thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Democrat Who Endorsed Trump Says He’s Stepping Down After Being ‘Harassed’ by Democratic Party

Democratic Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones announced that he is stepping down from office , citing attacks and harassment from his party following his endorsement of President Donald Trump for re-election .
Jones shocked the Georgia political establishment when he became the first state-elected Democrat to endorse Trump earlier in April .
While the move drew quick recognition and applause from the White House , Democratic leaders closer to home immediately disavowed him , and pledged to help unseat him from office .
The blowback from his party is too much , and he is stepping down from his post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 91st House District , Jones said .
“ I ’ m sick and tired of me and my family being attacked and harassed by the Democrat Party for putting my country before my party , ” Jones said in a statement released Wednesday , and first obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
“ I take pride in being an independent thinker , ” Jones continued in his resignation announcement .
“ I intend to help the Democrat Party get rid of its bigotry against Black people that are independent and conservative.
” Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing the president ’ s handling of the economy , support for historically black colleges and his criminal justice reform initiatives .
All of these issues , he said , drew him toward Trump ’ s campaign .
Jones represents the 91st House District in the Georgia General Assembly — a majority-minority district in the suburbs south of Atlanta that is overwhelmingly Democratic .
Before entering the Georgia House of Representatives , Jones served as the CEO of DeKalb County , and served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not well received by his colleagues .
“ Vernon Jones is an embarrassment to the Democratic Party and does not stand for our values , ” Georgia Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikema Williams said in a prepared statement .
“ He chose to stand with the racist president who has made an all-out assault on black Americans … during the most important election of our lifetimes.
” Immediately after Jones ’ s endorsement , Fair Fight — a group launched by failed gubernatorial candidate and romance novelist Stacey Abrams — announced it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rhonda Taylor .
Jones ’ s announcement on Wednesday suggested that it is Trump ’ s likely opponent , former Vice President Joe Biden , who has enacted racist policies .
“ I endorsed the White guy ( Donald J. Trump ) that let Blacks out of jail , and they endorsed the White guy ( Joe Biden ) that put Blacks in jail , ” he said .
While the state representative said he is stepping down from office , he is not leaving the Democratic Party , noting that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold them accountable to how they are treating black people ( and ) root out the bigotry.
” “ I will remain woke and vigilant in educating and fighting for my people , ” Jones said .
Jason Hopkins is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Background Photo “ Georgia Capitol ” by Ken Lund .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Despite Massive Outbreak, Just 0.3 Percent of Ohio Inmates with COVID-19 Have Died

Two Ohio prisons are now home to the largest known clusters of COVID-19 in the nation , but the mortality rate for inmates with the virus is well below one percent .
The outbreaks at the Marion Correctional Institution and the Pickaway Correctional Institution are the only clusters in the United States with more than 1,000 cases as of Wednesday , according to a New York Times database .
The caseload for both prisons exceeds the number of confirmed cases from the Carvinal-owned Diamond Princess and Grand Princess cruise ships , which had some of the earliest clusters of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , the Diamond Princess produced 712 confirmed COVID-19 cases and the Grand Princess had 469 cases .
As The Ohio Star reported Wednesday , the Marion Correctional Institution has more confirmed cases than any county in the state .
The prison now has 2,168 COVID-19 cases among both inmates and staff , according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction ( DRC ) .
The Pickaway prison has 1,632 cases among both staff and inmates , according to figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DRC is only providing recovery rates for prison staff who have tested positive for the virus , not inmates .
The Department of Health told The Ohio Star that it does not currently have data on the number of inmates who have recovered or the age ranges of those who have tested positive , but is working on gathering this information .
Among 331 prison staff members who have tested positive , 35 had recovered as of Wednesday .
Overall , 3,792 Ohio inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 .
The 3,566 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisons account for 94 percent of the total coronavirus cases in Ohio ’ s prison population .
However , of the 3,792 inmates with COVID-19 , just 12 have died from the virus , or 0.3 percent .
Though that mortality rate may increase as the virus runs its course among inmates who have tested positive but have not yet recovered , it is currently dramatically lower than the 4.9 percent mortality rate among the more than 800,000 Americans who have tested positive for coronavirus as of April 22 .
That differential may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio inmate population , where the average age is lower than the average age of the general population .
As many studies have reported , coronavirus mortality rates increase as the age of the patient increases .
It may , however , indicate that the mortality rate is lower than 4.9 percent because , to date , the vast majority of the 4.4 million Americans who have been tested were those who presented symptoms and were authorized for testing by a medical professional while the entire inmate population at Ohio ’ s Marion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regardless of whether they presented with symptoms or not .
With an inmate population of about 2,500 , slightly more than 80 percent ( 2,011 ) of prisoners in the Marion Correctional Institution have now tested positive for the virus .
The Cook County Jail in Chicago , Illinois has the third-most COVID-19 cases among American prisons , The Times reports .
As of Tuesday evening , the jail had 433 cases among inmates , according to the Cook County Sheriff ’ s Office , which reported that 192 inmates have recovered and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a total population of about 5,500 , meaning about eight percent of inmates have tested positive – 10 times less than the percentage who have tested positive at the Marion Correctional Institution .
The DRC attributed the dramatic spike in cases among Ohio ’ s prison population to “ aggressive ” testing of inmates .
The agency began “ mass testing ” of inmates at “ designated facilities ” on April 11 .
In total , Ohio ’ s prison system accounts for 29 percent ( 4,123 ) of all 14,117 confirmed COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocacy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio , called the outbreak in prisons “ devastating and terrible , ” but “ not inevitable.
” “ This was a policy choice , ” she said on Twitter .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .

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


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Michigan Department of State to Temporarily Layoff More than 900 Workers

The Michigan Department of State announced on Wednesday that it will be temporarily laying off more than 900 members of its staff .
The layoffs will begin on April 26 and will last at least two weeks .
The layoffs will apply to staff that can not work full-time while remaining in compliance with the “ Stay Home , Stay Safe ” order .
Most of the staff are employees who typically work in Secretary of State branch offices , which are currently closed .
Unemployed staff members will be automatically enrolled in the state ’ s unemployment program .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our state , our state government and our department , ” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson , in a statement .
“ This decision was not easy , but is necessary to responsibly steward taxpayer funds at this time.
” More than 1 million people have filed for unemployment in Michigan , according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor .
Nearly 220,000 Michigan residents filed in the week ending April 11 and more than 380,000 filed in the week before .
More than 22 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Department of State layoffs will not affect services available to the public , the state said .
Many driver and vehicle transactions can be carried out online and transactions for automobile , motorcycle and watercraft renewals can be completed at self-service stations .
Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer recently temporarily extended the expiration of valid driver ’ s licenses , state identification cards and commercial vehicle registrations that were set to expire during the coronavirus emergency declaration .
The extensions will last until June 30 .
“ In times of crisis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to think about is having to renew your driver ’ s license or state ID card , ” Whitmer said in a statement “ It is my sincere hope this order gives all Michiganders with expiring identification some peace of mind as we continue our united front to slow the spread of COVID-19 across our state.
” A list of services available online can be found here .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Lockdown Prevents Akron Barber with Stage 4 Cancer from Reaching Her Doctor at World-Renowned Johns

Lockdown Prevents Akron Barber with Stage 4 Cancer from Reaching Her Doctor at World-Renowned Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ohio ’ s prolonged lockdown is literally a life-and-death matter for an Akron barber battling a rare form of cancer as she can not reach world-renowned Johns Hopkins Medicine for treatment .
Peggy Reed is a barber with Stage 4 Squamous Cell cancer of the nasal cavity .
Much of her medical story is told on her GoFundMe page here .
Reed missed her appointment at Johns Hopkins on March 26 to see a specialist .
Ohio ’ s stay at home order means no out of state travel is allowed .
Maryland also has a stay at home order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Renz Law LLC in Fremont , told The Ohio Star he is lobbying Ohio and Maryland to get an exemption for his client to travel .
On Wednesday , Renz said he reached an agreement with Johns Hopkins to conduct a telemedicine appointment with Reed .
The problem with that solution , however , is that Ohio does not allow out-of-state practitioners to practice telemedicine in the state unless they are licensed in Ohio — even if that practitioner works at Johns Hopkins , widely viewed as one of the world ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also trying to gain an exception in this instance .
Renz , on his website here , details some of the problems that the state ’ s and national orders have caused his client .
Some time ago , my client , Peggy , was diagnosed with cancer near her brain .
It was a very rare form of cancer and most treatments for it were only recently developed so she was forced to go out of state for treatment .
This was particularly difficult for her due to the fact that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time off meant no income .
While the surgery was successful , her survival hinged on follow-up treatment and the only physician that could do it was out of John ’ s Hopkins .
As she was waiting for her appointment our elected officials decided to shut our nation down without considering all of the consequences .
Whether you believe this helped keep us safe or not is less relevant than the fact that , for this wonderful lady , it meant her appointment was cancelled and she still can not reschedule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down and she is very concerned about paying for the insurance necessary to pay for the treatment to keep her alive .
Renz said he believes people should stay safe and practice social distancing .
However , making sweeping changes to the law without “ full consideration of the consequences ” means people like Reed fall through the cracks without having due process .
“ In Peggy ’ s case , it is a very clear impact on her ability to survive , ” Renz said .
“ It was not on purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a reason we don ’ t allow the law to do things without a due process.
” So far , Reed has maintained insurance , but that is difficult and she may not be able to continue .
For now , Renz said he is focusing on lobbying government officials to make changes because fighting a court battle is time-consuming .
“ We want to get her taken care of before we start that kind of fight , ” he said .
Renz said his client is selfless .
In 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shipment of supplies for hurricane relief — the day before having a surgery for her cancer .
“ We understand people are dying ” of COVID-19 , Renz said .
We ’ don ’ t want that .
But the CDC is blowing things a little out of proportion .
We want to make sure this is being handled properly.
” Renz asked : If the shutdown is about flattening the curve , what major infrastructure projects has Ohio done to prepare hospitals if they expect an influx of patients since they took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due process ?
“ We are not saying they do not have the police power to do that , but if we take away rights … where is the infrastructure ?
” And , Reed is considered at-risk for the virus , but she wants to work .
“ That ’ s her decision .
She wants to work to afford health insurance .
It doesn ’ t matter if we agree ; it ’ s her decision .
It ’ s a free society.
” Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Peggy Reed ” by Go Fund Me .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Ohio State Controlling Board Splits $90 Million in Federal Funds: 10 Percent to Ohio Department of H

Ohio State Controlling Board Splits $90 Million in Federal Funds: 10 Percent to Ohio Department of Health and 90 Percent to ‘Rural Transportation’

The state Controlling Board voted to split $ 90 million of federal taxpayer money aimed to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic between the Ohio Health Department – which will receive $ 8.5 million – and rural transportation departments across the state , which will receive the balance of $ 81.9 million to “ aid for rural transportation systems , ” according to a statement released by Democrats Monday .
“ We need to ensure health care workers and officials on the ground have the tools they need to detect , track and contain this virus before we begin to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step in the right direction to get us where we need to be , but we ’ re not there yet , ” said Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes ( D-Akron ) .
The funds are a part of the federal Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act ( HB 533 ) signed by President Trump in early March .
According to the statement , the $ 8.5 million “ will be used to increase testing capacity and carry out mitigation strategies , including surveillance , contact tracing and infection control measures.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to “ support capital , operating and other expenses for 37 of the state ’ s rural transportation service providers ” in response to the pandemic .
“ Our rural transportation systems have been hit hard by this virus , ” said Rep. Jack Cera ( D-Bellaire ) , who sits on the state Controlling Board .
“ Supporting rural transit supports those who rely on them every day , including those on the front lines – healthcare workers , grocery employees and other essential workers keeping our state moving in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Controlling Board is a senate committee comprised of four Republicans and two Democrats and – as described in a 2003 Policy Matters Ohio study – “ is the final arbiter of hundreds of millions of dollars in state contracts and adjusts spending after the budget is approved.
” Samantha Witwer is a reporter at The Ohio Star .
Background Photo “ Ohio Statehouse ” by Mj .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Walz Says Minnesota Can Now Perform 20,000 COVID-19 Tests Per Day, Most in the Nation

Gov .
Tim Walz announced Wednesday that Minnesota now has the capacity to test as many as 20,000 residents per day for COVID-19 .
Under a partnership with the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota , the state can now perform up to 20,000 molecular and 15,000 serology tests per day , Walz ’ s office said in a press release .
“ This is not a state that ’ s going to just get through COVID-19 ; this is a state that ’ s going to lead this nation and the world out of this , ” Walz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The plan that we ’ ve put in place should allow Minnesota to be testing at a rate higher than any place else in the country , potentially the world.
” Walz said the increased testing capacity will “ help to assure that every person in the state with symptoms of COVID-19 gets tested.
” The expanded testing is funded in part by $ 36 million from the COVID-19 Minnesota Fund recently established by the Legislature , Walz ’ s office said .
The Minnesota Department of Health , the Mayo Clinic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create a “ central lab ” to accommodate the expanded testing .
“ Mayo Clinic has been leading the nation in COVID-19 testing since the pandemic ’ s emergence .
As always , Mayo Clinic continues to put Minnesota first , ” said William Morice , president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories .
“ Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic , Mayo Clinic has prioritized Minnesota ’ s needs , offering the state unlimited access to Mayo ’ s unmatched testing capabilities and providing assistance and expertise whenever asked .
Mayo ’ s commitment continues today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s statewide testing strategy , ” he continued .
Walz said the expanded testing will include intensive testing of vulnerable populations , such as the homeless and nursing home residents , as well as health care workers , communities of color and American Indian populations , and the workforce for critical infrastructure .
Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said the increased testing capacity “ will improve our understanding of how COVID-19 is spreading in Minnesota ” and allow the state to identify emerging hotspots of infection .
The governor previously said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per day before it could begin reopening the economy .
As of Wednesday , the state had completed 49,344 tests , meaning it can now complete in just three days the number of tests that have been performed since the beginning of the pandemic .
“ We are committed to our vital public health obligation of aggressively expanding access to COVID-19 testing throughout the state .
It will be core to any effort to safely reopen our state , ” said Jakub Tolar , dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is only fitting that two of Minnesota ’ s preeminent research institutions answer the call together in our commitment to tackling this pandemic.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--With Less Than a Week Left, Only 22 Percent of Registered Voters in Ohio Have Requested an Absentee

With Less Than a Week Left, Only 22 Percent of Registered Voters in Ohio Have Requested an Absentee Ballot for the Ohio Primary

Registered voters have not taken advantage of the extended primary election deadline as numbers released Tuesday by Ohio Secretary of State ( OSOS ) Frank LaRose shows low turnout .
With less than a week until the primary election deadline , only 1,667,883 Ohioans have requested a vote-by-mail absentee ballot .
Ohio has 7.7 million registered voters , according to The Columbus Dispatch .
This means that less than 22 percent of registered Ohioans have requested an absentee ballot .
Gov .
Mike DeWine pushed back Ohio ’ s original primary election date from March 17 to April 28 after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
People are expected to vote by mail rather than in-person .
Only certain situations will allow Ohioans to vote in-person .
Before the primary election was pushed back , 523,522 early votes were cast , according to the OSOS .
Of the absentee ballots requested , OSOS numbers show Democrats have requested 866,104 compared to 705,478 for Republicans .
Furthermore , Democrats ( 377,104 ) have submitted more ballots by mail than the GOP ( 288,578 ) .
“ This election is about a lot more than a presidential primary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ local issues that are being decided in communities all around Ohio , and leaders who are competing to be your councilwoman or legislative representative , ” LaRose said .
“ Unprecedented challenges require unprecedented efforts .
Together with bipartisan election officials and community leaders from across the state , we ’ ve worked tirelessly to prepare Ohioans to vote by mail , ” he added .
“ As we enter this final week , I encourage Ohioans to mail their ballot in as soon as possible.
” Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 7:30 p.m. to the voter ’ s county board of elections , according to the OSOS press release .
Low primary turnout is not uncommon for Ohio in a presidential election year .
To illustrate , back in 2016 , almost 44 percent of people voted in the state ’ s primary .
The turnout was even lower in 2012 when less than 26 percent of registered voters cast a ballot , according to the OSOS office .
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ email protected ] Photo “ Mail-In Ballot ” by Chris Phan .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--70 Percent of COVID-19 Deaths in Minnesota Associated with Nursing Homes

Health officials revealed during a Tuesday press conference that nursing home residents account for slightly more than 70 percent of all COVID-19-related deaths in Minnesota .
Infectious Disease Division Director Kris Ehresmann said during a Tuesday press briefing that 113 of the state ’ s 160 deaths “ are associated with long-term care.
” “ While yes , it is the case that a significant number , a majority now , of deaths are associated with long-term care residents and the elderly in general , it ’ s important to track the fuller picture of all the cases and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commissioner Jan Malcolm added .
“ The long-term care residents actually make up a much smaller percentage of all cases hospitalized.
” She said there are a lot of Minnesotans in the hospital , including in intensive care units , who are in “ very serious condition ” and aren ’ t “ associated with long-term care.
” There are now more than 90 nursing homes throughout the state that have been exposed to COVID-19 by either a resident , staff member , or visiting service provider .
Between Tuesday and Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased by 19 from 160 to 179 .
That ’ s the most deaths the state has experienced in a single day since the beginning of the pandemic .
The vast majority of counties in Minnesota haven ’ t experienced any deaths from the coronavirus .
Hennepin County leads the state in both confirmed cases ( 1,073 ) and deaths ( 113 ) , and is the only county in the state with more than 20 deaths .
State Sen. Michelle Benson ( R-Ham Lake ) , chair of the Senate Health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement that Gov .
Tim Walz ’ s COVID-19 model shows little variation in “ projected mortality outcomes ” between a two-week and six-week stay-at-home order .
“ In comparing these two scenarios , the model shows little difference in top ICU demand and mortality , ” she said .
“ However , scenario 3.2 allows our economy to re-open significantly earlier than the governor ’ s current path .
The economic pain people are feeling is real , and we need to take reasonable steps to protect the livelihoods , mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to prepare our COVID response.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-23--Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s Office Won’t Address Unintended Consequences of Raising Property Taxes

Nashville Mayor John Cooper ’ s staff on Wednesday did not address the likely unintended consequences of raising property taxes by 20 percent to make up for the COVID-19 pandemic diminishing the city ’ s finances .
Cooper ’ s staff also would not say whether it ’ s wise to grant restaurant and other business owners the right to reopen sooner rather than later , so they can again generate tax revenue and help the city .
This , even if business owners took reasonable precautions to protect people ’ s health .
Cooper spokesman Chris Song referenced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battered Middle Tennessee in an email to The Tennessee Star Wednesday .
“ As Mayor Cooper stated , we can ’ t print money or borrow to cover our operating expenses .
We must raise property taxes , as difficult as that is right now , ” Song said .
“ But , again , our ability to respond to two simultaneous emergencies will confirm Nashville as a place where people want to put their future.
” Song told The Star that Metro officials have already taken steps to shore up the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiring freeze , except for public safety and other critical services .
“ Promotions , pay raises , and travel is on hold , and non-essential capital spending has been delayed .
Mayor Cooper has also directed all departments to identify immediate cost reduction opportunities .
These actions will reduce city spending by millions of dollars , ” Song said .
“ As Mayor Cooper mentioned in his State of Metro address , he is working with the Finance Department to continue a thorough review of every option to make our city fiscally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Metro must balance its budget , just like businesses and households balance their budgets , which will be submitted on the 28th.
” Metro Council Member At-Large Steve Glover was unavailable for comment Wednesday , but on his Facebook page this week he urged Nashville residents to speak out about higher property taxes .
“ Please remember when I started warning us about 5 years ago in Nashville we wouldn ’ t be ready for the next turn down .
Instead we just kept spending , ” Glover said while posting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — without any tourists .
“ Welcome to Broadway 4/21/20 at 8:30pm .
Never dreamed it could be this bad , did know that the answer would be just raise taxes .
Please get involved in the discussion .
If you are okay with raising your taxes and taking money out of your pocket for spending on non-essentials other than our public safety and educating our children with real accountability , then get your check books out .
Metro only needs about $ 45 to $ 100+ per month extra from you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are broke .
Is that you ’ re fault ?
Get involved , pay attention to your local metro government.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ John Cooper ” by John Cooper .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Eagle Forum Asks Supreme Court to Consider Tennessee Refugee Resettlement Lawsuit

A prominent conservative organization has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider a case involving Tennessee ’ s participation in the federal refugee resettlement program .
Eagle Forum , a national organization with 80,000 members and founded by Phyllis Schlafly , filed an amicus brief Tuesday in support of the Thomas More Law Center ’ s effort to get the high court to review the case .
The initial lawsuit was filed in federal court in March 2017 by the Tennessee General Assembly against the U.S. Department of State .
A federal judge dismissed the case a year later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals panel in July , which said the General Assembly lacked institutional standing to challenge the federal program .
Since the Tennessee Attorney General ’ s Office has declined to take up the case , the Thomas More Law Center is now serving as legal representation for the General Assembly .
The appellate court further denied a request for the case to be heard by the full court , so the Law Center asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case last month .
According to the Law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the refugee resettlement program in 2008 after the federal government refused to cover state costs as was originally promised in the 1980 Refugee Act .
The federal government then simply appointed Catholic Charities of Tennessee to continue the program while still “ forcing the state to pay for it.
” “ Forcing state legislators to expend state resources outside of the normal appropriations process directly interferes with their duties to the state and to their constituents .
If the federal government can not compel a state to fund federal programs , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divert funding from essential and traditional state government services in order to operationalize a federal program from which the state has withdrawn , ” Eagle Forum ’ s legal brief states .
Nashville attorney Joanne Bregman , author of the Eagle Forum ’ s amicus brief , said the threat to state sovereignty posed by “ federal coerced spending ” is especially relevant at a “ time when the needs of Tennessee ’ s citizens are dire.
” “ The ongoing conversations between the president and state governors concerning recovery from the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federalism – the same constitutional principle of dual sovereignty which is the basis of the General Assembly ’ s lawsuit against federal commandeering of state dollars to fund the federal refugee resettlement program , ” Bregman said in a press release .
The Eagle Forum argues in its complaint that there is no room “ in the Constitution ’ s framework to permit the federal government or its agencies to take state funds without the express consent of the state ’ s appropriating body.
” “ Justice Scalia considered the principles of federalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge to the federal refugee resettlement program , more important to the American democracy than the Bill of Rights , ” said Richard Thompson , president of the Thomas More Law Center .
“ Considering the continued controversy between the nation ’ s governors and the president over the best way to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic , a grant of certiorari would present the Supreme Court with an opportunity to calm the waters over their conflicting claims of power by expounding on Federalism 101.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .

The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office now lists 24 individuals as collecting petitions in the campaign for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
There are 16 Republicans, four Democrats, and four Independents collecting qualifying petitions for the TN-5 race.
Candidates of all parties have until noon on April 7 to turn in their qualifying petitions, a deadline which is fast approaching. Candidates must collect 25 valid signatures from registered voters in the district. Those seeking the Republican nomination must be verified as bona fide Republicans by the Tennessee Republican Party in order to appear on the GOP primary ballot.
Challenges have been filed against the bona fide Republican statuses of the three carpetbaggers in the race, Morgan Ortagus, David Vitalli, and Robby Starbuck. Action will occur on those challenges after the April 7 filing deadline.
On the Republican side, Morgan Ortagus, former Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell of Nashville, businessman Baxter Lee of Nashville, Robby Starbuck of Franklin (listed as Robert Starbuck Newsom), Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks of Nashville, Timothy Bruce Lee of Nashville, Annabelle Lee of Madison, Alan Clement Sharp of Nashville, David Vitalli of Brentwood, Stewart Parks of Nashville, Richie Lee of Nashville, General Kurt Winstead of Franklin, Tres Wittum of Nashville, Jeff Beierlein of Nashville, and Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles are listed as collecting petitions.
Former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada of Franklin is still listed as collecting petitions but he dropped out of the race and endorsed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in the GOP primary.
On the Democrat side, Clay Faircloth, Richard H. Harris, Justicia Rizzo, and Joel Michael Hurbert, all from Nashville, are collecting petitions.
Derrick Brantley of Nashville, Patrick O. Halfacre of Hohenwald, Daniel J. Cooper of Spring Hill, and Richard A. Shannon of Franklin are the independents collecting petitions.
The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office has been updating its list on a weekly basis. This list is current as of Friday, April 1.
Reports are expected to be available for the January 1 through March 31, 2022 Federal Election Commission campaign finance first-quarter period in the coming days. Those reports are expected to shed significant light on which candidates are considered viable. The bulk of the field entered the race after the December 31, 2021 reporting deadline.
The primaries are scheduled for August 4, 2022.
The newly-redrawn 5th Congressional District consists of parts of Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson counties, as well as all of Maury, Marshall, and Lewis counties.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected] Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, and Parler.
Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Andrew Can Huss.


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Commentary: Another Four Million Jobs Lost, Unemployment Maybe More Than 20 Percent

Another 4.4 million Americans filed for initial unemployment claims last week , raising the total to more than 26 million who have lost their jobs since the COVID-19 pandemic economic closures began in all 50 states more than a month ago .
But it could be as high as 29 million , since the monthly unemployment report from March showed 3 million Americans had also lost their jobs in March .
Those reports are taken mid-month , and so the thinking there is that the job losses that came at the end of the month might have come atop those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information next month to look backwards and get a better read .
Add to that the 5.8 million who already were unemployed when the economy was at a 50-year low of 3.5 percent , and that raises the effective unemployment rate to anywhere from 19 percent to 21 percent , with more than 32 million jobless .
For perspective , it took two and a half years to get to 25 percent unemployment in the 1930s as deflation devastated the global economy , four years to get back down to 11 percent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into World War II when elevated unemployment came to an end .
At the current clip , we could be well north of 25 percent by June when hopefully most states will be reopening , with no guarantees that it won ’ t just keep on rising thereafter .
In the financial crisis and the Great Recession , it to more than two years to lose 8.3 million jobs , and then almost five years to get those jobs back .
In comparison , therefore , the current recession has already lost three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one , with much of the damage already done and yet still more to come .
This illustrates clearly the urgency behind Congress ’ measures to support small and large businesses , state and local governments with up to $ 2.7 trillion , to ensure that when the economy does reopen , there is still a private sector left to open .
That is why attention must now be given to what sort of support will be needed not only to keep existing businesses alive , but help build new ones in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even years of rebuilding .
It is to President Donald Trump ’ s credit that he believes America can come back very rapidly .
He is a goal-oriented President and so wants to help drive Americans to achieve all that they can .
If only we had had that sort of leadership in the last recession and recovery period .
Specific attention must be given to impediments to the prior recovery .
Why did it take so long ?
Were households simply too indebted ?
Was the strong dollar and deflation not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended for too long , incentivizing people to stay unemployed ?
The latter is a particularly vexing problem as we enter this recession .
The payroll protection and expanded unemployment benefits were designed to encourage Americans to stay home .
That , combined with the threat of the virus and the public ’ s general willingness to fight it to keep their loved ones safe has worked .
But how quickly is it realistic to remove those supports and sustain the recovery ?
If that safety net is removed too quickly , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it is held for too long , it could stunt the recovery .
Then there is the possibility that no matter what , it will take years to recover , and no amount of tax cuts , deficit-spending and other incentives will change that fact .
Just as it is a lot easier to burn a house down than it is to build one , so too bringing back 26 million Americans and counting back into the workforce be difficult .
First things first , we have to stop losing jobs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ three phases of the federal strategy to reopen the economy , we need to get to the bottom of the labor markets as quickly as possible .
So , remove tax , regulatory , financial and monetary disincentives to forming new businesses .
Corporate and payroll tax holidays might be a good idea .
State and local regulatory holidays could help .
In the interim , mortgage payment assistance via a bank debt holiday might be need to stave off another financial crisis .
Municipal bond markets will probably need to be temporarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the dollar could be weakened relative to other currencies to fight deflation , boost exports and speed the recovery .
This could be the worst recession of our lifetimes and whether we opened right this instant or in a few weeks may not change that fact .
What we can have an impact on , though , is whether we can get a rapid recovery , or one that drags on for years on end , without ever fully recovering what was lost .
Concerted action will be needed to ensure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--More Than 4.4 Million File New Unemployment Claims; Five-Week Total Surpasses 26 Million

The five week surge in new unemployment claims continued last week as businesses deemed nonessential by state and local governments reduce staffing in response to COVID-19 .
More than 4.4 million Americans filed unemployment claims last week , the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday .
The 4.43 million claims for the week that ended April 18 is down 810,000 from the week prior , when 5.25 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits .
Over the past five weeks , 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits because of stay-at-home orders in response to the novel coroanvirus .
California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and West Virginia had the biggest jump in claims from the prior week with a 209 percent increase .
“ The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 11.0 percent for the week ending April 11 , an increase of 2.8 percentage points from the previous week ’ s unrevised rate , ” a news release from the Department of Labor stated .
“ This marks the highest level of the seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate in the history of the seasonally adjusted series.
” Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said Thursday that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the unemployed and plans to ensure businesses are safely reopening .
“ The Department of Labor is continuing to provide guidance and support to the States as they implement the enhanced unemployment benefits under the CARES Act , with 44 States now paying the $ 600 additional weekly benefit provided by the Act , ” Scalia said .
“ The Department also continues to implement the paid leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act , and has now initiated hundreds of cases to ensure workers receive what they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief package expected to pass in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday will provide more funding for small businesses that have been particularly hard-hit by the economic pause .
The legislation has already been passed by the U.S. Senate and is expected to quickly be signed into law by President Donald Trump .
Dan McCaleb is the executive editor of The Center Square .
He welcomes your comments .
Contact Dan at [ email protected ] Photo “ Long Lines ” by Gabriel White .
CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Dr. Carol Swain: ‘It’s Morally Wrong to Raise Taxes During a Time When the Government is Preventing

Dr. Carol Swain: ‘It’s Morally Wrong to Raise Taxes During a Time When the Government is Preventing People From Earning Money’

Live from Nashville , Tennessee , Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.– Leahy was joined on the newsmakers line by former Vanderbilt and Princeton Professor Dr. Carol Swain .
During the third hour , Swain commented on Mayor Cooper ’ s decision to maintain the Metro Nashville shutdown while raising taxes .
Leahy : Are you sheltering at home ?
Swain : I ’ m doing my best .
( Leahy chuckles ) Leahy : Yeah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way of putting it .
Everybody is doing their best .
I don ’ t know about you but I ’ m suffering studio fever .
That ’ s sort of like cabin fever when you ’ re in-studio and you can ’ t have in-studio guests and you ’ re just waiting for the time to be able to bring them in .
By the way , we have an aspirational goal of studio freedom day of May 4 .
That ’ s a week from this coming Monday .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on it .
( Chuckles ) We ’ re going to put the microphone six feet away but we have one person we have to wait on .
And that is Mayor John Cooper .
He ’ s having a press conference at 9:30 today .
He ’ s going to announce his plan to reopen Metro Nashville , Davidson County .
I don ’ t know what that plan is going to be .
I think he ’ s going to take his time on it .
What do you think is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swain : I don ’ t know .
I pray for Mayor Cooper on my prayer list and I wish him the best .
So I hope he will exercise some wisdom .
We need him to think and act more like the economic conservative that he ran as for mayor .
And I think that it would be a good idea for him to pull back on Metro expenses .
There were some departments that I knew were some duplicative services and had I been elected mayor I would have made some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen dramatic changes coming from the mayor ’ s office .
He ’ s not made public safety reform a number one priority even though he ’ s using that as a justification , at least more funding as a justification for raising taxes .
Leahy : Yeah .
That is very troubling to me .
You look at what ’ s going with the pandemic .
And today is Thursday and every Thursday they announce the unemployment numbers .
So far in the country , 22 million people are unemployed .
About @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the space of about a month .
And here in Nashville for people that make their living entertaining and performing and working at restaurants , unemployment is very very very high in that group .
Probably almost at 100 % because the mayor has shut down all the restaurants .
But there have been no sacrifices that I can tell Carol in terms of the expenditures in the Metro Nashville government .
Have I missed something there ?
Are they cutting something ?
Swain : It ’ s my understanding from talking with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the employees are being paid as usual and that Mayor Cooper has not made any major changes to the structure of Metro government .
So all of the constituency groups I suppose are rather pleased because they ’ ve not had to bare any of the pain .
If you look at the people who are making the arguments to stay closed they are usually the people who are being paid .
The people who are not suffering .
They are on a paid vacation .
Leahy : Yeah .
You see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local , state and federal employees whose salaries are coming in at 100 % of what they ’ ve been paid .
I don ’ t know what they are actually producing .
Reports I think in some cases .
Now , first responders , that ’ s a totally different deal .
Swain : Oh no , they got the worst end .
Leahy : Yeah .
They are out there being exposed to this keeping the peace .
We are talking about policemen and firefighters .
We aren ’ t talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the pencil pushers who are producing we don ’ t know what .
They are not baring any of the burdens of the local government action to shut down businesses that the mayor has decided are non-essential .
I don ’ t think its very fair at all actually .
Swain : I mean it ’ s not fair .
I think that Nashvillians will let the mayor know that .
I also believe that we get the government that we deserve .
So people have a choice .
They elected a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tend to govern the same way .
They tend to starve first responders and law enforcement .
They reward their buddies .
And there ’ s always corruption when there is a Democrat in office .
I have had high hopes that it would be different under Mayor Cooper .
I believe that if we want revenue we should be going to Rich Riebeling , Megan Barry , ( Leahy chuckles ) Karl Dean , and some of the people who made out like bandits .
Leahy : Yeah in the previous administrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that almost all of the Metro Council with the exception of Steve Glover and a few local councilmen , there are 40 members I guess of the Metro Council .
Five at-large and 35 elected by districts .
From what I can tell maybe five or ten of them are conservative and the rest are far-left progressive liberals .
They seem to want to follow the lead of the ambitious Metro Council member at large Bob Mendes who I think clearly is eyeing his own mayoral run whenever Mayor Cooper is not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about at least a 20 % property tax increase .
Perhaps 25 % .
Perhaps 30 % .
I don ’ t understand the fairness or equity of this .
Metro Nashville Davidson County taking no salary cuts at all from what I can tell .
All of the businesses laying people off that are supporting Metro Nashville Davidson County .
And now they want to increase property taxes by 20 % -25 % -30 % .
What ’ s your take on this Carol ?
Swain : My take is that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this time during a time when the government is preventing people from earning money .
I think that if I were mayor I would dramatically cut expenses .
I would cut personnel in the mayor ’ s office .
And any tax increase would come next year .
It would not come this year in the midst of this pandemic and in the midst of a government that decided to shut down everything even though we know now from the maps that only certain parts of the city are affected .
Death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those numbers are manipulated because they are counting people who were seriously ill with preexisting conditions or elderly people who would have died from the regular flu .
They are toting it as being COVID-19 .
If you had honest numbers around the country , and I ’ m not going to say around the world , I think that this pandemic would not really be a pandemic in the sense of Ebola and SARS and H1N1 .
The models were always wrong .
Leahy : If you were mayor how much would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davidson County ?
Would you leave first responders , firefighters , and police officers at the same level ?
What would you do with the rest of the employees there ?
Swain : First of all my campaign issue was the number one issue of public safety I would have addressed within the first 90 days .
That would have been my priority .
And I would have ordered reviews of all the various departments and where there were duplicative services I would have ordered cuts .
And when it comes to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are bound by law and there are certain things they can ’ t do , and we know that that ’ s a source of tremendous waste .
There is a lot of waste in Metro and they could do a better job of leading .
So I think Mayor Cooper he would build the confidence of a lot of people if he would start with the mayor ’ s office and show us that he ’ s willing to make some dramatic cuts and restructuring of government .
This city will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats because Democrat-run cities , they run them into the ground .
Leahy : That ’ s clearly the case in most major cities in the United States that are all run by Democrats .
New York City which is not responded well at all to the coronavirus crisis .
In fact , there are some reports that the actions of the folks running New York City helped spread the virus .
Before the Chinese New Year celebration when the health director went out in early February and said come on down to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Background Photo “ Nashville City Hall ” by Nicolas Henderson .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Migrant Workers Are Expected to Begin Sending Less Money Home

Remittances , the money that migrant workers send back to their families in their home countries , are expected to fall globally by well over $ 100 billion amid the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
Remittances to low- and middle-income countries are expected to drop by nearly 20 % in 2020 because of the worldwide coronavirus crisis , according to an analysis by the World Bank .
The decline in these money transfers — due largely because of the fall in employment and wages of migrant employees — is anticipated to be one of the biggest drops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant source of external income for the developing world , the plummet of remittances is expected to hit the most vulnerable populations across the globe .
“ Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries .
The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies , ” World Bank Group president David Malpass said in a statement released Wednesday .
“ Remittances help families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basic needs .
As the World Bank Group implements fast , broad action to support countries , we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities ’ access to these most basic needs , ” Malpass continued .
Global remittances are expected to fall to $ 572 billion in 2020 , down from $ 714 billion in 2019 .
There are roughly 270 million individuals who work outside of their home countries , a World Bank spokesman told Reuters , revealing the immense prevalence of international employment .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or job loss altogether as coronavirus spurs a global recession .
Leaders of developing countries are already bracing for the fallout .
The president of Mexico earlier in April , for example , implored his countrymen working in the United States to continue sending checks home despite the setbacks .
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador encouraged workers employed up North to “ not stop helping their relatives in Mexico , although they are also going through a difficult situation , but do not stop thinking as they have done : always about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remittances from the United States to fall by 17 % in 2020 , and won ’ t reach 2019 levels again until possibly as late as 2028 — a reflection of how long it could take for the world to recover from the economic downturn .
Jason Hopkins is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Migrant Workers ” by Tomas Castelazo .
CC BY 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--University of Tennessee Law Professor Glenn Reynolds Says Lock Down Protesters Are Dismissed Like a

University of Tennessee Law Professor Glenn Reynolds Says Lock Down Protesters Are Dismissed Like a ‘Basket of Deplorables’

University of Tennessee Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds joined Fox News host Brian Kilmeade Thursday morning to discuss the lockdown protests that are happening in states across America .
Reynolds critiqued political lawmakers and big corporate media for not empathizing with the working people whose suffering has been arrogantly dismissed .
Kilmeade : Governors increasing pressure to ease stay at home restrictions .
You see this as lockdowns are being protested around the country .
Our next guest says the protests show two America ’ s .
Those who lost their jobs and those who are still getting paid in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds joins us right now .
He is also the author of The New School : How the Information Age Will Save American Education from Itself .
Which is a great topic in itself .
Let ’ s talk about this .
First off , when I look at these protests across the country .
Quickly the media is writing , who ’ s behind this ?
Why would anyone protest ?
What is it that they don ’ t get about the unrest people feel ?
Reynolds : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people are really hurting .
If you ’ re a law professor like me you ’ ve got a paycheck at least for the moment .
And a lot of people who work for the government or a lot of people who work for big corporate media , they ’ re inconvenienced having to work from home but the money is still coming in .
We have a friend for example that runs a skincare studio and she ’ s had no money in almost six weeks .
Her landlord is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to have to move .
There are just a lot of people that are not seeing any money coming in and they are really hurting .
Their pain is just sort of dismissed by the powers that be and loudest voices in the media .
It ’ s not surprising they are angry about that .
Kilmeade : Look , we understand it ’ s no one ’ s fault of the coronavirus except the Chinese who haven ’ t told us and still haven ’ t told us .
I understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how could you watch protesters that might be salespeople at car dealerships ?
There might be construction workers who are told they are not essential .
Or people who might be upset because hair surgery to have a knee replacement is put on hold and they can ’ t get on with their lives .
How can you not empathize with that ?
Yet they want to attack the attorney general for sticking up for the American citizen .
Reynolds : It ’ s really been a bad showing for a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve got your worse cases of course which is like Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan who acts like an angry third-grade teacher telling people that if you protest my quarantines I want to be clear .
That ’ s been done in I ’ ll lock you down for longer .
That will teach you .
The Houston police are saying they are not going to enforce Mayor Hildago ’ s order that everyone wears masks .
They are not going to throw people in jail for not wearing masks .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I was an early advocate of quarantine .
I want to be clear .
Its been done in my community here in Knoxville and Knox County .
Our city and county mayors locked us down early here and we ’ re down to very few cases .
And it ’ s worked great .
When you are just full of arrogance , condescension , and put-downs it ’ s just the “ basket of deplorables ” thing all over again .
Even if you think you ’ re super smart or some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acting in ways that make people that want to revolt against you and break your rules you are not a public health genius .
You ’ re an idiot .
You are doing it wrong .
Public health is about managing people .
And you can ’ t manage people by treating them like garbage .
Kilmeade : Hey professor , I think this might be right up your alley .
Here ’ s governor Cuomo yesterday .
Kilmeade : Yeah , I ’ ll give up my job as a GM at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vest and hold a flag .
Not that ’ s anything wrong with that .
But that ’ s not what I intended to do but I should do that because the governor says I should ?
Reynolds : That ’ s super insensitive and stupid .
Let them eat essential jobs .
That ’ s basically his line .
I have friends who are in New York sending me pictures of lines at soup kitchens and food pantries and I don ’ t think those people are going to be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what if you ’ ve got a family business that you maintain that ’ s in trouble now ?
Going and taking a job as a flagman on a highway construction project is not going to save your family business .
This just shows how out of touch so much of our leadership is .
I think he should look closer to home at his brother Chris Cuomo who got caught breaking quarantine when he was recovering from coronavirus and then went out and attacked the guy on the bicycle who called him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot who went and got her hair done illicitly because she said she ’ s in the public eye .
If your leaders don ’ t act like leaders and they act entitled and spoiled people aren ’ t going to take them seriously and they are not going to do what they ’ ve been asked to do .
It doesn ’ t do any good to try to blame people for not acting the way you want them to if you yourself don ’ t have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kilmeade : I hear you .
Professor , I appreciate it .
Good luck with your book .
It looks great .
Thanks so much , professor .
Watch to the full interview here :


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Tennessee Says Unemployment Filings Went Down in Second Week of March, But That was Before the Lockd

Tennessee Says Unemployment Filings Went Down in Second Week of March, But That was Before the Lockdown

In a “ what the heck ” moment , the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development on Thursday said unemployment filings for two-thirds of counties went down for the second week of March .
The filings were for March 8-14 , just before the Chinese coronavirus took a toll .
The department said in an announcement : Newly released unemployment data shows the jobless rate dropped in two-thirds of Tennessee ’ s 95 counties during March 2020 .
The unemployment data for the month does not take into account the impact of the COVID-19 health emergency .
The federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of Tennesseans who were out of work during the second week of the month , between March 8 and 14 .
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development did not begin to see the unprecedented increase in unemployment claims until the third and fourth weeks of March .
Unemployment rates decreased in 61 counties during March , increased in 18 counties , and remained the same in 16 counties .
Sixty-eight counties had unemployment rates lower than 5 % for the month , while 27 counties had rates that were 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s lowest unemployment rate in March .
At 2.6 % , the new rate mirrored February ’ s rate .
Last week , The Tennessee Star reported that nearly 75,000 Tennesseans were on record as filing unemployment claims as of April 11 , according to new numbers the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development put out on their website .
During Gov .
Bill Lee ’ s daily COVID-19 press release Thursday , Jeff McCord , the labor commissioner , spoke about the problems the unemployed are having in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially for the self-employed .
The video is available on the governor ’ s Facebook page .
McCord has been promising to scale the unemployment computer system and make other improvements to help process record claims , a 2,000 percent increase .
On Thursday , he said that during the past week , the state paid 225,000 people benefits including a $ 600 federal benefit , plus back pay .
The computer system for processing the federal pandemic unemployment assistance program has been built and will start up Friday , with self-employed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department hired over 300 workers for customer service and has a couple of contract call centers .
Photo “ People Filling Out Paperwork ” by Micah Sittig .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--U.N. Official Warns That COVID-19 Could Spur Famines of Biblical Proportions within Months

A United Nations official said Tuesday that dozens of nations are facing “ a hunger pandemic ” amid international coronavirus lockdowns , warning that it ’ s possible more people could die of starvation than from the virus itself .
David Beasley , director of the United Nations World Food Program , said that unless action is taken , the world could see “ multiple famines of biblical proportions within a short few months.
” “ Before the coronavirus even became an issue , I was saying that 2020 would be facing the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council .
He said that we ’ re facing “ a perfect storm ” because of wars like those in Syria and Yemen , the scourge of desert locusts , the economic crisis in Lebanon , and more frequent natural disasters , among other things .
“ Millions of civilians living in conflict-scarred nations , including many women and children , face being pushed to the brink of starvation with the specter of famine being a very real and dangerous possibility , ” he warned .
The World Food Program , which works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 million people a day , including 30 million who depend on the organization to stay alive , according to Beasley .
He said that every night , 821 million people go to bed hungry .
Some 135 million people are acutely food-insecure and facing crisis levels of hunger or worse , according to a report published this week called the 2020 Global Report on Food Crisis .
“ In a worst-case scenario , we could be looking at famine in about three dozen countries , and in fact , in ten of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one million people per country who are on the verge of starvation , ” Beasley said , adding that there ’ s “ a real danger that more people could potentially die from the economic impact of COVID-19 than from the virus itself.
” The international lockdowns have thrown millions of people out of work , including many workers who support families abroad .
Beasley said transfers of money from foreign workers to their families in other countries is expected to drop sharply — “ hurting countries such as Haiti , Nepal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war to make peace , and like the UN secretary-general , called for a global ceasefire so humanitarian aid can be delivered to those in need .
“ We need all parties involved in conflicts to give us swift and unimpeded humanitarian access to all vulnerable communities , so they can get the assistance to them that they need , regardless of who they are or where they are , ” he said .
“ Supply chains have to keep moving if we are going to overcome this pandemic and get food from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is needed , ” Beasley added .
“ It is critical we come together as one united global community to defeat this disease , and protect the most vulnerable nations and communities from its potentially devastating effects , ” he said .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Tennessee Official Who Oversaw School Vouchers Jumps Ship to Work for Superintendent Who Opposes The

Tennessee Official Who Oversaw School Vouchers Jumps Ship to Work for Superintendent Who Opposes Them

The Tennessee Department of Education official who was overseeing the rollout of the state ’ s new voucher program will soon work for a man who adamantly opposes it .
This week Shelby County School Superintendent Joris Ray announced he hired TDOE Deputy Commissioner Amity Schuyler as his new chief of strategy and innovation .
As The Tennessee Star reported in January , Schuyler oversaw Gov .
Bill Lee ’ s Education Savings Account program in its first year .
Ray , on his Twitter page last year , said he opposes vouchers and said they are “ an unfortunate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , Ray said the following : “ I consider Amity to be a steal .
As we reaffirm our opposition to vouchers and champion public education , we know that Amity ’ s proven work for Governor Bill Lee and the TDOE has allowed her to develop key strategies and cultivate partnerships with stakeholders.
” TDOE officials , in an emailed statement to The Tennessee Star , said Schuyler “ has done a yeoman ’ s job to plan and launch the Education Savings Account program.
” “ We are so glad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in state , ” according to the statement , from the TDOE official who did not identify him or herself .
Shaka Mitchell , Tennessee director for the American Federation for Children , said this in an emailed statement : “ While the TDOE is losing a very capable leader in Amity , the pieces are in place to ensure the ESA rollout is unaffected , ” Mitchell said .
“ Amity did a good job of working on the rules and procedures and now the Department , along with other stakeholders like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To date , thousands of parents have expressed interest in the program and the number grows daily.
” According to Schuyler ’ s LinkedIn page , she started working for the TDOE in May of last year and previously worked for the Palm Beach County School District in Florida .
Schuyler , on her LinkedIn page , described her as “ a skilled leader with [ a ] social justice lens.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by Jerica Phillips .
Photo “ Kenneth M. Walker II ” by Shelby County Schools .
Photo “ Amity Schuyler ” by Amity Schuyler .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Commentary: The Land of the ‘Free’ and the Home of Shelter-in-Place Orders

In mid-March , governors across the country began issuing broad shelter-in-place orders in response to the coronavirus outbreak .
The orders contain sweeping restrictions on individuals ’ freedom of movement and activity in every sphere of life .
They preclude people from going to work , running their businesses , convening to worship , visiting their own properties , taking a drive , attending school , and visiting with family or friends .
The orders are based on the belief that the coronavirus poses a dire threat to the health and safety of the populace .
Drawing on the expertise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as the statistical projections of various models on which those officials have relied , governors issued their orders under the belief that “ social distancing ” will slow the spread of the disease and spare the healthcare system from being overwhelmed .
Most people initially accepted the premise for the orders and complied with them .
But as more and more data have become available , it is clear that the models the public health experts relied on for their projections were wrong .
Moreover , as the shelter-in-place orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public-health officials seem to have moved the goalposts to suggest the orders should remain in effect until there are “ no new cases , no deaths.
” Meanwhile , the economy is crumbling .
As a result , Americans have begun questioning the scope and duration of the shelter-in-place orders , resulting in various protests and rallies .
Even as President Trump has created an advisory council and implementation plan in an effort to reopen the country , state governors insist they have plenary authority to make decisions about the scope of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to extend them , in some cases to extremes that strain credulity .
Police in California arrested a paddle boarder in the Pacific Ocean who was nowhere near any other individual .
A man in Philadelphia was forcibly dragged off a bus for not wearing a mask .
Numerous states have banned or restricted fishing .
In San Diego police cited people for watching the sunset from inside their cars .
In Colorado a man was arrested for playing t-ball alone in a field with his daughter .
In Michigan , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of seeds and gardening supplies .
Police in some locales are directly interfering with people ’ s exercise of enumerated First Amendment rights .
In Kentucky people were issued “ quarantine notices ” and their license plate numbers were recorded after they drove to a parking lot to attend an Easter service from inside their cars .
In North Carolina police arrested a woman for assembling to protest the shelter-in-place order .
Apparently forgetting about those pesky fundamental rights , the police then tweeted , “ Protesting is not an essential activity.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasonably necessary to address the risks of the virus .
But what is the source of authority for state shelter-in-place orders , and what are the limits on that authority ?
People increasingly are raising these questions , and now would seem an opportune time to review the long history of legal rulings that address them .
The U.S. Supreme Court held in Jacobson v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts that the police power of a state embraces “ reasonable regulations established directly by legislative enactment as will protect the public health and the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upheld the conviction of a man who refused to comply with the state ’ s mandatory smallpox vaccination .
The court concluded that the state retained control under the 10th Amendment of “ all laws that relate to matters completely within its territory and which do not by their necessary operation affect the people of other states.
” However , Jacobson recognized constitutional limits on a state ’ s right to enact health and safety regulations , noting , Jacobson affirmed that even in the case of health laws designed to protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not interfere beyond what is “ absolutely necessary for its self-protection.
” Thus , as Jacobson and other cases have recognized , the Constitution provides a backstop , such that the state ’ s authority ends where the Constitution ’ s authority begins .
Health and safety laws are no exception .
One constitutional limit to state authority over health and safety laws is the Commerce Clause contained in Article I , Section 8 , which authorizes Congress “ to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations , and among the several States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1824 case called Gibbons v. Ogden , the Supreme Court affirmed that the Constitution confers upon Congress the exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce .
Even if a state law is designed to affect only economic activity within its state , Gibbons concluded that the Commerce Clause gives Congress authority where the activity regulated has some commercial connection with another state .
Notably , the Court in Gibbons noted that quarantine laws are not merely health or police laws , but “ they are also laws of commerce.
” Another limit to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and safety regulations is found where a law infringes upon fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution .
The 14th Amendment guarantees no state may “ deprive any person of life , liberty , or property , without due process of law ; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
” This protection ensures substantive liberty rights , not just process .
The most familiar of the liberties protected by the 14th Amendment are in the Bill of Rights .
They include , of course , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religion , free speech , and the right peaceably to assemble ; they also include the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms .
In addition , the Supreme Court has held that the liberty interests secured by the Constitution exceed these enumerated rights and includes “ a rational continuum which , broadly speaking , includes a freedom from all substantial arbitrary impositions and purposeless restraints.
” Where a state imposes a substantial burden on a fundamental right , the state has the burden of showing that it has a compelling state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the least restrictive means toward achieving that compelling interest .
This test , known as the “ strict scrutiny ” standard , has its roots in a case called Skinner v. State of Okl .
ex rel .
Williamson ( 1942 ) .
In that case , the Supreme Court invalidated a broad Oklahoma law that required the forced sterilization of people with multiple convictions for crimes of “ moral turpitude.
” The strict scrutiny test ensures that a state ’ s power to enact laws in the name of health and safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overriding liberty interests secured under the Constitution .
Various state courts have explicitly recognized that states ’ authority to protect against epidemic does not justify such arbitrary and unreasonable state action .
A California case ( In re Shepard ) from 1924 is instructive .
In that case , a woman was arrested on a prostitution complaint and was ordered isolated and quarantined based on the suspicion that she was “ infected with a contagious , infectious , and communicable disease.
” In vacating the quarantine order the court held that the constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and personal security override “ mere suspicion ” that someone must be isolated due to disease .
How Many Liberties Are We Willing to Cede ?
Americans should be questioning whether the coronavirus presents an “ immediate , imminent , and impending ” threat that justifies the suspension of civil liberties and the decimation of the national economy .
Whatever benefit of the doubt states had a month ago has dissipated as we have learned that the data and models the states relied on as authority for their restrictions were wrong .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were based on dire predictions of 2 million dead Americans .
Those models were wrong , and Americans should scrutinize just how “ compelling ” the states ’ interests remain .
And when governors are banning people from buying gardening supplies or citing them for watching a sunset , Americans should scrutinize whether states are employing the least restrictive means .
Over the past several months , Americans have witnessed—and in many cases accepted—a not-isolated series of infringements on their civil liberties .
At the same time we continue to learn of civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of federal court orders put in place under the USA Patriot Act after the September 11 , 2001 terrorist attacks on our nation .
While two decades apart , the situations are not dissimilar and are equally troubling .
As a nation we should understand that fear has a way of driving us to do things we later will regret—things like blatantly trampling on people ’ s constitutional rights , or , worse , simply surrendering those rights .
Americans should not be complacent , nor should they allow panic or fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions on constitutionally guaranteed liberties .
Instead , Americans must insist that states display a compelling interest and that the restrictions they impose are the least restrictive means necessary to address that interest .
The Constitution requires nothing less .
Thomas K. Hockel is an experienced litigator and trial attorney in California .
He has been practicing law in federal and state courts for over 25 years .
His interests include political theory , philosophy , and constitutional jurisprudence .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--‘The Optics Are Devastating’: Trump Pressed on Major Exemptions Inside Immigration Ban

President Donald Trump is continuing to face backlash from the right over the amount of exemptions included in his executive order limiting immigration into the United States .
The Federation for American Immigration Reform ( FAIR ) , a leading immigration restrictionist group based in Washington , D.C. , delivered a letter to the president on Thursday , demanding to know why his order included exceptions for hundreds of thousands of foreign workers .
The carve-outs , FAIR said , are not helpful for American workers as millions have been left jobless under the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exemption filled Executive Order apply to less than 10 percent of immigrants due according to FAIR ’ s analysis , it completely ignores what is arguably the largest component of foreign-born impact on the welfare of American workers : out of control guestworker programs including H-1B , H-2A , and H-2B , ” wrote Dan Stein , the president of FAIR .
President Donald Trump on Monday first teased an upcoming executive order that would “ temporarily suspend immigration into the United States ” to protect the health of Americans and their job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the order surfaced , immigration hardliners were left disappointed .
The order puts a 60-day pause on green card applications from foreign nationals living abroad , but leaves exemptions for hundreds of thousands of temporary migrant workers .
The order also does not affect green card applicants who are already living in the United States , minor children and spouses of U.S. citizens , as well health care workers , foreign investors and individuals who have already been approved for permanent residency .
“ That ’ s an awful lot of exceptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said shortly after the president gave a press briefing on Tuesday .
“ So if the point of this executive order was to protect American jobs — maybe there was another point , but if it was to protect American jobs , it failed.
” The battle over who should be allowed into the United States comes as the economy is free-falling .
The Department of Labor announced on Thursday that 4.4 million new unemployment claims were filed the prior week , bringing the total number filed during the coronavirus pandemic to more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anticipates a global recession not seen in decades .
“ Under what craven notion of American equity would the United States continue a subordinated labor importation program at a time when American workers are in such distress ?
” Stein continued in his letter .
Stein called on the president to “ make things right ” by issuing an executive order within the next 30 days that encompasses all forms of immigration — including guest worker programs .
Such a move , he said , would help hundreds of thousands of unemployed U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Citizenship Paperwork ” by Grand Canyon National Park .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Larry Kudlow Tells Tennessee that May is a Transition Month as America Copes with COVID-19

Larry Kudlow , who directs the National Economic Council for President Donald Trump , told Tennessee residents Thursday that America will transition from a COVID-19 economic shutdown to a reopened economy during the month of May .
Kudlow said this during a telephone town hall for U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty , a Republican who wants to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander ( R-TN ) .
“ We are going to move from the so-called rescue stage to help people get through this pandemic .
We will transition into a re-opening phase based on the medical guidelines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next week and the week after , a lot of states reopen .
The president himself , as an aspirational target , has been talking about May 1 .
I think May is a transition month from the shutdown to the reopening , ” Kudlow said .
“ I think there will be a lot of good news , because these numbers are coming down beautifully .
That ’ s the key .
America will change .
We will have to maintain distancing .
We will have to maintain our best hospitals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gear , putting in some cases masks .
We will have to maintain ventilators .
We want to keep folks healthy and safe and secure.
” Kudlow said that America will have new policies to expand upon Trump ’ s original economic policies as the country transitions from the economic shut-in to the reopening .
Those policies , he went on to say , include lower taxes , fewer business regulations , energy independence , and better trade deals .
“ These are free enterprise policies that rebuilt and reinvigorated the economy under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They worked once .
As we move forward , as the rescue phase ends , and the reopening occurs , we will move with additional tax cuts , regulatory relief , and better trade deals for American exporters to help farmers and manufacturers , and auto workers and technology people.
” Kudlow said the COVID-19 infection rate has now dropped all the way down to 3 percent growth .
He said that it peaked at about 45 percent growth in mid-March .
“ You will see unemployment numbers continue to rise .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it will not last .
I have been saying all along in my own capacity that I believe this is about weeks and months , not years , ” Kudlow said .
“ I would just say I believe this is about weeks now .
Judging from the new numbers , I think this long difficult journey will come to an end .
It ’ s a journey full of hardship and grief and loss .
We will grow exponentially in ways nobody thought possible .
But it is what it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Ilhan Omar Paid Husband’s Consulting Firm Another $292K, On Track to Pay $1 Million This Year

Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-MN-05 ) paid her husband ’ s political consulting firm another $ 292,000 in campaign funds during the first quarter of 2020 .
At that pace , her campaign committee is on track to pay E Street Group , a firm owned by her husband Tim Mynett , roughly $ 1.1 million this year .
Despite the poor optics , Omar has actually increased campaign disbursements to her husband ’ s firm ever since the matter was first revealed in August of last year .
In the third quarter of 2019 , Omar paid E Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 217,000 in the fourth quarter .
Between August 2018 and June 2019 , E Street Group received a total of just $ 223,000 from the Omar campaign .
Omar was alleged to be having an affair with Mynett last summer , but denied that they were in a relationship .
In March , however , Omar announced on Instagram that she and Mynett are now married .
Omar divorced the father of her three children in October while Mynett parted ways with his wife two months later .
According to a campaign finance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign committee , Ilhan for Congress , paid E Street Group $ 292,000 between January and March of this year .
That figure is more than half of what E Street Group received from Omar all of last year .
E Street Group received $ 523,000 in all of 2019 and was the top recipient of disbursements from Omar ’ s campaign , according to the Federal Election Commission .
The second top recipient , Knock Knock LLC , received just $ 100,000 in all of 2019 , $ 423,000 less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involvement with Mynett prompted a national nonprofit to lodge an FEC complaint against her , which claimed that the freshman congresswoman used campaign funds for “ romantic companionship.
” But Omar defended the payments to E Street Group in a statement released last month and said she “ consulted with a top FEC campaign attorney to ensure there were no possible legal issues with our relationship.
” “ We were told this is not uncommon and that no , there weren ’ t , ” she said .
“ It ’ s disappointing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims and misinformation of right-wing Twitter instead of talking to actual experts on the law .
This is everything wrong with media coverage in 2020.
” Omar ’ s failures in her first term in Congress recently led one prominent Minneapolis civil rights attorney and Black Lives Matter activist to endorse her Democratic primary opponent .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Ilhan Omar ” by Leopaltik1242 .
CC BY-SA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mynett ” by CAIR .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Whitmer Said She May Extend Stay-at-Home Order, Although She Could Ease Restrictions

Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer said she is considering extending the stay-at-home order , although she plans to lift some of the restrictions and that easement will come in “ waves.
” “ It will permit some activity if our numbers continue to go down and our testing continues to go up , ” she said on MSNBC on Thursday .
“ But it ’ s too early to say precisely what each wave looks like and when it happens.
” Whitmer hinted at a Wednesday press conference that she would have more details on Friday .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sectors of our economy .
We all know we have to be really smart about what that looks like and so it will be in waves , ” Whitmer said during the press conference .
“ There will be some form of a stay-at-home order in effect for a long time here.
” Whitmer ’ s latest “ Stay Home , Stay Safe ” order restricted travel within in the state , as well as banned the sale of certain items in large stores .
It is currently set to expire on April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she hopes to be able to lift some restrictions by May 1 .
“ We ’ re going to see are we still safe to take the next step , or do we have to even consider pulling back a little bit , ” Whitmer said on Thursday .
“ This is how we ’ re going to have to proceed for the near future.
” Whitmer ’ s most recent order was met with protests , including “ Operation Gridlock , ” a car rally protest in Lansing hosted by the Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The worst irony that could come about from these demonstrations is that they force us to stay in this posture longer than we ’ re already planning to , ” Whitmer said .
“ That ’ s the last thing any of us wants.
” Michigan currently has more than 35,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus , according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services .
The death toll in the state is 2,977 .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ email protected ] Background Photo “ Michigan Capitol ” by Brian Charles Wilson .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--St. Olaf Graduation Canceled Except for ‘Students of Color’ and ‘LGBTQIA+’ Students

St. Olaf College in Minnesota plans to host three virtual graduation ceremonies for different groups of minority students , while others must wait until next year to celebrate their completion of college .
“ Self-identified domestic students of color , international students and LGBTQIA+ students ” at the Minnesota school will receive their own virtual graduation ceremonies at the conclusion of this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic , per an administrative email .
Meanwhile , graduation for the rest of the class of 2020 has been “ rescheduled for a date in late May/early June of 2021 , ” according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The three virtual graduation ceremonies for students in minority groups were announced by and will be hosted through the Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion .
This project of the school exists to help “ students of color , ” “ LBGTQIA+ ” and international students “ celebrate ” their “ awesomeness factor , ” per the center ’ s website .
The center announced its intent to host the online graduation ceremonies via email , Friday .
“ This event acknowledges the value and uniqueness of students ’ experience and serves to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within their familial and cultural context , ” reads the email .
The three graduations are called the multicultural , international , and lavender graduations and are intended for American students of color , international students , and “ LGBTQIA+ ” students , respectively .
Campus Reform spoke to multiple graduating seniors at St. Olaf , none of whom said they ’ ve been informed of any online ceremony for the general student body .
Associate Director of Communications Kari VanDerVeen told Campus Reform that the school is “ exploring a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” but that plans were not yet “ finalized.
” The school website also makes no mention of such an event .
Kyle M. Hooten is a Minnesota Campus Correspondent , and reports on liberal bias and abuse on campus for Campus Reform .
He attends St. Olaf College where he studies Political Science and History .
Additionally , he serves as Secretary for Minnesota College Republicans and Director of Recruitment for St. Olaf Turning Point .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Another 108,801 People File for Unemployment Claims in Ohio, Many Residents Still Waiting on Unemplo

Another 108,801 People File for Unemployment Claims in Ohio, Many Residents Still Waiting on Unemployment Checks

Ohio saw another 108,801 people file for unemployment claims last week , according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services ( ODJFS ) .
Nationally , America saw 4.4 million people file for unemployment benefits as people continue to lose jobs due to state lockdown orders , the Department of Labor numbers show .
The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreck havoc on Ohio ’ s economy as 964,566 Ohioans have asked for government assistance over the last five weeks .
During this same time period , more than 26 million people have filed for unemployment assistance , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four percent of the nation ’ s unemployed throughout the last five weeks .
The positive news from this bleak situation is that the unemployment claim numbers from the week of April 18 decreased by 48,417 from the week of April 11 .
The ODJFS estimates that last month ’ s unemployment rate in Ohio was 5.5 percent , which is up from 4.1 percent in February .
As more and more Ohioans continue to ask help , the state government is having a hard time getting residents their $ 600 paycheck .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of Ohioans are still waiting for their checks .
According to Fox 8 , ODJFS that only 376,000 people have received unemployment checks .
To address these problems , ODJFS created a new weekly claim filing process for unemployment benefits .
Starting April 26 , “ individuals filing weekly claims should do so on the day of the week specified below , based on the first letter of their last name , ” according to the ODJFS press release .
“ The new process will help relieve pressure on our system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily and paid more quickly , ” ODJFS Director Kimberly Hall said .
“ Once a claim is processed , payment can be made by direct deposit within three business days.
” Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media .
If you have any tips , email Zachery at [ email protected ] Photo “ Unemployment Office ” by Burt Lum .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--More Than 134,000 People Filed for Unemployment in Michigan Last Week

More than 134,000 people filed for unemployment last week in Michigan , adding to the more than 1 million Michigan residents that have sought unemployment benefits during the coronavirus pandemic .
According to data released Thursday by Department of Labor , 134,199 filed for unemployment insurance benefits during the week ending on April 18 .
That number brings the total number of Michigan residents who have filed for unemployment benefits during the past five weeks to nearly 1.2 million .
Around 820,000 Michiganders have received $ 1.37 billion in unemployment benefits , according to a statement from the Michigan Unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have yet to receive benefits should get them shortly after completing the federal requirement to certify their claim two weeks after filing .
“ We are committed to providing this emergency financial assistance to Michigan workers as quickly as possible , but we know we still have a lot of work left to do to get every dollar in benefits to the working families that need it most , ” said Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Jeff Donofrio in a statement .
“ We ’ re working around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that we can continue to process all claims during this historic demand for benefits.
” Nationally , more than 4.2 million applied for unemployment insurance last week , bringing the total to 16 million .
That number passes the previous high of 12 million set in 2010 , according to reporting from the Associated Press .
“ Today ’ s unemployment report shows continued , elevated unemployment claims caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
The Department of Labor is continuing to provide guidance and support to the States as they implement the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 44 States now paying the $ 600 additional weekly benefit provided by the Act , ” said Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia in a statement .
“ As American businesses look to open up again under the guidelines presented by the White House last week , the Department ’ s Occupational Safety and Health Administration will continue to provide guidance and support to protect workers and ensure safe workplaces , backed up as necessary by appropriate use of OSHA ’ s enforcement authorities.
” Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at @ JordynPair .
Email her at [ email protected ] Photo “ Unemployment Insurance Claims Office ” by Bytemarks .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-04-24--Minnesota Unemployment Numbers Now Higher Than 2009’s ‘Great Recession’

Minnesota has now seen more unemployment applications during the coronavirus pandemic than during the “ Great Recession , ” the state ’ s chief economic commissioner revealed Thursday .
Since the start of the pandemic , Minnesota has seen 536,742 applications for unemployment .
That ’ s an increase of 72,229 applications from this time last week .
“ Just to give a little context of that : we are now above the number of unemployment insurance applications that we had during the Great Recession .
We had about 450,000 back in 2009 .
So we ’ ve moved beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Department of Employment and Economic Development ( DEED ) Commissioner Steve Grove .
This week alone , Minnesota has had 35,500 new applications , Grove said during a Thursday press briefing .
While DEED has seen a “ sustained downward trend ” in applications over the past several days , it continues to have between 7,000 and 10,000 new applications per day .
Nationally , more than 4.4 million additional Americans filed unemployment claims in the week ending April 18 , the U.S. Department of Labor announced Thursday .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prior week , when 5.25 million Americans filed for unemployment .
Overall , 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since the start of the coronavirus pandemic .
Gov .
Tim Walz issued an executive order Thursday that will allow some “ non-critical ” businesses to return to work April 27 , a week before the stay-at-home order expires .
In order to reopen early , businesses must first implement a “ COVID-19 Preparedness Plan ” that includes facility cleaning and share it with the state .
The order applies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses that aren ’ t customer facing .
In other words , retail environments such as hair salons won ’ t be allowed to reopen early .
Walz said the order will allow 80,000 to 100,000 Minnesotans to return to work early .
“ This is a limited first step in the process of safely reopening some businesses and returning Minnesotans to work , ” said Grove .
“ We will continue to listen to and seek input from business and community leaders and work with public health experts on creative solutions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely and quickly as possible.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .