thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--After City Manager Placed Police Chief On Leave, Portsmouth Ousts City Manager, City Attorney

Portsmouth City Manager Lydia Pettis-Patton resigned Tuesday , one business day after she placed Police Chief Angela Greene on leave , and four months before she was scheduled to retire .
That afternoon , in a special meeting , the Portsmouth City Council confirmed Pettis-Patton ’ s resignation and voted to fire City Attorney Solomon Ashby .
Both votes passed four to three ; White members of the council voted “ aye ” while Black members voted “ nay.
” The resignation and termination are the latest in the drama following felony charges filed against Senator Louise Lucas related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monument .
On Tuesday evening , two separate protests were held in different parts of Portsmouth , according to reporting by WAVY.com .
One group protested the removal of the two city officials , and called for Mayor John Rowe to be fired .
Ashby and Pettis-Patton are both black .
According to WAVY.com , organizers said , “ In a city where those in power have struggled with recognizing the value of Black and Brown people , some in elected office [ have ] resorted to threatening warrants against the former City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminate Portsmouth of its foundation.
” The other group protested the temporary removal of Chief Greene and called for her to be re-instated .
Organizer and local lawyer Tim Anderson wrote , “ [ Greene ] didn ’ t do anything wrong , they suspended her because she charged people that are in power .
She comes here and does her job , and the police department loves her .
She does her job and now they ’ re suspending her .
It ’ s unbelievably outrageous , it ’ s an injustice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the face to the rule of law.
” Anderson is the defendant in a $ 20 million defamation lawsuit filed by Senator Louise Lucas .
Mayor John Rowe told 13NewsNow that Ashby and Pettis-Patton were removed after poor leadership and decision making .
According to Rowe , Ashby said the city could face misdemeanor charges for firing Pettis-Patton .
Rowe said Ashby ’ s advice “ [ culminated ] in an opinion that you can ’ t fire the city manager , that the city manager is bulletproof , and that just does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say why the city wanted to fire Pettis-Patton .
On the afternoon of June 10 , Greene and Lucas met near the monument .
Lucas told Greene that Pettis-Patton had ordered police not to interfere .
“ You heard Dr. Patton tell me that this is [ the protesters ’ ] property , they could go on it.
” Lucas said .
Another bystander said , “ That ’ s what Solomon Ashby told us.
” Greene replied , “ I ’ ll give her a call , but I talked to [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no one is allowed onto the property.
” In an email circulated on Facebook , Pettis-Patton said Greene had reported a conflict of interest related to investigating the June 10 protest .
After determining there were no conflicts of interest , Greene ’ s department charged Senator Louise Lucas and several others with felonies related to damaging the monument .
According to Vice-Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke , Ashby advised Greene not to investigate the incident .
On Friday , Pettis-Patton put Greene on administrative leave .
However , WAVY.com reports that unnamed sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those events .
The Virginia Star has requested comment from all the members of the City Council and from the city ’ s public information officer ; none of them responded by press time .
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Lydia Pettis Patton ” by Lydia Pettis Patton .
Background Photo “ Portsmouth City Council ” by Portsmouth City Council .

Portsmouth City Manager Lydia Pettis-Patton resigned Tuesday, one business day after she placed Police Chief Angela Greene on leave, and four months before she was scheduled to retire. That afternoon, in a special meeting, the Portsmouth City Council confirmed Pettis-Patton’s resignation and voted to fire City Attorney Solomon Ashby.
Both votes passed four to three; White members of the council voted “aye” while Black members voted “nay.” The resignation and termination are the latest in the drama following felony charges filed against Senator Louise Lucas related to a June 10 protest at a Confederate monument.
On Tuesday evening, two separate protests were held in different parts of Portsmouth, according to reporting by WAVY.com.
One group protested the removal of the two city officials, and called for Mayor John Rowe to be fired. Ashby and Pettis-Patton are both black. According to WAVY.com, organizers said, “In a city where those in power have struggled with recognizing the value of Black and Brown people, some in elected office [have] resorted to threatening warrants against the former City Manager and using other egregious tactics to eliminate Portsmouth of its foundation.”
The other group protested the temporary removal of Chief Greene and called for her to be re-instated. Organizer and local lawyer Tim Anderson wrote, “[Greene] didn’t do anything wrong, they suspended her because she charged people that are in power. She comes here and does her job, and the police department loves her. She does her job and now they’re suspending her. It’s unbelievably outrageous, it’s an injustice and it’s a slap in the face to the rule of law.” Anderson is the defendant in a $20 million defamation lawsuit filed by Senator Louise Lucas.
Mayor John Rowe told 13NewsNow that Ashby and Pettis-Patton were removed after poor leadership and decision making. According to Rowe, Ashby said the city could face misdemeanor charges for firing Pettis-Patton. Rowe said Ashby’s advice “[culminated] in an opinion that you can’t fire the city manager, that the city manager is bulletproof, and that just does not hold up.” Rowe did not say why the city wanted to fire Pettis-Patton.
On the afternoon of June 10, Greene and Lucas met near the monument. Lucas told Greene that Pettis-Patton had ordered police not to interfere. “You heard Dr. Patton tell me that this is [the protesters’] property, they could go on it.” Lucas said.
Another bystander said, “That’s what Solomon Ashby told us.”
Greene replied, “I’ll give her a call, but I talked to [Patton] like five minutes ago, and no one is allowed onto the property.”
In an email circulated on Facebook, Pettis-Patton said Greene had reported a conflict of interest related to investigating the June 10 protest. After determining there were no conflicts of interest, Greene’s department charged Senator Louise Lucas and several others with felonies related to damaging the monument. According to Vice-Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke, Ashby advised Greene not to investigate the incident. On Friday, Pettis-Patton put Greene on administrative leave.
However, WAVY.com reports that unnamed sources say that the terminations are not linked to those events. The Virginia Star has requested comment from all the members of the City Council and from the city’s public information officer; none of them responded by press time.
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Lydia Pettis Patton” by Lydia Pettis Patton. Background Photo “Portsmouth City Council” by Portsmouth City Council.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--VA Liutenant Governor Candidate Democrat Sean Perryman Describes His First Time Race as an Elected O

VA Liutenant Governor Candidate Democrat Sean Perryman Describes His First Time Race as an Elected Official

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 Virginia lieutenant governor candidate Democrat Sean Perryman to the show to describe his campaign and the race as a first time elected official .
Fredericks : Joining us now is Sean Perryman .
And Sean is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Democrat .
Hey Sean .
Great to have you with us .
Perryman : Hey , thank you for having me .
Good morning .
Fredericks : Sean , tell me about your race .
Perryman : Well I think it ’ s going to be an interesting one .
Whoever comes out of the 2021 election is going to have to deal with the post-COVID recovery , whether that ’ s with a vaccine or without a vaccine .
We are running and getting ready to announce soon .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak to some of the issues that are going to be pressing us and the commonwealth both now and in the years to come .
Fredericks : You are Fairfax ’ s NAACP president running for lieutenant governor .
You really have no political experience in elected office .
You are going up against some pretty big heavyweights .
How do you navigate your way through this kind of a race ?
Perryman : Well , I think the lane for us is that most people don ’ t look at Democrat or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of people that are running are saying I ’ ve been a legislator for two or three years , and I deserve a promotion .
We are not saying that .
We are saying that we are living in a moment that the government hasn ’ t served us .
I would say I have plenty of policy experience – tech policy , artificial intelligence , immigration , all sorts of issues .
So I think I have both the experience and the leadership experience , more importantly , to speak to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position .
Fredericks : How many candidates are in the race now ?
Perryman : Everyone and their cousin are rumored to be jumping in .
( Fredericks chuckles ) Right now it ’ s Delegate Hala Ayala , who is the only declared candidate from Prince William .
And then I think Paul Goldman on the Democratic side .
There is a number of people like myself exploring the committee .
We ’ ve got a lot of momentum , and I think I ’ m going to announce here pretty soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for everyone else who is looking at it .
Fredericks : Well probably there are going to be a lot of people in that pool .
Goldman certainly , a former executive director of the Democratic party under Governor Wilder , who ’ s been around for a long time .
Not sure if he ’ s got the ability to raise money or if he ’ s a serious candidate .
Ayala , she ’ s relatively new and not a lot of experience .
So I think the lane is kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know what is going to happen .
Let ’ s talk about what ’ s going on in Richmond and some of the violence of these riots .
We just did a story in The Virginia Star .
We have over $ 4 million in damage .
People who have lost their businesses , stores burned down .
There is graffiti , F this , F that .
Even though Levar Stoney has an anti-graffiti division , he chooses not to take the graffiti in order not to defend the rioters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how are you going to deal with what is going on right now in Richmond ?
Perryman : Honestly , I think what you are speaking to I would call a lot of those people are protesters .
There are some people that are being violent .
But what we need more so than anything , no matter what side of the aisle you are on , is that we need actual leadership .
I ’ m the lieutenant governor and I ’ m in the capital .
I ’ m going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And I think we need to unite .
is not only happening here but happening across our nation .
And rather than trying to figure out what kind of consensus can we reach because everyone was outraged about the murder of George Floyd .
Every single person that I have encountered .
And I think what we need are people that can bring us together and say look , we are all in this terrible situation .
Whether it ’ s the pandemic .
And whether it makes our community safe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , let ’ s stop polarizing everyone .
Let ’ s come together and figure out how we remake this community in a way that makes sense .
Fredericks : I get what you are saying , Sean .
I ’ m all for leadership in Richmond .
I don ’ t think Levar Stoney has provided any of it .
But in our Virginia Star report today , 48 fires were intentionally set .
If you are lieutenant governor , are you going to come out and condemn the violence ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with people coming out and protesting .
That ’ s their right .
But 48 fires have been set Sean and $ 4 million in damage .
What do you say to people whose businesses have been burned down there ?
If you were lieutenant governor would you condemn these violent fires and riots and tell people to just stop ?
That ’ s what we ’ re asking .
Perryman : If I were lieutenant governor , I would come out and tell people that we hear you and that we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to take action to address the concerns .
But I would tell people that violence is not the answer .
I ’ ve never condoned anyone being violent at any time .
Whether that ’ s armed men coming to Richmond to talk about having to wear a mask , or whether that ’ s people setting fires .
What we need more so than anything though is to address the actual issue that are leading to this .
Whether that be police violence .
Whether that be of people just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ ve seen time and time again scores of people who get randomly tear-gassed .
That ’ s not acceptable .
So I would speak to both of those issues .
We need to get some sort of control over that city .
And that includes the police violence as well .
I would not leave that out .
Fredericks : What about the police chief getting fired in Portsmouth , Virginia , Sean ?
What did you think of that ?
Perryman : I followed obviously what happened with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I do think that that police chief overreached .
I can ’ t speak to the details of everything and why they were fired , but I had real concerns about NAACP members and a State Senator being charged with a felony for something that they weren ’ t directly involved in .
Fredericks : Sean , you are from Northern Virginia .
There is a big vote there .
How do you appeal downstate ?
How do you appeal to Hampton Roads ?
Southwest Virginia , not that there aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlottesville and the central , Blackburg ?
What is your appeal outside of NoVa ?
Perryman : I look at it is this and I speak to the three E ’ s for everyone .
Education , economics , and equity .
Coming out of this we need to get people working .
Whether you are in Northern Virginia or rural Virginia , probably even more so in rural Virginia , you need to be able to earn a living , and that includes getting jobs down there .
I come from working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would want to do is if you are a tech company coming into Virginia , you need to educate our workforce at a low cost , and that includes computer camps to get people to learn tech skills .
But more so than anything with the equity piece , you need to have internet access .
And it ’ s ridiculous that we are living in a pandemic and there are parts of Southwest Virginia that I call who can ’ t get on a Zoom meeting because they don ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not only an education issue , that becomes an economic issue .
And I think I can speak to those .
As someone who comes being used to a place where politicians aren ’ t thinking about what a community is thinking about .
And in those communities , we ’ ve sort of left them behind in some ways .
And we need to look at the connectivity issue down there and some of the basics which are the same for everyone .
Education , economics , and equity .
Making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Listen to the full interview here :

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 Virginia lieutenant governor candidate Democrat Sean Perryman to the show to describe his campaign and the race as a first time elected official.
Fredericks: Joining us now is Sean Perryman. And Sean is a candidate for lieutenant governor of Virginia – a Democrat. Hey Sean. Great to have you with us.
Perryman: Hey, thank you for having me. Good morning.
Fredericks: Sean, tell me about your race.
Perryman: Well I think it’s going to be an interesting one. Whoever comes out of the 2021 election is going to have to deal with the post-COVID recovery, whether that’s with a vaccine or without a vaccine. We are running and getting ready to announce soon. And I think that we’re able to speak to some of the issues that are going to be pressing us and the commonwealth both now and in the years to come.
Fredericks: You are Fairfax’s NAACP president running for lieutenant governor. You really have no political experience in elected office. You are going up against some pretty big heavyweights. How do you navigate your way through this kind of a race?
Perryman: Well, I think the lane for us is that most people don’t look at Democrat or Republican or political or non-political. A lot of people that are running are saying I’ve been a legislator for two or three years, and I deserve a promotion. We are not saying that.
We are saying that we are living in a moment that the government hasn’t served us. I would say I have plenty of policy experience – tech policy, artificial intelligence, immigration, all sorts of issues. So I think I have both the experience and the leadership experience, more importantly, to speak to this moment and step up into the position.
Fredericks: How many candidates are in the race now?
Perryman: Everyone and their cousin are rumored to be jumping in. (Fredericks chuckles) Right now it’s Delegate Hala Ayala, who is the only declared candidate from Prince William. And then I think Paul Goldman on the Democratic side. There is a number of people like myself exploring the committee. We’ve got a lot of momentum, and I think I’m going to announce here pretty soon, but I can’t speak for everyone else who is looking at it.
Fredericks: Well probably there are going to be a lot of people in that pool. Goldman certainly, a former executive director of the Democratic party under Governor Wilder, who’s been around for a long time. Not sure if he’s got the ability to raise money or if he’s a serious candidate. Ayala, she’s relatively new and not a lot of experience. So I think the lane is kind of wide open because you just don’t know what is going to happen. Let’s talk about what’s going on in Richmond and some of the violence of these riots.
We just did a story in The Virginia Star. We have over $4 million in damage. People who have lost their businesses, stores burned down. There is graffiti, F this, F that. Even though Levar Stoney has an anti-graffiti division, he chooses not to take the graffiti in order not to defend the rioters. If you are lieutenant governor, how are you going to deal with what is going on right now in Richmond?
Perryman: Honestly, I think what you are speaking to I would call a lot of those people are protesters. There are some people that are being violent. But what we need more so than anything, no matter what side of the aisle you are on, is that we need actual leadership. I’m the lieutenant governor and I’m in the capital. I’m going to come out there and speak to folks. And I think we need to unite. is not only happening here but happening across our nation.
And rather than trying to figure out what kind of consensus can we reach because everyone was outraged about the murder of George Floyd. Every single person that I have encountered. And I think what we need are people that can bring us together and say look, we are all in this terrible situation. Whether it’s the pandemic. And whether it makes our community safe. We need leadership that speaks up and says, let’s stop polarizing everyone. Let’s come together and figure out how we remake this community in a way that makes sense.
Fredericks: I get what you are saying, Sean. I’m all for leadership in Richmond. I don’t think Levar Stoney has provided any of it. But in our Virginia Star report today, 48 fires were intentionally set. If you are lieutenant governor, are you going to come out and condemn the violence?
I don’t have a problem with people coming out and protesting. That’s their right. But 48 fires have been set Sean and $4 million in damage. What do you say to people whose businesses have been burned down there? If you were lieutenant governor would you condemn these violent fires and riots and tell people to just stop? That’s what we’re asking.
Perryman: If I were lieutenant governor, I would come out and tell people that we hear you and that we are going to do something. And we are going to take action to address the concerns. But I would tell people that violence is not the answer. I’ve never condoned anyone being violent at any time. Whether that’s armed men coming to Richmond to talk about having to wear a mask, or whether that’s people setting fires.
What we need more so than anything though is to address the actual issue that are leading to this. Whether that be police violence. Whether that be of people just feeling unheard in the city of Richmond. I’ve seen time and time again scores of people who get randomly tear-gassed. That’s not acceptable. So I would speak to both of those issues. We need to get some sort of control over that city. And that includes the police violence as well. I would not leave that out.
Fredericks: What about the police chief getting fired in Portsmouth, Virginia, Sean? What did you think of that?
Perryman: I followed obviously what happened with the Senator there being charged with a felony, and I do think that that police chief overreached. I can’t speak to the details of everything and why they were fired, but I had real concerns about NAACP members and a State Senator being charged with a felony for something that they weren’t directly involved in.
Fredericks: Sean, you are from Northern Virginia. There is a big vote there. How do you appeal downstate? How do you appeal to Hampton Roads? Southwest Virginia, not that there aren’t many Democratic votes there, Charlottesville and the central, Blackburg? What is your appeal outside of NoVa?
Perryman: I look at it is this and I speak to the three E’s for everyone. Education, economics, and equity. Coming out of this we need to get people working. Whether you are in Northern Virginia or rural Virginia, probably even more so in rural Virginia, you need to be able to earn a living, and that includes getting jobs down there.
I come from working in the tech sector. What I would want to do is if you are a tech company coming into Virginia, you need to educate our workforce at a low cost, and that includes computer camps to get people to learn tech skills. But more so than anything with the equity piece, you need to have internet access. And it’s ridiculous that we are living in a pandemic and there are parts of Southwest Virginia that I call who can’t get on a Zoom meeting because they don’t have good enough internet. So that’s not only an education issue, that becomes an economic issue.
And I think I can speak to those. As someone who comes being used to a place where politicians aren’t thinking about what a community is thinking about. And in those communities, we’ve sort of left them behind in some ways. And we need to look at the connectivity issue down there and some of the basics which are the same for everyone. Education, economics, and equity. Making sure everyone is brought along with us.
Listen to the full interview here:


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--Ohio State University and Other Colleges Crack Down to Prevent COVID Spread Even as Hospitalizations

Ohio State University and Other Colleges Crack Down to Prevent COVID Spread Even as Hospitalizations Remain Low

Universities across the country are taking more and more aggressive steps to prevent the spread of COVID .
The moves come as positive cases on university campuses have increased , though false positives remain an issue and some reports show that the number of COVID related hospitalizations at many major institutions remains at 0 .
Author and doctor Andrew Bostom took to Twitter to list 29 colleges he said had no hospitalizations .
Even with hospitalizations reported at 0 , Ohio State University has suspended hundreds of students for attending parties , required students to take a pledge to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and threatened to close on-campus learning should they be unable to control the spread of the disease .
Out west , the University of Arizona ( UA ) has hired a private security company to enforce COVID restrictions on the school ’ s campus .
“ On campus , we have two major initiatives , first we are hiring monitors from a private security company to patrol and ensure compliance of health and safety directives , ” UA President Robert C. Robbins said in a briefing .
In the south , several University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the school has as many as 500 rooms prepared as quarantine locations , The Red and Black , the university ’ s news website reported .
The school has also set up a “ surveillance testing ” program , which will “ sample randomly ” from both on and off-campus students and employees .
It is not clear if that testing is mandatory , or what would happen if a student refused to be tested .
At the University of Wisconsin ( UW ) , Rebecca Blank , the school ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directing students to “ severely limit their in-person interactions , ” and to leave their residence halls “ only for essential activities ” such as class , meals , or work .
In an open letter , Blank said if “ infections don ’ t fall , we will need to make more difficult decisions that significantly reduce our ability to have campus open to students.
” However , one issue that remains is the prevalence of false positives .
A Boston based firm has been shut down after 383 false positives were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the UA , several students received what appear to be false positives KGUN said and will be retested .
Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ]

Universities across the country are taking more and more aggressive steps to prevent the spread of COVID.
The moves come as positive cases on university campuses have increased, though false positives remain an issue and some reports show that the number of COVID related hospitalizations at many major institutions remains at 0.
Author and doctor Andrew Bostom took to Twitter to list 29 colleges he said had no hospitalizations.
Reassuring C19 on Campus Update, re: students return/beginning since August: ZERO reported C19 hospitalizations among ~26,000 “C19+” students on 29 campuses. Table with refs following. pic.twitter.com/JJMI7dxVaH — Andrew Bostom (@andrewbostom) September 8, 2020
Even with hospitalizations reported at 0, Ohio State University has suspended hundreds of students for attending parties, required students to take a pledge to follow the school’s COVID guidelines, and threatened to close on-campus learning should they be unable to control the spread of the disease.
Out west, the University of Arizona (UA) has hired a private security company to enforce COVID restrictions on the school’s campus.
“On campus, we have two major initiatives, first we are hiring monitors from a private security company to patrol and ensure compliance of health and safety directives,” UA President Robert C. Robbins said in a briefing.
In the south, several University of Georgia students have been quarantined, and the school has as many as 500 rooms prepared as quarantine locations, The Red and Black, the university’s news website reported. The school has also set up a “surveillance testing” program, which will “sample randomly” from both on and off-campus students and employees. It is not clear if that testing is mandatory, or what would happen if a student refused to be tested.
At the University of Wisconsin (UW), Rebecca Blank, the school’s chancellor, posted a video to YouTube directing students to “severely limit their in-person interactions,” and to leave their residence halls “only for essential activities” such as class, meals, or work. In an open letter, Blank said if “infections don’t fall, we will need to make more difficult decisions that significantly reduce our ability to have campus open to students.”
UW has reportedly seen 872 positive cases.
However, one issue that remains is the prevalence of false positives. A Boston based firm has been shut down after 383 false positives were uncovered, ABC affiliate WCVB reported.
At the UA, several students received what appear to be false positives KGUN said and will be retested.
– – –
Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. You can follow Ben on Twitter. Tips can be sent to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--Richmond, Charlottesville City Councils Pass Gun Bans

The Richmond and Charlottesville City Councils on Tuesday both unanimously passed ordinances banning firearms in city buildings , parks , and permitted events .
Both cities had spent multiple meetings discussing the ramifications of their ordinances .
Richmond ’ s discussions focused on nuances of posting signs to mark permitted events in a way that protected people from accidentally carrying firearms into a banned area , while not incentivizing event organizers to dodge a firearms ban by not getting permits .
“ You ’ re never , ever going to achieve 100 percent compliance , ” Councilmember Stephanie Lynch said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying as a city and as a policy-making body by passing this ordinance , is that we will not tolerate the carrying of firearms openly in the intimidation of folks who are trying to peacefully protest.
” In Charlottesville , the vote on the ordinance was previously delayed to insert an exemption for inoperable firearms at parades .
A new clause was added that provides for a special permit and an official to verify that the firearm is inoperable .
The ordinance was also amended to allow on-duty police officers and officers providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not exempt off-duty officers from the ban .
Discussion in both city councils pointed to recent protests where attendees displayed firearms as a major reason for the new ordinances .
Charlottesville Councilmember Lloyd Snook mentioned a tense protest in August where armed militia groups faced counter-protesters .
“ We had no authority to say to somebody , ‘ This is a place where guns are not permitted , get out of here !
’ Or , ‘ This is a place where guns are not permitted , if you want to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run you through a metal detector , ' ” Snook said .
Richmond Council Vice President Chris Hilbert said he is as much concerned about the First Amendment as the Second Amendment .
“ It seems to me that you are infringing the freedom of speech when you ’ re standing next to an event where people are exercising their First Amendment rights [ and ] you are intimidating them from exercising that First Amendment right .
We ’ re not talking about going door-to-door and confiscating weapons…this is a small step , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

The Richmond and Charlottesville City Councils on Tuesday both unanimously passed ordinances banning firearms in city buildings, parks, and permitted events. Both cities had spent multiple meetings discussing the ramifications of their ordinances.
Richmond’s discussions focused on nuances of posting signs to mark permitted events in a way that protected people from accidentally carrying firearms into a banned area, while not incentivizing event organizers to dodge a firearms ban by not getting permits.
“You’re never, ever going to achieve 100 percent compliance,” Councilmember Stephanie Lynch said. “I think what we are saying as a city and as a policy-making body by passing this ordinance, is that we will not tolerate the carrying of firearms openly in the intimidation of folks who are trying to peacefully protest.”
In Charlottesville, the vote on the ordinance was previously delayed to insert an exemption for inoperable firearms at parades. A new clause was added that provides for a special permit and an official to verify that the firearm is inoperable. The ordinance was also amended to allow on-duty police officers and officers providing security to carry their firearms but specifically does not exempt off-duty officers from the ban.
Discussion in both city councils pointed to recent protests where attendees displayed firearms as a major reason for the new ordinances. Charlottesville Councilmember Lloyd Snook mentioned a tense protest in August where armed militia groups faced counter-protesters.
“We had no authority to say to somebody, ‘This is a place where guns are not permitted, get out of here!’ Or, ‘This is a place where guns are not permitted, if you want to come in, we’re going to run you through a metal detector,'” Snook said.
Richmond Council Vice President Chris Hilbert said he is as much concerned about the First Amendment as the Second Amendment.
“It seems to me that you are infringing the freedom of speech when you’re standing next to an event where people are exercising their First Amendment rights [and] you are intimidating them from exercising that First Amendment right. We’re not talking about going door-to-door and confiscating weapons…this is a small step,” Hilbert said.
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--Michigan Launches Ambassador Program To Guide Businesses Through Coronavirus Guidelines

Michigan state employees will visit businesses one-on-one to help them reopen safely under a swath of COVID-19 safety guidelines .
The program , launched by the Department of Labor and Economic and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( MIOSHA ) , features ambassadors that will visit businesses to help them navigate through safety guidelines and regulations .
Unlike their MIOSHA counterparts , these ambassadors will not issue penalties or citations .
“ Michigan businesses and workers need support during these challenging times , ” said Sean Egan , the Michigan COVID-19 workplace director , in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and directives regularly changing as we continue to battle with COVID-19 .
Ambassadors will work with businesses to correct any issues .
We want to help employers understand and apply directives so they can comply , stay open and stay safe.
” Safety violation complaints skyrocketed earlier this year , jumping from 200 to 240 complaints per month to more than 200 per week , according to reporting by MLive .
Program ambassadors will focus on establishments that have a higher risk of community transmission , such as bars , restaurants , retail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bowling alleys and gyms .
While many of these businesses have already been reopened for a while , Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer announced late last week that gyms would be allowed to reopen starting Wednesday , with certain safety precautions .
“ Collaboration is key in the effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 , ” said MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman in a statement .
“ Throughout the pandemic , we ’ ve heard from many employers and employees wanting to clarify regulations and determine how they apply to their specific workplace .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and support directly to businesses across the state.
” Michigan currently has more than 107,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 6,539 deaths , according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services .
“ Business owners face a fluid set of complex issues regarding COVID-19 that require support to navigate , ” said Brian Calley , president of Small Business Association of Michigan , in a statement .
“ As guidance from the state continues to evolve , with different rules governing various regions and industries , business owners need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to apply them .
Ongoing education is necessary to keep the economy moving.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter at The Michigan Star and Star News Digital Media .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ]

Michigan state employees will visit businesses one-on-one to help them reopen safely under a swath of COVID-19 safety guidelines.
The program, launched by the Department of Labor and Economic and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA), features ambassadors that will visit businesses to help them navigate through safety guidelines and regulations. Unlike their MIOSHA counterparts, these ambassadors will not issue penalties or citations.
“Michigan businesses and workers need support during these challenging times,” said Sean Egan, the Michigan COVID-19 workplace director, in a statement. “Education is essential with new guidance and directives regularly changing as we continue to battle with COVID-19. Ambassadors will work with businesses to correct any issues. We want to help employers understand and apply directives so they can comply, stay open and stay safe.”
Safety violation complaints skyrocketed earlier this year, jumping from 200 to 240 complaints per month to more than 200 per week, according to reporting by MLive.
Program ambassadors will focus on establishments that have a higher risk of community transmission, such as bars, restaurants, retail, gas stations, convenience stores, bowling alleys and gyms. While many of these businesses have already been reopened for a while, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced late last week that gyms would be allowed to reopen starting Wednesday, with certain safety precautions.
“Collaboration is key in the effort to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman in a statement. “Throughout the pandemic, we’ve heard from many employers and employees wanting to clarify regulations and determine how they apply to their specific workplace. This ambassador effort will bring that education and support directly to businesses across the state.”
Michigan currently has more than 107,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 6,539 deaths, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Business owners face a fluid set of complex issues regarding COVID-19 that require support to navigate,” said Brian Calley, president of Small Business Association of Michigan, in a statement. “As guidance from the state continues to evolve, with different rules governing various regions and industries, business owners need to know exactly what they mean and how to apply them. Ongoing education is necessary to keep the economy moving.”
– – –
Jordyn Pair is a reporter at The Michigan Star and Star News Digital Media. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--Virginia Supreme Court Rejects Northam’s Eviction Moratorium Extension Request as CDC Implements New

Virginia Supreme Court Rejects Northam’s Eviction Moratorium Extension Request as CDC Implements New Order

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday said it will not extend Governor Northam ’ s order barring eviction notices and proceedings as a newly implemented federal eviction moratorium takes effect .
Northam asked the court for an extension of the temporary eviction order in a letter on Thursday , saying more time is needed to better understand the federal order and for the General Assembly to pass legislation to further protect Virginians .
The court ’ s letter rejecting Northam ’ s extension request cites a memo from Karl Hade , executive secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commonwealth about the new order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
The federal eviction moratorium was issued by the CDC as an emergency action , which temporarily halts evictions through the end of 2020 with specific guidelines and provisions attached .
“ Governor Northam is pleased to see the Virginia Supreme Court ’ s recognition that the federal eviction moratorium is in place through December 31st , even if it ’ s different from the state-level protections he requested , ” Alena Yarmosky , Northam ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the governor ’ s office is glad the government issued a federal order , there are still some concerns .
“ I would note that this recent order from the CDC , while welcome , required further review given recent inconsistencies with federal orders , ” Yarmosky said .
“ The governor continues to work closely with the General Assembly on legislation that will keep Virginians safely in their homes throughout this health crisis.
” The CDC eviction moratorium does not prohibit all evictions with some allowed on certain grounds , nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent payments to landlords or property owners .
For people to become eligible under the new CDC order , five criteria must be met : • None You must be making your best efforts to obtain any and all forms of government rental assistance .
• None You can not expect to earn more than $ 99,000 in 2020 , or $ 198,000 if married and filing a joint tax return , or they did not need to report any income to the government in 2019 , or they received a stimulus check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiencing a substantial loss of household income , a layoff , or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical bills .
• None You are making your best efforts to make timely partial rent payments that are as close to the full amount due as circumstances may permit , taking into account other expenses .
• None An eviction would likely lead to homelessness , having to move to a place that is more expensive , or being placed in environments making the spread of COVID-19 more likely , such as shelters or other close quarter environments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online that renters must submit to landlords or property owners in order to prove their eligibility .
The temporary order also specifically mentions the possibility that renters may owe back several months of rent after the moratorium expires in January 2021 .
Christie Marra , director of housing advocacy for the Virginia Poverty Law Center , expressed concern over the different protections in the Virginia Supreme Court ’ s order and the CDC order , specifically ongoing court issued writs of eviction .
“ What does worry us is that the Virginia Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — it prohibits writs from moving forward .
The question is : Writs that were issued and placed in sheriffs ’ hands , are they going to move forward with those writs ?
That is our concern , ” Marra told The Richmond Times-Dispatch .
The Virginia Poverty Law Center ( VPLC ) is not affiliated with or related to the Southern Poverty Law Center , according to the VPLC website .
Despite the new CDC moratorium , Virginia lawmakers are still working toward passing legislation to protect Virginians against eviction notices or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5051 , sponsored by Sen. Ghazala Hashmi ( D-Chesterfield County ) , would halt all evictions until 90 days after the state of emergency declared by Northam expires or is ended , except for specific instances where an eviction is allowed .
Those instances include in response to a criminal act that is not remediable and poses a threat to health or safety , if a tenant refuses rental assistance or if the rental assistance program finds the renter to be ineligible because they can afford to pay , and requires landlords to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program and how to apply .
Additionally , the rent and mortgage relief program , funded through the CARES Act , will fully reimburse landlords directly for all unpaid rent and allows landlords to apply for rental assistance on behalf of the tenants , also offering the aid to anyone making less than 80 percent of the area median income .
When asked how the bill ’ s eviction protections will work with the CDC moratorium , Hashmi said the federal order does not provide implementation or structural guidelines for states , whereas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landlords and tenants to secure housing stability and to make sure that landlords are paid as well through rental assistance programs , and does not leave tenants with months of rental debt .
The bill is currently waiting to be considered by the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations on Wednesday .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Background Photo “ Virginia Supreme Court ” by Morgan Riley .
CC BY @ @

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday said it will not extend Governor Northam’s order barring eviction notices and proceedings as a newly implemented federal eviction moratorium takes effect.
Northam asked the court for an extension of the temporary eviction order in a letter on Thursday, saying more time is needed to better understand the federal order and for the General Assembly to pass legislation to further protect Virginians.
The court’s letter rejecting Northam’s extension request cites a memo from Karl Hade, executive secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, informing all judges and clerks in the Commonwealth about the new order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The federal eviction moratorium was issued by the CDC as an emergency action, which temporarily halts evictions through the end of 2020 with specific guidelines and provisions attached.
“Governor Northam is pleased to see the Virginia Supreme Court’s recognition that the federal eviction moratorium is in place through December 31st, even if it’s different from the state-level protections he requested,” Alena Yarmosky, Northam’s spokeswoman, said in a statement.
While the governor’s office is glad the government issued a federal order, there are still some concerns.
“I would note that this recent order from the CDC, while welcome, required further review given recent inconsistencies with federal orders,” Yarmosky said. “The governor continues to work closely with the General Assembly on legislation that will keep Virginians safely in their homes throughout this health crisis.”
The CDC eviction moratorium does not prohibit all evictions with some allowed on certain grounds, nor does it relieve a person of future rent payments to landlords or property owners.
For people to become eligible under the new CDC order, five criteria must be met:
You must be making your best efforts to obtain any and all forms of government rental assistance. You cannot expect to earn more than $99,000 in 2020, or $198,000 if married and filing a joint tax return, or they did not need to report any income to the government in 2019, or they received a stimulus check this year. You are experiencing a substantial loss of household income, a layoff, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical bills. You are making your best efforts to make timely partial rent payments that are as close to the full amount due as circumstances may permit, taking into account other expenses. An eviction would likely lead to homelessness, having to move to a place that is more expensive, or being placed in environments making the spread of COVID-19 more likely, such as shelters or other close quarter environments.
The CDC published a declaration form online that renters must submit to landlords or property owners in order to prove their eligibility.
The temporary order also specifically mentions the possibility that renters may owe back several months of rent after the moratorium expires in January 2021.
Christie Marra, director of housing advocacy for the Virginia Poverty Law Center, expressed concern over the different protections in the Virginia Supreme Court’s order and the CDC order, specifically ongoing court issued writs of eviction.
“What does worry us is that the Virginia Supreme Court order that expires on the seventh — it prohibits writs from moving forward. The question is: Writs that were issued and placed in sheriffs’ hands, are they going to move forward with those writs? That is our concern,” Marra told The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) is not affiliated with or related to the Southern Poverty Law Center, according to the VPLC website.
Despite the new CDC moratorium, Virginia lawmakers are still working toward passing legislation to protect Virginians against eviction notices or proceedings.
Senate Bill (SB) 5051, sponsored by Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield County), would halt all evictions until 90 days after the state of emergency declared by Northam expires or is ended, except for specific instances where an eviction is allowed.
Those instances include in response to a criminal act that is not remediable and poses a threat to health or safety, if a tenant refuses rental assistance or if the rental assistance program finds the renter to be ineligible because they can afford to pay, and requires landlords to inform tenants in writing information about the program and how to apply.
Additionally, the rent and mortgage relief program, funded through the CARES Act, will fully reimburse landlords directly for all unpaid rent and allows landlords to apply for rental assistance on behalf of the tenants, also offering the aid to anyone making less than 80 percent of the area median income.
When asked how the bill’s eviction protections will work with the CDC moratorium, Hashmi said the federal order does not provide implementation or structural guidelines for states, whereas SB 5051 clarifies the necessary steps for landlords and tenants to secure housing stability and to make sure that landlords are paid as well through rental assistance programs, and does not leave tenants with months of rental debt.
The bill is currently waiting to be considered by the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations on Wednesday.
– – –
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Background Photo “Virginia Supreme Court” by Morgan Riley. CC BY 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--Calls to Impeach DeWine at Women’s Rally

A Women for Trump meetup in Ohio quickly turned into a rally to impeach Governor Mike DeWine .
Around a hundred women who gathered at Donald Trump ’ s Ohio headquarters to show their support for the president chanted “ impeach DeWine , ” according to The Columbus Dispatch .
The event featured South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem , who recently spoke at the Republican National Convention .
In the Q & A portion of the event , things turned after Judi Phelps , owner of On Guard Defense LLC , a firearms training company and gun range , called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interesting choice given we have a spineless governor in our state.
” Noem didn ’ t directly touch on DeWine ’ s leadership , though warned of the dangers of leaders who overstep their bounds .
This triggered the chants of “ impeach DeWine ” to be repeated by many attendees .
In an interview with The Ohio Star , Judi Phelps elaborated on the event .
Phelps said that DeWine “ crushed our economy ” and “ exacerbated the issues ” including the opioid crisis , education , and the rioting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few months .
Phelps said DeWine is the opposite of Noem who she says “ did the job she was elected to do , preserve the rights of the people of her state.
” Another source in the room said it was embarrassing to watch .
Almost the entire room was chanting , “ Impeach DeWine.
” Anger towards DeWine ’ s response to the pandemic has grown to the point that state Representative John Becker filed articles of impeachment against the governor .
A press release put out by Becker ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has violated the Ohio and United States Constitutions ” and called on Becker ’ s colleagues to “ join him in ending the madness.
” Phelps said that she fully supports the representatives putting forth articles of impeachment saying that Dewine “ is not empowered to protect us from ourselves , his job is to preserve our individual rights ” and ending her statement by saying ” I ’ d like to see Dewine impeached.
” Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Ben @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email protected ] Background Photo “ Women for Trump Supporters ” by Women for Trump .

A Women for Trump meetup in Ohio quickly turned into a rally to impeach Governor Mike DeWine.
Around a hundred women who gathered at Donald Trump’s Ohio headquarters to show their support for the president chanted “impeach DeWine,” according to The Columbus Dispatch. The event featured South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who recently spoke at the Republican National Convention.
In the Q&A portion of the event, things turned after Judi Phelps, owner of On Guard Defense LLC, a firearms training company and gun range, called the move to invite Noem “an interesting choice given we have a spineless governor in our state.”
Noem didn’t directly touch on DeWine’s leadership, though warned of the dangers of leaders who overstep their bounds. This triggered the chants of “impeach DeWine” to be repeated by many attendees.
In an interview with The Ohio Star, Judi Phelps elaborated on the event. Phelps said that DeWine “crushed our economy” and “exacerbated the issues” including the opioid crisis, education, and the rioting that’s taken place over the last few months. Phelps said DeWine is the opposite of Noem who she says “did the job she was elected to do, preserve the rights of the people of her state.”
Another source in the room said it was embarrassing to watch. Almost the entire room was chanting, “Impeach DeWine.”
Anger towards DeWine’s response to the pandemic has grown to the point that state Representative John Becker filed articles of impeachment against the governor. A press release put out by Becker’s office in July said “Governor DeWine has violated the Ohio and United States Constitutions” and called on Becker’s colleagues to “join him in ending the madness.”
Phelps said that she fully supports the representatives putting forth articles of impeachment saying that Dewine “is not empowered to protect us from ourselves, his job is to preserve our individual rights” and ending her statement by saying”I’d like to see Dewine impeached.”
– – –
Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. Follow Ben on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Background Photo “Women for Trump Supporters” by Women for Trump.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-09--Hunter Biden-Tied Fund Helped Communist China Obtain a Michigan Auto Parts Maker

As he was sewing up the Democrat nomination this spring , Joe Biden surprised many in foreign policy circles by publishing an essay arguing it was time to “ get tough with China ” and to stop its “ robbing the United States and American companies of their technology and intellectual property.
” For Biden , a four-decade advocate of trade and friendly relations with Beijing , it was a stunning turnabout that signaled the Democrat was concerned President Trump was winning the election-year battle over U.S.-China policy as tensions in the South China Sea , a trade war , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War-like atmosphere with China .
But for U.S. security experts , it was remarkable for another reason : An investment fund named Bohai Harvest RST ( BHR ) partly owned and directed by Biden ’ s son , Hunter , and Secretary of State John Kerry ’ s stepson , Chris Heinz , had just a few years earlier played a vital role in facilitating the sale of the Michigan-based auto parts maker Henniges Automotive to one of China ’ s main military aircraft makers , Aviation Industry Corporation of China or AVIC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama administration and its Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ( CFIUS ) came just 15 months after the United States publicly added one of AVIC ’ s subsidiaries to a Commerce Department blacklist ( known as the “ Entity List ” ) and just months before the Obama administration resumed patrols in the South China Sea because of increased Beijing military aggression in the region , where AVIC-built military jets partake in China ’ s activities .
The timing has left many , including Senate Finance Committee chairman Chuck Grassley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CFIUS decision whitewashed security concerns because the vice president ’ s son was involved in the transaction .
Those concerns were heightened this June when the Pentagon listed the entire AVIC conglomerate on a list of companies subject to future sanctions because of its ties to the People ’ s Liberation Army .
Grassley demanded a briefing from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin last year , saying he was concerned because the Obama administration allowed the transaction to proceed even though Henniges possessed “ anti-vibration technologies with military applications ” and AVIC had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military aggression dating to at least 2007 .
Officials said what Grassley learned in a classified briefing only heightened his concerns .
“ The direct involvement of Mr. Hunter Biden and Mr. Heinz in the acquisition of Henniges by the Chinese government creates a potential conflict of interest , ” the senator wrote in an Aug. 14 , 2019 letter .
“ Both are directly related to high-ranking Obama administration officials .
The Department of State , then under Mr. Kerry ’ s leadership , is also a CFIUS member and played a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Henniges transaction .
The appearance of potential conflicts in this case is particularly troubling given Mr. Biden ’ s and Mr. Heinz ’ s history of investing in and collaborating with Chinese companies , including at least one posing significant national security concerns.
” Hunter Biden ’ s efforts to make money in China while his father oversaw U.S.-China policy have caused concern since the author Peter Schweizer highlighted the issue earlier this year in his new book “ Profiles in Corruption.
” ( Schweizer first exposed the Biden connection to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ # 1 best seller “ Secret Empires.
” ) In addition to his role in the Henniges transaction , Hunter Biden also flew aboard Air Force Two in December 2013 with his father to Beijing , where the son engaged in a private business discussion to do private business with Chinese officials that included talk of a $ 1 billion investment fund .
Hunter Biden ’ s BHR fund also made an investment in 2014 in the China General Nuclear Power Corp. , China ’ s largest nuclear power company .
In 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nuclear engineer named Szuhsiung “ Allen ” Ho for conspiring to help China illegally obtain “ sensitive and controlled ” nuclear technology from within the United States .
Ho , a naturalized American citizen , pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison .
Michael Pillsbury , a China adviser to both the Obama administration and President Trump , said Joe Biden ’ s long record of downplaying China ’ s threat and his son ’ s efforts to cash in on Beijing while his father was vice president “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sincerity of Joe Biden ’ s recent conversion to China hawk.
” “ The jet fighter and the aircraft carriers that China deploys to threaten the South China Seas can be traced back to financial transactions involving Hunter Biden ’ s companies , ” Pillsbury said .
Roger Robinson , a former senior director for international economic affairs on President Ronald Reagan ’ s National Security Council , told Just the News the U.S. government has known for years that AVIC has been helping China ’ s military and aiding U.S. enemies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That record makes the Obama administration ’ s transaction approval for Henniges all the more curious , he said .
“ This is anything but a benign Chinese enterprise , ” Robinson said .
Indeed , AVIC was sanctioned on five separate occasions since 1993 for activities ranging from violating the Arms Export Control Act and proliferating missile technology in Pakistan to multiple violations related to trafficking missile and other military technology to Iran .
In 2014 , one AVIC subsidiary was added to the Obama-Biden Commerce Department “ Entity List ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list for potential sanctions months before the 2015 CFIUS decision now under scrutiny by Senator Grassley .
Grassley ’ s letter identified one such security concern dating to eight years before the Henniges transaction was approved .
“ CFIUS approved the transaction despite reports that in 2007 , years before BHR teamed up with AVIC ’ s subsidiary , AVIC was reportedly involved in stealing sensitive data regarding the Joint Strike Fighter program .
AVIC later reportedly incorporated the stolen data into China ’ s J-20 and J‑31 aircraft , ” the senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June identified AVIC as one of several Chinese state-owned firms assisting the People ’ s Liberation Army in building Beijing ’ s military supremacy .
Grassley ’ s letter identified one such security concern dating to eight years before the Henniges transaction was approved .
“ CFIUS approved the transaction despite reports that in 2007 , years before BHR teamed up with AVIC ’ s subsidiary , AVIC was reportedly involved in stealing sensitive data regarding the Joint Strike Fighter program .
AVIC later reportedly incorporated the stolen data into China ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the senator wrote .
More recently , the Pentagon in June identified AVIC as one of several Chinese state-owned firms assisting the People ’ s Liberation Army in building Beijing ’ s military supremacy .
During the Obama years , Hunter Biden held an ownership stake in and a board seat on BHR .
On Sept. 15 , 2015 , the hedge firm announced the completion of the acquisition of Henniges Automotive , which gave AVIC 51 % control and BHR 49 % .
The $ 600 million acquisition was one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company in history , topping AVIC ’ s 2010 takeover of Michigan-based Nexteer Automotive for $ 440 million .
The purchase also revealed a pattern of Chinese state-backed takeovers of sensitive American companies which included China ’ s controversial purchase of A123 Systems for $ 256.6 million in 2013 after the Obama-Biden CFIUS approved the deal .
While Hunter Biden pursued the business deals , the Obama-Biden administration was acquiescing to China ’ s wishes to expand its influence , trade and exchanges in the United States and to lessen the potential for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon official disclosed in fall 2015 that the Obama administration had essentially imposed a moratorium since 2013 on U.S. patrols in the South China Sea even as Beijing was increasing its influence there , including building man-made islands viewed as hostile to the West and its Asian allies .
The administration also reached a deal for Chinese companies to participate in the U.S. stock market without having to fully comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley accounting rules imposed on Americans companies .
And Joe Biden himself was cheering on China ’ s economic expansion despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expense in the form of economic espionage .
“ It ’ s overwhelmingly in our interest that China grows , ” Biden declared in a July 19 , 2013 speech .
As late as spring 2019 , Biden was still sounding that note .
“ They ’ re not bad folks , folks .
But guess what , they ’ re not , they ’ re not competition for us , ” Biden said at a May 2019 Democratic campaign event that drew criticism .
Far from the political fray in Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the 2008-09 financial crisis when the AVIC deal emerged .
Henniges ’ partnership with China dated back to at least December 1995 when Henniges formed a joint venture with Beijing Energine ( a subsidiary of a China state-owned aerospace conglomerate ) .
Since then , Henniges has operated at least six facilities in China with at least two new facilities opened after the AVIC deal .
Approximately one month before the Henniges deal was completed with AVIC , Henniges announced its intention to open multiple factories , not in its home state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico .
On Aug. 14 , 2015 , Henniges announced it had begun building its fourth plant in Mexico .
Four days later , Henniges announced it would be opening new facilities in Beijing and Munich .
By December 2017 , Henniges had announced another “ exciting expansion ” of its global footprint .
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony , Henniges executives and Chinese government officials celebrated the grand opening of a new 79,500 square foot factory in Suzhou , China .
Such global expansion has raised questions about whether jobs that would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officials for Henniges did not respond to repeated requests from Just the News for total numbers of employees in the United States and overseas since 2005 .
But an analysis performed by conservative website The National Pulse found that “ while Henniges had begun outsourcing before Hunter Biden got involved , AVIC accelerated the practice , operating on a considerably larger scale.
” Henniges only added two new factories outside the U.S. in the ten years before the AVIC takeover , but “ it took less than three years following the 2015 deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In April 2020 , Hunter Biden ’ s lawyer issued a letter stating that Hunter Biden had stepped down in October 2019 from the BHR firm that helped AVIC purchase Henniges .
The letter made no mention of what happened to Hunter Biden ’ s 10 % ownership stake in BHR , and it appears that Hunter Biden may still be profiting from BHR ’ s ownership stakes in companies like Henniges .
Seamus Bruner is a regular contributor to Just the News .
John Solomon is an award-winning investigative journalist , author @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chief Executive Officer and Editor in Chief of Just the News .
Before founding Just the News , Solomon played key reporting and executive roles at some of America ’ s most important journalism institutions , such as The Associated Press , The Washington Post , The Washington Times , Newsweek , The Daily Beast and The Hill .
Photo “ Henniges Automotive ” Henniges Automotive .

by Seamus Bruner and John Solomon
As he was sewing up the Democrat nomination this spring, Joe Biden surprised many in foreign policy circles by publishing an essay arguing it was time to “get tough with China” and to stop its “robbing the United States and American companies of their technology and intellectual property.”
For Biden, a four-decade advocate of trade and friendly relations with Beijing, it was a stunning turnabout that signaled the Democrat was concerned President Trump was winning the election-year battle over U.S.-China policy as tensions in the South China Sea, a trade war, and growing espionage cases created a Cold War-like atmosphere with China.
But for U.S. security experts, it was remarkable for another reason: An investment fund named Bohai Harvest RST (BHR) partly owned and directed by Biden’s son, Hunter, and Secretary of State John Kerry’s stepson, Chris Heinz, had just a few years earlier played a vital role in facilitating the sale of the Michigan-based auto parts maker Henniges Automotive to one of China’s main military aircraft makers, Aviation Industry Corporation of China or AVIC.
That 2015 transaction approved by the Obama administration and its Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) came just 15 months after the United States publicly added one of AVIC’s subsidiaries to a Commerce Department blacklist (known as the “Entity List”) and just months before the Obama administration resumed patrols in the South China Sea because of increased Beijing military aggression in the region, where AVIC-built military jets partake in China’s activities.
The timing has left many, including Senate Finance Committee chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), questioning whether the CFIUS decision whitewashed security concerns because the vice president’s son was involved in the transaction. Those concerns were heightened this June when the Pentagon listed the entire AVIC conglomerate on a list of companies subject to future sanctions because of its ties to the People’s Liberation Army.
Grassley demanded a briefing from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin last year, saying he was concerned because the Obama administration allowed the transaction to proceed even though Henniges possessed “anti-vibration technologies with military applications” and AVIC had a history of ties to China’s military aggression dating to at least 2007. Officials said what Grassley learned in a classified briefing only heightened his concerns.
“The direct involvement of Mr. Hunter Biden and Mr. Heinz in the acquisition of Henniges by the Chinese government creates a potential conflict of interest,” the senator wrote in an Aug. 14, 2019 letter. “Both are directly related to high-ranking Obama administration officials. The Department of State, then under Mr. Kerry’s leadership, is also a CFIUS member and played a direct role in the decision to approve the Henniges transaction. The appearance of potential conflicts in this case is particularly troubling given Mr. Biden’s and Mr. Heinz’s history of investing in and collaborating with Chinese companies, including at least one posing significant national security concerns.”
Hunter Biden’s efforts to make money in China while his father oversaw U.S.-China policy have caused concern since the author Peter Schweizer highlighted the issue earlier this year in his new book “Profiles in Corruption.” (Schweizer first exposed the Biden connection to the AVIC-Henniges deal in his New York Times #1 best seller “Secret Empires.”)
In addition to his role in the Henniges transaction, Hunter Biden also flew aboard Air Force Two in December 2013 with his father to Beijing, where the son engaged in a private business discussion to do private business with Chinese officials that included talk of a $1 billion investment fund.
Hunter Biden’s BHR fund also made an investment in 2014 in the China General Nuclear Power Corp., China’s largest nuclear power company. In 2016, the company was charged along with a nuclear engineer named Szuhsiung “Allen” Ho for conspiring to help China illegally obtain “sensitive and controlled” nuclear technology from within the United States. Ho, a naturalized American citizen, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Michael Pillsbury, a China adviser to both the Obama administration and President Trump, said Joe Biden’s long record of downplaying China’s threat and his son’s efforts to cash in on Beijing while his father was vice president “give reason for journalists to question the sincerity of Joe Biden’s recent conversion to China hawk.”
“The jet fighter and the aircraft carriers that China deploys to threaten the South China Seas can be traced back to financial transactions involving Hunter Biden’s companies,” Pillsbury said.
Roger Robinson, a former senior director for international economic affairs on President Ronald Reagan’s National Security Council, told Just the News the U.S. government has known for years that AVIC has been helping China’s military and aiding U.S. enemies and as such was sanctioned in the past. That record makes the Obama administration’s transaction approval for Henniges all the more curious, he said.
“This is anything but a benign Chinese enterprise,” Robinson said.
Indeed, AVIC was sanctioned on five separate occasions since 1993 for activities ranging from violating the Arms Export Control Act and proliferating missile technology in Pakistan to multiple violations related to trafficking missile and other military technology to Iran. In 2014, one AVIC subsidiary was added to the Obama-Biden Commerce Department “Entity List” indicating that AVIC was on the short list for potential sanctions months before the 2015 CFIUS decision now under scrutiny by Senator Grassley.
Grassley’s letter identified one such security concern dating to eight years before the Henniges transaction was approved. “CFIUS approved the transaction despite reports that in 2007, years before BHR teamed up with AVIC’s subsidiary, AVIC was reportedly involved in stealing sensitive data regarding the Joint Strike Fighter program. AVIC later reportedly incorporated the stolen data into China’s J-20 and J‑31 aircraft,” the senator wrote.
More recently, the Pentagon in June identified AVIC as one of several Chinese state-owned firms assisting the People’s Liberation Army in building Beijing’s military supremacy.
Grassley’s letter identified one such security concern dating to eight years before the Henniges transaction was approved. “CFIUS approved the transaction despite reports that in 2007, years before BHR teamed up with AVIC’s subsidiary, AVIC was reportedly involved in stealing sensitive data regarding the Joint Strike Fighter program. AVIC later reportedly incorporated the stolen data into China’s J-20 and J‑31 aircraft,” the senator wrote.
More recently, the Pentagon in June identified AVIC as one of several Chinese state-owned firms assisting the People’s Liberation Army in building Beijing’s military supremacy.
During the Obama years, Hunter Biden held an ownership stake in and a board seat on BHR. On Sept. 15, 2015, the hedge firm announced the completion of the acquisition of Henniges Automotive, which gave AVIC 51% control and BHR 49%. The $600 million acquisition was one of the largest Chinese takeovers of an American automotive company in history, topping AVIC’s 2010 takeover of Michigan-based Nexteer Automotive for $440 million. The purchase also revealed a pattern of Chinese state-backed takeovers of sensitive American companies which included China’s controversial purchase of A123 Systems for $256.6 million in 2013 after the Obama-Biden CFIUS approved the deal.
While Hunter Biden pursued the business deals, the Obama-Biden administration was acquiescing to China’s wishes to expand its influence, trade and exchanges in the United States and to lessen the potential for military confrontation. For instance, a Pentagon official disclosed in fall 2015 that the Obama administration had essentially imposed a moratorium since 2013 on U.S. patrols in the South China Sea even as Beijing was increasing its influence there, including building man-made islands viewed as hostile to the West and its Asian allies.
The administration also reached a deal for Chinese companies to participate in the U.S. stock market without having to fully comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley accounting rules imposed on Americans companies. And Joe Biden himself was cheering on China’s economic expansion despite warning signs it was coming at U.S. expense in the form of economic espionage. “It’s overwhelmingly in our interest that China grows,” Biden declared in a July 19, 2013 speech.
As late as spring 2019, Biden was still sounding that note. “They’re not bad folks, folks. But guess what, they’re not, they’re not competition for us,” Biden said at a May 2019 Democratic campaign event that drew criticism.
Far from the political fray in Washington, Henniges was trying to rebound in Michigan from the 2008-09 financial crisis when the AVIC deal emerged.
Henniges’ partnership with China dated back to at least December 1995 when Henniges formed a joint venture with Beijing Energine (a subsidiary of a China state-owned aerospace conglomerate). Since then, Henniges has operated at least six facilities in China with at least two new facilities opened after the AVIC deal.
Approximately one month before the Henniges deal was completed with AVIC, Henniges announced its intention to open multiple factories, not in its home state of Michigan but rather in China and Mexico. On Aug. 14, 2015, Henniges announced it had begun building its fourth plant in Mexico. Four days later, Henniges announced it would be opening new facilities in Beijing and Munich. By December 2017, Henniges had announced another “exciting expansion” of its global footprint. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Henniges executives and Chinese government officials celebrated the grand opening of a new 79,500 square foot factory in Suzhou, China. Such global expansion has raised questions about whether jobs that would have gone to Americans have been outsourced.
Officials for Henniges did not respond to repeated requests from Just the News for total numbers of employees in the United States and overseas since 2005.
But an analysis performed by conservative website The National Pulse found that “while Henniges had begun outsourcing before Hunter Biden got involved, AVIC accelerated the practice, operating on a considerably larger scale.” Henniges only added two new factories outside the U.S. in the ten years before the AVIC takeover, but “it took less than three years following the 2015 deal for AVIC to surpass this number.”
In April 2020, Hunter Biden’s lawyer issued a letter stating that Hunter Biden had stepped down in October 2019 from the BHR firm that helped AVIC purchase Henniges. The letter made no mention of what happened to Hunter Biden’s 10% ownership stake in BHR, and it appears that Hunter Biden may still be profiting from BHR’s ownership stakes in companies like Henniges.
– – –
Seamus Bruner is a regular contributor to Just the News. John Solomon is an award-winning investigative journalist, author and digital media entrepreneur who serves as Chief Executive Officer and Editor in Chief of Just the News. Before founding Just the News, Solomon played key reporting and executive roles at some of America’s most important journalism institutions, such as The Associated Press, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Newsweek, The Daily Beast and The Hill.
Photo “Henniges Automotive” Henniges Automotive.


thetennesseestar--2020-09-10--Aitken Bibles Will Connect Students to History in Secular Ways, Says Man Who Wants Them in Tennessee

Aitken Bibles Will Connect Students to History in Secular Ways, Says Man Who Wants Them in Tennessee Schools

Aitken Bibles tie into the lessons of the American Revolution in historical and even secular ways , said one of the men who wants to bring them to Tennessee ’ s elementary , middle , and high schools .
As reported , organizers of The American Bible Project want to donate these Aitken Bibles to the state ’ s school libraries .
American Bible Project founder Stephen Skelton told The Tennessee Star Wednesday that “ the story of the Aitken Bible is one of those great forgotten stories of American history.
” “ We are looking to fix that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their forgotten American history .
The tie-in to the American Revolution and founding of the country is quite profound .
What happened was when the American Revolution began , America placed an embargo against trade with Great Britain .
Among the many items that we stopped receiving from Great Britain were Bibles .
Great Britain is where we got our Bibles from .
After a few years , we were running out of Bibles in America .
As strange as that sounds to our ears today , ” Skelton said .
“ To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did we cut off our supply of Bibles , but it was illegal in America to print the Bible .
The reason being is because the King James Version of the Bible , which was the predominant English version of the Bible at the time , had a license on it that was held by King George , and he was not allowing anyone in America permission to publish the Bible.
” Three pastors , Skelton went on to say , wrote the Founders and asked for their help .
He said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a foot in the door with our Founders , ” asked for approval to print the first American Bible .
The Founders said yes , and they also encouraged that the inhabitants of America read it .
“ Our Founders were men of faith , ” Skelton said .
“ They knew something about the people of this country and our foundation that we seem to have forgotten today.
” Organizers have scheduled an inaugural luncheon for Saturday in Nashville .
Skelton said that anyone who wants to attend should RSVP by calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about The American Bible Project may visit the organization ’ s website .
“ We anticipate distribution of Aitken Bibles into schools the fourth week of October , ” Skelton said .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

A 17-year-old student allegedly opened fire Friday at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas, killing 10 people and wounding another 10, authorities said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said police found explosive devices, including a Molotov cocktail, at the suspected shooter’s home and a vehicle, as well as around the Santa Fe High School where the shooting took place.
Law enforcement officials said the suspect, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a junior at the school, was being held without bond on a capital murder charge.
Abbott said the suspect originally intended to commit suicide following the shooting but told law enforcement officials after he was arrested that he didn’t have the courage to go through with killing himself.
The governor said two guns were used in the attack — a shotgun and a .38-caliber revolver. He said the suspect’s father legally owned both guns.It was not clear whether the father knew his son had taken the weapons.
Abbott said there were “one or two” other people of interest being interviewed about the shooting.
Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset said, “Injured students and staff have been transported to local hospitals.” He also said an officer from the Santa Fe Independent School District was among those shot.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the shooting as an “absolutely horrific attack,” one of many that have “been going on too long in this country.” Trump told the victims and their families that “we’re with you in this tragic hour and we will be with you forever.” He vowed to get guns “out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others.”
An unidentified male student described fleeing the school during an interview with KHOU-TV in Houston. He said that after he heard three shots, “we all took off in the back, and I tried to get into the trees. I didn’t want to be in sight. I heard four more shots, and then we jumped the fence to somebody’s house.”
An unidentified female student said tearfully on cable channel CNN, “Nobody should have to go through this. Nobody should have to feel that pain.”
Facebook post
Pagourtzis had posted an image on Facebook of himself wearing a “Born to Kill” shirt, but the motive for Friday’s attack wasn’t known.
Abbott saidthat unlike previous school shootings, “there were not those types of warning signs” about the Santa Fe suspect. The governor saidthe early investigation had found no prior criminal history for Pagourtzis.
“The red-flag warnings were either nonexistent or very imperceptible,” Abbott said, though he acknowledged Pagourtzis’ posting of the photo on Facebook.
That same Facebook profile described Pagourtzis as planning to enter the U.S. Marine Corps next year, but the Marine Corps told The Associated Press it had reviewed its records and had found no one by that name as either a recruit or a person in their delayed entry pool.
Classmates described Pagourtzis as quiet and an avid video game player who routinely wore a black trench coat and black boots to class. He had played football on the school’s junior varsity squad and danced as part of a church group. Those who know him expressed shock he might be involved in the killings.
Calls for action
The latest incident came about three months after a shooter with a semiautomatic rifle killed 17 students and school staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was the third-deadliest school shooting in American history.
The Democratic leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said urgent action was needed to prevent gun violence.
“Congress must show as much courage as they have, and act now to ensure that no other community or family must endure the unthinkable horror of gun violence. Our children deserve real leadership: a vote to prevent gun violence now.”
Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said Congress must implement reforms that lawmakers recently passed “to make schools safer and keep deadly weapons away from those who should not have them.”
“Our hearts are filled with grief over this horrific loss of life,” he added.
Santa Fe is located in southeastern Texas between the cities of Houston and Galveston.
– – –
Some information for this report came from Associated Press.
VOA News


thetennesseestar--2020-09-10--Commentary: Polls Tighten in Battleground States After President Trump Gets Big Post-Convention Bump

President Donald Trump has received a definite bump in polls following the presidential nominating conventions , including his acceptance speech for the Republican nomination at the White House on Aug. 27 .
The latest NBC-Marist poll conducted Aug. 31 to Sept. 6 shows President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden tied in Florida , 48 percent to 48 percent .
Trafalgar Group shows Trump leading Biden among likely voters in Florida , 49 percent to 46 percent in a poll conducted Sept. 1 to Sept. 3 .
That ’ s a marked improvement from Trafalgar ’ s poll taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed the race tied 46 percent to 46 percent .
CNBC-Change Research had Biden up 6 points in Florida , Arizona , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin in early August , 50 percent to 44 percent , but by Aug. 21 to Aug. 23 , right after the Democratic National Convention and Biden ’ s Aug. 20 acceptance speech , the lead had narrowed to 49 percent to 46 percent .
Quinnipiac had Biden leading by 13 points in Florida July 16 to July 20 , 51 percent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Sept. 1 , the lead in the polls was down to just 3 points : 48 percent to 45 percent .
That ’ s a lot of volatility , but in each instance , the President ’ s standing has improved from either being tied or behind , to leading or effectively tied .
And that ’ s just in Florida as a similar story emerges in other battleground states .
In Pennsylvania , Susquehanna had Biden up by 6 points in April , 48 percent to 42 percent .
Then the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June , 46 percent to 41 percent .
And now , on Aug. 26 to Sept. 4 , the lead was just 2 points , 44 percent to 42 percent .
Similarly , Rasmussen Reports had Biden up by 5 points in Pennsylvania in July , 51 percent to 46 percent .
And then on Aug. 25 to Aug. 27 , the race was tied at 46 percent to 46 percent .
Monmouth had Biden up by 10 points in July in Pennsylvania in July , 52 percent to 42 percent .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points on Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 , 49 percent to 46 percent .
Elsewhere , in Michigan , Trafalgar had Biden up a point 46 percent to 45 percent .
On Aug. 14 to Aug. 23 , the race had flipped , with Trump leading 47 percent to 45 percent .
And so , just like that — and not unlike 2016 when polls had Hillary Clinton leading by double digits over the summer that turned out to all be wrong — in the post-convention environment , Biden and Trump are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right on schedule — as the nation rapidly approaches the first debate on Sept. 29 .
In 2016 , in Florida , polls underreported Trump support by 2 percentage points , in North Carolina by 3.3 points , in Ohio by 5.5 points , in Pennsylvania by 3.5 points and Michigan by 4.1 points .
A good reason why may be because Trump voters are more likely to hide their affiliation .
A study from CloudResearch “ show a greater reluctance on the part of Republicans , Independents and Trump voters to disclose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters said they were likely to be untruthful on phone surveys versus 5.1 percent of Biden supporters .
Meaning , any polls we ’ re reading might now might need to be handicapped to Trump ’ s advantage .
Overall , 11.7 percent of Republicans saying they would not report their true opinions about voter preference versus just 5.4 percent of Democrats .
10.5 percent of independents said they might not report their true opinion .
President Trump reacted to the latest polls on Twitter as he began a multi-state swing on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina , writing , “ The Real Polls are starting to look GREAT !
We will be having an even bigger victory than that of 2016 .
The Radical Left Anarchists , Agitators , Looters , and just plain Lunatics , will not be happy , but they will behave !
” Meaning , following Biden ’ s lackluster virtual convention and Trump ’ s triumphant celebration of his first term in office at the White House last month — plus the ongoing anti-police riots in America ’ s cities — Biden has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s reelection bid gains momentum .
Stay tuned .
This is just getting interesting .
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-10--‘Walking Dead’ to be Laid to Rest in 2022, Spin-Offs to Rise

LOS ANGELES , California ( AP ) — The end is coming for “ The Walking Dead , ” but not until 2022 .
The AMC series that became a franchise with current and planned spin-offs will wrap with an 11th season spanning 24 episodes and two years , the channel said Wednesday .
The series has yet to air six episodes that are part of an expanded 10th season .
Those are set for early next year .
When “ The Walking Dead ” is laid to rest in late 2022 , a new spin-off centered on characters Daryl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Melissa McBride ) will follow in 2023 , AMC said .
An anthology series , “ Tales of the Walking Dead , ” focusing on new and existing characters , is in development along with other projects “ grounded in ‘ The Walking Dead ’ universe , ” the channel said .
Closer at hand are “ Fear the Walking Dead , ” which begins its sixth season Oct. 11 , and newcomer “ The Walking Dead : World Beyond , ” which debuts Oct. 4 and follows the first generation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Headline Photo : This image released by AMC shows Norman Reedus , left , and Samantha Morton in a scene from “ The Walking Dead.
” The AMC channel says its series will wrap with an 11th season spanning 24 episodes and two years .
When “ The Walking Dead ” is laid to rest in late 2022 .
( Jace Downs/AMC via AP )


thetennesseestar--2020-09-10--Biden Flip-Flops on Proposed National Mask Mandate, Says It Would Be Unconstitutional

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Sunday walked back his pledge to impose a national mask mandate , admitting he wouldn ’ t be able to use the powers of the presidency to make face-coverings compulsory because that would actually be unconstitutional .
Biden was asked to respond to President Trump ’ s policy of giving more authority to the states during an interview with AZFamily ’ s “ Politics Unplugged.
” “ Well , I hope you could trust the governors , Biden said .
“ But here ’ s the deal , the federal government — there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could issue such a mandate .
I don ’ t think constitutionally they could , so I wouldn ’ t issue a mandate.
” However , as recently as last month , Biden was insisting that he would use federal power to impose a mask mandate .
“ The one thing we do know is these masks make a gigantic difference .
I would insist that everybody out in public be wearing that mask .
Anyone to reopen would have to make sure that they walked into a business that had masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pittsburgh back in June , ( while wearing a black mask himself ) .
Pressed if he ’ d use federal power to mandate wearing a mask in public , Biden responded , “ Yes , I would .
From an executive standpoint , yes I would.
” Asked again if that meant he would “ in effect ” mandate mask wearing , Biden said , “ I would do everything possible to make it required that people had to wear masks in public.
” Biden repeated his call for a mask mandate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Convention on August 20 .
“ We ’ ll have a national mandate to wear a mask — not as a burden , but to protect each other , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a patriotic duty.
” On Sunday , however , Biden told AZFamily he would merely “ plead with ” people to wear a mask and continue to set an example by wearing one himself .
“ I carry my mask with me everywhere I go , ” he said .
Last month , Biden also called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandate , claiming it would save tens of thousands of lives .
“ It ’ s not about your rights .
It ’ s about your responsibilities as an American , ” said Biden , in contrast to the Republicans ’ position that such a mandate would infringe on an individual ’ s rights .
“ So let ’ s just institute a mass mandate nationwide starting immediately .
And we will save—the estimates are that we will save 40,000 lives in the next three months once that is done , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris ( D-Calif. ) said during an NBC “ Today ” show interview late last month that a nationwide mask mandate would be one of the Biden administration ’ s first priorities .
She immediately backed down , however , when asked how the mandate would be enforced .
“ It ’ s a standard .
I mean , nobody ’ s going to be punished , ” she said .
“ Nobody likes to wear a mask , this is a universal feeling , right ?
So , that ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last week , when asked about his proposed national mask mandate , Biden denied that he had ever said such a thing—even though the proposal was a major feature of his DNC speech .
“ No , no , ” he said .
“ What I suggested was I would ask every person in authority ” to impose one .
“ I ’ m a constitutionalist , ” Biden declared .
“ You can ’ t do things the Constitution does allow you the power to do.
” Polls have consistently shown that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Biden ’ s abrupt turn-around strongly suggests that the latest surveys show that the public is beginning to cool on masks .


thetennesseestar--2020-09-10--Trump Promises Navy, DOD Will ‘Not be Cancelling’ Contract with Catholic Priests

President Donald Trump promised Wednesday that neither the Navy nor the Department of Defense will cancel contracts with Catholic priests allowing serving military members .
“ The United States Navy , or the Department of Defense , will NOT be cancelling its contract with Catholic Priests who serve our men and women in the Armed Forces so well , and with such great compassion & skill , ” the president tweeted Wednesday morning , tagging the Archbishop of New York , Cardinal Timothy Dolan .
“ This will no longer be even a point of discussion !
” Dolan did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
The president ’ s tweet comes after the San Diego Tribune reported Saturday that the Navy ended Catholic masses on San Diego-area bases , citing cost purposes , though Protestant services at the bases would continue .
“ The Navy ’ s religious ministries priority is reaching and ministering to our largest demographic — active duty Sailors and Marines in the 18-25 year-old range , ” Navy spokesman Brian O ’ Rourke told the Tribune in an email .
“ To meet that mission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult decision to discontinue most contracted ministry services.
” The spokesman added that the Navy recognized that the change would largely affect Catholics , the Tribune reported .
“ We know change can be difficult for our existing on-base congregations , but ask for understanding , patience and support from those faithful civilians and retirees who , in their heart of hearts , want what is best for our uniformed service members and their families , ” O ’ Rourke said .
“ Military chaplains are working closely with local parishes to assist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The White House and the Department of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for further comment from the DCNF .
Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
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