thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Crom Carmichael Puts Basement Biden’s Contact Tracing Plans and COVID Deaths Into Perspective

Live from Music Row Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
At the top of the third hour , Carmichael weighed in on Biden ’ s contact tracing plan which would violate all HIPAA privacy laws for those who ’ ve tested positive and who they ’ ve been in contact with .
To put COVID deaths in perspective , he later compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death in America between February and June of this year .
Leahy : Crom , you have an update for us on some COVID details here .
Carmichael : Yes .
So I ’ m trying to provide context .
This isn ’ t exactly news as much as it is context .
Biden has come out and said he ’ s going to hire 100,000 contact tracers .
OK ?
Now , I ’ ve learned a little bit more about how they intend to do contact tracing .
If they find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100,000 contact tracers are then supposed to find out who you ’ ve been in contact with .
But think about that for a second Michael .
I thought your health records were private ?
Carmichael : Not under Biden ’ s .
Any time I go in to have any type of procedure done or anything I have to sign all these things about privacy .
Carmichael : Yes .
I have to sign documents that say who is allowed to see my records , this that and the other thing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID all their health records and all that is out the window .
Now , if health records are out the window for millions of people then health records are out the window for all of us .
So let ’ s just forget about the privacy that we are supposed to have in regards to our health records and let ’ s just state it for what the Democrats want .
No one has any health privacy .
Having said that , you can ’ t possibly contradict that .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all unionized , by the way , all government employees who are out and about trying to find out who anyone who tests positive for COVID who they ’ ve been in contact with .
So by definition not only do they have to know their health records , they have to have access to the health records of everybody that you ’ ve been in touch with .
Leahy : But the good news Crom is that non of these union workers doing this contact tracing and getting all your private health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse that information .
( Laughs ) Carmichael : That is of course exactly why we have privacy .
It ’ s why we have privacy .
Just to kind of extend this a little bit .
Colleges are all apoplectic about whether or not they are going to go back to college and students learning online .
I ’ ve done a little bit of research .
More college students a year die from drinking alcohol , from drug abuse , from driving , or even riding a bicycle than die from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college-age students .
So the scaring by the media over this question of going back to college is obviously not based on science .
It ’ s based on trying to create hysteria because they believe the more hysteria the more likely it is that Basement Biden will win .
Leahy : I haven ’ t heard that phrase before .
Is that original ?
Carmichael : It just kinda popped in my head as it was coming out of my mouth .
Carmichael : And by the way , I think tonight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Klobuchar is speaking tonight .
So that ’ s two K ’ s .
We need to have one more K speaking tonight ( Leahy laughs ) so that the Democrats will be putting up the KKK .
Leahy : There you go .
Carmichael : Because they are the ones who invented KKK in the first place .
Carmichael : Well , thank you .
Leahy : You are on a roll this morning .
Carmichael : Thank you .
Back to COVID on some data .
This really matters .
From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listening to the media , you would think that the vast majority of people who died in that period time died from COVID .
Leahy : You certainly would .
Carmichael : 320,000 Americans died of heart disease .
320,000 .
290,000 died of cancer .
290,000 .
130,000 died of COVID .
Carmichael : 130,000 .
So if you add the two leading causes of death together , more than four times as many Americans died of two other things than COVID .
Leahy : I ’ ve not seen that reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By the way , chronic lower respiratory disease was fourth and it was half as many as COVID .
Listen to the full third hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Commentary: Weatherman Fired for Accurately Reporting Which Way the Wind Is Blowing

Everyone complains about the weather , but nobody does anything about it , is an old gag attributed to Mark Twain , but it turns out that if you do try to do anything about it you will get fired , at least if you work at NPR .
NPR affiliate KNKX in Tacoma , Washington fired on-air personality and University of Washington professor Cliff Mass for correctly reporting which way the wind is blowing in Seattle ( and elsewhere ) on his personal blog : Kristallnacht , for those unfamiliar with the rise of the Nazi Party , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the windows of thousands of Jewish-owned businesses , torched synagogues , assaulted , terrorized and in many instances beat to death Jews in completely unprovoked attacks .
As in Seattle , Portland , Oregon , and elsewhere , the authorities looked on and did nothing .
KNKX was quick to respond to online complaints and demands to dump Mass , issuing a statement that said in part : We turn to our regular commentators for their expertise and points-of-view when it comes to sports , food and the weather .
But if a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platform , delivers rhetoric that is offensive and inaccurate , we can not support it .
This is the case today with Cliff Mass .
His post on his personal blog compares recent events in Seattle to Kristallnacht , the 1938 pogrom carried out by Nazi Germany , and draws distorted , offensive parallels between protesters and Nazi Brownshirts .
We abhor the comparison and find it sensationalized and misleading — it does not reflect who we are and what we stand for at KNKX .
The problem is that , while Prof. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some , it is not inaccurate and is drawn from Mass ’ s lived experience .
As Prof. Mass , who is Jewish , told KING-TV : “ To me , this is not academic .
My family , even here in the United States , went through a lot of discrimination , ” he explained .
“ For example , my father wanted to move to a certain neighborhood , Jews and Blacks weren ’ t allowed.
” He said parts of his family who lived in Poland were never heard from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hitler ’ s “ final solution ” was the extermination of millions of European Jews with Poland at the center of it .
Most Nazi death camps , including Auschwitz , were located in Poland .
After Prof. Mass defended himself KNKX Manager Joey Cohn went on the attack , saying this in response to an inquiry from KING-TV : “ I stand by KNKX ’ s original statement on this issue .
I will also add that obviously Cliff had second thoughts about what he wrote , and deleted photos and language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters to Nazis or fascists .
It was those inaccurate , unfair and disrespectful comparisons that led to our decision to remove his segment from KNKX.
” The problem with Mr. Cohn ’ s characterization of Prof. Mass ’ s blog post is that it hinges on accepting the idea that what is going on in Seattle ( and elsewhere ) is a “ protest ” and not a riot , or more correctly the early stages of a totalitarian Marxist revolution .
What ’ s more , what happened to Prof. Mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the windows of Jewish businesses and the burning of synagogues .
In 1938 , about the same time the Kristallnacht “ protest ” took place , Jewish workers were dismissed from their jobs ; this followed earlier laws that barred Jewish professionals – including actors and radio personalities – from practicing their professions .
Cliff Mass ’ s characterization of what ’ s going on in Seattle and elsewhere as a 21st century version of Kristallnacht was not “ inaccurate , unfair and disrespectful.
” As a weatherman Prof. Mass was just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which way the wind is blowing for those of us who oppose the Marxist mobs now in control of cities such as Seattle .
Hat tips to Thomas Lifson of the American Thinker and Jack Marshall .

Eighteen individuals are now collecting petitions for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District race as of last Friday.
Twelve people are collecting qualifying petitions for the GOP primary, three are gathering petitions for the Democrat primary, and three independents are also accumulating petitions.
The 12 Republicans listed on the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website as collecting petitions are former Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell of Nashville, businessman Baxter Lee of Nashville, Robby Starbuck of Franklin (listed as Robert Starbuck Newsom), Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks of Nashville, former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada of Franklin, Timothy Bruce Lee of Nashville, Annabelle Lee of Madison, Alan Clement Sharp of Nashville, David Vitalli of Brentwood, Stewart Parks of Nashville, and Richie Lee of Nashville.
Among the publicly announced candidates, Tennessee newcomer and former State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus and retired Brig. General Kurt Winstead have not yet been listed as having begun their qualifying petitions process. Hamada has not yet made a decision as to whether or not he is officially entering the race.
Records show that Harwell, Starbuck, Brooks, Baxter Lee, Ortagus, Winstead, Batchelor, and Timothy Bruce Lee have also filed candidate paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). Starbuck has raised $255,066.53 and has $138,741.16 on hand, which Brooks has raised $24,517.00 and has $19,655.34 on hand. The rest filed their FEC paperwork after the year-end December 31, 2022 deadline. The 2022 first quarter January 1-March 31 financial reports, which are scheduled to be released in mid-April, will cover all candidates who have reached the FEC reporting threshold.
Sources tell The Star that several Republican candidates are expected to have impressive fundraising totals.
Clay Faircloth, Richard H. Harris, and Joel Michael Hurbert, all from Nashville, are listed as collecting petitions for the Democrat primary.
Derrick Brantley of Nashville, Patrick O. Halfacre of Hohenwald, and Richard A. Shannon of Franklin are the independents who are collecting petitions. Shannon has appeared on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy. Only Brantley appears to have filed documents with the FEC.
In order to appear on the ballot, candidates are required to collect 25 valid signatures from registered voters and have until noon on April 7 to turn in those qualifying petitions. Candidates who qualify have until April 14 to withdraw their names from the ballot. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office told The Star, unless pending legislation changes things, that they will finalize the ballots on April 21.
The 5th Congressional District consists of parts of Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson counties, and all of Maury, Marshall, and Lewis counties.
– – –
Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected] Follow Aaron on GETTR.
Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Martin Falbisoner. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--‘I Was Trying To Get Out The Way:’ Portland Protesters Attacked a Man and Woman After Their Truck Cr

‘I Was Trying To Get Out The Way:’ Portland Protesters Attacked a Man and Woman After Their Truck Crashed

Protesters attacked a man and a woman in Portland , Oregon , Sunday night around 10:30 p.m. , the New York Post reported .
Protesters surrounded the man ’ s truck before attacking him and a woman , the Post reported .
The man reportedly hit a light pole while attempting to drive away from the protesters who chased his truck .
The mob drug the man out of his truck and beat him on the ground until he was unconscious , the Post reported .
The protesters allegedly hit the woman before tackling her to the ground .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one , ” the man told the protesters , the Post reported .
“ I was trying to get out the way , ” the man added .
“ He didn ’ t do nothing , ” someone said as the man was punched while still sitting in his truck , the Post reported .
As protesters reportedly left to watch another altercation , someone kicked the man in the back of the head rendering him unconscious , the Post reported .
“ What the fuck is you talkin ’ about n****r , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man , according to the Post .
Videos of the incident show the man lying unconscious and bleeding from the back of his head while protesters reportedly held back a crying woman and went through his truck , the Post reported .
A hostile crowd met Portland police officers at the scene of the incident , according to a statement issued by the Bureau .
The man sustained serious injuries and was taken to the hospital .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Crom Carmichael Compares Mondale-Ferraro to the Biden-Harris Campaign of Government Unions

Live from Music Row Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
During the second hour , Carmichael drew parallels from the Mondale-Ferraro ticket to that of the Biden-Harris campaign citing that neither VP candidate brought anything to the table to help facilitate a victory .
He added later that a Biden-Harris ticket would inevitably be the administration of government unions and compliance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ studio by our good friend Crom Carmichael .
Good morning Crom .
Carmichael : ( Chuckles ) It ’ s nice of you to pull out the headsets but I ’ m sitting four feet , excuse me six feet from you .
I ’ m social distancing .
Leahy : I know you can hear me .
But it ’ s much better .
( Carmichael laughs ) I was not on top of my game folks .
Every morning when Crom comes in I have his place set up for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of him .
I have his headphones plugged in and ready to go .
Leahy : Sky blue .
But I just didn ’ t do it today .
I ’ m so sorry Crom .
Leahy : But I think that the day will start off well nonetheless Crom .
Leahy : So you had during this break .
I was so enthralled with what you were going to talk about I guess I missed getting the headphones for you , Crom .
Carmichael : Yes .
I have a question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the echos of 1984 in Biden ’ s pick for VP .
Leahy : The book or the year ?
( Laughs ) Leahy : Who ?
It ’ s a joke .
The far-left congresswoman from New York City .
Carmichael : She ’ s passed away .
But George Will points out that when they picked her and made a big deal about the fact that she was a Catholic woman from Queens .
And then points out that Mondale lost Catholics and women .
And Reagan even came close in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a pro-abortion Catholic .
Carmichael : I ’ m just saying , to listen to the left and the media , we ’ ve raised this question before .
And that is why do presidential candidates not pick competitors from the primary as their VP ?
Because Reagan did it in 1980 .
I have not been able to discover one that has done that since then .
That all the presidential candidates have picked somebody else .
They didn ’ t pick a real competitor .
And you could argue that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competitor because she ’ s the one that threw him under the segregation bus two or three times .
Pointing out that Geraldine Ferraro didn ’ t help the Mondale campaign at all even though the media made it out to be like the second coming .
Leahy : It ’ s interesting when you say that , all of these left-wing mainstream media publications when you look at the headlines , the headlines say one thing but the poll from CNN that just came out says another .
Kamala Harris Adds to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ React Wonderfully to Kamala Harris .
That ’ s what the headline says .
And yet the CNN poll that came out last night , Biden only up by four .
Carmichael : Kamala Harris ran against Biden in the Democratic primary .
When she pulled out of the primary she had three percent support among Democrats .
She had five percent support among Black Democrats .
Among Black Democrats .
So what does she bring to the ticket other than a lot of baggage ?
And there are some things that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has done in her public life .
Or things that she has not done .
People she has not prosecuted .
And so that will come out if it matters very much .
But here is my question Michael .
And that is this .
The Democrats are having their virtual convention this week .
I think it starts today .
I think it lasts for four days which means it ’ s over Thursday night .
Is that correct ?
Leahy : Yes .
Thursday night it is over .
Carmichael : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a question for you and a question for our audience .
Where will Biden be on Saturday ?
Leahy : That ’ s a really good question .
Let me think about it .
My guess , in his basement in Wilmington .
Carmichael : So he ’ ll be back in his basement .
Leahy : I would think so .
Carmichael : Where will Kamala Harris be Saturday ?
Leahy : Now that ’ s a good question .
Not in the basement with him .
Will she be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s on the campaign trail it shows that Joe Biden is incapable of campaigning .
Carmichael : It would show he ’ s incapable .
If she goes back into her basement or just goes back to the Senate and refuses to go out and campaign , it shows that they don ’ t care about the American people .
And by the way , that would be proof that they don ’ t care about the American people .
They care about the government .
They care about expanding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about his programs he will always say and we ’ re going to unionize them .
He will always say that .
He will add that .
Kamala Harris wants to do away with all right to work legislation across the country .
I don ’ t even know if that ’ s legal .
Leahy : But state legislators determine that and the governor .
Carmichael : Well , the question is whether or not they can pass some national decree and then say that because of this national decree the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
I don ’ t know the answer .
It ’ s not whether or not they can or can ’ t .
I don ’ t want to get into that .
It ’ s that ’ s what they want to do .
They want to force everybody to comply and pay union dues .
This is their utopia .
And this is 1984 .
This is what they want .
They want the opposite of everything that is true .
They want to take us back to the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in our audience if they are under 50 they won ’ t have much of a memory of the late 70s .
But history will repeat itself if you line up all of the issues the same way .
The thing that is so interesting to me is what do they do after they ’ ve had their convention ?
Because that ’ s when the American people start to tune in .
Labor Day tends to be almost like the occasion .
It ’ s the date that people say , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to start paying attention to politics because the election is two months away .
Leahy : Well , not only that .
I think since 1948 , the day on Labor Day the Democratic nominee has traditionally gone to Detroit and delivered a speech to the union .
That ’ s been the tradition I think since 1948 .
Will Joe Biden do that this year ?
Carmichael : He might .
He might come out of his basement .
He might fly by private jet up to Detroit .
Give a speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basement .
Anything he does is going then going to be a news story .
Either way , it doesn ’ t matter because if he says I ’ m not going to campaign and I ’ m going to stay in my basement .
Is that really what the American people want ?
A person who is so scared ?
And if he says , well I ’ m setting an example .
Is that the example that Americans ought to follow ?
That everybody ought to go sit in their basement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars and can ?
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Investigative Journalist ‘Millennial’ Millie Weaver Released from Ohio Jail, November Trial Set

Millicent F. Weaver , 29 , known in digital circles and on social feeds as Millennial Millie was arrested in a Diamond , Ohio home on Friday August 14 .
Weaver ’ s boyfriend , Gavin Wince , 46 , and brother Charles Weaver , 26 , were also arrested .
A Portage County Grand Jury issued secret arrest warrants for all three charging them with robbery , tampering with evidence , obstruction of justice and domestic violence .
Weaver captured her arrest on video that was later released on Twitter by YouTube sensation Mark Dice .
In the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested and the officer can be heard saying “ “ I ’ ll give you all your paperwork when we get to the jail.
” Millie goes on to say , “ I ’ m literally about to break huge breaking news right now and I ’ m being arrested , and I have no idea why.
” The breaking news she referred to in her arrest video is her investigative report Shadowgate , which released Friday .
The Ohio Star talked with Millie Weaver and she said she was instructed to not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s case is State of Ohio v. Millicent F. Weaver and is an open case that will be adjudicated by Portage County Common Pleas Court Judge Becky L. Doherty .
During Monday ’ s arraignment , Judge Doherty set bond for Weaver at $ 20,000 but released her on her own recognizance .
Shadowgate introduces two people who both claim to have been private contractors working for private companies that siphon digital information ( web traffic , text messages , phone calls ) collected by the National Security Agency ( NSA ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States Department of Defense .
According to the whistleblowers , information collected by the NSA is mirrored , or duplicated .
That duplicated data , it is alleged , is retained by contractors who sell it to people who use it for nefarious purposes .
Those purposes include using data in psychological operations deployed through mainstream and social media outlets to influence elections , and as a source of blackmail to bully opponents of political initiatives .
Charles Weaver and Gavin Wince were also released Monday on their own recognizance .
The trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day before the 2020 United States Presidential election .
Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Millie Weaver ” by Millie Weaver .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Minnesota Lifts Statewide Ban on Hydroxychloroquine

Governor Walz lifted the restrictions on access to hydroxychloroquine , a drug that has been in use for decades to treat a wide variety of illnesses – including SARS-type infections – that some say may be an effective therapeutic for COVID-19 .
The removal of limitations on the drug were outlined in Walz ’ s latest executive order issued last week .
Walz did not give an explanation for the reversal of his order on the drug .
The lifted restrictions statewide means that pharmacies no longer have the power to restrict access to the trial drug .
The order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for restricting access to hydroxychloroquine : Executive Order 20-23 issued March 27th originally restricted access to hydroxychloroquine as an option for treating COVID-19 .
That order only mentioned a concern over possible shortages of the drug .
The drug ’ s effectiveness was not mentioned as a reason for restriction .
Controversy over the use of hydroxychloroquine became widespread after President Trump tweeted about the drug ’ s potential life-saving capabilities .
Hydroxychloroquine is a drug derived from quinolone , traditionally used to treat arthritis , malaria , and lupus .
Clinical trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment for COVID-19 .
Some research concludes that it is largely ineffective , and its critics are divided as to whether or not it causes heart and liver failure .
Other research indicates that it does help patients to recover from the coronavirus when taken in conjunction with zinc .
Certain medical professionals offer an explanation for these mixed results : they say the drug only works when administered early on in the course of illness in the course of a full treatment plan .
As press time , the Center for Disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing on their website pertaining hydroxychloroquine – other than its traditional uses prior to the pandemic .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Report From Virginia Office of the State Inspector General Finds Virginia Parole Board Acted Illegal

Report From Virginia Office of the State Inspector General Finds Virginia Parole Board Acted Illegally

A report from Virginia ’ s Office of the State Inspector General ( OSIG ) alleges that the Virginia Parole Board ( VPB ) acted illegally and violated parole board policies earlier this year .
The report from the Virginia OSIG found the Virginia Parole Board and its former chairperson , Adrianne Bennett , “ violated both state law and parole board policies earlier this year in granting parole to the murderer of a police officer.
” An op/ed from The Daily Progress claims that this report was withheld from the public “ until three senior Republicans demanded to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ copy of the report to the public on August 6 .
Media outlets were sent a heavily redacted version of the six-page report on July 29 .
That version left a few introductory sentences legible ; the rest was blacked out .
The OSIG ’ s report investigated complaints “ alleging that VPB and former VPB Chair Adrianne Bennett violated Commonwealth of Virginia ( COV ) statutes and VPB policies and procedures regarding the parole ” of Vincent Lamont Martin .
Martin was arrested for the 1979 murder of Richmond Police patrolman Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a previous crime at the time of the murder .
He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 1980 .
Martin became eligible for parole in 1994 , but the VPB “ denied him parole at each review until 2020 , ” according to the OSIG report .
The VPB granted Martin parole on April 9 , 2020 .
Martin was released from prison on June 10 , 2020 .
The OSIG report found that the VPB did not follow its own policies and violated laws concerning the parole of convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the VPB did not follow the required timeline for notifying the state attorney assigned to Martin ’ s case .
Martin ’ s release date was originally scheduled on April 30 , 2020 .
The VPB notified the attorney on April 15 , 15 days before Martin ’ s scheduled release .
Per Commonwealth of Virginia ( COV ) Code §53.1-136 ( 3 ) ( c ) , the state attorney must be notified at least 21 business days prior to a parolee ’ s release for inmates convicted of a felony and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The OSIG also found that the VPB did not “ endeavor diligently ” to contact Connors ’ family prior to its decision to parole Martin .
COV Code §53.1-155 ( B ) requires the VPB to allow victims or their families 50 days to contest or comment on the parole of an inmate .
The report claims that the VPB “ did not perform any due diligence to contact [ Connors ’ ] family ” and notify them of his parole hearings , which started in 1994 .
Rather , the first notification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 .
This notification also instructed the family to “ provide input regarding the discretionary parole release of VLM within 21 days , even though VPB procedure allows 50 days for victim response , ” according to the report .
The report states that the family was also denied access to meet with the VPB , which is a violation of VPB Procedure Manual 1.112 ( 6 ) .
The family scheduled a conference call with the VPB on March 12 , 2020 , but “ neither Bennett nor any other representative from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ family later requested to meet with the VPB in person on March 26 , 2020 .
Bennet denied an in-person meeting due to COVID-19 , but the VPB “ did not update or change any policies or procedures in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
” The OSIG also found that the VPB “ did not cause the keeping of meeting minutes as required by COV Code §53.1-139.
” The report claims that “ there are no records of VPB meeting minutes for October 2019-March 2020.
” Based on these findings , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VPB .
The VPB responded to the OSIG report , claiming that the OSIG ’ s findings were “ based on faulty assumptions , incorrect facts , a misunderstanding of certain procedures , and incorrect interpretations of the Virginia State Code .
The VPB specifically stated that it eventually changed Martin ’ s official release date to June 10 in order to comply with the requirement to notify state attorney 21 business days prior to an inmate ’ s release .
The VPB also claims that those members of Connors ’ families it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COV Code §19.2-11.01 ( B ) ( v ) ) did provide input concerning Martin ’ s parole within the required guidelines .
The VPB closed the letter by questioning the OSIG ’ s interpretation of the term “ endeavor diligently ” when referring to the VPB ’ s efforts to reach out to Connors ’ family .
“ Governor Northam appreciates the work of the Inspector General and is glad this report has been made public .
It is important to note that this review was procedural and has nothing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision to release this individual , who had served a 40-year sentence .
Governor Northam has spoken with the new Chair of the Parole Board , and reiterated that he expects all notification procedures to be followed , period.
” Sam Medley is a journalist at the Tennessee Star and Star News Network .
You can follow Sam at Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Vincint Lamont Martin ” by the Virginia Department of Corrections .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Virginia Lawmakers Consider Removing Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers in Special Sess

Virginia Lawmakers Consider Removing Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers in Special Session

The Virginia legislature is considering laws that would remove qualified immunity for law enforcement officers .
On August 13 , Democrats in the House announced a list of items they will introduce into the legislature ’ s Special Session .
Among these items is the “ [ elimination of ] qualified immunity for law enforcement officers.
” It should be noted that even with qualified immunity , individual police officers can be sued in civil court for clearly violating police guidelines .
Qualified immunity protects officers that act in good faith and according to police regulations from being sued in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeff Bourne ( D-Richmond ) will carry the legislation in the House .
Bourne has said that the repeal of qualified immunity “ is one of those things that has to be changed if we ’ re really talking about reform and we ’ re really talking about fairness.
” State Senator Scott Surovell ( D-Fairfax ) is expected to carry the bill in the Senate .
Neither Surovell nor his office responded to a request for comment .
Opponents of the proposed legislation have expressed concerns on the effect such a repeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
Senator Bryce Reeves ( R-Spotsylvania ) sees the repeal of qualified immunity as a hurdle to retaining police officers .
Citing police forces he ’ s spoken to in Fairfax and Prince William , Reeves said that many officers are either considering retirement or have already “ put in their paperwork ” to leave their department .
Reeves stated that he is not opposed to looking at qualified immunity policies to “ see if [ they need ] some tweaks.
” However , Reeves believes that “ if you were to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to wipe away your police forces.
” Reeves also said that he ’ s been told “ morale has been at its all-time lowest ” among Richmond police officers .
Reeves sees the proposed legislation as a “ detrimental to recruiting , ” which he said will be Virginia police ’ s “ number one issue.
” Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman echoed these sentiments , saying that repealing qualified immunity would “ open all law enforcement to lawsuits ” and remove “ incentives for anybody to get into law enforcement.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a scene sometimes have seconds to respond to react to highly dangerous situations that “ develop instantaneously ” and must make “ snap judgments on circumstances [ they ] often know little about.
” Removing qualified immunity could hinder an officer ’ s reaction time or could negatively impact their decision-making as they may worry about a potential civil suit .
“ You ’ re open to a civil lawsuit which then could just devastate you and your family and everything you ’ ve worked for , ” said Chapman .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are making a ton of money , either… .
They ’ re trying to protect the citizens .
They ’ re doing the best they can under very difficult circumstances.
” Chapman said that morale among law enforcement across Virginia “ is very bad.
” He said that departments throughout the state “ are having a hard time recruiting ” and retaining officers .
“ Why would you want to put yourself through that if you ’ re going to… get civilly sued for a mistake you make out there ?
” asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problematic.
” “ They ’ re having a hard time keeping people .
A lot of people are retiring early , ” said Chapman .
If the proposed legislation passes , Chapman asserted that it “ would be problematic for everybody.
” “ To take that protection away is unconscionable , ” Chapman said .
Sam Medley is a journalist at The Virginia Star and Star News Network .
You can follow Sam at Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Application That Alerts Virginia Users of Possible COVID-19 Exposure Downloaded More Than 300,000 Ti

Application That Alerts Virginia Users of Possible COVID-19 Exposure Downloaded More Than 300,000 Times

COVIDWISE , an app that alerts users of possible COVID-19 exposure , has been downloaded 356,777 times in Virginia , according to the Virginia Department of Health ( VDH ) .
The application was launched by Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam on August 5 .
“ We must continue to fight COVID-19 from every possible angle , ” said Gov .
Northam in a release about the app .
“ The COVIDWISE exposure notification app gives you an additional tool to protect yourself , your loved ones , and your community , while maintaining your personal privacy .
I encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app , so we can work together to contain this virus.
” On Wednesday Dr. Melissa Viray , deputy director of Richmond ’ s health district , spoke about the application at a press conference alongside Mayor Levar Stoney .
“ [ COVIDWISE ] is the nation ’ s first state-based mobile exposure notification app , ” Viray said .
“ COVIDWISE is a free app that uses Bluetooth technology and allows users to be anonymously be notified when they have , both by proximity and by time , potentially been exposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID test.
” The app operates with Apple and Google ’ s Exposure Notification system using Bluetooth low energy technology .
When a COVIDWISE user opts into the exposure system on the app an anonymous key is generated , according to the VDH .
The anonymous key of a user , changed daily to protect privacy , is shared with and stores the keys of other users who were in close proximity for 14 days .
This exchange of keys between phones happens when COVIDWISE users are near each other for a period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the latest research , to represent a risk , according to the Virginia Department of Health .
The phones calculate the risk of an exchange between users with the time , date , duration of contact and the strength of bluetooth signal to estimate distance , according to the Virginia Department of Health .
In Virginia , it is mandated that labs must report any positive COVID-19 test to the VDH , said Virginia Department of Health spokesperson Julie Grimes in an interview with The Virginia Star .
The COVID-positive individual is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the contact tracing protocol .
Within the contact tracing process the individual is asked if they are aware of the COVIDWISE app .
If that person has already downloaded the app , a random pin number is given by the VDH officer , Grimes said .
The pin is used to alert other COVIDWISE users – whose anonymous keys were shared and stored with the key of the positive person within the last 14 days – of a possible exposure .
It is completely up to the COVID-positive individual if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the app at all , however , Grimes said .
The COVIDWISE app is neither a perfect solution nor is it substitute for established contact tracing .
“ [ COVIDWISE ] is only part of what contract tracing really is , ” Saskia Popescu , infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Arizona , said on the NPR show 1A .
“ I always think about how this is based off proximity so what if you have two people that are sitting in cars next to each other ?
Theoretically that is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six feet for more than 15 minutes , which is how CDC defines exposure , but we know they really aren ’ t going to be exposed .
A huge piece to apps like these is to know that it is about 50 percent of what contact tracing is.
” One aspect of COVIDWISE that is imperative to VDH is privacy .
“ Privacy was the number one concern when Virginia was looking to develop a [ COVID-19 exposure ] notification app , ” Grimes said .
“ We were very concerned about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who may be COVID-19 positive to remain anonymous .
“ It does not use GPS , it does not track you , it doesn ’ t require any location data , it doesn ’ t require any personal information and , in fact , none of that type of data is collected , stored , tracked , transmitted or given to [ VDH ] as part of the app.
” “ The reason they have this verification code [ pin ] is to make sure that people don ’ t take advantage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by sending out notifications to lots and lots of people if they haven ’ t actually tested positive , ” Josephine Wolf , professor of cybersecurity at Tufts University , said on the NPR show 1A .
The 356,777 COVIDWISE downloads as of midnight Sunday only constitutes 8.39 percent of the target group in Virginia : people ages 18-65 that own smartphones , Grimes said .
COVIDWISE can be downloaded in the App Store for iPhone users and the Google Play Store for Android users , according to the VDH website .
Additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the press conference on Wednesday , Viray also spoke about the current outlook of COVID-19 in Richmond and Virginia overall .
“ Overall in Virginia , we may be holding stable or perhaps even decreasing , but in different parts of Virginia we ’ re seeing different areas of surge , Viray said .
“ In Richmond , we aren ’ t seeing a surge , but I continue to be concerned around these slow but steady increases we ’ ve been seeing in our cases.
” Viray added that Richmond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8.6 percent , which is higher than before .
As of August 14 , there has been 104,838 cases , 8,650 hospitalizations and 2,370 deaths in Virginia .
In Richmond specifically , there has been 3,308 cases , 327 hospitalizations and 41 deaths , according to the VDH COVID-19 daily dashboard .
In Richmond , COVID-19 continues to disproportionately affect minorities .
Black or Latino people make up 2,183 of cases , 285 hospitalizations and 32 deaths , according to the daily dashboard .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Richmond City General Registrar Stresses Early Action from Voters as USPS Warns Mail-in Ballots may

Richmond City General Registrar Stresses Early Action from Voters as USPS Warns Mail-in Ballots may be Delayed

In an effort to combat possible ballot delays from USPS , the Richmond City General Registrar J. Kirk Showalter is asking voters to apply for and submit mail-in voting forms sooner rather than later .
“ If you are getting your ballot through the mail and you apply early on , there should be adequate time for you to get your ballot and return it , ” Showalter said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
After the Washington Post reported the USPS sent letters to 46 states and Washington D.C. , Virginia included , warning that voters may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s now in doubt that the state ’ s election deadlines line up with the postal service ’ s capabilities .
The warning letters were sent by Thomas J. Marshall , general counsel and executive vice president of the postal service , and obtained by The Post through a records request were dated July 30th .
The Virginia letter was sent to Christopher Piper , Department of Elections commissioner .
The Virginia Department of Elections did not respond to requests from The Star to speak with commissioner Piper or deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the letter for Virginia ( see page 42-44 ) , it specifically outlines potential risk of disenfranchisement because of certain state election laws .
The letter states , “ If a voter submits a request at or near the ballot-request deadline , and if the election official transmits the ballot to the voter by mail 3 business days later , there is a risk that the voter will not receive the ballot before the postmarking deadline or have sufficient time to complete and mail the completed ballot back to election officials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s receipt deadline.
” The letter outlines other risks as well and calls for voters to apply for and submit completed ballots well before the deadlines .
“ The Postal Service is asking election officials and voters to realistically consider how the mail works , ” Martha Johnson , a spokeswoman for the USPS , said in a statement , according to The Post .
Ironically , some of Virginia ’ s election deadlines were just changed by legislation passed in the 2020 session of the General Assembly .
One bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark Sickles ( D-Fairfax ) , pushed back the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot from seven days before the election to 11 days .
This was one of the specific deadlines the USPS letter identified as part of a potential risk .
“ I wasn ’ t too surprised [ by the warning letter ] from the rhetoric we have been hearing from the White House and this appointment of an unqualified Postmaster General to run this agency which has had a lot of problems , ” Del .
Sickles told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think people are very anxious to go vote and they are opposed to anything that would come in the way of their voting.
” With the possibility of mail-in ballots arriving too late to be counted in the November elections , new methods to submit absentee ballots are being implemented in Richmond and other localities .
“ In the city of Richmond we are going to have a drive-up and drop-off curbside service on the Saturday and the Monday before the election just for that purpose , but we do encourage people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mail , to get their [ absentee ballot ] application in now and not wait , ” Showalter said .
Showalter also said that besides dropping off an absentee ballot at offices of general registrars throughout the states , Virginians can use commercial delivery services like UPS or FedEx .
Many localities are even redesigning absentee ballot envelopes by adding a small election mail logo and informing the local USPS liaisons so that postal workers can clearly tell which mail to prioritize , Showalter said .
Additionally , localities across Virginia will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satellite locations , places where voters can submit their ballots , with drop-off boxes for those that do not want to go inside , according to Sickles .
In Virginia , the first ballots will be mailed out on September 18th , but the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot through the mail is October 23rd with a hard deadline of 5 p.m. Absentee ballots should be in the office of the General Registrar by 7 p.m. on November 3rd or postmarked by that date , according to Showalter .
Virginians can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state board of elections website : www.elections.virginia.gov .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Richmond City Hall ” by Taber Andrew Bain CC2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Trump Meets with Riot Victims, Campaigns in Minnesota

President Trump visited Minnesota today as part of a push to counter Joe Biden ’ s campaign efforts in the state .
The president spoke to victims of the riots that rocked the state after the death of George Floyd , Breitbart reports .
John Wolf , owner of a liquor store in Minneapolis told the story of how his business was targeted multiple times over the period of unrest , resulting in a million dollars in damages and lost merchandise .
Wolf stated that he called police 10 times as rioters vandalized and looted his building , but no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helplessness that I had knowing that no one was coming was indescribable , ” Wolf told the president .
Wolf went on to say that “ there ’ s nothing more important for elected officials than providing safety to residents and businesses .
Without that , nothing works… I held up to my end .
The city of Minneapolis didn ’ t. ” Other attendees of the event included Korboi Balla , a firefighter who spent his life savings to build a sports bar , only for it to be destroyed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name of the bar and said that it might be possible to get help for the Balla ’ s rebuilding efforts .
The promise to aid wherever possible was not restricted to Balla .
To all assembled , Trump had this to say : “ We ’ re going to see what we can do for you .
We ’ ll help you out a little bit , and you may be surprised… We ’ ll get you going.
” President Trump has been critical of Minneapolis ’ s response to the riots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long it took for the city to call on the National Guard .
The Twitter post is part of a trend of criticisms from the president regarding the response to rioting in “ Democrat-controlled cities.
” In a press release last week , the president said , “ The mayors and governors of these states and cities have an absolute duty to use all resources necessary to end the violence and all of the injury and death.
” President Trump also spoke at a campaign rally in Manako , Minnesota .
Trump thanked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the outcome of the election .
The president said “ We ’ re going to win this state , ” and “ When we win Minnesota , it ’ s over.
” President Trump stressed the urgency of the election calling it the most important in American history , and calling his opponent a “ puppet of left-wing extremists ” whom he also called “ fascists.
” The president criticized Joe Biden , stating that his election would lead to Americans having to pay double and triple the current tax rate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collapse .
For undecided voters , the president had this question : “ If left-wing Democrats can ’ t run a city , why on earth would you let them run your country ?
” Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Minnesota Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Commentary:  Michigan Schools Must Reopen

The coronavirus pandemic has affected every community , every household , and every American .
Some of the most indirectly affected by the spread of coronavirus are the youngest among us : our children .
Our children in the last four months have been suddenly ripped from their classrooms , teachers , and friends in the wake of the pandemic ; forced to undertake isolated online instruction , while parents across the nation are bravely filling the void and fulfilled their new roles as “ teachers.
” Joe Biden has constantly pandered and appeased far-left mobs and a fear-mongering mainstream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American people should continue forward with indefinite remote instruction , depriving our children of the fundamental cornerstones of childhood : friendships and learning .
Joe Biden and the Democrat Party ’ s plan for our nation ’ s schools and children will produce disastrous results , robbing them of the fundamental processes in which our children learn and develop the traits and skills necessary in becoming successful and productive American adults .
While Sleepy Joe Biden and his cohorts ’ plans would deprive an entire generation of American children of critical instruction and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within America ’ s economy .
Hard-working Americans in every city , town , and community will be coerced into deciding whether to work and provide for their families or forgo providing for their children and their own futures by indefinitely filling the role of a teacher .
In comparison , President Trump is highly resolved in providing a bright future for every American , from those just about to graduate to those beginning kindergarten in mere weeks .
The President knows that our children ’ s education is fundamental for their development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children to return to their classrooms , our schools must first be able to safely reopen .
The President has a realistic approach for safely reopening our nation ’ s classrooms , which is critical to reopening our economy .
The President ’ s plan includes sending federal education funds directly to families , giving parents the ability to send their children to schools which have reopened , and allow parents to return to work and provide for their families .
In contrast to Biden ’ s non-existent plan which provides no options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ plans for our nation ’ s schools are driven by fear-mongering , President Trump ’ s plan is driven and informed by the latest scientific developments and data compiled by our nation ’ s doctors .
Even the American Association of Pediatrics and the executive director of UNICEF are calling for in person schooling this fall , in contrast to Joe Biden ’ s alleged “ scientific based ” approach of reopening schools .
Under President Trump ’ s decisive leadership , America has witnessed an economic comeback like never before .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s leadership , the American economy added 4.8 million jobs , shattering the record 2.5 million jobs added in May , and continues working hard to put Americans safely back to work in the wake of COVID-19 .
Americans know President Trump ’ s record of building the strongest economy in history , but this comeback can only continue if our children can return to school in the fall .
The American people want economic policies based in common-sense initiatives and guided by the unwavering American spirit , not the restrictive politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the Obama-Biden administration .
President Trump knows in-person instruction is critical for our children ’ s social development , and that this fundamental building block in their lives can not be torn away because of Joe Biden ’ s malfeasance and Democrats disastrous plans which will affect every American , regardless of age , background , or school district .
Michiganders deserve a bright and prosperous future for themselves and their children , not a tsunami of economic calamity resulting from a Biden administration plan of failed economic policies , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-elect President Trump in November .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Cleveland Mayor Harrassed at Home

Cleveland Mayor Harrassed at Home

Protesters calling to defund the police held a protest in front of Cleveland Mayor , Frank Jackson ’ s home .
A group of protesters from the Sunrise Movement surrounded the property early Friday morning for about 20 minutes with the intent of disturbing the mayor while he slept , Fox reports .
The Sunrise Movement is primarily an environmentalist organization , however , according to their website , the Sunrise Movement believes that the “ fight against climate change exists alongside the fight against white supremacy and colonialism.
” In a 40-minute long Facebook Live video , signs with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defund the Police ” were prominent , as was a large banner with “ No Justice , No Sleep ” emblazoned on it .
Protesters chanted common slogans like “ no justice , no peace , defund the police , ” banged on pots , and sang songs intending to wake the mayor .
Several speakers addressed the crowd with a number of grievances .
Some about the mayor , the city of Cleveland , and seemingly the U.S as a whole .
Mayor Jackson was criticized for not doing enough to deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and education .
No clear policy proposals were put forth , and it is unclear exactly how much the mayor of a mid-sized city can do to fight climate change .
An event organizer called for a change to the cash bail system , saying , “ we can not keep jailing people for being poor , ” and “ we need to defund the police.
” She went on to call the life inside Ohio correctional facilities “ inhumane , ” largely due to overcrowding .
The Sunrise Movement has been responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In June protesters descended on the home of Republican Senator Mitch McConnell for a “ no justice , no sleep ” event , reports The Hill .
The Sunrise Movement took to twitter to report the event saying “ Stay woke , get free.
” – – – Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Heavy Weekend Rain Floods Chesterfield, Prince George Counties

Over ten inches of rain fell in the western part of the Richmond metro area last weekend , surprising residents and triggering evacuations near two local dams .
Northern Prince George County also received eight to ten inches of rainfall .
One volunteer weather spotter reported 11.19 inches of rain at a spot in western Chesterfield from Friday night through Sunday morning .
Meanwhile , about 15 miles away , the Richmond International Airport received less than four inches of rain .
Mike Montefusco , meteorologist at the National Weather Service ’ s Wakefield office , said the rain was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Montefusco described several rounds of rain hitting the area over the past five days .
Then , a stalled frontal system and an area of low pressure slowly contributed rain to the already saturated region .
Montefusco expects that pattern to continue .
“ We are locked up in a pattern where we are going to have very slow-moving fronts moving through the area , ” Montefusco said .
“ As is typical for this time of year , the fronts really don ’ t have a lot of force to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and quickly clearing out .
Montefusco expects that pattern to continue and with the ground already saturated , flood risks continue .
At a press conference Monday , Chesterfield County fire chief Loy Senter said the flooding on Friday and Saturday was at historic levels .
“ It was the most serious flooding we ’ ve had in Chesterfield in recent memory , ” he said .
Multiple roads are closed due to the flooding .
The Chesterfield Observer reported that local police responded to at least one person trapped on a road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Hayes said the flooding inundated two of the county ’ s three water pumping stations , but that water quality was not compromised .
Nevertheless , the county is now under an emergency water restriction while they focus on bringing one of the pumping stations back on line .
Hayes expects that to take days , not weeks , and will be able to lift the restriction then .
The other facility will take longer .
Its basement was flooded with 11 additional feet of water above ground .
Hayes said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents have already returned to their homes since flow levels over the dams are normal .
During the evacuation on Saturday , one dam which normally sees six inches of flow saw almost five-and-a-half feet of flow .
Pocahontas State Park , located in central Chesterfield , experienced extensive damage .
The park ’ s lake rose close to 20 feet , washing away its rental boat facility and flooding two parked cars .
A footbridge across the lake suffered damage to its handrails , and all of the park ’ s mountain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager Kevin Faubion said the bridge will be reopened soon , but other damage will take longer to repair .
Faubion does not expect the park ’ s boat rental service to reopen this season .
“ I believe the final count was around 9.6 inches of rain , ” Faubion said .
“ As far as I know , that ’ s never happened before.
” Normally they are able to lower lake water levels when expecting rain , including during Hurricane Isaias two weeks ago .
That did not happen before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up on us , ” Faubion said .
“ The forecast we got about this rain was that it was going to be about an inch and a half.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
About the Headline Photo : Known to locals as the Swift Creek Lake dam , Pocahontas State Park Assistant Manager Kevin Faubion took this picture on Saturday , August 15 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Vice President’s Nephew John Pence Will Campaign for ‘Trump Victory’ Across Virginia on Tuesday, Wed

Vice President’s Nephew John Pence Will Campaign for ‘Trump Victory’ Across Virginia on Tuesday, Wednesday

John Pence will be stumping across Virginia today and tomorrow for the Trump Victory campaign .
John Pence , a senior advisor for the campaign and the nephew of Vice President Pence , will speak at three Trump Victory rallies .
He will be joined by Tommy Hicks , co-chair of the Republican National Committee .
The men will make appearances today in Falls Church and Fredericksburg .
The Falls Church appearance will be at 3 p.m. at the Asian Pacific American Trump Victory Campaign Office during its grand opening and MAGA Meet-Up .
Pence and Hicks will be joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a candidate for the 8th Congressional District , and Aliscia Andrews , who is running for the 10th Congressional District .
More information on the event is here on the event page .
The page says : Pence and Hicks will also speak at 7 p.m. today at the Fredericksburg Trump Victory Campaign Office during a MAGA Meet-Up .
They will be joined by U.S. Rep .
Rob Wittman ( R-VA-01 ) and Nick Freitas , a candidate for the 7th Congressional District .
The Fredericksburg event page is available here .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at noon at the Virginia Beach Trump Victory Campaign Office during a MAGA Meet-Up .
They will be joined by Scott Taylor , who is running to reclaim his old seat for the 2nd Congressional District .
The Virginia Beach event page is available here .
Second Lady Karen Pence visited Virginia Beach last Thursday to campaign for Taylor , WAVY reported .
All Trump Victory rally schedules are online here .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--State Senator Dr. Siobhan Dunnavant on Limiting the Executive Powers of Virginia Governor Northam an

State Senator Dr. Siobhan Dunnavant on Limiting the Executive Powers of Virginia Governor Northam and Reopening Schools

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Virginia State Senator ( R ) Dr. Siobhan Dunnavant to the show .
During the show , Dunnavant informed of an upcoming special session to be held in order to rid Governor Northam of his emergency powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unless they are renewed by legislature .
She also added that she will be advocating for the reopening of schools supported by data and adding a dynamic she calls the student-specific assessment which will aid kids to get back on track on their level .
Fredericks : State Senator Dr. Siobhan Dunnavant is joining us now .
Dr. Dunnavant , great to have you .
Dunnavant : Thank you so much for having me , John .
I ’ m thrilled to be here .
Fredericks : So let ’ s talk about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Levar Stoney in Richmond , this was our lead story today on the Star .
He doesn ’ t care about the city burning down .
Or windows being smashed at the Omni .
Or people ’ s lives being threatened .
No , he wants everybody to get stoned .
( Dunnavant chuckles ) He wants everybody to get high .
He said his number one priority is to legalize pot .
If we do that in Richmond then I guess the city stops burning down or something .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agenda items that you have to grapple with Dr. Dunnavant ?
Dunnavant : I would say first and foremost that Republicans view this special session as an opportunity for a practical referendum .
And the Democrats see it as a political one .
And Virginia deserves a little pragmatism .
So first and foremost we need to make sure the voice of the people is expressed through the legislature and their representative government is never silent for so long again .
So you are going to see many people coming forward with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days unless they are renewed by the legislature .
And that ’ s the way to be consistent with the constitution but also make sure the governor does not govern so long .
It was never the intent of the code or the constitution that a governor do so unilaterally for so long .
But he has really stretched that meaning and we will clarify it .
We have lots of other things we want to talk about .
We need to talk about data .
We need to talk about rapid testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epic health issue for our state and that is our children .
And the risk to our children is not this virus , it is schools not being open .
And we can go through all that information and that data and why that ’ s so important and imperative .
We also need to make sure that schools do reopen .
We also have to pivot and make sure we help families until they do .
And we also need to look very carefully about what they are talking about with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure Virginia never ever becomes like Minneapolis or Baltimore or any of those other police forces that can ’ t hold their own accountable .
And the reason they can ’ t is because of collective bargaining .
And the greatest threat to police accountability in the state of Virginia is the legislation that the Democrats passed last year .
And that ’ s collective bargaining .
Fredericks : Let me go back to this school ’ s issue when you say you have data that you want to present .
First of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assembly .
That ’ s number one .
It ’ s up to the various school boards .
Do the Democrats care about data ?
Aren ’ t they primarily closing schools so that they can hurt Trump ?
Isn ’ t that the whole national agenda ?
so parents can ’ t go back to work so people are depressed so nothing is normal so they get rid of the incumbent ?
So if that ’ s the case like I think it is , why would the science and data matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think its time to have a public discussion of that right ?
I never know what somebody else ’ s motivation or intent is .
But I know this .
I can not fathom why we are where we are because the science and the data is so extraordinary clear that schools need to be open .
If we look at this , 40 percent of our children are on free and reduced lunch .
One-third of them are on Medicaid .
200,000 do not have broadband in their home .
And 173,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Virtual education is an important option .
Its a really really important part of this solution but not in the absence of an open school option .
So we need to be very clear that there is no better subject matter expert than the Academy I assume at some point in time our governor belonged to .
And that ’ s the American Academy of Pediatricians .
And they have said let nothing be an obstacle in your way .
Open schools .
Fredericks : I don ’ t think there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are doing this that kids can ’ t get an education .
Plus you ’ ve already been over all the trauma they go through and the fact that there are no in-room classes which is hurting kids both intellectually , educationally , and emotionally .
And again , the teachers ’ unions don ’ t care .
Now they have some of them in Fairfax saying they don ’ t even want to teach over the internet because I don ’ t know , the virus is maybe transferred through computer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t understand what they were talking about .
I guess they just want to get paid to stay home .
But let ’ s get to the governor ’ s executive power here .
This emergency power .
You said when he came on the show Dr. Dunnavant , the powers that these governors ’ have usurped across the country were not meant to be perpetuous .
A hurricane .
A flood .
A natural disaster .
Did you really think that they were meant to just go on forever ?
Dunnavant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will say that Virginia has some of the least defined languages on that .
And if you look at the language there is both constitutional language about how a special session can be called .
And then there ’ s codified language about what the powers of the governor and other people are during an emergency order .
But clearly , it says in that order language and I ’ m not quoting directly along the lines of when the General Assembly can not be called back in .
It doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t say when you have a better idea of revenue .
It basically is if you can ’ t get the legislature there you must govern until you can .
And that ’ s why I believe the intent of our code , our law , and the constitution has been violated by this governor .
Fredericks : So , what are you going to do ?
Are you going to ask for a vote ?
Shouldn ’ t the General Assembly vote like what they did in Wisconsin ?
Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on whether or not the governor there could continue these emergency powers .
They voted it down and that was the end of it .
It was over .
All of his orders went away immediately .
Are you going to call for a vote and hold Democrats accountable to allowing this governor Northam to have perpetuous power ?
Are you going to make them go on the record , Dr. Dunnavant ?
Dunnavant : Yes .
100 percent yes .
We have several pieces of legislation with varying dates .
I support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have powers without a legislative action within 30 days .
30 days is more than enough to manage a crisis and get us back .
We can even reconvene .
Look at us at the Science Museum .
We can reconvene through almost any crisis .
And that ’ s the intent of our founders .
And yes there will be several votes .
I can tell you right now this has bipartisan support .
The legislature understood regardless of party , that there is a balance of power that is integral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Democrat or a Republican majority when you have all three seats of power would have supported this because they understand the importance of that differing opinion .
I will tell you right now , the place everyone needs to focus on is the House because this will pass in the Senate .
And we ’ ll need to lobby them to get it passed or hold them accountable .
Fredericks : So you are saying that you have at least two Democrats in the Senate that are going to vote to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think you are exactly right when you say feel .
I feel I have .
I haven ’ t whipped any votes .
But I will tell you that the Senate more often than not understands the importance of the balance of power .
So I can ’ t promise you that .
I haven ’ t called in which votes .
But I have listened to conversations across time and I ’ m pretty sure this is going to pass the Senate .
I want to talk a second about school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really good point .
One of the things that we ’ ve heard from parents across the state that is getting no traction with the Democrats is that their kids aren ’ t learning .
They are behind .
And now we ’ ve just changed accreditation for our schools which look at some of our accountability measures .
I ’ ll be carrying legislation to make sure that we have a student-specific assessment to look at that student ’ s progress .
This isn ’ t about schools .
This is about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are so we can measure and figure out how to get them back to grade level .
And so I ’ m going to ask the Department of Education to develop that student-specific student growth assessment because that ’ s what we want .
We want to know our kids are learning .
We want to know where their deficits are .
And we want to make sure that we fix the problem that ’ s been caused by the education weaknesses we ’ ve had for the last year .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to a calendar year .
Fredericks : It ’ s unbelievable .
I mean you look at many of these schools closed on the second or third day of March and they ’ re not going to open until January .
That ’ s a year of no school .
And forget the whole online thing and the Zoom meetings .
If you are in the third grade or fifth grade , I mean c ’ mon .
Right ?
You ’ re just not learning .
Everybody knows that even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all these studies are out there at any given time show that 50 percent of the time kids aren ’ t even logged in and those that are logged in are doing something else .
They are just logged in .
The whole thing is ridiculous .
We ’ ve got to get to the bottom of this .
You ’ ve got kids not going to school for an entire year .
It ’ s unfathomable to me .
These kids are going to fall so far behind .
Listen to the @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Timken, FirstEnergy Helped Householder Achieve His Dream of Regaining Position as Speaker

Editor ’ s Note : This is the last of three stories examining Gov .
Mike DeWine ’ s use of pay-to-play when he was attorney general and how the Ohio Republican Party funnels money from donors to individual candidates .
This series also examined the relationship between the party , DeWine and former House Speaker Larry Householder to FirstEnergy .
The first story is here , while the second part of the series is available here .
FirstEnergy donated generously to Mike DeWine , his son Patrick DeWine , Larry Householder , who wanted to become House speaker for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as the Ohio Republican Party , as our special series shows .
FirstEnergy , as well as Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken , helped Householder achieve his dream in January 2019 .
His first time as speaker was 2001-2004 .
Householder , according to a story by cleveland.com , recruited a group of candidates for the House ’ s 2018 election who would need his help to gain office , the newspaper said , citing a federal charging document .
FirstEnergy allegedly provided money to Householder , who then allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who won voted for him as speaker .
FirstEnergy , in return , reportedly received a $ 1 billion bailout for two nuclear plants , the story alleges .
One of those newly elected representatives , Jamie Callender ( R-OH-61 ) , received $ 13,700 from the FirstEnergy Pac and $ 7,707 from Householder .
The Householder-aligned Growth and Opportunity PAC spent at least $ 45,000 on ads supporting him , according to Medium Buying , a Columbus political ad-tracking firm .
Householder really wanted to be speaker for the second time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her best to help him , despite warning signs , reports indicate .
House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger ’ s resignation in 2018 amid an FBI investigation had thrown the House into chaos as the chamber ’ s No .
2 , Rep. Kirk Schuring , had no authority to pass bills , the Associated Press reported in 2018 .
State Rep. Ryan Smith stood in Householder ’ s way because he also wanted the job .
The House hit a stalemate .
Timken worked out a deal with Schuring and Householder to adjust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Smith did not play along , the AP said .
The Columbus Dispatch in June 2018 reported on how Timken helped Householder .
The newspaper suggested Timken ’ s attempt to broker a deal between Smith and Householder helped the latter , and questioned Schuring ’ s claims that Timken regretted using the party to funnel money from Household ’ s donors back to his campaign .
The newspaper questions that supposed regret and how Timken reportedly worked with the party to funnel more money from Householder supporters , including FirstEnergy executives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and federal probe related to a leaked memo , the AP reported .
The memo accused Householder and two consultants of laundering campaign contributions for personal use .
No charges were filed .
The consultants and Householder denied the allegations .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
The Associated Press , including Julie Carr Smyth , AP Statehouse Correspondent , contributed to this story .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--The John Fredericks Show: Joe Morrissey Talks About His Recent Op-Ed and the Continued Failure of Ma

The John Fredericks Show: Joe Morrissey Talks About His Recent Op-Ed and the Continued Failure of Mayor Levar Stoney

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Democratic State Senator from Richmond and Petersburg , Virginia Joe Morrissey to the program .
During the show , Morrissey discussed his recent op-ed at The Virginia Star which was initially turned down by the Richmond Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pending lawsuit with the Senator .
The men later discussed the disastrous ‘ education ’ mayor Levar Stoney who ’ s top priority is allowing people to access marijuana legally amidst the civil unrest in downtown Richmond .
Fredericks : And joining us now to talk about that and the protests going on in Richmond state Senator Democrat from Richmond and Petersburg Joe Morrissey .
Hey , Joe great to have you , man .
Morrissey : Hey good morning John it ’ s a pleasure and honor to be on your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your rapidly expanding media empire for adding The Virginia Star to your news segment .
That is terrific .
Fredericks : Well Joe we ’ ve got your commentary up today .
You don ’ t want to miss that .
Joe had written an op-ed .
This is one of the reasons why we started this paper .
So just to give everybody the flavor of what happened with the Richmond Times Dispatch .
Joe Morrissey is a Democratic elected state Senator in Richmond .
Joe did an op-ed on the protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richmond Times Dispatch , it was like 600-700 words .
The Richmond Times Dispatch refused to print it as an op-ed .
They said they can print it as a 250-word letter to the editor which would have defeated the purpose of it .
Joe said no .
Why didn ’ t they print it ?
They didn ’ t print it because it didn ’ t fit the Richmond Times Dispatch ’ s narrative which is protestors are good and cops are bad .
So they didn ’ t print it.WE printed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our commentary section .
Joe , I want to start with that .
We ’ ve got Richmond burning down and Stoney is doing nothing except telling the governor his number one priority is to legalize weed .
What is going on with this guy ?
Morrissey : Let me address your first regarding the Richmond Times Dispatch refusal to print an op-ed piece of mine .
The important point is not that I wrote an op-ed and they didn ’ t print mine and that ’ s their right .
It goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that are embedding themselves in this protest movement .
They are destroying private property .
Smashing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of windows at DCU .
The John Marshall Courts Building .
They ’ ve caused the closing of the building .
They have burned $ 75,000 .
public municipal automobiles .
Trashed trucks .
They ’ ve destroyed and defaced not just monuments but people ’ s cars and homes on Monument Avenue .
And RTD in its own editorial screamed out why aren ’ t certain public officials taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you know ?
I said the peaceful protesters should be able to protest as long and as loud as they want .
But if you are involving yourself in violence and destroying other people ’ s property by burning and looting etc then you need to be arrested .
You need to be prosecuted .
You need to be incarcerated .
And they didn ’ t print that .
They said , well you can do it as a 250-word letter to the editor .
And here is the point .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The RTD and I do not get along .
But they decided not to decimate that information after calling on politicians to take a stand .
Does that make sense ?
They need to be called out on it and they are right now .
And I ’ m going to continue to do it .
Fredericks : Look , you are a State Senator and they said why isn ’ t anybody doing anything ?
You did something .
And then they don ’ t print your op-ed because they don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll tell you why .
This is just a ploy .
They are now totally respondent to the far left-wing narrative that protesters are good cops are bad .
So your particular essay , your op-ed which was fact-based and that ’ s why we published it , didn ’ t fit their narrative .
So they just don ’ t bother to put it in .
And by the way , does everyone know what op-ed means .
It means opposite editorial .
That ’ s the purpose of it !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then they don ’ t run your op-ed .
Fake news .
Morrissey : Very disappointing because you can not hold yourself as an instrument of the media ( i.e .
the op-ed page of the RTD ) without giving both sides .
And they did that .
It was disingenuous .
It was wrong .
And they should feel some shame in not doing that .
Fredericks : Now Joe , in full disclosure , you are pursuing a lawsuit with them right ?
Morrissey : I am .
Yes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in full disclosure .
You are suing them for what Joe ?
Morrissey : I ’ m suing them for defamation associated with the 2016 mayoral race .
In the final two weeks of that campaign , they printed false stories , accusations , and a narrative that caused me to lose the mayoral race because they didn ’ t want me to become mayor .
And we are going to expose everything that occurred .
And you know , let the chips fall as they may .
Fredericks : Right .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retaliate by not printing your op-ed .
I mean it ’ s like OK. That ’ s a legal issue that they have to deal with .
Put your big boy pants on .
You still have to carry the op-ed of the State Senator that representing the city that ’ s burning down that you supposedly represent .
Unbelievable Joe .
You are spot on with that as always .
Morrissey : I wonder if Jennifer McClellan or Ghazala Hashmi two of the State Senator ’ s that represent portions of Richmond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , it would have been printed .
But just because I don ’ t genuflect at the altar of RTD doesn ’ t mean that you don ’ t print a sitting State Senators strong position on these violent protesters .
Go figure John .
And I want to thank The Virginia Star for printing it .
Fredericks : That ’ s why I started this company The Virginia Star .
And one of the reasons is because of what the Richmond Times Dispatch did to you .
This was once a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there a while back .
It was a proud publication .
And the company that owned it and they also owned The Tampa Tribune at the time .
They did really great coverage .
And now its changed hands several times .
It ’ s gone into different owners .
Now I think Lee Enterprises owns it .
Now the whole newsroom has gone whack left .
They have a narrative .
They stick to that .
And its a shame .
It really is .
Now they ’ ve got competition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that the old Evening Star that I used to deliver in Fairfax County ?
Morrissey : Wow .
In the morning it was The Washington Post .
And then the evening news was The Evening Star .
Fredericks : See , there you go .
Everything in life comes around .
Joe let ’ s talk about Levar Stoney .
He ’ s the worst mayor ever .
By the way , I figured it out .
I figured out what Levar Stoney ’ s educational agenda is , sidebar .
Levar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said he was going to be the education mayor .
I thought that was pretty neat .
I ’ m for education .
At the time , Richmond had a 20 percent drop out rate .
People not graduating from high school .
One out of every five persons dropping out .
One of the worst in the country .
Stoney said this is unacceptable .
I ’ m going to be the education mayor .
I ’ m going to change that .
Four years later , what has he done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 30 percent !
So it had a 200 percent increase since he ’ s been there .
Nice job Levar .
Good thing about you being the education mayor .
Not !
Now , I figured out what his plan is .
To just shut down schools in perpetuity and have no education in Richmond .
Therefore if nobody is going to school , nobody can drop out .
What a brilliant plan .
Don ’ t you think ?
Morrissey : ( Chuckles ) Well let me tell you this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the education mayor and the data and facts support he ’ s anything but .
On a very very serious note , John , consider the following : all of those children in Richmond that are now going to have to learn virtual , no .
Two things .
Many of their parents have to work to put food on the table .
They are not supervising the children at the kitchen table because they are out working .
And you know kids .
Young children .
If they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not going to be .
The best day of their life is when it ’ s a snow day and they don ’ t have to go to school .
The children have been out of school since February one .
Now at the earliest , they are not going back until January of 2021 .
At the earliest .
That is one year of education that has been lost and is not going to be able to be recaptured .
It is extremely significant .
And our education in Richmond has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of candidates that are running for mayor and to some degree that helps Stoney .
Why folks ?
Because the people that would vote against Stoney now have to distribute their anti-Stoney vote among four other candidates .
Thereby allowing him to squeak in and get re-elected with 35 , 40 percent of the vote .
Listen to the full interview here :


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Whitmer Orders Coronavirus Testing in Prisons

Michigan jails and prisons will now have to adopt testing protocols for inmates , according to an executive order signed by Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer on Saturday .
The order says that Michigan Department of Corrections must conduct testing at entry , transfer and release of any prisoner , as well as suspend transfers from jails that do not have similar protocols .
“ Testing is the at the very center of any strategy to keep prison and jail populations safe .
By reducing the spread of COVID-19 in prisons and jails , we protect corrections officers and their families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Whitmer said in a statement .
The announcement of the order comes as MDOC sees 435 active cases of COVID-19 , the largest spike in cases in the prison system since the spring , MLive reported .
The latest order also requires screening of anyone entering or departing a facility , isolating and testing any inmate with symptoms and increasing air circulation by opening windows and doors , among other measures .
The order will be in place until September 30 .
It also encourages the elimination of juvenile detention or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ juvenile is deemed to be safety risk to others .
“ The Michigan Department of Corrections has been a leader for states across the country in COVID-19 response , ” Whitmer said .
“ We must continue that work to save lives , slow the spread of COVID-19 , and ensure the protection of everyone who steps foot in prisons , jails , and juvenile detention centers .
By expanding protections for Michigan ’ s vulnerable populations , we can slow the spread of the virus and save lives.
” Michigan currently has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services .
There are more than 6,000 deaths from the virus in the state , and more than 67,000 considered recovered .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Nashville Releases Preliminary Transportation Plan

Metro Nashville officials have released their preliminary Metro Nashville Transportation plan , and it proposes , among other things , upgrading the city ’ s bus system and creating a Nashville Department of Transportation .
The plan that Metro officials sent to The Tennessee Star Monday did not specify total expenses , but The Tennessean assesses it will cost more than $ 1.5 billion .
Mayor John Cooper ’ s Senior Advisor for Transportation and Infrastructure Faye Q. DiMassimo said Monday that the mayor also wants to modernize the city ’ s traffic management system and invest in more sidewalks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prior to COVID limitations on in person meetings , we held Council Member conversations and 11 Community listening sessions along with numerous in-person and virtual stakeholder group meetings , ” DiMassimo said in an email to The Star .
“ The results from 2,608 participants are attached with the highest priorities being transit , sidewalks , state of good repair , and from a technical analysis perspective the traffic management modernization foundational to all.
” The plan also proposes transit centers in North Nashville and Green Hills .
As reported two years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9.2 billion transit plan by a margin of 64 percent to 36 percent .
Former Mayor Megan Barry proposed that plan .
Then-acting Mayor David Briley also supported it .
Also as reported in 2018 , Ryman Hospitality Properties CEO Colin Reed said he was never on board for that plan .
“ I had some of the same concerns that the ‘ antis ’ had , ” the Nashville Business Journal quoted him as saying at the time .
“ The notion of tearing up the middle of Broadway for an extended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underneath and bringing it up somewhere on Broadway , concerned the living daylights out of me .
Building rail lines in the middle of highways concerns the life out of me .
This was a huge amount of money .
What we have to fix is morning-time rush hour and evening-time rush hour .
That ’ s where our problems reside here .
I felt like this whole evolution we ’ re seeing with self-driving cars , self-driving busses , that sort of seemed to me to be silent in the plan.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have run under Fifth Avenue North and partially under the historic Ryman Auditorium .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Newly Released Photos Show Bill Clinton Enjoying Massage from an Alleged Jeffrey Epstein Victim: ‘Wo

Newly Released Photos Show Bill Clinton Enjoying Massage from an Alleged Jeffrey Epstein Victim: ‘Would You Mind Giving It a Crack’

Ahead of Bill Clinton ’ s scheduled Democratic National Convention speech tonight , The Daily Mail published explosive , never-seen photos of the former president enjoying a neck massage from an alleged Jeffrey Epstein victim .
Some of the photos published by The Daily Mail show Chauntae Davies , who was 22 years old at the time , giving Clinton , then 56 , a back massage .
These photos were taken during an African humanitarian event in 2002 .
Clinton and Davies accompanied Epstein on the visit .
When asked about the massage , Davies told The Daily Mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Clinton was a perfect gentleman during the trip and I saw absolutely no foul play involving him.
” Davies added that the massage occurred “ when we had a stop-over for the jet to refuel and while we were in the terminal the ex-President was complaining of stiffness from falling asleep in his chair.
” “ Ghislaine [ Maxwell ] chimed in to be funny and said that I could give him a massage , Davies said .
“ Everyone had a little chuckle but Ghislaine in her prim British accent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The President then asked me ‘ would you mind giving it a crack.
’ ” The photos taken of Clinton show him aboard the “ Lolita Express , ” which was the nickname for the sex offender ’ s private plane .
According to Fox News , flight records show that the former president flew on Epstein ’ s private plane at least 26 times .
On July 31 , Virginia Giuffre , who is an alleged Epstein victim , claimed that Clinton appeared on Epstein ’ s private island , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember asking Jeffrey what ’ s Bill Clinton doing here kind of thing , and he laughed it off and said well he owes me a favor , ” Giuffre said according to unsealed court documents .
After Giuffre ’ s allegations became public , Angel Ureña , a spokesman for Clinton , denied the allegations .
“ The story keeps changing , the facts don ’ t .
President Clinton has never been to the island , ” he said .
Ureña also told Newsweek that Clinton had not spoken to Epstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ knows nothing about the terrible crimes.
” Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] .
Follow Zachery on Twitter @ zacheryschmidt2 .
Photo “ Bill Clinton ” by Gage Skidmore .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-18--Nashville Judge who Showed Leniency to Justin Jones Is a Democrat Who Served on Metro Council

The Nashville General Sessions Court judge who denied a motion to ban left-wing activist Justin Jones from the Tennessee Capitol building , Samuel Coleman , is a Democrat who once served on the Metro Council .
Office of the Criminal Court Clerk Nicholas Kiefer told The Tennessee Star Monday that Jones went before Coleman late last week .
According to the Nashville General Sessions Court ’ s website , Coleman has served as a judge since May 2017 .
He practiced criminal , civil , probate , landlord and tenant law before that .
Coleman served on the Metro Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 through 2017 .
“ Coleman ( Democratic Party ) ran for re-election for judge of the Davidson County General Sessions Court in Tennessee , ” according to Ballotpedia .
“ He won in the general election on August 2 , 2018.
” As The Tennessee Star reported Sunday , Jones has led demonstrations against the police at Legislative Plaza for the past few months .
As reported last year , authorities banned Jones from inside the Tennessee capitol building after he threw a cup at then-Speaker of the House Glen Casada .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ developments on his Facebook page .
“ The judge denied the District Attorney ’ s motion to ban me from the Capitol grounds and require electronic GPS monitoring .
The state filed this motion at the direction of Gov .
Bill Lee ’ s appointed commissioner and stated I was a ‘ danger to public safety , ’ ” Jones said .
“ One important note in the judge ’ s ruling is stressing the seriousness of the government restricting people ’ s constitutional right to free movement especially in issues of moral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported last month , recent protests at the State Capitol have forced the Tennessee Highway Patrol to spend nearly $ 900,000 in overtime costs .
And that ’ s just between May 31 , around the time the protests started , up until June 30 .
As reported in June , Tennessee Highway Patrol officers removed protesters ’ extra equipment from Legislative Plaza after they failed to comply with an agreement made between the two sides .
Demonstrators renamed the plaza the Ida B .
Wells Plaza .
Wells was an early civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Judge Samuel Coleman ” by Judge Samuel Coleman .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-19--Al Gore Compares Donald Trump to Derek Chauvin

Tennessee native and former Vice President Al Gore went on CNN this week and compared U.S. President Donald Trump to Derek Chauvin , the former Minneapolis Police officer accused of killing George Floyd .
Gore made the analogy while talking to CNN host Anderson Cooper about Trump not funding the U.S .
Postal Service with additional money ahead of this year ’ s presidential election .
“ During a pandemic , there are lots of older voters and voters of all ages with pre-existing conditions who worry they can ’ t breathe safely standing in line to vote , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the postal service he is in effect putting his knee on the neck of American democracy and trying to make it impossible for people to vote by mail.
” As The Tennessee Star reported in April , Gore has endorsed Joe Biden for president .
Gore had an online environmental pow wow with Biden that month .
During the live Facebook event – dubbed a Climate Change Town Hall – Biden accused Trump of ignoring science .
Biden promised that , if elected , he would make the United States rejoin the Paris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Trump “ the face of climate change denial and adding pollution to the atmosphere.
” Gore then touted what he called the benefits of driving electric cars .
As The Star also reported in April , Gore said on Real Time with Bill Maher that as president , Biden could appoint former President Barack Obama as a “ Coronavirus Czar.
” As reported last year , Gore won the top Climate Hypocrite Award , given to climate change alarmists who don ’ t practice what they preach .
Senator Jim Inhofe ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Center for Public Policy Research Senior Fellow Drew Johnson concluded in a report : “ Al Gore has attained a near-mythical status for his frenzied efforts to propagandize global warming .
At the same time , Gore has done little to prove his commitment to the cause in his own life , ” Johnson said .
“ While Gore encourages people throughout the world to reduce their carbon footprint and make drastic changes to cut energy consumption , Gore ’ s own home electricity use has hypocritically increased to more than 21 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with no sign of slowing down.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Al Gore ” by CNN .

by Bethany Blankley
Nineteen attorneys general, led by Indiana, have filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of a lawsuit filed by Texas and Missouri against the Biden administration.
They’re asking the Supreme Court to uphold a lower court’s order instructing the Biden administration to follow the law to fully reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), otherwise known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
“No one is above the law in America, and we are simply insisting that the Biden administration follow the law,” Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said (pictured above).
“The rule of law is the framework that enables American liberty to survive and thrive,” he added. “The situation at our southern border provides the perfect example of how going soft on the rule of law gives rise to anarchy, chaos, and ultimately the erosion of our freedom and safety.”
In January 2021, President Joe Biden announced via executive order that he was terminating MPP. Months later, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas began dismantling it and other immigration policies. Southern border encounters then surged to historic levels. In Biden’s first year in office, Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol agents encountered or apprehended roughly 2 million people entering the southern border illegally. This number excludes the several hundred thousand who are estimated to have evaded law enforcement.
At the same time, Mayorkas implemented a wide range of policy changes to effectively halt most deportations. CBP and Border Patrol agents were directed to release illegal immigrants into the U.S. en masse instead of sending them back to Mexico to go through the immigration process.
Texas and Missouri sued, District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas granted their request for a permanent injunction and ordered the administration to reinstate the MPP. He ruled the administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act when it halted the MPP.
The administration appealed to the Fifth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court and lost. Both courts denied its request to stay Kacsmaryk’s ruling.
After its Supreme Court loss, the administration said it was appealing Kacsmaryk’s ruling, vowing to “vigorously challenge it.” In a statement, it said, “As the appeal process continues, however, DHS will comply with the order in good faith. Alongside interagency partners, DHS has begun to engage with the Government of Mexico in diplomatic discussions surrounding the Migrant Protection Protocols.”
But compliance hasn’t happened, as evidenced by the flood of illegal immigrants the administration is releasing into the U.S. and by the tactics it’s used in court to circumvent the law, the AGs argue.
“From the beginning of this Administration, the United States has been forthright about its intention to terminate MPP simply because it did not like the program, and its conduct demonstrates its readiness to do anything – including ignore the APA’s requirements – to accomplish that objective,” they argue in the brief.
“The Administration’s ‘act now, justify later’ approach began on Inauguration Day, when it summarily paused MPP,” they add.
Throughout the appeals process, “the Fifth Circuit correctly concluded that the United States’ efforts to avoid judicial review violated basic principles of procedure,” they argue.
An unprecedented number of people are expected to come through the southern border after the administration ends the Title 42 public health authority May 23, the attorneys general have argued, necessitating the urgency for the Supreme Court to weigh in.
Implemented under President Donald Trump in January 2019, the MPP led to a reduction in the number of people entering the U.S. illegally. The Trump administration also invoked Title 42 to enable CBP and Border Patrol agents to quickly expel illegal immigrants and prevent entry to a greater number of people during a public health emergency.
Current law requires those not authorized to enter the U.S. to be detained, to stay in Mexico, or be “paroled” into the U.S. based on narrowly defined case-by-case circumstances including “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”
The Biden administration has been issuing paroles en masse to release illegal immigrants into the U.S., the attorneys general argue, violating the law.
The administration maintains it’s inherited a flawed system, and its policies are more humane than the previous administration’s. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters last December after the administration lost another court battle in the case, “it is not our preference to be reimplementing and reinstituting the Migrant Protection program. … we still feel that the program is inefficient, inhumane, and we are not – we weren’t, we were – did not eagerly reimplement it.”
– – –
Bethany Blankley is a regular contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “AG Todd Rokita” by AG Todd Rokita.