North Carolina , have announced voluntary goals to be carbon-free by 2050 , or 15 years after Biden ’ s target .
They consider the president-elect ’ s goal to be too aggressive .
Some utilities have recently invested billions in natural gas plants and pipelines that have a lifespan of several decades , making a quick shift to wind and solar energy potentially costly to consumers who pay for the infrastructure .
“ Some utilities have been receptive to federal and state standards , but on balance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resisting them , ” says Matto Mildenberger , a political scientist at UC Santa Barbara who researches the politics of climate change .
“ They have power generating assets that are dependent on coal and gas and their business model has been threatened by wind and solar.
” Even companies that are rapidly expanding clean energy fear Biden ’ s goal is too ambitious .
The head of Vistra Corp. , a Texas-based diversified power generator , recently told the media that the 2035 plan will lead to skyrocketing electricity costs and unreliable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wind and solar farms .
California ’ s rolling blackouts in August , caused by extreme heat and poor planning by regulators , show how tricky the fast conversion to clean energy can be in such a large state .
But recent studies suggest that the industry may be overplaying its objections to the faster adoption of renewable power .
The UC study examined the cost and reliability of a grid that is 90 % clean by 2035 , roughly in line with Biden ’ s goal .
With prices of wind and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wholesale electricity in 2035 would actually be cheaper over the long haul .
And recently improved battery storage , in combination with energy from the remaining natural gas and nuclear plants , would supply juice when the sun isn ’ t shining and the wind isn ’ t blowing , making the grid reliable , the study says .
“ Prices for renewables have come down so fast that the utilities haven ’ t really taken this fully into account in their planning , ” says David Wooley , an author of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy for three decades .
“ There is momentum in the system toward gas because that ’ s the way the utilities have done it for years.
” The greening of electricity has a long way to go .
Natural gas generates almost 40 % of America ’ s power , twice coal ’ s contribution .
Wind and solar energy have been expanding rapidly for a decade , but along with hydropower and biomass , provide only 18 % of the nation ’ s juice .
Add nuclear power and America ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today .
Without a federal standard , a haphazard mix of forces will continue to compel utilities to gradually go green .
Mandates in 30 states have been the biggest driver and federal tax credits , a market approach Republicans favor over a federal standard , have spurred renewable development too .
Lately , Big Tech firms like Apple and Microsoft have added to the pressure , demanding that states and utilities make commitments to green power to serve their data centers and other operations .
Even as some utilities embrace green power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal standard won ’ t resolve .
From New York to California , homeowners and county officials concerned about the noise , look and environmental impact of massive wind and solar farms are slowing construction and sometimes defeating the projects .
Ohio lawmakers set rules so strict that they effectively banned wind farms from the state .
All told , today ’ s government policies will get Biden only about halfway to his 2035 goal , according to the UC report .
“ States have varied ambitions with clean energy standards , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Innovation .
“ Many are cautious or almost indifferent in their renewable energy policies .
That ’ s why there is a need for a federal standard.
” The strength of state mandates varies greatly , depending on a state ’ s political tilt , energy resources and willingness to pay about 2 % more on average for electricity in the short term .
Conservative-leaning Montana and fracking-focused Pennsylvania set low goals , seeking less than 20 % of their energy mix from renewable power .
Sunny California and liberal New York are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Columbia that plan to completely slash carbon emissions in the next few decades .
Many of the 20 states without requirements , like Florida , are home to powerful monopoly utilities that prefer to set their own voluntary clean energy goals .
A decade ago as Florida ’ s governor , Charlie Crist pushed for a standard only to be rebuffed by the state legislature .
“ Charlie pled with the House leadership , but the Republicans are just not in favor of mandates and they are certainly not going to push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith , executive director at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy .
Florida Power & Light , the state ’ s biggest utility , decided to finally join the green energy march after engaging in a fierce ballot battle with residents to limit the growth of rooftop solar power four years ago .
The utility projected last year that 40 % of its electricity will be carbon-free by 2030 .
FP & L didn ’ t respond to a request for comment .
Ohio , which produces only 3 % of its electricity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A in the case for Biden ’ s federal standard .
Last year Ohio abolished its renewable energy standard , becoming one of the few states to backtrack on a mandate , as a result of the biggest political bribery scandal in its history .
Democrats who are trying to restore the state standard say it ’ s unlikely they can overcome Republican opposition .
“ At this point , investors in renewables will have to determine if there is enough demand to make a profit without a standard , ” Democratic Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to win a federal standard would likely run into the kind of political obstacles that defeated earlier initiatives .
The politics are divisive because utilities in different states don ’ t have the same ability to generate green power .
Utilities in the West , where solar and wind resources are typically stronger , have greater access to cheap clean power than companies in parts of the Midwest and Southeast that are dependent on fossil fuels .
These regional differences doomed a proposal for a standard in the Senate in 2007 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group Edison Electric Institute and state regulators in the Southeast warned that utilities in states that couldn ’ t meet the federal requirements would have to buy green power or credits from other regions rich in renewable energy , possibly costing consumers billions in extra charges .
Three years later , a similar political dynamic in the Senate led to the collapse of President Obama ’ s cap-and-trade climate plan that contained a modest federal standard .
While details of Biden ’ s proposal haven ’ t been released , two Democrats – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico – have introduced a bill calling for a federal standard .
The measure is designed to reduce the issue of regional differences in solar and wind resources that doomed earlier efforts by making most utilities gradually increase their supply of clean energy by about 3 % a year , starting at their current levels .
After reaching 60 % carbon-free power , the annual increases taper down on the path to a clean grid by 2050 .
“ The cost of clean energy has declined dramatically since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decade ago , ” Smith told RealClearInvestigations .
“ The time is right for a federal standard because it will result in a cheaper , more reliable , and more efficient electric system than if we continue to rely solely on a hodgepodge of state and utility-level policies , This time , a federal standard may face less resistance in Congress as states like Arizona jump onboard , showing that Republicans can get behind mandates too .
In October , the Republican-led Arizona Corporation Commission approved a 100 % carbon-free mandate by 2050 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good for the economy as well as the environment .
Amid years of public acrimony between renewable advocates and Arizona Public Service , the plunge in the price of solar energy , making it cheaper than gas in that state , forced the commission to act .
“ It became a no-brainer , ” says Amanda Ormond , formerly the director of the Arizona Energy Office and now a clean power consultant .
“ If the clean stuff is less expensive , the argument shifts from ‘ solar is good for air quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for not using the lowest cost resource ?
’ ” In another sign of the shifting economics of the grid , Arizona sees its new mandate as key to luring investment from companies — including Amazon and Google — that seek to run their businesses with clean energy .
Without an aggressive carbon-free energy plan , Arizona could lose out to neighboring states like Nevada and New Mexico .
“ It was certainly on my mind that other states are targeting 100 % clean energy and how attractive that makes them to certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lea Marquez Peterson , one of the Republican commissioners who supported the standard .
Biden ’ s standard will be easier to sell in the Democratic-controlled House and should garner some Republican support in the Senate because of the competitive pricing of renewable power .
Sen. Chuck Grassley , a champion of wind power from Iowa , has been one of a handful of Republicans to support a federal standard in the past .
“ I don ’ t think a federal standard is completely outside the realm of possibility because we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is growing , ” says Wooley of UC Berkeley .
“ Senator Grassley is a good example of that.
” But the U.S. has enacted only a handful of environmental and energy laws in the last three decades , an indication of the difficulties that Biden ’ s plan would face no matter which party controls the Senate after the Georgia runoffs on Jan. 5 .
If Mitch McConnell , a steadfast fossil-fuel supporter from the coal state of Kentucky , continues as the majority leader , then a federal standard is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Even with a 50-50 split in the Senate , it would be unlikely that Biden could get a clean electricity standard approved , ” says Peter Van Doren , an expert on environmental and energy regulation at the Cato Institute .
“ Even the best designed bill would run into opposition in many states over the potential rise in energy prices .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Jake Tapper on White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany: She ‘Lies the Way that Most People Brea

Jake Tapper on White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany: She ‘Lies the Way that Most People Breathe’

CNN anchor Jake Tapper said Sunday that he wouldn ’ t put White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on air because she “ lies the way that most people breathe.
” Tapper told CNN ’ s Brian Stelter that throughout President Donald Trump ’ s term , “ you had to steel yourself for interviews with people that might misrepresent the facts.
” The CNN anchor said that “ once somebody proved themselves to be a liar , I just stopped booking them.
” “ There were some people that are … just so mendacious , I just wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McEnany , I never booked her .
Jason Miller from the Trump campaign , I would never book him , ” Tapper said .
“ I mean , these are people who just tell lies the way that most people breathe .
There was no value in that.
” “ I don ’ t view Kellyanne Conway the same way , ” Tapper told Stelter during the video .
“ She was more of a filibusterer and a subject changer , I thought.
” “ There is a big difference between somebody like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the time .
She can ’ t acknowledge reality .
So , I ’ m just not going to put somebody like that on air , ” Tapper told Stelter .
The White House and Trump campaign didn ’ t immediately respond to requests for comment .


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Cartoon Network Promotes ‘Many Gender Identities’ for Kids

Cartoon Network released a comic strip highlighting the importance of respecting ‘ many gender identities ’ and loving a person no matter their preferred pronoun .
On Monday , the Twitter account associated with Cartoon Network tweeted a new series with the caption : “ Here ’ s to not only normalizing gender pronouns , but respecting them , too.
” “ Whether you use he/she/them or something else , we acknowledge and LOVE you !
” it added , along with a link to the “ Gender Justice Tool Kit ” which it said was “ designed to facilitate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comic strips in the new series were created in partnership with the National Black Justice Coalition , a leftist , pro-LGBT organization .
Included with the tweet , was a comic strip featuring Stevonnie from Steven Universe and Craig from Craig of the Creek meeting two new friends , Kam and Alex .
“ Gender pronouns describe a person ’ s gender identity , ” one part of the comic strip read .
“ Examples of pronouns are she/her , they/them , an ze/zir .
A lot of people are learning about gender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can share your own pronouns.
” “ We can ’ t tell someone ’ s gender just by looking at them and shouldn ’ t assume we know , ” the comic strip added .
“ There are many gender identities beyond ‘ girl ’ or ‘ boy.
’ Some people don ’ t identify as any gender.
” In a second part of the strip , two of the characters are talking about the pronouns they like to identify themself with , such as “ they/them.
” “ Using someone ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded in the final strip .
“ We all need to be seen and loved for who we are.
” According to Animation Magazine , “ the comic was designed by members of the NBJC Youth and Young Adult Action Council ( YYAAC ) with artist Steven Lowe ( @ steeeeevn ) , a team of talented creators from Cartoon Network Studios , and leadership from NBJC ’ s director of education programs and research , Dr. Kia Darling-Hammond .
This collaboration grew out of Cartoon Network ’ s commitment to meaningfully engage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a part of the network ’ s continued support for NBJC .
”


thetennesseestar--2020-12-28--Analysis: Republican’s 2020 Wins in State Capitals Sets the Stage for Lasting Victories Through the

Analysis: Republican’s 2020 Wins in State Capitals Sets the Stage for Lasting Victories Through the Next Decade

Carrie Delrosso , a Republican , won her campaign in Pennsylvania ’ s 33rd House District by defeating House Minority Leader Frank Dermody , a Democrat , to capture the seat .
In Ohio ’ s 75th House District , Gail Pavliga won her election , flipping the seat to the GOP after running a campaign on solving the opioid crisis in the district .
Delrosso and Pavliga were among the many victories the GOP is citing as part of Republicans ’ general down-ballot success Nov. 3 , when the party held onto majorities in all 59 legislative state chambers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while winning state House and Senate majorities in New Hampshire and flipping the Alaska House of Representatives .
While those races were lower profile than the battles for control of the White House and Congress , they could be most consequential for the next 10 years , not only in drawing redistricting maps , but also in setting agendas in state capitals .
“ We had one of the most diverse slates of Republican candidates that has ever been elected , ” Dave Abrams , deputy executive director of the Republican State Leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s really remarkable that , to my no surprise , the [ media have ] not really written much about [ it ] .
Had it been the inverse for Democrats , it would have been on the cover of Time already.
” In what was projected to be a good year for Democrats from the top of the ballot on down , the GOP defied conventional wisdom in part by running local races for local offices , while even Democrats running for state legislatures sought to make their races @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abrams said .
“ We know that , at the state level , Democrats ran nationalized campaigns , with socialist agendas .
It didn ’ t work , ” he said .
Democrats walked into a trap of “ local candidates running national campaigns , ” while Republicans were “ local candidates running local campaigns.
” “ When they were talking about issues like defunding the police , supporting the Green New Deal , and basically running opposition campaigns to President Trump , who was at the top of the ticket , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies Republicans were focused on—getting economies moving again and recovering from the impact of the coronavirus , ” Abrams said .
“ We are for expanding police funding to keep America safe .
Those are local issues , all the way down to traffic , broken street lights , and potholes .
Our strategy in keeping things local paid off enormously everywhere.
” Abrams declined , however , to characterize his party ’ s strong Nov. 3 performance as a state-level red wave .
“ It certainly was a historically successful year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what state Republicans were up against from the other side , in terms of money and the political environment and dynamics that shifted because of the coronavirus , ” Abrams said , adding : New Hampshire , a battleground state , will now have a Republican trifecta , with GOP Gov .
Chris Sununu and control of both houses of the Legislature .
It was an unusual result , since former Vice President Joe Biden , a Democrat , won New Hampshire ’ s four electoral votes for president .
The New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , drawing the congressional and state legislative redistricting maps following the 2020 census .
However , Democrats are in a better spot going into 2021 than they were in 2011 , controlling more legislative chambers or governorships than 10 years ago , thus forcing compromise on redistricting .
Also in 2011 , the GOP had full control over redrawing the maps in New Mexico , Nevada , Maine , and Oregon .
That ’ s no longer the case .
Further , Democrats were able to announce supermajorities in the legislatures of three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big wins there from election night .
But those are all legislatures where the party already held majorities .
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee acknowledged receipt of an email inquiry from The Daily Signal , but did not immediately respond to phone and email inquiries for this article .
In a USA Today op-ed , Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Jessica Post sought to put a positive spin on the outcome , while conceding , “ There ’ s no doubt that down-ballot Democrats generally fared poorly in 2020.
” She noted success @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control of legislatures in four states .
Over that same time , the party also took back governorships in Kansas , Wisconsin , Kentucky , Pennsylvania , Louisiana , and Michigan .
“ Democrats will have profoundly greater influence over redistricting heading into this decade than we did the last , and voters in many states will be drawn into fair , non-gerrymandered districts for the first time in a generation , ” Post wrote in the op-ed .
Progressive groups , such as All on the Line , run by former Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , spent heavily on states in 2020 in an attempt to cement Democratic majorities at the state and congressional levels .
Republicans were outgunned financially , as liberal groups poured some $ 200 million into flipping state legislatures to Democrats , Abrams said .
“ In redistricting years , this being one of them , our main priority is to win the legislative seats and legislative majorities where the legislature plays a large—if not the sole—role in the redistricting process for the benefit of preventing opportunities for liberals to gerrymander themselves into near-permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional level , ” he said .
The progressive groups were targeting the states of Arizona , Colorado , Florida , Georgia , North Carolina , Ohio , Pennsylvania , Texas , and Wisconsin , but to no avail .
“ When you look at states like Texas and North Carolina , where large populations will gain congressional seats through reapportionment in the year to follow , obviously , quite a bit was at stake , ” Abrams said .
“ So , obviously , that ’ s a key focus of ours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats from rigging a lot of these maps.
” Fred Lucas is chief national affairs correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of “ The Right Side of History ” podcast .
Lucas is also the author of “ Abuse of Power : Inside The Three-Year Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump .
”