thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Nissan Moves Production Back to U.S.A. With Smyrna, Tennessee Plant

Nissan began efforts to move production to the United States on Tuesday by manufacturing the 2021 Rogue in Smyrna , Tennessee .
Nissan predicts the Rogue ’ s long-standing popularity will lead to its “ turnaround as the company ’ s top-selling U.S. model , ” according to their press release .
Corporate Vice President Michael Colleran stated in an interview with Fox Business that money was no object for establishing the American plant .
“ It ’ s not about being more expensive to build here in the U.S. We have a great manufacturing facility here in Smyrna that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and women of Nissan , Smyrna Plant build the all-new Rogue , and we start production today.
” Nissan ’ s Rogue model is the most popular , which made it the primary choice for manufacturing the 2021 version in America .
The Nissan Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant , established in 1983 , produces more vehicles than all other plants in America .
Of the 2.8 million Rogues sold in the U.S. since its inception 13 years ago , the Smyrna plant built nearly 1.1 million .
“ Our U.S. manufacturing team rallied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges that could have impacted this moment , ” stated Nissan North America Senior Vice President of Manufacturing , Supply Chain Management and Purchasing Steve Marsh .
The news is a positive turnaround for the community after the pandemic ’ s economic toll on production earlier this year .
The Japanese automobile manufacturer invested in newer technology such as “ cobots ” – collaborative robots that lessen strain and improve safety for workers – and virtual reality for the American-manufactured 2021 Rogue .
It ’ s been one of President Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to America .
However , Colleran said the relocation wasn ’ t “ a big deal ” for their company due to their global production .
“ Nissan is rolling out it ’ s 2021 ROGUE from TENNESSEE .
Great !
” Governor Bill Lee also lauded praise on the company ’ s decision to expand their preexisting influence in Tennessee .
“ We are proud that Nissan has called Tennessee home for 37 years .
We celebrate this exciting milestone with the entire Nissan team !
” In the next 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out six other new or redesigned models .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Nissan Smyrna Plant ” by Nissan Smyrna Plant .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Secrecy Requirement Could See 100,000 Pennsylvania Ballots Disqualified, Dem Official Says

As many as 100,000 Pennsylvania voters could have their ballots discarded in November due to a state law that requires absentee ballots to be returned inside a secrecy sleeve , according to a Democratic official on the Philadelphia city commission .
Pennsylvania ’ s Supreme Court ordered election officials to discard “ naked ballots ” in a decision issued last week , a move that could result in tens of thousands of ballots disqualified in a critical battleground state , City Commissioner Lisa Deeley wrote in a letter to Republican state legislators .
In a year where an unprecedented amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the decision could ultimately decide who wins the state ’ s 20 electoral votes and possibly the entire election , Deeley argued .
Pennsylvania , like 16 other states , uses a two-envelope system for absentee voters : after a ballot is filled , it is placed inside a secrecy sleeve designed to ensure anonymity , then placed inside an additional envelope before it is mailed .
Though most Pennsylvania counties counted ballots that were missing their secrecy sleeves during the state ’ s June primary , they did not track how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philadelphia Inquirer reported .
As a result , it ’ s unclear how many of them may appear in November , especially given the state ’ s expansions to mail-in voting .
In a letter addressed to the Republican leaders of Pennsylvania ’ s state legislature urging them to repeal the law , Deeley argued that the court ’ s decision could be “ the subject of significant post-election legal controversy , the likes of which we have not seen since Florida in 2000.
” During the state ’ s 2019 general election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which 6.4 % were naked , the letter says .
If that rate was carried to the 2020 primary , 11,211 ballots would have been without their secrecy sleeve , according to the letter .
“ Under the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ’ s ruling , that would amount to 11,211 votes that would not have been counted , ” Deeley argued , citing the statistic as a low estimate .
Extrapolating to the general election , “ 30,000 to 40,000 ballots could likely be thrown out in Philadelphia alone , ” meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk being discarded as well .
“ The secrecy envelope is not needed , it is a vestige of the past , ” Deeley wrote , calling them a “ hold over from when Pennsylvania counted absentee ballots at polling places.
” “ Now they are counted centrally , through an industrialized process , ” ensuring that “ there is no opportunity to stop , or even slow down , and identify how an individual voted.
” Despite Deeley ’ s plea , the state ’ s GOP legislature has not signaled that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is not a partisan issue .
We are talking about the voting rights of our constituents , whether they be Democrats , Republicans , or independents , whose ballots will be needlessly set aside.
” Andrew Trunsky is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation Photo “ Votes ” by jenvargas CC BY-SA 2.0

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


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Commentary: Dear GOP Senate, Please Get This Right!

Dear Leader McConnell and Members of the Republican Senate : As Jack Nicholson said in “ Terms of Endearment , ” you were just inches from a clean getaway .
Armed with a wholly unimpressive list of accomplishments from the past four years , with the exception of confirming hundreds of federal judges , you were prepared to return home to defend your paltry record with little more than the argument that the other side is much , much worse .
Which , lucky for you , is true .
But a funny thing happened on the way to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away .
Reliable news outlets reported that in her final days , the Clinton-appointed Supreme Court justice dictated a statement to her granddaughter indicating she wanted the “ new president ” to appoint her replacement , the latest in a series of Trump-fixated dying requests .
Fortunately , many constitutional scholars have assured us that no “ Election Year Death-Bed Wish ” provision exists .
Nor does a “ Feelings of Jeff Flake ” clause or “ MSNBC Meltdown ” disclaimer .
Subsequent case law does not affirm that the random rantings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a venerated process .
All of which means you have a big decision to make .
And this could be the chance to redeem yourselves for a multitude of egregious mistakes made during Trump ’ s first term , conduct that many voters in the Republican base consider an unforgivable abdication of power .
Your success in defending the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh amid one of the most despicable character assassinations in modern political history notwithstanding , Senate Republicans have done nothing to confront the Left ’ s nonstop assault against the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and by default , his supporters .
Check that .
It ’ s not that you failed because saying you failed would suggest that you even tried to defend the president of your own party .
In too many instances , Senate Republicans acted as accomplices in the Left ’ s reckless anti-Trump crusade .
The appointment of Robert Mueller , Barack Obama ’ s longtime FBI director , to investigate the imaginary crime of Russian election collusion will go down in Republican Party history as one of the worst political mistakes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the time Mueller was appointed in May 2017 that Trump-Russia “ collusion ” was a total falsehood fabricated by the Democratic Party and Clinton campaign operatives .
But you demanded a special counsel after the president fired the treacherous James Comey as director of the FBI .
When the Justice Department tasked Mueller with continuing the charade , a charade you knew would cripple the president for months if not years , you swooned .
Leader McConnell , you repeatedly lauded Mueller and his work .
Senator Ben Sasse , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s White House weaponized the most powerful government agencies in the world against Donald Trump—called Mueller an “ exceptional public servant ” and applauded his “ record , character , and trustworthiness.
” Senator John Cornyn , you assured us that Mueller is a “ well-respected law enforcement professional.
” Senator Susan Collins , remember how you insisted Mueller “ has sterling credentials and is above reproach ?
” You had no qualms back then about the appointment of an unelected , unchecked , and extra-constitutional partisan prosecutor , but now that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of filling a legitimate vacancy on the nation ’ s highest court based on clear constitutional guidance and precedent gives you the heebie-jeebies ?
What gives ?
While Andrew Weismann , er , Robert Mueller ( wink , wink ) spent millions of our tax dollars and concocted bogus charges against Trump associates , you protected him .
Remember when the president and others raised legit concerns about Team Mueller ’ s conduct ?
Some of you collaborated with Senate Democrats to author a bill that ensured Mueller would be permitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without fear he would be fired by the president .
For all we know , without the involvement of William Barr in the spring of 2019 , Mueller would still be conducting early morning raids on senior citizens to the delight of CNN viewers and you guys would still be paying the bills .
At the same time , you ’ ve been completely impotent in exposing Obamagate or holding anyone accountable .
Letter after letter went unanswered .
Deadlines expired without any repercussions .
Promised public reckonings never happened ; subpoenas for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clock runs out and public interest wanes .
That ’ s only one part of your collective dereliction of duty .
After the president tried to curb record numbers of illegal immigrants attempting to enter the country , 12 of you sided with Democrats and voted to overturn his emergency declaration to defend the southern border .
This included you , Senator Lisa Murkowski ; you solemnly lectured us about your deep regard for the separation of powers .
“ This is about making sure that we respect the lines and the lanes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Constitution , ” Murkowsi preached way back in February 2019 .
But oddly those lanes and lines have disappeared as Senator Murkowski plans to abdicate her constitutional duties by refusing to consider President Trump ’ s nominee to the Supreme Court .
Apparently there is some “ not before Election Day ” lane in the Constitution that only Senator Murkowski knows about .
After the president was impeached on the thinnest of grounds in a successful attempt to bury bad news about the Biden family ’ s overseas grift , Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the history books as the first senator to vote to convict a president of his own party .
What was his intra-party punishment for that betrayal ?
Nothing .
Now we await yet another lecture from the two-time presidential loser about why he plans to “ follow his conscience ” and refuse to vote for Trump ’ s candidate before the election .
Senator Romney ’ s conscience , however , has been MIA since declaring his support for Black Lives Matter .
While BLM thugs harass innocent people at restaurants and roadways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and promise more violence until they ’ re satisfied , Romney is uncharacteristically quiet .
Where are you , Pierre Delecto ?
Saving your fire for the Bad Orange Man instead of the perpetrators of the country ’ s race war ?
Which reminds me that most of you have played along with the BLM movement in one way or another ; bending the proverbial knee to agitators who despise everything you claim to honor .
Some of you , including Leader McConnell , offered emotional tributes to George Floyd from the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s mantra about “ systemic racism.
” Senators Ron Johnson and James Lankford , remember when you suggested replacing Columbus Day with Juneteenth Day after Senator Johnson worked with his far-left colleague from Massachusetts to invent a new national holiday ?
That did wonders for racial comity since BLM vandals and ambushers have really settled down since then .
So , fellow Republicans , you now have a chance to redeem yourselves for all the broken promises , craven capitulations , and straight-up betrayal of your constituencies .
Accept the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on confirmation .
And when the expected attacks against the nominee are unleashed by Democrats , don ’ t do what you did during the Kavanaugh debacle by appeasing the false accusers while making a bad situation worse .
Move full steam ahead—before Election Day .
Then let the political chips fall where they may .
You ’ ve been a big disappointment to the Republican base during Trump ’ s first term .
End with a bang and show that you deserve to try again .
Julie Kelly is a political commentator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is the author of Disloyal Opposition : How the NeverTrump Right Tried―And Failed―To Take Down the President Her past work can be found at The Federalist and National Review .
She also has been featured in the Wall Street Journal , The Hill , Chicago Tribune , Forbes , and Genetic Literacy Project .
Photo “ U.S .
Capitol ” by Ken Lund CC2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Senate GOP Lines up with Trump to Quickly Fill Court Seat

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — Senate Republicans have swiftly fallen in line behind President Donald Trump ’ s push to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s Supreme Court seat as one of the last holdouts , Sen. Mitt Romney , said Tuesday he supports a vote despite Democrats ’ objections it ’ s too close to the Nov. 3 election .
Trump , who will announce his nominee Saturday , is all but certain to have the votes to confirm his choice .
“ I guess we have all the votes we ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FOX 2 in Detroit on Tuesday , “ I think it ’ s going to happen.
” Conservatives are pushing for a vote before Election Day .
Republicans hold a slim 53-47 majority in the Senate , and a simple majority is needed for confirmation .
But with early voting for president already underway in several states , all sides are girding for a wrenching Senate battle Romney , R-Utah , backed up his decision by saying it ’ s not “ written in the stars ” that the court should have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick will tip the nation ’ s high court to become more conservative .
It ’ s “ appropriate , ” he told reporters at the Capitol , “ for a nation which is , if you will , center right , to have a court which reflects a set of right points of view.
” Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have launched one of the quickest confirmation processes in modern times .
No court nominee in U.S. history has been considered so close to a presidential election .
McConnell was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later at GOP campaign headquarters to assess next steps .
Democrats , led by presidential nominee Joe Biden , vow a tough fight but need four GOP defections to block consideration .
So far , two Republicans have said they oppose taking up a nomination at this time , but no others are in sight .
Under Senate rules , Vice President Mike Pence can break a tie vote .
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham , who will shepherd the nomination through the chamber , said Republicans have the support they need .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ aides said .
“ The nominee is going to be supported by every Republican in the Judiciary Committee , ” Graham , who faces his own tough reelection in South Carolina , told Fox News .
“ We ’ ve got the votes to confirm the justice on the floor of the Senate before the election and that ’ s what ’ s coming.
” Trump met with conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett at the White House on Monday and told reporters he would interview other candidates and might meet with Judge Barbara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
Conversations in the White House and McConnell ’ s office have been increasingly focused on Barrett and Lagoa , according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private deliberations .
Barrett has long been favored by conservatives , and those familiar with the process said interest inside the White House seemed to be waning for Lagoa amid concerns she did not have a proven record as a conservative jurist .
Lagoa has been pushed by some aides who tout her political advantages of being Hispanic and hailing from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats point to hypocrisy in Republicans trying to rush through a pick so close to the election after McConnell led the GOP in refusing to vote on a nominee of President Barack Obama in February 2016 , long before that year ’ s election .
Romney , the GOP ’ s 2012 presidential nominee , dismissed that argument , saying “ it was not unfair ” for Republicans to refuse to consider Obama ’ s choice of Merrick Garland .
Romney would not say whether he supports Barrett or any particular candidate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to become more conservative .
“ We may have a court which has more of a conservative bent than it ’ s had over the last few decades , ” Romney told reporters on Capitol Hill .
“ But my liberal friends have over many decades gotten very used to the idea of having a liberal court .
And that ’ s not written in the stars.
” Barrett , 48 , a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit , was a strong contender for the seat that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the time , Trump told confidants he was “ saving ” Barrett for Ginsburg ’ s seat .
Trump has said he would choose a woman , and he gave a nod to another election battleground state , Michigan .
White House officials confirmed he was referring to Joan Larsen , a federal appeals court judge there .
The president also indicated that Allison Jones Rushing , a 38-year-old appellate judge from North Carolina , is on his short list .
Conservative groups are insisting on a Senate confirmation vote before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with a late Monday gathering of representatives from various organizations , and aides from the White House and Congress .
They argue the election could be disputed with legal battles dragging on for weeks .
Democrats say voters should speak first , on Election Day , and the winner of the White House should fill the vacancy .
Biden appealed to GOP senators to “ uphold your constitutional duty , your conscience ” and wait until after the election .
But few Republicans are willing to cross Trump .
The president has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska for opposing a vote before elections .
Trump warned they would be “ very badly hurt ” by voters .
The mounting clash over the vacant seat injects new turbulence in the presidential campaign with the nation still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed 200,000 Americans , left millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger .
Ginsburg , 87 , died Friday of metastatic pancreatic cancer .
She will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol this week , the first woman accorded that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view Wednesday and Thursday on the steps of the high court .
No nominee has won confirmation so quickly since Sandra Day O ’ Connor — with no opposition from either party — became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 1981 .
Lisa Mascaro , Zeke Miller and Jonathan Lemire are reporters for The Associated Press .
Lemire reported from New York .
Laurie Kellman , Mark Sherman , Mary Clare Jalonick , Andrew Taylor , Kevin Freking and Mike Balsamo in Washington , Alex Jaffe in Philadelphia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : Sen. Mitt Romney , R-Utah , leaves the Senate Chamber following a vote , at the Capitol in Washington , Monday , Sept. 21 , 2020 .
Romney is one of four Republicans who could oppose a vote on a replacement for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg prior to Election Day .
( AP Photo/J .
Scott Applewhite )


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Sinking Approval and Boos Don’t Move DeWine Off the Dime

Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine enjoyed an 81 % approval rating in April for his handling of COVID – the top rating in the country .
By the end of August , DeWine ’ s rating saw the sixth biggest drop in the U.S. according to The State of the Nation – a 50-State COVID-19 Survey .
The report was created by a consortium of contributors from American colleges – Northeastern , Harvard Medical School , Harvard Kennedy School , Rutgers , Northwestern .
DeWine ’ s approval rating sits at 58 percent with a five-point variance – which means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuse his handling of COVID .
The governor may still be feeling the high on the unprecedented approval , but last week his name evoked boos from a pro-conservative Ohio crowd being addressed by Vice President Pence .
If the VP Pence gathering get the attention of the governor Monday , he was booed again in Dayton when President Trump mentioned his name at a rally in Vandalia , outside of Dayton , Ohio ( see video below ) .
Earlier in the Trump rally , Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted was warming up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , twice – once when he encouraged Trump supporters to don masks with Trump ’ s name on them and again when he mentioned the Ohio governor and his wife ( see video below ) .
During the semiweekly COVID presser on Tuesday , Husted said of the day , before that , he maintained six feet of distance and wore a mask when appropriate – but the picture ( right ) shows otherwise .
Boos for Husted seemed to stem from the crowd ’ s displeasure for mandated mask wearing .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked DeWine about his sinking approval and boos from his own party : Since a high point of 81 percent in April , your approval rating for handling COVID has seen the sixth biggest drop in the country – as of late August possibly as low as 53 % approving – and it continues to drop .
Yesterday Lt .
Governor was booed a couple times warming up for President Trump , who later announced your name to a chorus of boos .
Now , obviously this isn ’ t a popularity contest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who oppose your direction , the number of judges who have called orders illegal , and the most recent announcement by a Republican representative of a bill that seeks to strike down the state of emergency – as in any war , have you begun to define an exit strategy ?
You continue to say that Ohio is open… but businesses are operating at less than 50 % and many will not survive , taking health insurance and health security away from thousands of Ohioans .
Since your oath of office compels you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure people don ’ t get sick – what is the metric , not emotion , but metric that will cause you to listen to the growing number of people telling you to change directions ?
The full question and answer are contained in the video below .
The Governor said in response that he is used to being booed and that he and his administration continue to rely on the best science and recommendations to drive policies .
In March the state of emergency was declared because the Governor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a phenomenon that never happened .
DeWine ’ s experts said Ohioans didn ’ t mitigate we ’ d see a peak of 62,000 cases a day , and if they did mitigate , 2,000 .
DeWine said that COVID would be 20 times deadlier than the flu .
During a March 27 press conference , then-health director Amy Acton said “ [ t ] here is no health care system in the world that can take on this virus as it was built .
When you talk six- to ten-thousand new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in three days .
You could fill hospitals in a week.
” The administration asked for 14 days to “ flatten the curve ” and give hospitals time to ramp up capacity .
As of September 23 , Ohio is entering day 197 under restrictions from Governor DeWine , Lt .
Governor Husted and Ohio Department of Health .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Mike DeWine .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Babies Lives Matter Backs Down BLM

Babies Lives Matter Backs Down BLM

Venture Richmond has canceled plans to paint a “ Black Lives Matter ” mural on Grace Street in Richmond .
The change in plans came two weeks after local businessman Mike Dickinson submitted a permit request to paint a “ Baby Lives Matter ” mural on Hamilton Street in front of a Planned Parenthood office .
“ They were going to have ‘ Black Lives Matter ’ painted downtown on Grace Street , ” Dickinson said .
“ So when I saw that , I thought that if we ’ re going to have an honest conversation about lives and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be honest about it and put ‘ Baby Lives Matter ’ in front of Planned Parenthood .
Because if black lives truly do matter they would be a lot angrier at Planned Parenthood .
Planned Parenthood , they kill a lot of babies in general , but especially black babies.
” Dickinson is running to represent Richmond ’ s 1st District on the city council .
“ Venture Richmond has withdrawn the City application for a temporary BLM street mural .
We were eager to show support with this mural for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice initiatives , and we remain committed to that , ” Deputy Executive Director Anedra Bourne told The Virginia Star in an email on Monday .
Venture Richmond is an arts and tourism-focused non-profit that has local businessmen and city politicians on its board .
Dickinson filed his request for a permit on September 1 .
Seven days later after a closed meeting with city lawyers , the Richmond Planning Commission voted to rescind Venture Richmond ’ s permit for their mural , according to VPM .
On September 18 , Venture Richmond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Star he spoke with someone on the planning commission about the closed meeting .
“ They told me that the city attorney was going to stop the Black Lives Matter mural and send it back to them because it was going to open the door for everybody to paint whatever kind of art they wanted to and the city would have to approve it.
” Dickinson doesn ’ t think the city will allow him to paint his mural , but he said , “ I ’ m going to keep on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canceled its request : “ The time that the overall process has taken since our initial efforts in June ( including a second consideration by this body [ Monday ] ) , combined with the many stipulations attached to such a mural , has lead us to understand that our downtown community is best served by shifting our resources to other areas.
” Bourne added , “ We remain eager to carry forth work in the community that supports downtown businesses – especially small businesses – affected by COVID and by a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number one goal now is to encourage people to come downtown to further patronize our downtown businesses , the great majority of whom remain open and are in need of our support.
” Dickinson said , “ If government is going to allow the use of roadways to convey political messages , then they should allow every message to be conveyed .
It can ’ t just be one message , or one pet view , or one limited view , it should be everybody ’ s view .
If we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ to be painted , then we should allow ‘ Baby Lives Matter ’ , ‘ Blue Lives Matter ’ , ‘ Dancer Lives Matter . '
” “ If you want to go to the SPCA it should have ‘ Cat Lives Matter , ' ” Dickinson added .
“ It should be open to everybody .
And government should not be using the platform of government to push certain views that not everyone agrees with.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] Photo “ Black Lives Matter Street Mural ” by Cmichel67 .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Steve Bannon Explains How Florida is the Key to a Trump Victory on November Third and How the Dems P

Steve Bannon Explains How Florida is the Key to a Trump Victory on November Third and How the Dems Plan to Steal It

Live from Virginia Tuesday 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 Steve Bannon to the show .
During the show , Bannon reiterated that it was time for all Trump supporters to step up and make getting out the vote their primary objective .
He goes on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steal the vote after a Trump victory on November third and that Florida is the key .
Fredericks : Joining us now is Steven K. Bannon .
Thanks for being with us Steve .
Bannon : Well thanks , John .
I think this is the power of The John Fredericks Radio Network .
On a dime , you can flip and say hey , let ’ s just go do it live .
It was very powerful last night .
I just got the report that 20 million viewers in China last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They had GNews and GTV team here and Luda who is their big personality .
He live-streamed the thing to a massive audience in China .
I heard the live streaming that they did from the club was huge .
So it was quite an event last night .
I want to thank you for being there and doing the live radio broadcast because I think that added a lot to it .
The whole sense of it .
It was a great night .
And the President ’ s big hunk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things .
He totally beat down on the Chinese Communist Party .
He talked about economic nationalism and bringing the imperative of bringing jobs back .
And man he really went off on this voting fraud thing .
I think the President is very focused on what exactly is going to happen .
He ’ s going to win on election day and win big with the real vote .
And they ’ ve got to reverse that .
They are going to use all means necessary to reverse the fact of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is completely woke to that .
We ’ re going to do polls to open the show today on War Room Pandemic .
But the President is obviously very very focused on this now .
And he ’ s focused on the details and the granularity .
And he was talking about things happening in Michigan .
Things we talked about on your show afterward .
The issues in Michigan .
The issues in Pennsylvania .
He ’ s very much into the granularity of this .
Fredericks : By extending these mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraudulent .
You look for instance you take Wisconsin , the ballot had to be there and it ’ s up to the person voting .
You are not an idiot .
You apply for the ballot and you get it and you mail it back in time .
But it had to be there by 8 pm on election night .
Now a judge has extended it for six days .
So its got ta be postmarked but it can take six days to get there .
Which means I can mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the polls have closed .
And now Michigan has got 2 weeks , 14 days .
So Steve it almost seems like the Democrats are doing is they want an extension so they can see how many votes they need to win .
And then they ’ ll just manufacture them or find them in a box .
Doesn ’ t it appear that way or is it just me ?
Bannon : It ’ s not appearing .
This is what they are doing .
Let ’ s go back in time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fredericks Radio Network helped us launch War Room Pandemic .
Why did we start focusing on this back in the spring ?
We pride ourselves of being the signal not the noise .
The one thing I notice is these Democratic primaries .
Nobody was voting .
They were all doing it by mail .
And they didn ’ t have a system set up to handle it .
This is why in this city that we are sitting in , their primaries which Republicans had nothing to do with .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the mail-in votes in Brooklyn were tossed out .
These are Democrats tossing their own votes out because they were illegitimate or couldn ’ t meet the standards ro be certified .
20 percent in Manhattan .
So I started noticing this and said oh my god .
This is going to be it .
And I started really focusing on the messaging they were doing on mainstream media .
What the Democrats do is they always overplay their hand .
Don ’ t push Mayor Garland because Hillary is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more progressive judge once she ’ s in there .
Ginsberg , don ’ t step down .
When Hillary wins President Clinton will get two picks her first year right ?
They always overplay their hands .
They can ’ t help themselves .
Here what they were doing is they were traumatizing their base .
Whereas on Pandemic and your show you and I disagree .
Jack Maxey disagrees .
We have a reasonable conversation .
We lay out all terms and people make their own judgments .
If you look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their base with really not giving them the information .
69 percent don ’ t want to go to a polling place .
They understand they have a horrible fact right now .
They can ’ t get people actually out to vote on election day .
And in doing that they meet in a mad panic to come up with a plan to essentially manufacture enough votes so that they can reverse the fact that Donald Trump is going to win on election day .
This is why it ’ s unique @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats .
And this is why it ’ s so important .
I tell people look , even if Trump ’ s not your guy , just to keep the continuation of our Republic you have to back Trump ’ s victory on game day .
Joe Biden will never take office .
We ’ ll fight that tooth and nail .
But you are talking about an illegitimate , un-elected guy and the whole administration they are trying to push forward .
You just nailed it .
They are changing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can .
By the way , is you haven ’ t seen the worse yet .
They are going to get in there and get into the ballots themselves .
They intend to keep counting until they win .
That ’ s why they got social media talking about it .
That ’ s why they ’ ve got Facebook talking about it .
Go to Zero Hedge where the lead story there is about how social media will be taking off voices they feel are violent .
In other words , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come they are going to have all opportunity to get BLM and Antifa up .
But when conservative groups try to start rallying people to come out to show the support for the President that there is no anarchy or chaos , that ’ s all going to get taken down .
This is a three-part .
They got the legal part .
They ’ ve got the street muscle which is all these rioters and protesters .
And they ’ ve got the most important and powerful which is the social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use this as the hammer to crush Trump .
And the smartest guy they ’ ve got Michael Bloomberg and here ’ s the tell .
He got Hawk Fish and then he realized they had a problem when they put these reports out .
And they realized Trump would win on election night and they knew immediately that ’ s a problem because Bloomberg can count .
They got Hawk Fish out there to do the analysis .
They think Trump will get 404 electoral votes on the evening of November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say no if you count all the votes in a week Biden wins with 280 electoral votes .
He ’ ll win when you really count .
More importantly this is what connects the dots .
The $ 100,000,000 .
dollars that Bloomberg came up with last week was to flood the zone with Get Out the Vote because Bloomberg knows that 11 o ’ clock on the third in Florida it could be game , set , match .
And so Bloomberg is forcing it .
This is why every supporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida you ’ ve got to turn it up because Bloomberg understands that that ’ s the lynchpin to this thing .
Bannon : Florida on the evening of the third .
Bloomberg now has Hawk Fish out there to spouting this that Trump ’ s going to get 404 electoral votes .
That ’ s a huge problem .
They call it the red mirage and the blue shift is going to come .
The blood-red fact or the bold red fact is that Trump will be winning and essentially winning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue theft as they come in and try to use the courts to basically count the votes they want to count .
They want to count the votes .
And they are going to be coming in by the pound .
They ’ ve got ballot harvesting .
They ’ ve got all this stuff .
They are going to sow total chaos .
And that ’ s why Trump supporters have got to the ramparts today !
Not tomorrow .
Put the golf clubs away .
Put the tennis rackets away .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that stuff .
You ’ ve got to get engaged today because this is going to be a long nasty fight .
Listen to the full show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Virginia House: We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ History

The Virginia state Senate Committee on Local Government passed by for the day a House bill that would authorize localities to remove , relocate or alter memorials for war veterans , including the Civil War .
Through a voice vote , House Bill ( HB ) 5030 was passed by for the day with the understanding that the committee chair will write a letter to the Department of Historic Resources and the Attorney General ’ s office for a better understanding on the memorials and of any potential legal ramifications from the bill .
“ I think my frustration is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are talking about censoring our history , ” Sen. Amanda Chase ( R-Chesterfield ) said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ That is what is at stake here .
Under no circumstance do I believe that we should censor our history , it is what it is and we need to be truthful about it.
” Chase , who voted in support of passing the bill by for the day , vowed to oppose any legislation that would censor the country ’ s history in any shape or form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already taken down back up if elected as governor .
Specifically , the bill would give authority to localities to remove , relocate or alter all memorials or statues for war veterans from every war on the locality ’ s public property .
The legislation also allows for a locality to petition a circuit court judge with proper jurisdiction for an advisory referendum to be held on proposed action with a memorial or statue .
During the committee meeting Del .
Delores McQuinn ( D-Chesterfield ) , the bill ’ s sponsor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill was to ensure that individuals do not try to remove memorials in a dangerous fashion , specifically referring to an incident in Portsmouth where a man was injured when protestors dismantled a Confederate monument .
Under the bill , an existing enactment clause excluding the removal of a monument of Confederate general Stonewall Jackson on the campus of Virginia Military Institute would be repealed .
What the bill does not require , however , is for a local governing body to call a public hearing so that citizens of a locality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can offer their opinions .
Additionally , the bill does not say where the war veteran memorials would be moved to if a locality decided to remove it .
“ I understand and can appreciate what Delegate McQuinn was trying to accomplish , ” Sen. Joe Morrissey ( D-Richmond City ) said in an interview with The Star .
“ The biggest hurdle for getting the bill passed from some of the other [ Senators ] was the barring of people from giving public comment and that is probably going to need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passing by for the day is fatal to the bill , but it is still possible for the legislation to be taken up again and passed .
There is currently no timetable for when HB 5030 will be considered by the Local Government Committee again .
If the bill does end up passing during the special session it would go into effect on January 1 , 2021 .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monument ” by Doug Kerr .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Trump Intends to Visit Virginia After Denouncing Gov. Northam and Endorsing Bob Good

President Donald Trump announced his intentions to visit Virginia after denouncing Governor Ralph Northam and endorsing congressional candidate Bob Good .
Trump tweeted his remarks on the first day of Virginia ’ s early voting and submission of absentee ballots , September 18 .
“ Voting starts in Virginia TODAY , and we are going to WIN .
You have a crazy Governor who wants to take away your guns , which he will do without me in office .
He is in favor of executing babies after birth – this isn ’ t late-term abortion , this is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northam signed various gun regulations and “ red flag ” laws into effect this year , further limiting gun purchasing and ownership .
The governor also issued controversial statements about abortion in a radio interview last year .
After the delivery of a third-trimester baby , Northam stated the baby would “ be kept comfortable ” while parents decided whether or not to resuscitate it .
The president also endorsed Good during a series of other tweeted endorsements for Republican candidates in historically-blue states : Virginia and Minnesota .
“ Bob Good ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressman for Virginia !
He is strong on the Economy , Law Enforcement , Life and our brave Military & Vets , and he will always protect your Second Amendment .
Bob has my Complete and Total Endorsement !
# VA05 ” Good ousted incumbent Denver Riggleman ( R-VA-5 ) , and now faces off against Democratic candidate Dr. Cameron Webb .
This year is the first in Virginian history that citizens can vote early in-person .
The General Assembly also extended early voting from seven days to 45 days due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers approved Northam ’ s budget amendment to provide $ 2 million in prepaid postage and drop boxes for absentee ballots .
Republican leaders forecasted the dangerous possibilities of ballot harvesting and late voting .
Even with the ongoing pandemic , polling officials reported a record number of in-person voters .
Absentee ballot requests have gone up as well .
The last day to request an absentee ballot is October 23 .
Early voting ends the Saturday before Election Day , November 3 .
President Trump last visited Virginia on August 22 where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Policy conference .
Trump and Joe Biden have their first debate next Tuesday , September 29 at 9:00 p.m .
ET .
Topics will include the Supreme Court nominations , COVID-19 , and the nationwide riots .
The two remaining presidential debates will occur October 15 in Nashville , Tennessee and October 22 in Miami , Florida .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Donald Trump ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--‘Midnight Rockets’: Whistleblower Lawsuit Reveals Toxic Releases by Ohio Nuclear Plant

A whistleblower lawsuit filed by former workers at an Ohio nuclear plant has revealed new details about disturbing practices during the plaintiffs ’ tenures at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant ( PORTS ) , including the alarming process — dubbed “ midnight rockets ” — of releasing toxic chemicals into the atmosphere .
According to the suit , “ PORTS would regularly and purposefully vent raw UF6 [ uranium hexafluoride ] , transuranics , heavy metals , and other toxic chemicals into the atmosphere from the roof of the process buildings.
” Filed against U.S. Department of Energy nuclear fuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District of Ohio , Eastern Division , Walburn , et al , v. Centrus Energy Corp. , et al alleges criminal conduct , gross negligence , poisoning of nuclear workers , and contamination of Ohio communities in Pike , Scioto and neighboring counties with radioactive isotopes , causing cancer clusters , injuries , sickness and death , as well as loss of property values .
After the plant was fully brought online in 1956 , PORTS quickly became the single-largest electricity consumer in history .
PORTS required massive amounts of electricity in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cold War , then later on for nuclear power plants .
According to the plaintiffs , the amount of government-approved nuclear and chemical wastes discharged by the site to the air , water and soil through intentional releases from 1954 up until the present day was shocking .
According to a report from the Lawrence Livermore laboratory , the plant was contaminated with various radioactive materials , including uranium isotopes neptunium and plutonium , and toxic substances — including arsenic , beryllium , and chromium — have been detected .
One uranium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the PORTS plants and is approximately 10,000 times more radioactive than the plant ’ s profit-generating isotope , uranium-235 ( used in nuclear reactor fuel ) .
In a meeting held by the Department of Energy ( DOE ) at the Comfort Inn in Piketon , Ohio — referred to by local whistleblowers and activists as the “ Comfort Inn Hearing ” — former Assistant Secretary of Energy David Michaels , admitted : “ It is my understanding that the Department of Energy has known since 1953 and 1954 that there was plutonium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neptunium and transuranic contamination in the reactor feed that came from , was transferred from Paducah.
” When whistleblowers ( now plaintiffs ) Jeffrey Walburn and Charles “ Chick ” Lawson worked there , the PORTS plant received shipments which were labeled as either low-enriched uranium or “ natural ” uranium — both of which were allegedly contaminated with unnatural and highly toxic radioactive isotopes such as plutonium and neptunium .
As little as 1/1,000,000 of a gram of plutonium is enough to cause fatalities when ingested or inhaled .
The contaminated uranium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia ) and other U.S. nuclear sites , such as the Honeywell Uranium Conversion facility in Metropolis , Ill. via the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky .
The PORTS plant was built to enrich uranium ; it was not built to process plutonium , neptunium , fission products , etc.
, which were byproducts of recycled uranium from nuclear reactors .
However , the suit alleges , contact with plutonium-laced shipments has occurred since the very beginning of PORTS ’ operations ; the discharges and releases occurred in sync with these shipments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These frequent releases were always done at night , and thus acquired the name ‘ Midnight Rockets ’ … These releases carried highly radioactive materials wherever the winds would take them … Security personnel were required to be up on the roof when these unannounced intentional releases were performed , and they would be covered in the escaping materials.
” An internal investigative report from the DOE Office of Oversight , Environment , Safety and Health acknowledged certain risks of “ airborne hazards ” : “ Due to the monetary and strategic value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liquid and solid wastes containing uranium were processed through a solvent extraction recovery process in X-705 .
These operations concentrated radioactive materials , including technetium and transuranic compounds , and posed airborne hazards from both concentrated liquids and oxide powder .
The uranium oxide ( U3O8 ) produced from the calciner at the end of the recovery process provided potential exposure to insoluble uranium and transuranics .
Transuranics were a special problem in 1965 , 1966 , 1975 , and 1976 , when recycled foreign reactor feed in the form of UNH was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raffinate waste was initially discharged to an onsite ditch leading to the Scioto River .
Later , the X-701B settling pond was constructed ; this reduced offsite contaminated effluents but increased onsite soil and groundwater contamination.
” Since operations began in the ’ 50s , PORTS ’ environmental monitoring program was insufficient to prevent the amounts and types of toxins the plant discharged to local bodies of water .
In the ’ 70s , PORTS installed new wastewater treatment systems in order to reduce the levels of radioactive materials released to local waterways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system in place , large quantities of toxins and radioactive materials still leaked out , contaminating the surrounding environment .
Liquid discharges were routine , according to the whistleblowers , and Ohio ’ s waterways — particularly the Scioto river via the Little Beaver Creek — have long been contaminated .
“ People who live near the plant say they had no idea all this was going on , ” the Dayton Daily News reported in 2006 .
“ Children swam in the creeks , and churches held baptisms in Big Run Creek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlined landfills and near a polluted groundwater plume as it passes through the plant grounds on its way to the Scioto River.
” In June 2020 , the Environmental Protection Agency amended and increased the maximum allowable liquid discharges from the PORTS “ West Ditch ” and other runoff streams to over 10 million gallons per day .
According to the whistleblowers , Midnight Rocket airborne releases became common practice at the plant .
The Midnight Rockets were launched when operators needed to get rid of material fast .
They would start an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then pause and wait for certain indicators to lower , then the PORTS workers would open the valve all the way again .
The whistleblowers claim that a pungent cloud of radioactive debris was apparent .
Exactly how many times Midnight Rockets occurred is unknown , as they were considered “ inappropriate releases ” and were not documented .
Plaintiff Chick Lawson , the former Occupational Safety and Health Administration-certified investigator for the site , said in an interview : “ We had thousands of seals that were leaking in these process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire plant site.
” Lawson claims that plant managers allowed further airborne releases by running 80-foot-tall exhaust fans ( which ran up the sides of the buildings ) around the clock , because the compressor seals were leaking , and these leaks could cause the interior of the buildings to become extremely hazardous with radioactive substances and hydrogen fluoride gas .
The seals were failing faster than they could be repaired , so management would allow the continuous venting of uranium hexafluoride and plutonium-containing transuranics to the environment .
Lawson also pointed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tiger Team Report , ” which is one of many critical evidentiary exhibits in the civil RICO lawsuit against plant contractors and managers .
On page 10 of the Tiger Team Report , Lawson exclaims : “ The operators were wiring around the seal alarms !
Because if those alarms go off , we have to leave the building .
Because it ’ s going to slow down production , what they did was just wire around the alarms … so much for safety !
” The operator of the PORTS plant during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Goodyear Atomic ( now-defunct ) .
Former Goodyear Atomic personnel could not be reached for comment , and a spokesperson for Goodyear Atomic ’ s successor at PORTS , Lockheed Martin , stated , “ It is our policy not to comment on pending litigation.
” Seamus Bruner is a reporter at Just the News .
Photo “ Nuclear Plant ” by FirstEnergy Corp CC BY-ND 2.0


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Gov. DeWine Discusses Ohio COVID Updates

In an emailed press release , DeWine ’ s office announced the creation of a new demographic dashboard which will allow those interested to break down COVID cases by race and ethnicity , as well as age and county .
DeWine said the “ dashboard will help better track health inequities and disparities ” and that “ this data will also help put critical decisions into context for policymakers.
” DeWine encouraged Ohioans to speak with contact tracers should they try to get in touch .
Noting that “ contact tracing slows the spread of COVID-19 by notifying people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advising them to monitor their health for signs and symptoms ; helping those who may have been exposed get tested ; asking people to self-isolate or self-quarantine if appropriate ; helping people identify the resources they need to safely stay at home.
” The release noted that car manufacturer Ford will be “ donating 2 million medical grade face masks to the state of Ohio for healthcare providers , first responders , underserved populations , and senior living communities , ” as part of their commitment to donate 100 million masks by 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the company is “ currently manufacturing 2.5 million medical-grade masks a week for its employees and at-risk communities , is growing the number of mask-making machines by mid- to late-October to increase production and deliver on its goal.
” Also touched on was Small Business Week , which according to the release “ celebrates America ’ s entrepreneurs and small business owners .
Ohio is home to more than 965,000 small businesses that account for 99.6 percent of the businesses in the state .
Together they employ 2.2 million people , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total employees.
” Small businesses have been thoroughly impacted by the struggling economy , with countless businesses forced to close down due to the pandemic .
A survey reported on by NBC 4 shows that as many as 80 % of Ohio restaurants will not break even this year due to restrictions and the overall economic downturn .
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--2020-09-23--Marsha Blackburn Discusses Her New Book, SCOTUS Confirmations, and Violent Mobs

Live from Virginia Tuesday 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 Repubclian US State Senator of Tennessee , Marsha Blackburn to the program .
During the show , Blackburn discussed what inspired her to write her new book The Mind of a Conservative Woman : Seeking the Best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the two potential SCOTUS women nominees .
Later on , she addressed the violent mobs and urged those with differing opinions to come to the public square for a debate .
Fredericks : Senator Blackburn it ’ s always an honor to have you on .
Blackburn : It is so good to be with you , thank you so much .
And my goodness , get out of New York without any problems .
My friends that live there say they can not believe it .
They talk regularly about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor job that DeBlasio has done through the pandemic .
Fredericks : Well it ’ s like escape from New York , Senator Blackburn .
You know you come here and it ’ s like a ghost town .
He ’ s shutting the entire city down , it ’ s going into bankruptcy .
You still can ’ t go into a restaurant .
Most businesses are closed .
When I got to Penn Station , I took Amtrak on Sunday night , normally it takes about 30 minutes to get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday night it took me 30 minutes , because there are no cabs on the street .
There are no cars .
It ’ s empty .
There ’ s no one there .
It ’ s like a ghost town .
It ’ s incredible .
I don ’ t know what DeBlasio intends to do .
Who ’ s going to pay these bills , or how he expects people to live .
But the city is gripped in fear .
I ’ ve never seen anything quite like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to the Supreme Court and the potential choice of the president on Friday or Saturday .
He says it ’ s going to be a female .
Senator Blackburn , can we get a Supreme Court nominee confirmed before November 3rd ?
Blackburn : Absolutely we can get this nominee confirmed .
Bear in mind , the process is generally about a 60-day process .
Kavanaugh took 89 days .
We also know that it is sometimes as short as John Paul Stephens , which was 19 days .
But John the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mind is that the president and the Senate will do their constitutional duty as they have in election years 29 previous times .
You would have to go back to 1888 to find a time when the president and the Senate of the same party left a vacancy on the Supreme Court .
So no , we will fill this .
We will do our due diligence .
We ’ re going to be thorough and thoughtful .
We ’ re going to put forward a nominee .
We ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re going to confirm the nominee .
Fredericks : Tell me about who you think the president is going to choose .
Obviously he said it was a woman , the Catholic , who ’ s my choice .
I ’ m Catholic also .
Amy Coney Barrett seems to be the front runner .
But he says there ’ s a top-five choice .
Do you have any thoughts at all on that , Senator Blackburn ?
Blackburn : Amy Coney Barrett would be a stellar choice .
What a wonderful and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lagoa from Florida , who was the first Cuban-American woman on the floor of the Supreme Court .
And when she went through her confirmation for the circuit court , she received 80 votes on the Senate floor .
So it would be very difficult for those senators to then turn around and vote against her for a Supreme Court nomination .
And I think they ’ re probably two of the top .
You ’ ve got Joan Larson out of Michigan , who is also one who is up for consideration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I would be comfortable with either choice .
But you know I think that one thing we have to realize is regardless of who of those three were to move forward , what we know is that the Democrats are going to do what they always do to conservative women .
And as you know , John , I just wrote a book about this , and they are going to absolutely skewer that conservative female that gets put forward for the Supreme Court because the left does not think that conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be heard .
And if you ’ re pro-life , pro-family , pro-religion , pro-business , pro-military they want to quiet you and not let that voice be heard .
Not have that discussion .
They would like for women to be of the left and vote in a monolithic block .
Fredericks : Well senator , you certainly have been at the forefront of this for a long time , both being in the House and Congress .
We ’ ve followed your career , you ’ ve been on my show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thank you for that .
Senator Marsha Blackburn with us and has a book out called The Mind of a Conservative Woman : Seeking the Best for Family and Country .
You can get it on Amazon or your favorite bookstore .
She says she wants to reject our society ’ s liberal bias against conservative women and learn how traditional principles will secure a better future .
So senator , very quickly what was your inspiration for the book ?
Blackburn : My inspiration for the book came from working with women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public eye , and maybe they ’ re in elective office , or they are working in a business or they speak up in their community .
And they would always say you know , Marsha , there seems to be a bias from the media and from the public square against conservative women , and how do we fight back ?
How do we represent ourselves ?
And now as we are in the Supreme Court battle , you see it crystallizing for so many people , because before the nominee ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is presented , then already they are pushing back on having a female who is a jurist who comes from the right .
And having that voice heard on the Supreme Court .
And they continue to push back on this .
So the inspiration really is the women that I ’ ve served with .
And Speaker Gingrich wrote the foreword for the book , and I dedicated it to the conservative women that I ’ ve served with at the local , state and federal level .
This country and freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is important that conservative women get in that fight .
And in this time of finding a Supreme Court nominee and confirmation vote , we need to be certain that conservative women are speaking up .
So this book is a great how-to guide .
Fredericks : Senator Blackburn , I want to get to the mobs and Lindsay Graham .
On Monday morning , mobs were banging drums at his home at I think it was like 5 30 a.m..
But then they started banging on his door .
Now , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean he had the opportunity to call the capitol police , who dispersed the crowd .
But his neighbors don ’ t have that opportunity .
When are they going to come to Marsha Blackburn ’ s house ?
Or to anybody ’ s home that they don ’ t like .
What do they do ?
Where are we going with this senator ?
Blackburn : Well this is of concern to everyone .
And of course , those of us that are on the judiciary committee and our staff and our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at security .
You know the death threats .
The personal harm threats that we and our families receive , and people going to a restaurant and people showing up and circling the restaurant and banging on windows and disrupting everyone .
Honestly , John , I don ’ t know what they think this accomplishes and what they think it does to further their cause .
What it does is to cause people to say what do they think they are doing ?
And what right do they have to disrupt me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a discussion , come to the public square .
Our nation and freedom and freedom ’ s cause have been well served for the last 244 years by having a robust , respectful political debate .
So come to the public square and present your case .
Don ’ t get in my face and yell at me , or yell at my family , or yell at my colleagues .
Come have a conversation and honor that tradition of debate in the public square .
But do not go about with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antifa .
Don ’ t act in these radicalized manners .
Fredericks : So what do we do about it ?
I mean , because people see this , and I ’ ve got to be honest with you , senator , you look at what the mobs are doing going to people ’ s homes .
And you ’ re in the suburbs , and a lot of people are texting me and calling in .
When are they going to come to my neighborhood or to my house and what do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a real concern for real people when you have this sort of lawlessness , and you call the capitol police .
But they ’ re not going to do anything , they say stand down .
But an average person living in a suburb in Southern Maryland , Montgomery County , Northern Virginia , Richmond , Tennessee , Nashville , or wherever it may be .
They don ’ t have that option .
What do you do ?
Listen to the full show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Parents Fume Over Kids Turning into Zoom Zombies

The Richmond Public Schools ( RPS ) leadership team presented initial schedule adjustments for all grade levels to its school board during a meeting Monday night .
The board did not vote to adopt any of the proposed scheduling adjustments .
“ I think the challenge that we face as a school division is how do we come up with the best solution that provides enough structure and guardrails to make sure our kiddos don ’ t lose a year of learning and also acknowledges and provides for some level of flexibility for our students and families , ” Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Richmond Times-Dispatch .
Under the current standard schedule , the majority of RPS students across different grade levels partake in virtual learning from around 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring a mix of synchronous , live with the teacher , and asynchronous , independent or self-paced , instruction with several breaks throughout the day .
The schedule adjustments would change a number of things .
The elementary school day is shortened , lunch for all elementary students is at the same time and whole group live instruction ends earlier at 11:50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3-5 with individual or small group work in the afternoon .
For middle school students at schools with four-period and six-period systems , the changes also call for shortening the day and add some dedicated asynchronous time for individualized support .
Schedule changes for high school students split four longer class periods into synchronous and asynchronous portions , allowing kids with afternoon jobs enough time to complete their school work independently .
During the school board meeting , Epp said that the adjustments were being presented to get reactions from board members and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or two , get feedback from parents and teachers to see if the changes would be beneficial or more disruptive .
After numerous comments during last week ’ s meeting , parents and teachers , and even some students , issued more comments this week on the school day length and schedule to be read by the board .
The public comments were mixed : some asked for changes , while others did not .
“ I am writing to support any motion put forth to decrease the number hours students are required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” wrote Hannah Abby , a parent of a kindergarten RPS student .
“ We are at the end of the second week and six hours a day [ of online learning ] for my child in kindergarten is pushing her too much .
She is doing her best , but I ’ m afraid I ’ m asking too much of her to be in front of a screen for that long.
” One RPS student wrote that students are unable to focus after being on screen for so many hours in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning and participation decreases in the early afternoon because kids get burnt out .
Nicole Nelson , a teacher at the Overby-Sheppard Elementary school , took the opposite stance .
“ I am not in support of shortening the school day because I believe we have a duty to teach and educate our nation ’ s children no matter the circumstances , ” Nelson wrote .
“ We must consider choosing a path and putting all that we have into it because we will be successful if given the time and chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ophthalmologist with the Children ’ s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University , told The Star the main issue that may arise for students is a possibility of eye strain if they don ’ t take adequate breaks .
Silverstein recommends children apply the 20-20-20 rule , every 20 minutes you look at something 20-feet away for 20 seconds , not looking at other electronics during breaks and not using any devices two hours to an hour before bed .
The full presentation from the leadership team can be found here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school board meeting is on the RPS Facebook page .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Chesapeake Passes Second Amendment Sanctuary Resolution

The Chesapeake City Council voted 6-1 with one “ present ” vote to approve a Second Amendment sanctuary city resolution on Tuesday evening .
The council also voted to add a clause to the resolution asking “ the Governor of Virginia and the General Assembly to preserve the authority of local governing bodies to make legislative decisions to the best interest of the citizens.
” There was robust public discussion both supporting and opposing the resolution , including by Virginia Citizens Defense League ( VCDL ) President Phillip Van Cleave .
The VCDL drafted sample non-binding resolutions similar to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cleave has been lobbying grassroots gun rights owners across the state to support the Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution in their own areas .
Van Cleave said protecting the right to bear arms is the key to protecting other rights .
“ We ’ re looking for some sanity in our government instead of the insanity we ’ ve been seeing in parts of Virginia and other parts of the country , ” Van Cleave told the council .
Councilmember Robert Ike introduced the resolution .
Before the meeting , Ike told The Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the thought of a citizen in the Commonwealth of Virginia who is authorized to carry a concealed weapon , or even if they are authorized to just simply open carry , having to be concerned with crossing a geographic boundary on a map.
” Ike said Virginia used to have state-level laws preempting local firearms laws .
However , in 2020 the General Assembly authorized local jurisdictions to pass their own gun regulations .
“ They want this mishmash of laws across the Commonwealth , ” Ike said .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] did it other than to harass law-abiding gun owners .
Nothing else makes sense .
That ’ s why I brought this forward , to tell the citizens of the Commonwealth and of Chesapeake especially that our council will not subject them to that harassment.
” “ I ’ m of the personal belief that the right to life means very little without the right to defend your life , ” Councilmember Don Carey said during the meeting .
However , Carey said that the council had already taken oaths to uphold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
“ I don ’ t see how this resolution does anything different than what we ’ ve already said we ’ re going to do.
” Carey continued , “ I ’ m not a fan of passing resolutions just for the sake of passing resolutions .
Laws are meant to govern the unrighteous , not the righteous .
What unrighteous thing does this fix in Chesapeake ?
Nothing , because we ’ ve already said what we ’ re going to do and what we ’ re not going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for that very reason alone , I do not see a need to pass something like this , ” Carey said .
“ But that does not mean that I am trying to come after anybody ’ s rights to bear arms .
I am saying that we have already resolved that we ’ re going to do a thing , now hold us accountable to that thing.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City of Chesapeake Government .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--TRUMPDATE: Latest from the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for September 23

Welcome to a new Wednesday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update !
We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 ( and after…if need be ! )
.
It ’ s officially 41 days until the election on November 3 – and six days until President Trump and Joe Biden square off in the first presidential debate .
It appears President Trump will have enough support from Republicans in the Senate to vote and potentially confirm the president ’ s nominee for the Supreme Court vacancy left by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Susan Collins ( R-ME ) and Lisa Murkowski ( R-AK ) in recent days commented publicly that they would vote on a nominee for the nation ’ s high court after the upcoming election .
With Republicans in the Senate allowed up to three abstentions or down votes , the focus turned to Senator Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) .
Romney announced Tuesday that he intends to vote on whoever the nominee is , assuring The White House that , presumably , there will be no roadblocks in the process .
The president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Saturday .
Not only will President Trump potentially reveal his Supreme Court nominee on Friday , but later that night the president will be speaking at a rally in Virginia .
Details emerged Tuesday on the rally which will take place at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport .
Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and the event will begin at 9:00 p.m. You can request up to two tickets to attend by going to events.donaldjtrump.com .
Supporters can expect to hear from President Trump about his Supreme Court nominee , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president recently spoke to supporters of Republican candidate Bob Good , voicing his endorsement for Good in his race against Cameron Webb for Virginia ’ s 5th District congressional seat .
But President Trump will likely speak on the races involving Daniel Gade and Scott Taylor as well .
The Virginia Star will have full coverage of the president ’ s rally and speech this weekend .
The rally will be broadcast online for free , much like other Team Trump campaign events in the lead up to the 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Facebook and Twitter accounts , on the Donald J. Trump Facebook , YouTube , and Twitch accounts , and at www.donaldjtrump.com/online .
Check back every day for more Trump Virginia campaign updates !
If you want to join the volunteer team or if you need signs email John Fredericks or Justin Rice .
To Donate to our Virginia campaign click here .
For more information , or to sign up to become a volunteer , click here .
John Fredericks is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Walz Attends RBG Vigil with ‘Several Hundred’ After Telling Trump, Biden to Limit Events to 250 Peop

Walz Attends RBG Vigil with ‘Several Hundred’ After Telling Trump, Biden to Limit Events to 250 People

Gov .
Tim Walz and his wife , Gwen , attended and spoke at a candlelight vigil Sunday night in remembrance of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who died Friday .
According to Star Tribune reporter Liz Sawyer , “ several hundred ” people gathered at Boom Island in Minneapolis for the event , which was hosted by the left-wing group Gender Justice .
A Facebook event page for the vigil states that 597 people planned to attend and another 3,400 were interested .
The page makes no mention of maximum attendance requirements , but says masks were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden and President Donald Trump to comply with the “ state ’ s COVID-19 safety guidelines ” ahead of their Friday campaign stops in Minnesota .
Under Minnesota ’ s Stay Safe Plan , Walz said the campaign events were not to exceed 25 % capacity , or 250 people .
“ You may be able to increase total attendance if you choose a venue with multiple event spaces with separate capacity limits , as long as you limit each separate space to the lesser of 250 people or 25 % capacity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both campaigns .
“ Attendees must maintain social distancing of at least six feet at all times , including when entering and exiting the event .
Face coverings are required indoors and strongly encouraged outdoors.
” The governor ’ s executive orders also limit indoor and outdoor worship services to 250 people – a requirement that applies to funerals and weddings as well .
Walz said “ it ’ s not just chance ” that “ 200,000 of our fellow Americans are dead ” while speaking during the memorial .
“ It happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said , according to a live-stream of the event provided by Gender Justice .
The governor mentioned the recent campaign events in northern Minnesota , saying some of it was “ good and kind ” and some of it was “ hateful and divisive.
” “ If we ’ re going to say we ’ re going to continue this fight for gender equity , yup , we ’ re going to get political .
If we ’ re going to continue this fight for the idea that you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re going to get pretty political .
If we ’ re going to continue to fight and say ‘ all are welcome here , ’ and all are valued – black , white , brown , or indigenous – yup , we ’ re going to get political with them , ” said Walz .
“ And if they ’ re going to tell us that this nation is those who have and those who have not , and some states that are blue if their people die it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we ’ re going to separate children at the border from their parents and they ’ re going to do those things , they can be damn sure we ’ re going to get political because if there was anything that was clear , Justice Ginsburg ’ s life was a political life , ” he continued .
Alpha News reached out to the governor ’ s office for comment , but did not receive a response .
View more photos of the event below : Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform , and reported for The Daily Caller .
Photo “ Tim Walz ” by Anna Clare Jones .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--Michigan Restaurants Seek Help to Prevent 4,000 Closures

The coming cold weather will hurt restaurants operating at reduced indoor capacity .
The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association ( MRLA ) estimates 4,000 restaurants , or 22 % of those in the state , likely won ’ t survive past February .
Expanded outdoor patio seating and federal loans threw a life preserver to restaurants shut down or forced to operate through curbside service for months .
But federal loans have run dry and those willing to eat outdoors will dwindle as the temperature drops .
“ The hospitality industry in Michigan finds itself in a precarious position this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions indoors threaten its very existence , ” MRLA President and CEO Justin Winslow said in a statement .
MRLA suggested policy solutions to help Michigan ’ s restaurants and hotels survive the winter .
• Allow Michigan ’ s meetings and banquets centers statewide the same access to market as restaurants at 50 percent capacity indoors with appropriate social distancing and sanitization standards • Allow restaurants to retain the expanded capacity via outdoor seating by allowing them to safely winterize those spaces while extending their temporary alcohol service permits • Allow for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and banquet centers if the data reported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services falls below a 3 % positive test rate over an extended period • Restore Pure Michigan funding to encourage the restoration of safe travel • Promote and subsidize the requisite education and training necessary to earn credentials associated with the MRLA ServSafe Dining Commitment “ Michigan ’ s hospitality industry , through innovation and outright grit , has risen to the challenge of providing safe service for its guests and employees , ” Winslow said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data validates the relative safety of our operations.
” As of Monday , state data show 10 COVID-19 outbreaks from restaurants , defined as two or more cases linked by place and time indicating a shared exposure .
“ We have provided realistic solutions and stand ready to work collaboratively with the governor , the legislature and local leaders across the state to help safely transition this industry indoors as the season changes , ” Winslow continued .
“ We must act quickly as nearly 5,000 small businesses and well over 100,000 jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s hospitality industry , the state ’ s second-largest employer , is hurting , according to new MRLA data finding : • Nearly 2/3 of hotels remain below 50 % occupancy , which is the commonly understood profitability threshold .
• 62 % of restaurant operators report increased operational costs since the onset of COVID-19 , mostly due to new Personal Protection Equipment and sanitization standards • Hotel unemployment remains at 38 % , meaning that four in 10 hotel employees who worked in the industry in February are no longer employed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operating with 1/3 fewer employees than year-to-date • 74 % of Michigan operators say they don ’ t expect their restaurant ’ s sales to return to pre-coronavirus levels within the next six months Before COVID-19 , Good Truckin ’ Diner in Reotown could serve about 25 people inside , usually leaving a winding line down South Washington Ave. With state-mandated restrictions , that ’ s now about 16 people .
Their outdoor patio adds four more tables .
Mandy Westfall , a server , said they plan to keep their patio open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still are willing to sit outside , warmed by heaters .
“ Without the patio , it ’ s going to affect [ us ] greatly , ” Westfall said .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .
Previously , he worked as a financial analyst at Pepsi .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--CNN Fails to Accurately Report on Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s July 2 Decision to Shut Down the Cit

CNN Fails to Accurately Report on Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s July 2 Decision to Shut Down the City’s Bars

When Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced at a July 2 press conference that he was shutting down all bars in the city for at least 14 days , temporarily shutting down entertainment and event venues , and reducing restaurant capacities from 75 percent to 50 percent , he made no mention of an internal email sent within the Metro Davidson County Health Department just two days earlier on June 30 that stated there had been only 19 cases of COVID-19 traced to bars in the city , just three cases traced to restaurants , but 1,159 cases traced to long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a whopping 1,251 traced to the construction industry since March .
The Tennessee Star has obtained copies of that and several other emails exchanged between the Metro Health Department and Mayor Cooper ’ s office in June and July .
The email dated June 30 , 2020 sent from Leslie Waller in the Metro Health Department at 2:31 pm to Benjamin Eagles in Mayor Cooper ’ s office contained this message from Waller with the accompanying COVID-19 tracing data : Late Tuesday night , Fox 17 reported this update to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an interview of Rep. Mark Green ( R-TN-07 ) about Mayor Cooper ’ s handling of coronavirus reporting : Todd ’ s update comes two months and 22 days after the June 30 email that originally asserted there were 1,251 coronavirus cases traceable to construction , and serves to heighten the impression that the reliability of coronavirus data provided by the Metro Government is questionable .
You can see the full email exchange at the bottom of page 3 in the attached PDF shows that includes several other emails exchanged between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Office between June 29 , 2020 and July 7 , 2020 : At the time , June 30 , Davidson County had confirmed about 10,000 cases of COVID-19 .
We now know that somewhere between 2.5 percent and 12 percent of those cases , depending on which version of Metro Health data you use , were traced to the construction industry , a little more than 11 percent of those cases were traced to long term care facilities ( LTCF ) and healthcare facilities , two-tenths of one percent were traced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants .
Based on this data , and the internal email from the Metro Health Department asserting that two-tenths of one percent of all COVID-19 cases in Nashville/Davidson County had “ cropped up [ at bars ] in the last week ” Mayor Cooper shut down bars in the city for an initial 14 days from July 3 to July 16 , and then extended another 28 days until August 13 , for a total of 42 days all bars in the city were shut down .
No such shutdown was ordered for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite the fact that , according to the June 30 internal Metro Health email , 2.5 percent to 12 percent of Nashville ’ s COVID-19 cases were traceable to the industry .
Many of the details of these emails were first reported by Dennis Ferrier of Fox 17 in a story that first aired on Wednesday , September 16 , and a follow up story that aired on September Thursday 17 .
Ferrier ’ s story ’ s focused on the factual basis upon which Mayor Cooper decided to announce on July 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars in the city and reducing restaurant capacity from 75 percent to 50 percent .
Subsequent to a story published at CNN on Saturday , September 19 , written by Oliver Darcy , Fox 17 took down the videos of those stories , as well as the written online version of those stories ( written by Fox 17 staff other than Ferrier but based on his broadcast reports ) .
That CNN story , however , is riddled with factual errors , beginning with this claim : The Tennessee Star has obtained a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 reporter Dennis Ferrier that aired on Wednesday , September 16 , and the follow up report by Ferrier that aired on Thursday , September 17 .
In neither of those on-air reports did Ferrier or the Fox 17 announcer use the word “ cover up.
” Here ’ s what the Fox 17 announcer who introduced Ferrier ’ s September 16 report actually said at the beginning of the story : As for the online summaries of Ferrier ’ s report , written by other staffers at Fox 17 , those reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been taken down .
Later in that press conference , WPLN ’ s Blake Farmer asked for details about the mayor ’ s claim of “ record clusters ” around bars .
Dr. Alex Jahangir , chair of the Metro Nashville and Davidson County Government Coronavirus Task Force , responded to that question .
The full transcript of that question and response is as follows : Blake Farmer : Thank you .
This decision to move back to phase two , it feels like the primary issue is the bars .
You talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did you start seeing this ?
And can you give us a little more detail on what kinds of clustering you ’ ve been seeing and over what time period ?
( emphasis added ) Alex Jahangir : Yeah .
Thank you .
Thank you , Blake .
So what I will tell you is Saturday afternoon [ June 27 ] I got a call from one of our leaders of our epidemiologists .
And this is not something that typically happens that I get a call .
They were like hey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And very quickly this is right at the beginning .
They recognized that there was some trend they saw out there they were starting to see that was not typical .
They reached out to me .
Reached out to the mayor .
And all the teams really started working together all weekend to get into the details here .
What we ’ re seeing is there are about at least 10 locations around the city that have had at least a total of 30 people confirmed that have tested positive .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there may be others at these locations that live outside of Davidson County they may have been infected .
So this was atypical , right ?
( emphasis added ) If the data contained in the June 30 email is accurate , 19 cases traceable to bars “ cropped up ” in the week between June 23 and June 30 .
Neither Mayor Cooper nor Dr. Jahingir mentioned “ 19 cases ” nor did they offer any explanation as to what they meant by “ record.
” Apparently , their definition of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zero .
“ Metro Health Department initially said it could not release numbers traced to bars and restaurants before reversing course .
Of more than 21,700 cases in Davidson County , “ more than 80 cases ” have been identified in clusters from restaurants and bars through the city ’ s contact tracing effort , ” Rau noted : CNN ’ s article further erred by falsely claiming that email details about Rau ’ s late July request for data about coronavirus spread in bars and coronavirus spread should have been included in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 on-air reports , which were focused on the data upon which the July 2 decision to shut down the bars was made : You can see the full exchange of emails between reporter Nate Rau and the Metro Health Department , beginning July 28 and ending July 30 , here : On Tuesday night , Ferrier filed another report on Metro Nashville ’ s COVID-19 reporting as it relates to bars and restaurants , this time hearing from Rep. Mark Green , who had a number of questions for Mayor Cooper : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cunningham of the Nashville-based center-right think tank The Beacon Center of Tennessee .
Cunningham said Cooper and members of his administration weren ’ t straightforward enough with their COVID-19 data .
In effect , Cooper hurt local businesses and justified fears that government officials would abuse their power during this long emergency , Cunningham said .
Cunningham also said that , with this news , every bar in the city should open back up .
“ The issue is that the data had showed very few cases from bars , and he knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s the bombshell .
He [ Cooper ] knew that there wasn ’ t an issue with the bars , yet he shut them down , ” Cunningham said .
“ Science only seems to follow the CDC recommendations when it fits his preconceived agenda , and he ’ s just had this vendetta against bars .
Despite the contrary evidence , he basically has cost business owners , performers , and employees of their livelihoods with numbers that were contradictory to what he was saying publicly.
” Chris Butler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Dr .
Alex Jahangir ” by nashville.gov .
Background Photo “ Nashville City Hall ” by euthman .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-23--On Nashville’s List of 49 COVID-19 Case Clusters, Four Percent of Cases Tied to Bars

Of the 2,619 cases accounted for on a list of 49 COVID-19 hotspots in Davidson County connected with 10 or more cases of COVID-19 , 114 – or 4 % – were tied to the six bars on the list .
The list of 49 case clusters in Nashville was released by Metro Public Health officials .
The overwhelming majority of clusters and related cases were tied to locations that involve shared living arrangements over a significant period of time , including 19 long-term care facilities , six correctional facilities and five congregate living facilities such as homeless shelters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The three categories account for 30 of the 49 total case clusters , and 70 percent of the related cases .
The highest case count cluster was at the Tyson Foods meat processing facility in Goodlettsville , accounting for a total of 280 cases .
The second-highest case count was at the Tennessee Prison for Women .
The Nashville Rescue Mission ’ s shelter at the fairgrounds had the third-highest case count , accounting for 156 cases .
Construction sites accounted for 185 of the cases , spread across five locations .
Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundraiser , a sports event and a church retreat , accounted for a total of 115 cases .
Sixteen clusters were connected with 50 or more cases .
Metro health officials said the number of cases linked to bars in Nashville likely is significantly higher because out-of-town visitors would not develop symptoms until after they have left the city and are beyond the reach of contact tracers .
In total , the list included 19 long-term care facilities , six correctional facilities , six bars , five construction sites , five congregate living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commercial warehouses , one office and one apartment complex .
Vivian Jones reports on Tennessee and South Carolina for The Center Square .
Her writing has appeared in the Detroit News , The Hill , and publications of The Heartland Institute .