thetennesseestar--2020-09-29--Opposition Team Criticizes Enbridge Plans for Oil Tunnel

TRAVERSE CITY , Michigan ( AP ) — Enbridge ’ s plans for drilling an oil pipeline tunnel beneath a channel linking two of the Great Lakes do not meet industry standards and pose significant hazards to workers and the environment , experts who reviewed project documents on behalf of opposition groups said Monday .
Two geologists said they found numerous shortcomings with the Canadian company ’ s proposals to the Michigan Department of Environment , Great Lakes and Energy , which is considering whether to allow construction of the tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac .
“ What Enbridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t come close to properly designing and preparing for a tunnel underwater , ” said Brian O ’ Mara , a geological engineer who has worked on dozens of tunnel projects .
The analysis was requested by Oil & Water Don ’ t Mix , a coalition of environmental , business and tribal organizations .
They are fighting to shut down Line 5 , an Enbridge pipeline that crosses the bottom of the waterway connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron .
Enbridge spokesman Ryan Duffy said the tunnel plans were developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jay Dee Contractors Inc. and the U.S. affiliate of Japanese tunnel construction firm Obayashi Corp. are constructing the tunnel .
Arup , an engineering and consulting firm , is helping with design .
“ Jay Dee and Obayashi have a collective track record of constructing more than 400 pressurized-face tunnels consisting of more than 2.4 million feet ( 732,000 meters ) of tunnelway , ” Duffy said .
“ A number of those projects involved high pressure and ground condition parameters similar to those that will exist in the Straits of Mackinac.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 that runs between Superior , Wisconsin , and Sarnia , Ontario , is in good condition but wants to replace the 4-mile-long ( 6.4-kilometer-long ) underwater segment with another to be housed in a nearby subterranean tunnel .
Enbridge says it would pay the estimated $ 500 million cost .
During an online news conference , O ’ Mara said the tunnel plans had changed considerably since a 2017 assessment , which described the project as feasible and low-risk .
That analysis by a Canadian firm was based on assumptions that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presumed the tunnel would be located entirely in solid bedrock , yet Enbridge ’ s plan also includes digging through poor bedrock , soft silts and clay , O ’ Mara said .
Limestone and dolomite formations beneath the waterway connecting Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are complex jumbles that can change drastically and suddenly , he said .
Without adequate data on rock conditions , fault zones and groundwater pressure , a tunnel boring machine can break down , forcing expensive repairs and delays , he said .
For that reason , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 200 feet ( 15 to 61 meters ) , he said .
Yet , Enbridge ’ s contractor took them once every 950 feet ( 290 meters ) .
“ They have done just a fraction of what you would expect on a project of this size and magnitude , ” O ’ Mara said .
Enbridge is confident in its geological analysis and considers conditions “ favorable ” for the tunnel projects , Duffy said .
“ As our geologists and engineers gather more information from studying the cores , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rock and soil conditions.
” O ’ Mara said the risk analysis also presumed that the tunnel interior around the pipeline would be filled completely with cement to prevent leaks and collapse , but that feature is absent from the current plan .
“ This single design change represents the greatest risk and would make a catastrophic disaster much more likely to occur , ” O ’ Mara said .
The Enbridge plan also has no provisions for dealing with toxic methane that has been found in the area ’ s groundwater and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The risk analysis assumed none would be present , he said .
O ’ Mara said the proposed tunnel ’ s V-shaped design configuration would endanger workers by putting the deepest point in the middle of the straits .
Another threat is posed by a slurry that would be injected during construction to keep the tunnel stable and lubricated , said Mike Wilczynski , a retired former senior geologist with the state Department of Environmental Quality , now known as EGLE .
The mud consists of water , additives and bentonite clay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the surface , removing the clay and discharging up to 5 million gallons ( 18.9 million liters ) of treated wastewater back to the straits , he said , but the permit application doesn ’ t show how the lakes would be protected from accidental releases .
A bentonite spill could be more environmentally damaging than oil , which floats on the surface and can be recovered , Wilczynki said .
“ Bentonite can stick to everything it touches and forms an impermeable barrier ” that can smother fish and bottom-dwelling invertebrates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Duffy said slurry and water would be piped to settling ponds for treatment and water would be cleansed to meet state standards before discharged back into the straits .
The state environment department is scheduled to conduct the first of several public hearings Tuesday on wastewater treatment and wetlands permits that Enbridge needs to move forward .
The department plans to issue rulings by the end of the year .
Environmentalists urged state regulators to demand answers about issues raised by the outside review before green-lighting the project .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragedy for the Great Lakes , ” said Beth Wallace of the National Wildlife Federation .
Spokesman Nick Assendelft said department staffers would consider the findings of the Oil & Water Don ’ t Mix reviewers along with other public comments .
“ The state also has retained tunneling experts as consultants and will explore if others are needed to help evaluate technical information that is part of the public record , ” Assendelft said .
John Flesher is a reporter for The Associated Press .
Photo “ Oil Pipeline ” by Arthur @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-29--Former Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore on Barrett: Confirm Now!

The Trump Victory campaign hosted a press call Monday with Republican Party of Virginia Finance Chairman and former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore to discuss Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett .
President Trump nominated Barrett this past Saturday .
Democrats express concerns that her appointment will be the catalyst for ending Roe v. Wade and the Affordable Care Act ( ACA ) .
Kilgore argued that Barrett ’ s history of adhering to precedent should shutter those concerns .
The former attorney general stated that her past is proof that “ she wants to interpret what is written in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She has a proven record that President Trump has promised that he would appoint justices to be like .
She ’ s already served this court with distinction and honor on the Seventh Circuit .
Before going to the Seventh Circuit , she was a distinguished law professor at Notre Dame .
When she was nominated by President Trump in 2017 for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals , she received bipartisan support from a group of law professors that urged the Senate to confirm Judge Barrett.
” In an interview with The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nomination was a long time coming .
“ A lot of us were looking to the President , hoping he would nominate her last time instead of Kavanaugh [ in 2018 ] .
She carried herself so well during her 2017 hearing for the 7th Circuit Court , and she was a former clerk for Justice Scalia .
She is a favorite justice for many conservatives throughout the nation.
” Kilgore emphasized the importance of Barrett ’ s esteemed reputation amongst her Notre Dame Law School colleagues .
He added that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offers a new depth of insight the court has yet to offer .
“ She was first in her class at Notre Dame , and then she went on to teach there .
Every faculty member voted for her .
You can ’ t get faculty members to agree on anything !
She ’ s just a likeable person that cares about everyone .
She ’ s a new perspective we ’ ve never had .
I think it ’ s going to be a good perspective for the nation.
” The press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dean of Students and law professor , Judge Chad Dotson .
Dotson characterized Barrett as “ extremely intelligent , extremely thoughtful ” and career-long commitment to the Constitution and rule of law ; “ an intellectual heavyweight ” in that regard .
“ You look at her philosophy , and how she approaches the task of being a judge , and this is where I think she is an incredible nominee for the United States Supreme Court , ” Dotson stated .
“ She noted upon accepting the nomination that Scalia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must apply the law as written , judges are not policymakers , they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views .
And that ’ s very important for someone who ’ s sat on the bench and now engages in these Constitutional issues.
” Dotson shared with The Virginia Star the story of Laura Wolk , the first blind clerk in the U.S. Supreme Court .
Wolk was one of Barrett ’ s students at Notre Dame Law School .
“ Barrett is the reason she ’ s there .
Amy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was at Notre Dame .
She helped [ Wolken ] acquire the resources she needed – basically , she told her , ‘ This is my problem now – you step away and I ’ ll handle it . '
” On the topic of the heated national debate over Barrett ’ s approach to abortion and healthcare laws , Dotson concurred with Kilgore ’ s take on Barrett .
“ She ’ s going to adhere to precedence – but she ’ s not going to legislate from the bench .
Judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a super legislator .
She is a model of a fair , impartial , and sympathetic judge.
” Corinne Murdock is a journalist at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Jerry Kilgore ” by Cozen O ’ Conner .

by Scott McClallen
First, COVID-19 disrupted classes in 2020, and now it’s teachers keeping kids out of class in 2022.
More than 29,000 Minneapolis students couldn’t attend class Monday as a teachers’ union strike entered its 10th school day.
The striking teachers are seeking a “living wage,” smaller class sizes, and “safe and stable schools.”
The strike began March 8 with the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) and Education Support Professionals (ESP) saying the groups were demanding “a living wage” for ESPs, smaller class sizes, and “safe and stable schools,” the union posted on Facebook.
In a video posted on Facebook page Sunday, union officials said they want ESPs to have a minimum $35,000 annual salary.
Teacher Chapter President Greta Callahan said parties have been negotiating.
“This contract needs to get settled,” Callahan said. “We want kids back in school and it feels like we are the only ones acting like that right now.”
Average teacher salaries in St. Paul are $85,000, compared to the average Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) teacher salary of $71,535.
World Population Review says the average Minnesota teacher makes $59,221.
The Sahan Journal reported that despite the high teacher salary, raises for the Minneapolis district have lagged in recent years.
MPS said it shared its “last, best, and final” offer on Sunday that includes: 2% cost of living increases, with up to 12% raises for new teachers, in year one of the contract and 2% increases for all in the second year.
Increase starting wages for 85% of current ESPs to $23 per hour or more, bringing most full-time ESPs close to $35,000 annually.
Increase wages over two years between 8.2% and 34.6% (depending on job classification), with an average increase of 15.6%.
Move the lowest-paid ESPs from $15.45 per hour to $18 per hour.
Pay ESPs $6,000 in bonuses ($3,000 in each of the next 2 years).
$3.5 million to additional hours for ESPs.
Four additional paid duty days for professional development.
“We know that our students want to be back in school with their teachers and ESPs and our staff desperately want to see our students,” Minneapolis School Board Chair Kim Ellison said in a video. “We believe this is the fastest way possible to get our students back to school.”
The proposal would cost $9.3 million in the first year and $13.4 million in the second.
“MPS is reaching beyond its financial means on behalf of our ESPs and will need to make more than $10 million in reductions for the next school year as a result,” the MPS website says.
“We’ll be back out on the line tomorrow fighting for safe and stable schools!” the MFT tweeted Sunday.
The state’s education funding formula is based on enrollment, which has declined at MPS from 32,732 in 2019 to in 2022, 29,100.
The school doesn’t have data on where the roughly 3,632 kids who left went, MPS media coordinator Crystina Lugo-Beach told The Center Square in an email.
MPS said all pre-K through 12th classes would be canceled “for the duration of the strike.” Axios reported that the district is facing a a $21.5 million budget deficit for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
– – –
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square. A graduate of Hillsdale College, his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org. Previously, he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi.
Photo “Minneapolis Public Schools” by Minneapolis Public Schools.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-29--Belmont Professor Lectures Brentwood High Students About Privilege and Social Change

A Belmont University professor who specializes in social justice causes lectured Brentwood High School students Monday about how privileged and closed-minded they are and said it ’ s time they corrected themselves .
A Brentwood High parent who said he disapproved of Soto ’ s lecture provided The Tennessee Star with an audio recording of her lecture .
Before Soto spoke , Keidel delivered a lecture of his own .
According to the audio , he said Brentwood High alumni , who now attend Harvard and Princeton universities , complained to him that school administrators didn ’ t do enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We took that to heart this summer .
It doesn ’ t do us any good if you ’ re smart but you ’ re a bad person , ” Keidel said in the recording .
“ That is not what we want from you .
We want you to be better people .
We want you to be able to treat your classmates well .
We want you to be able to treat your friends well.
” Keidel provided no specific examples of how past and present Brentwood High students were bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williamson County parent .
Soto introduced herself to students as someone who is “ very passionate about public education and what it means to transform the world.
” “ I pray there is a level of discomfort you might feel [ because of what I say ] .
Why am I feeling uncomfortable and why is this pushing my buttons a certain way and what do I need to do to lean into that ?
” Soto told students .
“ The process of becoming a better level of ourselves comes from experiencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a place of greater awareness and greater social change , and I believe that is what our public education system in our country should be all about — that positive place of social change for everyone.
” Soto then talked about how she and her family moved to Middle Tennessee from New York and how they had to adjust to what she called “ the Williamson County Bubble.
” Soto said she found a church to attend and sent her children to a Vacation Bible School .
“ I went to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] and , as I did , there was a sheer moment of pain and suffering on my children ’ s faces .
This is strange .
This is a happy place .
We ’ re in a happy time of fun and learning .
Why this ?
” Soto asked .
“ My son said ‘ Mom , we need to leave right now.
’ We got out to the car .
We shut the door , and my kid started to cry .
He said ‘ Mom , you ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were doing some Bible trivia and all of a sudden the team across the room from us started chanting ‘ Build the Wall .
Build the wall.
’ And my daughter asked ‘ Are they doing that to us because we ’ re brown ?
This is a church .
People are supposed to be loving .
How come no one said anything ?
’ ” Williamson County School System officials announced in an email Sunday that Soto would speak at four grade-level assemblies to discuss racism .
The Star contacted all 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment , but none of them replied by press time .
Soto , according to her LinkedIn page , received a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Oregon .
Listen to the lecture recorded in the room ( there are echos ) : Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Mona Ivey-Soto ” by Belmont University .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-29--Outbreak in the NFL: Three Tennessee Titans Players, Five Personnel Test Positive for COVID-19

NASHVILLE , Tennessee ( AP ) — The Tennessee Titans suspended in-person activities through Friday after the NFL says three Titans players and five personnel tested positive for the coronavirus , becoming the first COVID-19 outbreak of the NFL season in Week 4 .
The outbreak threatened to jeopardize the Titans ’ game this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers and posed the first significant in-season test to the league ’ s coronavirus protocols .
The NFL issued a statement Tuesday saying both the Titans and Minnesota Vikings suspended in-person activities Tuesday following the Titans ’ test results .
The Titans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend .
“ Both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the NFLPA , including our infectious disease experts , to evaluate close contacts , perform additional testing and monitor developments , ” the league said .
A person familiar with situation told The Associated Press the eight test results were all confirmed positives , making this the first outbreak since the season began on Sept 10 .
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of health privacy regulations .
The Vikings released a statement saying they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing after Sunday ’ s game against the Titans .
They also said they followed NFL protocol by closing their facility immediately and were working to determine when they can reopen .
Minnesota is scheduled to visit Houston ( 0-3 ) on Sunday .
The Titans ( 3-0 ) are scheduled to host the Steelers ( 3-0 ) on Sunday in a matchup of two of the league ’ s seven remaining undefeated teams .
With the Titans unable to practice until Saturday at the earliest , when that game might be played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be made with health and safety as our primary consideration , ” the NFL said .
“ We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
” Spokesman Burt Lauten said the Steelers have been in contact with the NFL about the Titans ’ positive tests .
“ We have been informed to proceed with our game preparations for Sunday ’ s game until we are informed otherwise , ” Lauten said in a statement .
Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward wrote on Twitter that the guys playing the next week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is wild but this is the world we live in now , ” Heyward wrote .
At least one member of the Titans knows what he wants this week .
The Titans initially announced Tuesday morning that they would be working remotely “ out of an abundance of caution ” after several test results came back positive .
They beat the Vikings in Minneapolis without outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen , who did not travel with the Titans following a test result Saturday .
Coach Mike Vrabel said Monday that Bowen was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Isaiah Wilson , their top draft pick out of Georgia , also has been on the reserve/COVID-19 list for the Titans since Sept. 6 .
The Titans use devices that detect whenever someone is within 6 feet of another device and records how long they are that close together .
That provides a recording of everyone ’ s interactions from inside the team headquarters to the practice field , an airplane , inside a hotel and at a stadium .
That information should help the Titans and the infectious disease experts know which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With the Titans ’ facility now closed for four days , that should also help limit further spread of the virus .
The Titans were due to have about 7,000 fans in Nissan Stadium on Sunday as local restrictions eased , expanding to about 8,500 on Oct. 11 for a game against Buffalo and up to 10,000 on Oct. 18 when Houston is scheduled to visit .
Teresa M. Walker is a Pro Football Writer with The Associated Press .
AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell in Minneapolis and AP Sports Writer Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
About the Headline Photo : Members of the Tennessee Titans take part in the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings , Sunday , Sept. 27 , 2020 , in Minneapolis .
The NFL says the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings are suspending in-person activities after the Titans had three players test positive for the coronavirus , along with five other personnel .
The league says both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the players ’ union on tracing contacts , more testing and monitoring developments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday .
( AP Photo/Jim Mone )


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Davidson County Election Commission Suing Citizens for Putting Tax Cut on Ballot, Calling it ‘Uncons

Davidson County Election Commission Suing Citizens for Putting Tax Cut on Ballot, Calling it ‘Unconstitutional’

The Davidson County Election Commission has recruited a legal team to sue the citizens ’ group Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee ( AFP-TN ) for its December ballot tax cut petition .
Former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Bill Koch will serve as lead council , and Junaid Odubeko the co-council .
The Taxpayer Protection Act is an amendment that would roll back the 32 percent property tax increase and limit property tax increases made without the people ’ s approval to 2 percent annually .
The act is backed currently by over 26,000 Davidson County residents – 6,000 more petitioners from when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of last month .
Cooper first proposed the 32 percent tax increase in April .
The Metro Council approved the property tax increase in mid-June .
The AFP-TN expressed disbelief that the city would expend more taxpayer dollars to fight something that taxpayers want .
“ Well I think it ’ s bad policy to write a blank check when Metro ’ s finances are in as bad a situation as it is .
I can say that I don ’ t make $ 400 an hour or anything like that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So far this year , Davidson County residents have endured the financial and personal burdens imposed by the coronavirus pandemic , a tornado , and riots .
AFP-TN , along with other small citizen groups , immediately began collecting signatures after Cooper ’ s proposal to petition that the city put their tax increase to a vote .
Metro ’ s Director of Law Robert Cooper Jr. issued a legal opinion on Monday calling the amendment “ unconstitutional ” and “ unlawful.
” “ No , the proposed charter amendment is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in form and conflicts with the Tennessee Constitution and state and local law in the [ various ] ways , ” he said .
Several weeks ago , Cooper requested an additional $ 82.6 million in federal government funding to offset COVID-related losses .
Governor Bill Lee denied the request .
Lee stated that the previous $ 121 million funding should have proved sufficient to cover pandemic expenditures .
The commission plans to meet Tuesday , October 6 at 3 p.m. EDT .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Davidson County Election Commission Office ” by Davidson County Election Commission .

by Eric Lendrum
The United States Capitol Police (USCP) announced on Thursday that the department is currently investigating 29 officers, and has suspended six, for their actions during the protests at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, according to CNN.
A department spokesman said that “Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman has directed that any member of her department whose behavior is not keeping in line with the Department’s Rules of Conduct will face appropriate discipline.” The six who were suspended will still be receiving pay, and the 29 total officers under investigation is nearly three times the amount of officers who were previously announced as being under investigation back in January.
Pittman said that, as part of the ongoing investigations, the USCP was “reviewing video and other open source materials of some USCP officers and officials that appear to be in violation of Department regulations and practices.” Some Democrats, including Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), have claimed, without evidence, that some officers openly supported the protesters, allowed them inside, and even guided them around the interior of the building.
During the mostly peaceful protests, Trump supporters entered the Capitol out of protest of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, as the questionable electoral college results were being formally tabulated by Congress. One Trump supporter, Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, was shot in the neck by a plainclothes police officer at close range; the officer who killed her will not be facing any charges for her death.
Several other people died that same day due to sudden medical conditions that had nothing to do with the protests, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick; Sicknick has been confirmed to have died of a stroke after it was erroneously reported that he had been beaten to death by protesters with a fire extinguisher.
– – –
Eric Lendrum reports for American Greatness.
Photo “Capitol Police” by Elvert Barnes. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Professor Who Lectured Brentwood High Students: ‘I Never Said That The Students Were Closed Minded A

Professor Who Lectured Brentwood High Students: ‘I Never Said That The Students Were Closed Minded And I Spoke About Privilege in a General Sense’

The Belmont University professor who lectured Brentwood High students on Monday about privilege said in an email exchange on Tuesday that she believed The Tennessee Star story about that event portrayed her unfairly .
As reported , Professor Mona Ivey-Soto introduced herself to students at Brentwood High on Monday as someone who is “ very passionate about public education and what it means to transform the world.
” “ I pray there is a level of discomfort you might feel [ because of what I say ] .
Why am I feeling uncomfortable and why is this pushing my buttons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to do to lean into that ?
” Soto told students .
She also said she sees public schools as an instrument of social change .
On Tuesday The Star offered Soto the opportunity to provide a complete response to our story published on Monday .
In addition , we posed several follow up questions to her .
Soto responded to some of our questions , and declined to respond to several others .
Specifically , we asked her to clarify whether we misquoted her words .
We also asked her to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williamson County where she alleged that Vacation Bible School students chanted “ Build the Wall ” over and over again to antagonize her children .
The Star also wanted to know if members of the Williamson County School System paid Soto to speak at Brentwood High .
I am honestly hesitant to provide information you requested since I don ’ t know the context for which you are requesting the information .
As a result of your story , I have received hurtful and hateful social media responses directed at me which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is not responsible journalism and has caused undue stress .
I will respond directly to two points in your story which are untrue .
A Belmont University professor who specializes in social justice causes lectured Brentwood High School students Monday about how privileged and closed-minded they are and said it ’ s time they corrected themselves .
The above statement you included to start the article off felt inflammatory because there wasn ’ t a balanced context .
I never said that the students were closed minded and I spoke about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would hope that any objective person can acknowledge that there are benefits to living here in Williamson county since we ’ re THE RICHEST COUNTY IN THE STATE .
I acknowledge my own privileges and benefits living here and teaching in an institution of higher ed .
Also , the tags included in the article were not words/statements used in my talk and again it feels like they were included to incite anger and division .
I didn ’ t say or talk about critical race theory or white privilege .
Those tags @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not responsible journalism .
Additionally , why wasn ’ t any of my talk that focused on peacemaking and helping students gain skills for a successful future in college and the workplace included in your commentary ?
Wouldn ’ t this have provided a more balanced write up ?
I received NO pay or financial compensation from anyone for this talk .
Again , you need to let me know why you are asking for the other information ( my degrees and institutions etc . )
before I will respond with that information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no intent on your part or the Tennessee Star to slander or harm myself or my family .
I am saddened that as someone who is a strong Christian and has a ministry for single moms ( which I discussed clearly in the presentation ) and who has devoted my life to people in need that my work and myself would be cast in a hateful and harmful manner .
In her talk to the Brentwood High School sophomore class on Monday , Soto suggested that failure to “ seek the perspective of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ resist stereotypes and biases about people who go to school down the street ” means that a person is “ not actively working to open my heart and mind to other things.
” : The Star sent Soto a follow-up email .
We asked her to confirm or deny reports from a source who attended one of the four presentations Soto made that day and said Soto , in her presentation to the senior class used the term “ white privilege ” ….but did not speak that term as she presented to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer that specific question in her response .
“ Your question is petty and again doesn ’ t address the full context and message that I presented at BHS .
Nor have you shared to me what you are writing based on the questions you ’ ve asked me , ” Soto said in her emailed response .
WCS officials notified Brentwood High parents via email Sunday evening that Soto would speak .
We asked WCS officials Tuesday whether it was appropriate to have such an event on school grounds .
We also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel as though the school system had usurped their authority as people who instill their own values — and not the school systems — into their children ?
We also asked whether Soto ’ s speech is consistent with President Donald Trump ’ s new directive that federally-funded government entities may no longer permit critical race theory ?
WCS officials did not return our request for comment Tuesday .
A man whose email address includes the name “ Jermaine Soto ” emailed The Star Tuesday .
He did not state his relationship with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolute disappointment and frustration with the reporting of Chris Butler on a recent article pertaining to a talk given at Brentwood HS .
First , the tags used , including ‘ white privilege ’ and ‘ Critical Race Theory ’ are completely false and are intended to incite a rabid base ready to pounce because of what they assume these words to imply .
Nowhere in the presentation ( which you posted without consulting the speaker ) is there any mention of these terms nor any reference to them .
The tone and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on empathy , reconciliation , and perspective taking across all difference , including political .
This article is demonizing a person that your paper , especially Chris Butler , did not even reach out to gain her perspective or feedback .
A person that is a Christian that embraces reconciliation and is involved in a ministry supporting single mothers in poverty ( and I must add representing all races , including white mothers ) .
This article is not ‘ fair and balanced ’ and was written to fire up a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on in our country , the potential fallout from this article can be extremely dangerous to Dr. Ivey-Soto and her family .
Chris Butler , and whomever leads your ‘ paper ’ should reach out to Dr. Ivey-Soto for her perspective , they should remove the tags immediately as it is deceiving , and perhaps should listen to the entire recording instead of cherry picking quotes to fire up the base .
And by the way , when you receive this recording from a concerned parent , yet mock the story of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that impacted her young daughter , it is , as the president states , ‘ sad ’ .
I would appreciate a response from you or from someone at your media site .
The least y ’ all can do considering the intentionally demonizing piece you created .
Jermaine Soto then accused The Star of removing comments he had posted under the original article , apparently using the name “ Anthony.
” The Star told Jermaine Soto that we had not removed any of his comments that had been published .
All told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been published on Monday ’ s article .
We then asked Jermaine Soto six questions .
Those questions , and Mr. Soto ’ s responses , are included below : ( 1 ) The Star : There is no Jermaine in the comments section of the story .
But there IS an Anthony .
Are you the Anthony in the comments section ?
Jermaine Soto : May I ask why this is important .
I do support the comments that were provided in response to some inaccurate claims .
Is the commenter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 2 ) The Star : Were you in the audience at the Brentwood High event , and do you have actual knowledge of what was stated there ?
Jermaine Soto : I was not at the event .
Also , you posted the audio of the presentation so anyone can have access to the ‘ event ’ .
( 3 ) The Star : Are you married to Dr. Mona Ivey-Soto ?
Jermaine Soto : I don ’ t think this matters in the context of this article .
Much as friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barrett will be present in the coming weeks to defend her character and work , and rightfully so , I am just trying to provide support of Dr. Ivey-Soto ’ s character based on a holistic knowledge of who she is rather than just a soundbite and news tags that instantly rile up folks .
( 4 ) The Star : Are you a Vanderbilt University faculty member ?
Jermaine Soto : I am not on faculty at Vanderbilt .
According to this 2019 Nashville Post article , a man named Jermaine Soto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Vanderbilt University Office of Faculty Affairs .
The Star then emailed Jermaine Soto and asked if he is the man who serves as director of faculty development in the Vanderbilt University Office of Faculty Affairs , but received no response .
( 5 ) The Star : Is there anything in the context of The Tennessee Star story that is factually incorrect ?
The VBS was not at the church Dr. Ivey Soto attended .
The way you word it insinuates that it is part of the same church .
Also , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philosophy .
Her PhD is in Special Education .
Also , you and I know that context matters .
By placing the news tags as you did ( knowing that the presentation was not on Critical Race Theory nor was it on ‘ white privilege ’ ) you have to know what type of response it will incite .
Also , you did not provide a full picture of who the person is .
You left it for the imagination of the audience and they are going to attack especially considering the rhetoric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach would have been reaching out to the presenter to let he know you were releasing this audio and ask for her perspective , reasoning for presenting .
Can you say you motivation was to provide facts or rile up your audience ?
Aren ’ t you technically doing the exact same thing you accuse ‘ mainstream media ’ of doing ?
( 6 ) The Star : Will you agree to appear on The Tennessee Star Report radio show on WLAC to discuss your complaints ?
Jermaine Soto : At this moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the show .
However , if you want to grab a cup of coffee and actually have a dialogue across political and philosophical differences , I would not mind that at all .
Off the record , of course .
I would love to learn the process you take part in as an investigative journalist and perhaps have a conversation on the immense divide in this country and what can be done to make it better .
Perhaps we can model what true dialogue can look like .
In a subsequent email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williamson County Schools mentioned the issues of white privilege and critical race theory in trainings of teachers undertaken a year and a half ago , as The Star reported .
At a public meeting at the time , ( former superintendent ) Mike Looney said Williamson County parents and members of the public were never supposed to see the Cultural Competency videos in the first place .
Only teachers , Looney went on to say , were supposed to see them .
Taxpayers paid for those videos , and The Star obtained them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as reported , people involved in the Williamson County School System ’ s Cultural Competency Committee and people who support those efforts sent , at the time , emails about the need for social justice and how to handle teachers who resist change .
Emails also reveal Cultural Competency Committee members did not want publicity or for members of the media to attend their meetings .
As The Star reported earlier this month , President Trump issued a presidential directive banning critical race theory instruction at all federal agencies on September 5 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an executive order banning critical race theory training in all federal contractors .
It is unclear if that order also applies to public and private universities that receive federal grants , or to any K-12 public school that receives federal funding .
Approximately eight percent of all funding for K-12 public schools is provided by the federal government .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Mona Ivey-Soto ” by Belmont University .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Commentary: Pelosi Holds Millions of Small Businesses Hostage While Working Families Struggle

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic , when a lot less was known about the virus and how to counter it , and while the nation was still ramping up production of testing and hospital resources including ventilators needed , 25 million jobs were lost across the country , according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data .
Since labor markets bottomed in April , 13.8 million jobs have been recovered , as states have begun steadily reopening in the months since .
But it could have been much worse .
Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning is crediting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from President Donald Trump and Congress , a bipartisan measure that was put in the original CARES Act , with leading the rapid recovery .
“ One of the biggest reasons was because the Trump administration and Congress worked together on the CARES Act , that provided $ 525 billion to 5.2 million small businesses , which may have saved as many as 50 million jobs , ” Manning said .
In other words , if President Trump had not led on the issue of protecting small businesses during the pandemic , tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most certainly been lost .
Now the country is experience a rapid , V-shaped rebound in labor markets .
But that could be in jeopardy now .
Unfortunately , payroll protection program , administered by the Small Business Administration , ran out of money on Aug. 8 , and with 11 million jobs still on the sidelines , in order to maintain the momentum of the economic recovery , Congress needs to act to renew the program .
But for months , Pelosi has insisted on a House-proposed unworkable $ 3 trillion package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate have looked toward a $ 1 trillion extension of existing measures that were working with some tweaks — leaving her own constituents out in the dust .
Manning stated , “ The only way the remainder of the jobs lost in the state-led pandemic lockdowns will be recovered is by providing support to safely reopen the economy and schools , something Nancy Pelosi will not allow to happen so long as she remains Speaker and those who elected her Speaker are directly responsible for this reckless course.
” Now a deal is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not before Manning and Americans for Limited Government focused on recently elected , vulnerable Democrats in targeted press statements across the country for not doing more to push Pelosi to make a deal sooner — especially in blue states where unemployment is much , much higher .
Here follows a list of these members , and the release took note of the state-level unemployment rates reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics each member ’ s constituents back home are suffering from : Standing out in the data are California , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12.5 percent , Illinois with 11 percent , Pennsylvania with 10.3 percent and Michigan with an 8.7 percent jobless rate — all states with Democratic governors whose people are suffering with the worst economies in the country .
In other words , Pelosi ’ s refusal to deal with Senate Republicans on phase four legislation — putting millions of small business at risk once again — has hurt Democratic-run states and Democrats the most .
Pelosi and House Democrats are punishing their own constituents with the consequences of some of the most restrictive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sight with the election right around the corner .
Manning concluded , “ House Democrats clearly oppose reopening the economy in this vital time , and they own Pelosi ’ s policy of leaving the country shut down forever destroying the hopes and dreams of millions of working families.
” This could come back to bite in November .
No President has flipped the House in a reelection bid since Harry Truman in 1948 , but with working families who are suffering the most , expect President Trump and House Republicans to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to get the small business and other relief extended for months .
Pelosi and Democrats might find themselves wishing they had made a deal when they had a chance .
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .
Photos “ Bill Due ” by Brendan Wood CC BY-SA 2.0 and “ Nancy Pelosi ” by Bruce Detorres


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Music Spotlight: Reyna Roberts

Music Spotlight: Reyna Roberts

NASHVILLE , Tennessee – I ’ m not sure how Reyna Roberts showed up on my Instagram feed .
It was probably because Mickey Guyton reviewed a clip of her singing a cover of Carrie Underwood ’ s “ Drinking Alone , Together.
” After I picked my jaw off the ground , I immediately put Roberts on my radar because I knew her career was getting ready to take off .
Roberts was born prematurely in 1997 to U.S. military parents in Anchorage , Alaska .
She was told that she could have cognitive , physical , visual , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bleak prognosis , her family kept music as a main influence to help her improve and become successful .
Roberts said , “ Music has always been a part of me .
They used music to help me develop faster .
Before I knew how to talk , I knew how to hum and sing .
I ’ ve been singing forever.
” Roberts grew up listening to an almost impossibly wide array of music as she and her parents lived in Alaska , Alabama , and California .
Her mother included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Led Zeppelin , Audioslave , and AC/DC .
You can hear these influences in the songs she writes .
Roberts didn ’ t get formal singing lessons until she was 18 but as she said , “ My whole life was just listening to all these artists I love and trying to imitate what they were doing .
I would practice the runs and the rifts until I could do the same thing.
” ( She is currently being coached by the amazing Brett Manning . )
The songstress didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Being a wrestler herself , she had a crush on her high school wrestling captain , and writing about that was the beginning of her songwriting career .
We agreed that sometimes breakups help inspire the best songs .
Roberts said , “ You know , I ’ ve never had a boyfriend but if I can write ballads and heartbreak songs now , I can only imagine how good ( the song ) will be once it does happen.
” When I read the article Billboard Magazine did on Reyna Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she loves Gretchen Wilson .
The 23-year-old explained , “ When I grew up , my mom played Gretchen Wilson and the Chicks all the time .
We would be singing them in the car all the time at the top of our lungs.
” In elementary school , when given the chance to perform , she sang a Gretchen Wilson song .
Even though the vocalist can sing any type of genre , she thinks storytelling is what makes country music capture people ’ s hearts .
“ That ’ s why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have watched a movie or read a book , I can pull from that and create a story that even I haven ’ t felt it personally myself , somebody else out there might have .
I want to create songs that are timeless , ” Roberts said .
Before she moved to Nashville , she lived in California and worked on her music and writing songs by herself .
She didn ’ t know anything about the co-writing scene for which Nashville is famous .
But since moving to Nashville earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its songwriting culture and has since written with Jamey Johnson .
“ It ’ s artists like him and Chris Stapleton and Gretchen Wilson who inspired me to write Country Music specifically and become a country artist , ” she said .
She continued , “ Just because I don ’ t see a lot of people [ in country music ] who look like me , it doesn ’ t mean I can ’ t do it myself .
And I don ’ t just mean because I am a black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I don ’ t always dress in blue jeans and have the specific kind of [ country ] look .
It ’ s not going to keeping me from doing what I love.
” Remarkably , Roberts was able to move to Nashville and get a jump start on her career during the COVID pandemic .
“ It ’ s crazy because this year has been ridiculous .
I ’ ve had a blessing and I have been able to start my career in spite of everything , ” the singer said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her latest release , “ Stompin ’ Grounds.
” Even though she has lived all over , her mother ’ s family is from Alabama and she unashamedly worked the words , “ Roll Tide ” into the lyrics .
“ My mother went to the University of Alabama and Roll Tide and red is everywhere , ” she said .
Even though she remembers where she comes from , all the places she has lived helped inspire the lyrics .
Still , it ’ s an ode to the “ deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a warning to those who dare disrespect it .
The songwriter recently sang with the Song Suffragettes at The Listening Room when it first reopened this year .
She promises that there will be more shows to come in the future .
In the meantime , Roberts is currently working on a music video with Matt Cohen for “ Stompin ’ Grounds.
” Also , she has been writing like crazy .
Her goal is to have 12 songs that she can sing for the rest of her life so she is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she can start performing in person again .
You can follow Reyna Roberts on Spotify , Apple Music , Instagram , Twitter , and YouTube .
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer .
You can follow her blog , Instagram and Twitter , and YouTube .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--U.S. Intel Flagged Alleged Clinton Campaign Plan to Link Trump to Russian Hacking, Intel Chief Says

U.S. intelligence officials submitted an investigative referral to the FBI in September 2016 regarding an alleged plan by Hillary Clinton to link Donald Trump to Russia ’ s election interference efforts , according to John Ratcliffe , the director of national intelligence .
Ratcliffe noted in the letter , which he sent to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham , that U.S. intelligence is not certain whether the allegation underlying the referral was based on fabrications from Russian intelligence agencies .
Ratcliffe said in the letter that on Sept. 7 , 2016 , U.S. intelligence officials forwarded a referral for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James Comey and Peter Strzok , the deputy chief of counterintelligence .
Ratcliffe quotes the referral as dealing with Clinton ’ s “ approval of a plan concerning U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian hackers hampering U.S. elections as a means of distracting the public from her use of a private mail server.
” It is unclear who submitted the referral to the FBI and whether the bureau opened an investigation into the matter .
The letter does not say that the investigation was criminal in nature , or directly focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the information underlying the Clinton referral or the alleged plan to target Trump .
Comey is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday .
The FBI did not respond to requests for comment .
Clinton ’ s campaign authorized hiring an opposition research firm , Fusion GPS , to investigate Donald Trump ’ s possible ties to Russia .
Fusion in turn hired former British spy Christopher Steele , who compiled a dossier that accused the Trump campaign of a “ well-developed conspiracy of cooperation ” with the Kremlin to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian government hacked emails from the DNC and Clinton campaign , the special counsel ’ s office determined that nobody on the Trump campaign conspired with the Kremlin .
Key allegations in Steele ’ s dossier remain either uncorroborated or have been debunked .
A Justice Department inspector general ’ s report said that the FBI received evidence in early 2017 that Russian intelligence officers may have fed disinformation into the dossier .
Last week , Graham released a declassified FBI memo which said that the bureau opened a counterintelligence investigation in 2009 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Christopher Steele .
The FBI relied heavily on the dossier to obtain Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants against Carter Page .
According to Ratcliffe , U.S. intelligence agencies in late July 2016 “ obtained insight into Russian intelligence analysis ” which alleged that Clinton had approved a campaign to link Trump to Russia ’ s hack of the DNC .
“ The [ Intelligence Community ] does not know the accuracy of this allegation or the extent to which the Russian intelligence analysis may reflect exaggeration or fabrication , ” Ratcliffe wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear whether the term “ Russian intelligence analysis ” refers to intelligence activities conducted by the U.S. or by Russia .
According to Ratcliffe , former CIA Director John Brennan briefed President Obama in late July 2016 about Clinton ’ s approval of a plan to link Trump to Russia ’ s election-meddling efforts .
Ratcliffe said that Brennan ’ s handwritten notes from a briefing to Obama refer to the “ alleged approval by Hillary Clinton on July 26 , 2016 of a proposal from one of her foreign policy advisors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scandal claiming interference by Russian security services.
” Graham said in a statement that Ratcliffe is making the underlying information available for review in a classified setting .
Ratcliffe released a statement shortly after publication of the letter saying that he will be briefing Congress in the coming days about the sources and methods by which the intelligence was obtained .
“ To be clear , this is not Russian disinformation and has not been assessed as such by the Intelligence Community , ” he said in a statement issued through the Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Kim Gray Wants to Bring Transparency and Community Back to Richmond’s Government

Mayoral candidate Kim Gray is running to increase transparency in Richmond ’ s government , return to a community-based planning model , and improve Richmond ’ s schools .
Her resume includes jobs for two former governors , eight years as a school board member , and four years as council member of Richmond ’ s Second District .
Her political roots run to her childhood .
“ My father was a member of this political club called the West End Political Association .
And I would go to those meetings as a very young girl , and just take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It was always exciting , there was hardy debate .
What he always said during those debates was , ‘ We can agree to disagree , but we shouldn ’ t be disagreeable.
’ So , they could go to almost fisticuffs but at the end of all of the debate , everybody left on good terms , most of the time .
It was just an agreement that if they were going to work towards a common good , they have to be able to reconcile and find common ground.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ school board member and presents helping schools as a thread that runs from her time in Governor Mark Warner ’ s administration all the way through to her role as a city council member .
Ultimately , she left her position on the school board to be even more effective at working to improve schools .
“ I decided since we didn ’ t have taxing authority and didn ’ t really have a say in how we were being budgeted ( We ’ d have to beg every year for funds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so that I could make sure the priorities that I saw were needed for our schools were funded.
” Gray spoke to The Virginia Star on her front porch in Jackson Ward .
As she spoke , neighbors walked by , a parking officer checked cars , and two mounted police rode past .
Gray said interacting with the community is the highlight of her work as a council member .
“ I love constituent services , I love connecting with people and helping problem solve , just the day-to-day interactions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t necessarily interact with.
” “ I think the challenges working with the current mayor and his administration are what prompted me to want to run [ for mayor ] , ” Gray said .
“ There ’ s been a lot of cronyism and corruption and blatant mismanagement of taxpayer dollars , and it ’ s very frustrating from the standpoint of being on a legislative body and having to work through those issues.
” Gray listed her priorities : “ Transparency is number one and community-based planning and consensus building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community members together to be involved in planning for the future .
Also , getting our schools up to modern standards , 21st century learning environments , and having quality educators in every classroom is a top priority.
” Gray said that spending on schools isn ’ t effective without oversight , something lacking in school spending by the incumbent .
Gray also said a lack of experience in the other three candidates makes them unable to understand the complexity of running a city .
Gray said a mayor needs to proactively respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have to be out , and you have to be on the ground , and you have to be engaging with people at every level .
And not shying away when issues spring up.
” Gray has criticized incumbent Mayor Levar Stoney for how he removed Richmond ’ s monuments , but she does support also removing the remaining pedestals .
Gray said she ’ d follow CDC and state-level recommendations about ongoing response to COVID-19 .
“ I would defer to medical experts and scientists on what the best actions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic.
” Gray said that she would try to cut red tape for small businesses harmed by COVID-19 shutdowns .
“ We ’ ve got to be able to support our small and local businesses .
They ’ re the backbone of any economy , and they ’ re the largest employers.
” Two of Gray ’ s friends were present at the interview , Deborah Corliss and community organizer Jerome Legions .
Corliss said , “ I met Kim over 10 years ago when were were trying to create a charter school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kim and I actually sat on opposite sides of the table , ” Corliss said .
“ So even though we were on opposite sides of the table I never found her to be a disagreeable person , which I can ’ t say of all the other school board members , but she was always very thorough and thoughtful in the way she approached looking at this.
” Legions said , “ She is a what-time-do-I-need-to-be-there-and-I ’ m-there [ person . ]
No matter what the project is , even if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to talk ’ or ‘ Here ’ s a conversation that I want to pass on to you , ’ or ‘ Here ’ s a problem that feels insurmountable to me , ’ those are the kinds of things that people don ’ t get an opportunity to see as far as Kim is concerned .
And here ’ s the thing about it : if you don ’ t know , you ’ re not going to know that she ’ s participating at that level.
” “ Nobody knows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Corliss said .
“ And I ’ ll use her tagline that ‘ Experience matters , ’ and she ’ s really the only person running who knows this city from all different facets.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Commentary: Implicit Bias Training Is a Total Waste of Taxpayer Dollars

Police officers in a majority of states are now mandated to receive “ implicit bias training , ” where they are informed they are subconsciously racist and must admit to and deliberately overcome their racism .
The trainings , which exploded in popularity following the Ferguson riots in 2014 , directly respond to accusations that racist police officers are shooting unarmed African Americans .
Following the death of George Floyd , multiple states , including Michigan , New Jersey , and Texas , joined the list of states mandating the training for all their officers .
Harvard ’ s University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foundation of the idea of implicit bias , shows that a majority of Americans associate African Americans more quickly with negative words than white Americans when measured in milliseconds .
The theory is that these unconscious biases can cause police officers to use a disparate amount of force against African Americans or use racial profiling to stop and arrest African Americans at greater rates .
But we know from study after study that so-called “ implicit bias ” has only the slightest link to how a person actually behaves towards people of different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprise that a new study shows that the NYPD ’ s $ 5.5 million implicit bias training program , which began in 2018 , has absolutely no impact on officer behavior .
Proponents of the training expected that New York ’ s police officers would interact with and arrest fewer African Americans after becoming aware of their supposed deep-seated and unconscious racism .
However , stops , frisks , summonses , and arrests of African Americans in New York remained at almost the same proportion of police actions following the implementation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s fair to say that we could not detect effects of the training on officers ’ enforcement behaviors , ” said Robert E. Worden , the lead researcher of the study .
One explanation for the failure of implicit bias training to have any tangible effect is that the quality of the training is low .
Mahzarin Banaji , a psychology professor at Harvard who helped create the Implicit Association Test , subscribes to this belief .
“ The teaching has been in the hands of people called ‘ diversity trainers , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they don ’ t have to have any expertise , ” Banaji told NPR .
This excuse , while lacking in substance , does drive at an important question .
How could an hours-long training session — whatever the quality of its techniques or the expertise of its teachers — fundamentally alter a person ’ s behavior towards certain races if they truly have deep-seated racism ?
In fact , many liberals have argued in recent months that people are too deeply racist for implicit bias training to have any effect .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of Communities United Against Police Brutality , said in June that implicit bias training is “ unscientific fraud ” because “ it ’ s not actually going to threaten any entrenched interests or cause any significant change in policing.
” But that argument goes in the wrong direction .
The reality is that “ implicit bias ” can not be reliably determined and , further , it does not have real-life consequences .
That is , implicit bias ’ existence as a meaningful descriptor is in serious question .
The Implicit Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bias theory , but people routinely get different results when they take the test multiple times .
The first two times I took the test , it told me I had “ little to no automatic preference between White people and Black people.
” The third time I took the test , however , I was told I have “ a slight automatic preference for White people over Black people.
” Apparently I was judged not racist one minute , but racist the next .
“ The IAT isn ’ t even predicting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hart Blanton , a social psychologist critical of implicit bias , told the Chronicle of Higher Education .
“ How can a test predict behavior if it can ’ t even predict itself ?
” That lack of consistency has caused many to question the scientific validity of the test .
Multiple studies published in highly regarded journals have found that the IAT does not meet the quality-control standards expected of psychological instruments .
This has further caused many to question whether such a test , which labels people as racist , should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimate .
Indeed , the test seems to be more effective at testing people ’ s ability to sort pictures of people and words than discovering unknown prejudices .
In 2017 , a meta-analysis of 492 studies with 87,418 participants found that there is only the slightest correlation between a person ’ s level of implicit bias and their level of discriminatory behavior .
Additionally , the researchers found that there is very little evidence that changes in implicit bias have anything to do with changes in a person ’ s behavior .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bias fails to describe anything meaningful about human behavior .
“ When you actually look at the evidence we collected , there ’ s not necessarily strong evidence for the conclusions people have drawn , ” said a co-author of the study , Patrick Forscher .
Another study , a 2013 meta-analysis , found a similar result .
Those researchers said , “ the IAT provides little insight into who will discriminate against whom.
” In fact , the 2017 study found that the correlation between implicit bias and behavior is even smaller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So the null effect of the NYPD ’ s implicit bias training is actually caused by the fact that the training is based entirely on pseudoscience .
A police officer can be measured by the IAT to more quickly associate African Americans with negative words , but this has no statistical bearing on how he will interact with African Americans .
Making the officer fess up to his supposed racism just confuses his judgment .
Yet Black Lives Matter activists and left-wing academics continue to make calls for implicit bias trainings one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made implicit bias training into a big business .
Consultants offer to help everyone from health-care professionals to corporations to university students to police departments overcome their racism in exchange for large sums of money .
And it comes at the cost of millions in taxpayer dollars .
Patricia Devine , who studies prejudice at the University of Wisconsin , said that implicit bias training for police departments is a “ multimillion , maybe billion , dollar industry.
” For example , $ 5.5 million was spent on two years of implicit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation ’ s largest police force .
In 2019 , CBS News contacted 155 police departments across the country and learned that 69 percent of departments offer implicit bias training .
Ninety percent of those departments make the training mandatory .
And that number has only grown following the death of George Floyd .
So why are these activists so motivated to convince us that we , and our law enforcement officers , are secretly racists ?
Well , for diversity consultants and trainers , it ’ s their business model .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge component of critical race theory .
Critical race theory posits that our entire society is systemically racist and that this racism animates our society .
Implicit bias is central to the ideology because it allows critical race theorists to find racism in every person , regardless of their actual behavior .
Thus both Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo , the arbiters of critical race theory , demand that their disciples confess their racism .
“ The claim of ‘ not racist ’ neutrality , ” Kendi says in his book , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( It should be noted that Kendi is made wealthy by critical race theory . )
The fact that taxpayer money is spent on this poisonous ideology is shameful .
It ’ s tearing our country apart and leading us to believe that everyone is secretly biased against people of other races .
President Trump issued an executive order this month banning critical race and implicit bias trainings for federal employees and contractors .
But we must also work to end the implicit bias training locally in states , cities , schools , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trainings are in particular a problem for police , who are called to serve and protect the public .
Police should be freed from the lie that they could be unknowingly racist and emboldened to act with right judgment towards all citizens .
Ellie Gardey is a senior at the University of Notre Dame and a member of The American Spectator ’ s Young Writers Program .
She was a summer 2020 editorial intern at The American Spectator through the Intercollegiate Studies Institute ’ s Collegiate Network .
Photo “ Police Meeting ” @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--FBI Source’s Claim About Michael Flynn Was Inaccurate, Special Agent Said

The FBI ’ s lead agent on its investigation of Michael Flynn told prosecutors that a confidential source ’ s allegation about an incident involving the former national security adviser in 2014 was likely false , according to a government document .
Special Agent William Barnett said in an interview with a federal prosecutor on Sept. 17 that the Crossfire Hurricane team obtained the information about Flynn from a confidential human source ( CHS ) who provided information regarding Carter Page .
Barnett , who works in the FBI ’ s Washington field office , said that the CHS harbored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retired general attended in 2014 in which he unexpectedly left with another person .
The allegation matches closely with a rumor that appeared in the media regarding Flynn and a Russian-British researcher at the University of Cambridge in February 2014 .
Barnett said in an investigative memo that was previously released in the criminal case against Flynn that the CHS claimed to have witnessed the incident in question .
That memo also indicated that Flynn ’ s contact was Russian .
According to the latest memo , Barnett said he initially believed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to the Flynn investigation .
But Barnett said that intelligence analysts were unable to locate information that corroborated the report concerning Flynn ’ s contact .
The bureau reached out to foreign intelligence agencies for information for the investigation but found nothing derogatory about Flynn or the other person , the memo says .
According to the memo , Barnett made it clear that he did not believe the CHS ’ s claim that Flynn left the event with the person .
The memo does not say whether Barnett believed the source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BARNETT found the idea FLYNN could leave an event , either by himself or [ redacted ] without the matter being noted as not plausible , ” the memo says .
“ With nothing to corroborate the story , BARNETT thought the information was not accurate.
” Barnett , who described the Flynn investigation during an interview with U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Jensen , also questioned the basis for the FBI ’ s investigation of Flynn , who was given the code name Crossfire Razor .
Barnett said that predication for investigating Flynn was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ did not understand the point ” of the probe .
Barnett ’ s assessment of the Flynn investigation would seem to call the reliability of the CHS into question .
The CHS who provided the Flynn information has not been identified , but a Justice Department inspector general ’ s report regarding Crossfire Hurricane discusses only two sources used in the Carter Page investigation : Christopher Steele , a former British spy , and Stefan Halper , a former University of Cambridge professor .
Barnett wrote about the allegations in a memo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closing the investigation of Flynn .
The agent said that there was insufficient evidence that Flynn was working as a Russian agent , as the FBI initially suspected .
Barnett ’ s 2017 memo contains a few additional details about the CHS tip about Flynn .
Barnett wrote that the FBI source claimed to have witnessed Flynn and a person of Russian nationality leave an event together .
The source said they believed that the person ’ s father was a Russian oligarch .
According to Barnett , the source said that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was still in the U.S. intelligence community .
Svetlana Lokhova , a former researcher at the University of Cambridge , told The Daily Caller News Foundation that she believes she is the person who the FBI source mentioned to investigators .
Lokhova , who studied Soviet-era espionage at Cambridge , attended an event hosted by the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar for Flynn in February 2014 , when he served as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency .
Rumors about Flynn and Lokhova at the Cambridge event first appeared in the The Wall Street Journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories contained innuendo from anonymous sources suggesting that Flynn and Lokhova had suspicious contacts and that Lokhova was considered a possible national security risk .
The reports stopped short of calling Lokhova a Russian spy , but they said that American and British intelligence authorities had concerns about her interactions with Flynn at Cambridge .
Besides Barnett ’ s internal FBI memos , there are other indications that the FBI ’ s Crossfire Hurricane team was skeptical of the Flynn-Lokhova story .
An FBI agent from the Washington field office emailed Peter Strzok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardian report .
“ Pete , I ’ m sure you ’ re tracking , but this has gotten too deep , ” the FBI agent wrote .
The identity of the sender is redacted , so it is unclear if Barnett was the author of the email .
Strzok forwarded the email to then-FBI lawyer Lisa Page , and added the comment : “ Not good.
” Lokhova has vehemently denied having any inappropriate contact with Flynn , saying that she only spoke briefly with him at the Cambridge event and left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Defense Intelligence Agency who was with Flynn told The Journal that he did not see anything at the Cambridge event that concerned him .
Lokhova , who has sued Halper , The Wall Street Journal and other news outlets , has asserted that she was the victim of a smear campaign aimed at linking Flynn to Russia .
According to a Justice Department inspector general ’ s ( IG ) report , the FBI used only a handful of CHSs in Crossfire Hurricane .
Of those , only two — Steele and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Carter Page .
Both also had links to Flynn .
The FBI used Halper to meet with and record Carter Page and fellow Trump aide George Papadopoulos .
The IG report said that Halper told the Crossfire Hurricane team that he was previously acquainted with Flynn , but it does not say that he provided the FBI with information about the former Trump adviser .
Halper was a co-convener of the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar along with Sir Richard Dearlove , the former head of MI6 , and Christopher Andrew , a historian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cambridge .
Both Dearlove and Andrew posed for photos with Flynn at the dinner .
It is unclear whether Halper attended the dinner .
Lokhova has said that Halper was not at the event .
The Washington Post reported on June 5 , 2018 that Halper and Dearlove were “ disconcerted ” over attention that Flynn paid to Lokhova .
Steven Schrage , a former State Department official who worked on his doctorate degree under Halper , has said that Halper was not at the Flynn dinner .
Schrage has also released an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn ’ s future position in the Trump administration .
Halper is heard in the recording telling Schrage before the start of the Trump administration that , “ I don ’ t think Flynn ’ s going to be around long.
” Steele was also aware of allegations regarding Flynn and Lokhova .
David Kramer , a former State Department official who obtained a copy of the dossier from Steele , told the House Intelligence Committee that Steele told him in December 2016 that he believed that Flynn had an affair in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dual citizenship .
“ There was one thing he mentioned to me that is not included here , and that is he believed that Mr. Flynn had an extramarital affair with a Russian woman in the U.K. , ” Kramer testified in December 2017 .
Lokhova , who was born in Russia , has dual citizenship in both Russia and the U.K .
The FBI also offered to pay Steele “ significantly ” to dig up dirt on several Trump associates , including Flynn .
The IG report said that FBI agents said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Steele that they would pay him “ significantly ” to find information about the Trump associates and Russia .
Halper and Steele had a common acquaintance in Dearlove , the former chief of MI6 .
Steele , who was at the spy agency during Dearlove ’ s tenure , reportedly met him in late 2016 to discuss Steele ’ s investigation of Trump .
The FBI declined comment for this story .
A lawyer for Halper did not respond to a request for comment .
Steele ’ s firm , Orbis Business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chuck Ross is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Michael Flynn ” by Michael Flynn .
Photo “ FBI Building ” by Ken Lund CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Poll: Support for School Choice Increases by 10 Percentage Points in Four Months

A RealClear Opinion Research poll of 2,020 registered voters in August saw a 10-point increase in support of school choice policies since its last poll in April , from 67 percent to 77 percent .
The American Federation for Children describes school choice as the right for parents to use the tax dollars designated for their child ’ s education in a school of their choice .
The tax dollars would follow the child , not be tied to a nearby school system .
Funding could be used for public , private , charter , or homeschool education , whichever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning environment for their child .
Since the RealClear Opinion Research poll began in 2015 , support for school choice has always been high among the likely registered voters it has polled .
In 2018 , 63 percent said they supported school choice ; last month , 77 percent said they support it .
“ This polling data shows one of the most astounding short-term jumps in support for educational choice policies , ” John Schilling , president of the American Federation of Children , said .
“ Clearly , families are incredibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this crisis and are tired of the months and months of fumbles .
… families are desperate for other options and will support governors and other policymakers as they pursue policies that let them control their child ’ s education funding.
” Respondents across racial and political lines expressed overwhelming support for school choice , including : 69 percent of Blacks , 70 percent of Latinos , 63 percent of Democrats and 79 percent of Republicans .
As state shutdowns continue and parents look for alternative methods to educate their children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 72 percent of Democrats , 76 percent of Republicans , and 73 percent of Independents ) said they would support the state government giving them a portion of the money allocated for public school to use for home , virtual , or private learning if public schools did not reopen for in-person instruction .
Among those polled , 78 percent of public school parents and 79 percent of non-public school parents support their governor giving federal education funding directly to families to allow them to choose how to use these funds to best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An overwhelming majority of respondents polled by RealClear Opinion in April and by Beck Research in January support the Education Freedom Scholarship .
The scholarship works through a federal tax credit that allows individuals and businesses to donate to in-state non-profit scholarship granting organizations that provide scholarships for students to attend public , private or career and technical schools of their choice .
Of the 2,122 registered voters polled by RealClear Opinion and 1,275 likely voters polled by Beck Research , 69 percent and 78 percent expressed support , respectively .
Last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Virginia , Georgia and Kentucky found that respondents overwhelmingly supported school choice , expressing support ranging from 71 percent in Virginia to 79 percent in Georgia .
Bethany Blankley is a contributor to The Center Square .
Photo “ School Choice ” by Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Christian Group Raises $500K+ for Kenosha Shooter Kyle Rittenhouse

A Christian crowdfunding site has raised over half a million dollars to help 17 year-old Kenosha , Wisconsin , shooter Kyle Rittenhouse with legal fees , New York Post reports .
The GiveSendGo site , created shortly after Rittenhouse shot three Black Lives Matter protesters , and left two dead during a violent night of unrest in Kenosha on Aug. 25 .
Sponsored by a group called “ Friends of the Rittenhouse family , ” based in Atlanta , Georgia , set an initial goal of $ 500,00 but had surpassed that by Monday , with nearly $ 523,000 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being unfairly charged with murder 1 , by a DA who seems determined to capitalize on the political angle of the situation , ” the page reads .
“ The situation was clearly self-defense , and Kyle and his family will undoubtedly need money to pay for the legal fees.
” “ Let ’ s give back to someone who bravely tried to defend his community.
” Rittenhouse was arrested the morning after the shooting at his home in Antioch , and was taken to the Lake County Juvenile Detention Center .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed citizens guarding Kenosha businesses from looters amid Black Lives Matter protests in the city following the police shooting of Jacob Blake .
Rittenhouse ’ s family and legal team say various viral videos on social media of the incident in question show he acted in self-defense .
Rittenhouse is being held on murder charges and is fighting extradition to Wisconsin , where he would stand trial .
Catherine Smith is a newcomer to Washington D.C. She met , and married an American journalist and moved to D.C from the U.K. She graduated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Communications and worked in design and retail in the U.K. Photo “ Free Kyle ” by Lightburst CC BY-SA 4.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Court Pick Barrett Visits Senate Ahead of Confirmation Fight

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — President Donald Trump ’ s nominee for the Supreme Court , Amy Coney Barrett , was on Capitol Hill on Tuesday for a day of meetings with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other pivotal Republican senators in preparation for her fast-track confirmation before the Nov. 3 election .
Joined by Vice President Mike Pence , McConnell said he was glad to welcome Barrett and “ get the process started ” on her confirmation .
But the Republican leader declined to answer questions about whether the judge should recuse herself if legal challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden land at the high court .
“ We truly do believe Judge Barrett represents the best of America , ” Pence said in brief remarks in the Senate ’ s Mansfield Room .
Democrats are confronting the limits of their power as they fight against the nomination and some have said they won ’ t meet with Barrett , who is expected to be confirmed for the seat held by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by the end of October .
With Republicans holding a 53-47 Senate majority , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , Barrett appears to have enough support for confirmation .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged Tuesday it will be an “ uphill fight ” to stop Trump ’ s nominee .
But he said Americans are on Democrats ’ side in preferring to wait until after the election so the winner can choose the next justice .
He is among those refusing to meet with Barrett , calling the process “ illegitimate , ” and said her conservative views on health care , abortion and other issues are “ far outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not over , ” Schumer said on ABC ’ s “ The View.
” Barrett made no public remarks at the start of what is expected to be days of meet-and-greet sessions with senators , a traditional part of the confirmation process .
She also was to meet Tuesday with Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C , the chairman of the Judiciary Committee , and other senators on the panel .
Hearings at the committee are set to begin Oct. 12 .
No justice has ever been confirmed to the Supreme Court so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a national poll by The New York Times and Siena College that was released Sunday , a clear majority — 56 % — of voters believes the winner of the Nov. 3 presidential election should fill Ginsburg ’ s seat , versus 41 % who said Trump should as the current president .
Unable to block Trump ’ s pick on their own , Democrats are aimed at avoiding mistakes that could hurt their party ’ s candidates in November .
They are arguing to voters that Barrett ’ s nomination threatens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a focus that Biden has embraced and many Democrats see as a winning message .
The court will hear a case challenging the constitutionality of President Barack Obama ’ s health care law just after the election , adding to the urgency of the issue .
But there will also be ample opportunities for Democrats to move off-message as partisans on both sides infuse the nomination battle with cultural , gender and religious politics .
Some in the left wing of the Democratic Party are pushing for senators to boycott the hearings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court if Biden wins the presidential election .
That has fueled concerns in the party about placing too much emphasis on procedural tactics that only delay votes by hours or days — even as precious time ticks away in the few remaining weeks before the Nov. 3 election .
Religion , in particular , could be a minefield .
Democrats worry that Barrett has tied her Catholicism too closely to some of her statements and decisions , and California Sen. Dianne Feinstein , the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barrett ’ s 2017 confirmation hearing .
Feinstein had joined Republicans on the panel in asking Barrett about her faith , but then went further by telling the then-professor that “ when you read your speeches , the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you.
” Republicans now use those comments against Democrats .
“ The Constitution prohibits a religious test from serving in office , but I don ’ t expect that to stop the Democrats , ” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz , a member of the committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press on Monday .
He described Feinstein ’ s words as “ snidely put ” and said Democrats had suggested Barrett ’ s views render her ineligible for office .
Asked about Feinstein ’ s comments , Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware , another committee member , said “ religious faith should not be at issue here.
” He then pivoted to health care .
“ It is appropriate for us to question her statements , her opinions , her actions as a professor and judge , but not to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Coons said on “ Face the Nation ” on CBS .
“ That ’ s where I ’ ll be focusing my questions : on the Affordable Care Act and on what she has said publicly about her views on its constitutionality.
” Democrats see health care as the perfect counter to Republican hopes that Barrett ’ s confirmation will bolster Trump ’ s reelection .
More Americans now favor the ACA than have opposed it over the last few years , according to polls , and Democrats believe the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They intend to model their strategy on their successful 2017 fight against Trump and congressional Republicans who tried and failed to repeal the legislation .
Schumer , Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have agreed that health care is a strong focus , according to two aides with knowledge of the private discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity .
One likely prominent messenger on the issue is the Democratic vice presidential nominee , California Sen. Kamala Harris , who sits on the judiciary panel and is expected to participate in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told voters in North Carolina that without the health care law , birth control coverage could be eliminated and pregnancy could be considered a preexisting condition .
“ We will not give up , and we will not give in , ” Harris said of the Supreme Court fight .
Mary Clare Jalonick is a reporter for The Associated Press .
AP writers Bill Barrow in Atlanta , Kathleen Ronayne in Raleigh , N.C. , and Emily Swanson in Washington contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : Supreme Court nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. , as they meet with on Capitol Hill in Washington , Tuesday , Sept. 29 , 2020 .
( AP Photo/Susan Walsh , POOL )


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Debate Takeaways: Pugilist Trump Runs Rings Around Debate Opponents Biden and Wallace

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — After more than a year of circling each other , Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden met on the debate stage Tuesday night in Ohio .
The 74-year-old president and the 77-year-old former vice president are similar in age , and they share a mutual dislike .
But they differ starkly in style and substance .
All of that was evident from the outset on the Cleveland stage .
Here are key takeaways from the first of three scheduled presidential debates before Election Day on Nov. 3 .
And in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on offense , but his pugilistic approach on stage left his Democratic opponent fighting to complete a sentence .
Trailing in public and private polling , Trump advisers have pushed him to reframe the election away from a referendum on his presidency to a choice between him and Biden .
Trump , instead , commandeered the debate , trying to trip up Biden by interrupting , insulting , and challenging him at every turn .
Trump aides believed before the debate that Biden would be unable to withstand the withering offensive on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden came with a few retorts of his own , calling Trump a “ clown ” and mocking Trump ’ s style by asking , “ Will you shut up , man ?
” Trump ’ s supporters may have been cheered by his frontal assault .
Whether undecided voters , who watched the debate to try to learn about the two candidates , were impressed is another matter .
The line of the night went to the president who said , “ I ’ ve done more in 47 months that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chris Wallace was none too amused , delivering a pointed reproach to Trump for his interruptions .
“ Frankly , you ’ ve been doing more interrupting , ” Wallace said , appealing to Trump to let his opponent speak .
Trump is fond of superlatives , but in the case of the debate there is little doubt that it was the most acrimonious of since the forums have been televised .
Pundits have declared the President Trump has wanted the election to be about anything but the coronavirus pandemic .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who you are , ” Biden told the president , referring to the left ’ s assertion that – despite Trump closing the borders in early 2020 – he downplayed COVID-19 while he said privately he understood how deadly it is .
But Trump didn ’ t take it quietly .
He proceeded to blitz Biden with a mix of self-defense and counter-offensives .
200,000 dead ?
Biden ’ s death toll would have been “ millions , ” Trump said .
A rocky economy ?
Biden would ’ ve been worse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks or ventilators .
The kicker : “ There will be a vaccine very soon.
” Biden fell back on his bottom line : “ A lot of people died , and a lot more are going to unless he gets a lot smarter.
” Trump said Biden was the politician who helped put millions of Black Americans in prison with the 1994 crime law .
Biden called Trump “ the racist ” in the Oval Office .
For a nation confronting a summer of racial unrest the debate was the latest cultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blitzed him as a tool of the “ radical left ” and a weak figure who opposes “ law and order.
” He pressed Biden repeatedly to name any police union that ’ s endorsed him .
The former Vice President did not answer .
Biden didn ’ t capitalize when Trump refused to condemn armed militias and insisted , against the guidance of his own FBI director : “ This is not a right-wing problem .
This is a left-wing problem.
” “ Proud Boys , stand back and stand by , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far-right group .
“ But I ’ ll tell you what , somebody ’ s got to do something about ANTIFA and the left.
” The former vice president tried to push back , stating that “ ANTIFA is an idea , not an organization ; ” to which Trump replied , “ When they bash you over the head with a bat , that ’ s not an idea.
” Trump defended his decision to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court just weeks before Election Day , saying “ elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ not opposed to the justice , ” but said the “ American people have a right to have a say in who the Supreme Court nominee is.
” But rather than litigate Republicans ’ 2016 blocking of Merrick Garland to the high court , Biden quickly pivoted to the issues that will potentially come before the court : healthcare and abortion .
It ’ s an effort by the Democrat to refocus the all-but-certain confirmation fight for Trump ’ s third justice to the Supreme Court into an assault on Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who would be the sixth justice on the nine-member court to be appointed by a Republican , would endanger the Affordable Care Act and tens of millions of Americans with preexisting conditions , and would imperil legalized abortion .
It was an attempt to reframe of the political debate to terms far more favorable to the Democrat , which Trump played into .
Trump said of the conservative Barrett , “ You don ’ t know her view on Roe vs. Wade ” and added that there is no case in the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then he went on to defended his efforts to chip away at Obama-era health law .
Biden has tried to press Democrats to use the court confirmation fight as a rallying cry against Trump , but the debate discussion largely played out on his turf .
Moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News tried mightily to hold his ground Tuesday after saying beforehand that it was not his job to fact-check the candidates , especially Trump , in real time .
But Wallace could not stop Trump from interrupting and at times lost control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President , as the moderator , we are going to talk about COVID in the next segment , ” Wallace said .
Soon after : “ I ’ m the moderator , and I ’ d like you to let me ask my question.
” Minutes later : “ I have to give you roughly equal time .
Please let the vice president talk.
” And when Wallace noted that Trump hasn ’ t come up with his health care plan in nearly four years , Trump turned the question back on Wallace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m debating you and not him .
That ’ s okay .
I ’ m not surprised.
” Wallace said he wanted to be “ invisible.
” Well , that was impossible .
As expected , Trump found a way to bring up Hunter Biden , the former vice president ’ s son , and recycle allegations about the younger Biden ’ s international business practices .
Biden called Trump ’ s litany “ discredited ” and fired back , “ I mean , his family we can talk about all night.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifics of Trump ’ s international business dealings and instead turned straight to the camera .
“ This is not about my family or his family , ” Biden said as Trump tried to talk over him .
“ This is about your family.
” In a later exchange , Trump interrupted Biden when he was talking about his late son , Beau Biden , who died of cancer in 2015 after having served in Iraq .
“ I don ’ t know Beau , I know Hunter , ” Trump said ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dishonorably discharged from the military over cocaine use .
Bill Barrow and Zeke Miller are reporters for The Associated Press .
Christina Botteri contributed to this report .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Tennessee Court of Appeals Rules Governor Lee’s ESA Program ‘Unconstitutional’

The Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled Governor Bill Lee ’ s educational savings account ( ESA ) program “ unconstitutional ” on Tuesday .
The court ’ s decision upheld a lower court ’ s ruling on the school voucher program .
The court of appeals ruled that the unconstitutionality of the ESA program is because it “ is local in effect , and applicable to Davidson and Shelby counties in their governmental capacity.
” This decision references article XI , section 9 , paragraph 2 of the Tennessee Constitution .
Both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly adopted Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The program allows the state to administer public money to parents who want to move their children from low-performing public schools to private schools .
Subsequently , the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County ( Metro ) , the Shelby County Government , and the Metropolitan Nashville Board of Public Education filed suit against the State of Tennessee this past February .
They argued that the program is unconstitutional because the state can ’ t target specific home-rule counties through legislation .
Davidson County and Shelby County parents of public school children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Greater Praise Christian Academy and Sensational Enlightenment Academy Independent School , joined to defend Lee ’ s ESA program .
Applications to the ESA program were halted with the ongoing trial .
This decision left parents needing the benefits in a financial lurch .
The Beacon Center of Tennessee issued a comment in a press release on this recent ruling , expressing hope for a different ruling in higher court .
“ While we respect the court ’ s ruling , we look forward to taking this case to the Tennessee Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court will find the state ’ s careful attempt to throw a lifeline to parents stuck in the worst performing schools is in fact unconstitutional , ” said Beacon President and CEO Justin Owen .
“ These families are hurt every day that the status quo remains in place and we hope the Supreme Court will give them the educational options they so desperately need and deserve.
” Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Classroom ” by Allison Meier .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-30--Joe Biden Staffer Suggests Orthodox Catholics, Jews and Muslims Shouldn’t Be on Supreme Court

One of Joe Biden ’ s staffers suggested Monday that Orthodox Catholics , Jews , and Muslims should be disqualified from serving on the Supreme Court due to their “ intolerant ” views .
Biden campaign Deputy Data Director Nikitha Rai criticized Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett ’ s religious views in a Twitter conversation Monday night with Brookings Institute Senior Fellow Shadi Hamid .
“ Wait , why is this news ?
Isn ’ t this the standard position for any orthodox Catholic ?
” Hamid asked about a tweet saying that Barrett was a trustee at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said homosexual acts are “ at odds with Scripture.
” Hamid noted that Orthodox Muslims and Jews also share this belief , to which Rai replied , “ True .
I ’ d heavily prefer views like that not be elevated to SCOTUS , but unfortunately our current culture is relatively intolerant .
It will be awhile before those types of beliefs are so taboo that they ’ re disqualifiers.
” Rai has since locked her Twitter account .
She did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her further messages .
Biden frequently references his own Catholic faith and media often calls Biden a “ devout Catholic.
” Critics note that Biden supports policies that are explicitly opposed to Catholic teaching , such as abortion and same-sex marriage .
The Biden campaign similarly did not respond to requests for comment on Rai ’ s remarks .
Her comments come amid criticism of Barrett ’ s faith .
Barrett ’ s 2017 confirmation hearings gained national attention when some Democrats suggested that her Catholicism made her unfit to serve as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have called Barrett ’ s Catholic faith “ extreme ” and cult-like .
Media outlets have also attempted to link a Catholic group associated with Barrett to the fictional dystopian novel “ The Handmaid ’ s Tale.
” “ Why is it that so many of us on this side have this very uncomfortable feeling that dogma and law are two different things , and I think whatever a religion is , it has its own dogma .
The law is totally different , ” Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein told Barrett when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in September 2017 .
“ The conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you , ” Feinstein added .
“ And that ’ s of concern.
” Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photos “ Amy Coney Barrett ” by Rachel Malehorn CC BY 3.0 and “ Tweets ” by Jeremy McLellan Twitter