thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--To-Go Drinks an Elixir for Public, a Lifeline for Business

DETROIT , Michigan ( AP ) — The coronavirus is shaking up America ’ s liquor laws .
At least 33 states and the District of Columbia are temporarily allowing cocktails to-go during the pandemic .
Only two — Florida and Mississippi — allowed them on a limited basis before coronavirus struck , according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States .
Struggling restaurants say it ’ s a lifeline , letting them rehire bartenders , pay rent and reestablish relationships with customers .
But others want states to slow down , saying the decades-old laws help ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , her Japanese-style cocktail bar in Chicago , on March 16 .
The next day , Illinois allowed bars and restaurants to start selling unopened bottles of beer , wine and liquor , but mixed drinks were excluded .
Momose spent the next three months collecting petition signatures and pressing lawmakers to allow carryout cocktails .
It worked .
On June 17 , she poured her first to-go drink : a Seaflower , made with gin , vermouth , Japanese citrus fruit and fermented chili paste .
A carryout bottle , which serves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been able to hire back four of her furloughed employees .
A group she co-founded , Cocktails for Hope , is now helping restaurants buy glass bottles in bulk for carryout .
“ Part of getting cocktails to go approved was embracing the fact that this isn ’ t going to fix everything , but it is going to fix something , ” Momose said .
“ All these little things that we do will keep us open and keep our staff employed.
” U.S. liquor laws — many of which date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ —are a confusing jumble that vary by state , city and county .
Carryout cocktail regulations — which were passed starting in March — only deepen that confusion .
Lawmakers approved carryout cocktails in some states ; governors approved them in others .
Nevada passed no statewide measure , but individual cities like Las Vegas and Reno allow them .
In Pennsylvania , only restaurants and bars that lost 25 % of average monthly total sales can sell cocktails to go .
Most carryout cocktail regulations require customers to buy food with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generally required , but some states say drinks also need to be transported in the trunk .
Marbet Lewis , a founding partner at Spiritus Law in Miami who specializes in the alcohol industry , says IDs should be checked — online or in person — by restaurants and bars as well as by delivery drivers .
Some states , like Arizona , allow third party delivery companies like DoorDash to deliver cocktails ; Kansas only allows delivery within a 50-foot radius .
The laws also have different sunset dates .
Alabama is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while Colorado and Massachusetts have extended them into next year .
Michigan is allowing them through 2025 .
Last month , Iowa became the first state to permanently allow carryout and delivery of cocktails .
Lawmakers in Ohio and Oklahoma are considering a similar measure , and the governors of Texas and Florida have expressed support for the change .
There is overwhelming public support for making cocktails to go permanent , says Mike Whatley , vice president of state and local affairs for the National Restaurant Association .
Between 75 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they support carryout cocktails in numerous state polls , Whatley said .
U.S. restaurants and bars have lost an estimated $ 165 billion since March due to lockdowns and social distancing requirements , the association said .
In a May survey of 3,800 restaurants , the association found that 78 % of operators who were selling alcohol to go had brought back laid-off employees , compared to 62 % of operators overall .
But some are urging states not to be too hasty .
Mothers Against Drunk Driving worries that permanent carryout cocktails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving unless laws make clear that the drinks can ’ t be consumed until the buyer is in a safe location .
The U.S. government hasn ’ t released preliminary drunk driving data for 2020 .
But Jonathan Adkins , the executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association , said there ’ s no anecdotal evidence that drunk driving has spiked during the pandemic .
Patrick Maroney , a former liquor control officer in Colorado who is now a consultant , said carryout beer and wine — which was allowed in around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are different from cocktails because the containers are sealed by the manufacturer and the alcohol content is lower .
Cocktails are mixed at the bar , so the alcohol content can vary and they may not be properly sealed , he said .
Maroney said states need to make sure police and health officials are consulted before changing laws that have worked for decades .
He noted that California reported a spike in reports of alcohol delivery to minors in April .
“ Are law enforcement officials worried about an ‘ open air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Is the law restricted to at-home consumption ?
How do they enforce it ?
” Even before the coronavirus hit , there was a push to modernize alcohol laws to reflect the growing popularity of food delivery , Lewis said .
She thinks lawmakers will have a hard time reinstating bans on carryout cocktails once the pandemic eases .
“ Once you get the genie out of the bottle and there hasn ’ t been a problem , how do you get it back in ?
” she said .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not worried that patrons will get so used to carryout that they ’ ll stop going out even after the coronavirus has passed .
“ I think that people are social .
People enjoy the bar experience and like being waited on , ” said Dave Kwiatkowski , who owns the Sugar House cocktail bar in Detroit , which closed March 15 but was able to reopen July 10 for carryout service .
Kwiatkowski normally employs a staff of 16 .
For now , it ’ s just him at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s enough to pay the electricity and the insurance , and it ’ s nice to give at least a couple of people some jobs , ” he said .
Kwiatkowski does wonder how he ’ ll handle carryout demand once the pandemic has ended and there ’ s a crowd in the bar on a Saturday night .
But that will be a good problem to have , he said .
He wants carryout cocktails to be permanently legalized .
“ I think this is probably going to change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Dee-Ann Durbin is a reporter with The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : Sugar House bartender Shelby Minnix creates a Lavender Lemonade cocktail in a to-go bottle , Thursday , Aug. 13 , 2020 , in Detroit .
At least 33 states and the District of Columbia are temporarily allowing cocktails to-go during the pandemic , up from around three before the coronavirus struck .
Dave Kwiatkowski , who owns the Sugar House was able to reopen July 10 for carryout service .
Kwiatkowski normally employs a staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s just him at the door and a bartender making drinks .
( AP Photo/Carlos Osorio )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Arrests Made After Looters Targeted Evacuated California Homes During Wildfires

More than a dozen people have been arrested for looting or planning on looting California homes that have been vacated by those fleeing wildfires , according to a Sunday report .
A total of 13 people have been apprehended as Californians continue to report looting cases , Sheriff Jim Hart told the Associated Press .
Thousands have fled their homes in anticipation of wildfires spreading from south San Francisco , AP reported .
“ I have no empathy , I have no patience for somebody who ’ s going to come into our community and steal from people who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hart said during a news conference , according to AP .
A total of five suspected looters were arrested Sunday in one traffic stop , Chief Deputy Chris Clark told the AP .
Officers recovered six firearms , drug equipment and other stolen property , Clark said , according to AP .
More than 100 law enforcement officers are sweeping evacuation zones and stopping any non-emergency response vehicles , AP reported .
A fire chief was among the recent victims of theft when looters reportedly swiped his wallet from a department-issued vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I can ’ t imagine a bigger low-life , ” Hart told AP about the theft of the chief ’ s belongings .
Jake Dima is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Wildfire ” by Cal Fire CZU

One of the principles asserted by Governor Haslam in support of his IMPROVE Act and its proposed increase of 7 cents per gallon in the gas tax is that “users” of roads should pay for road construction.
The gas tax is proper, he argues, because people who purchase gas to fuel their cars are the users of roads, and the gas tax is the best mechanism to charge them for that usage.
For at least a decade, however, revenue sources originally designed to fund highway construction have been intermingled, and that “user” fee principle has not strictly been applied to the funding of road construction. The IMPROVE Act does not fully address the co-mingling of funds.
The Highway Fund receives road construction “user fee” revenues from gasoline tax, motor fuel tax, gasoline inspection tax, motor vehicle registration tax and the motor vehicle title fees. At least 25 percent of those road construction “user fees” go to the General Fund, Education and Debt Service.
Though the majority of these “user fee” revenues have been allocated to the Highway Fund, between 25 percent and 29 percent of those fees -ranging from $177 million to $196 million annually– have been diverted away from the Highway Fund between FY 2011-12 and FY 2017-18, as Table 1 below illustrates.
Table 1
Highway Fund ‘User Fees’ Allocated to Funds Other than the Highway Fund
FY 2011-12 to FY 2017-18
Fiscal Year Highway Fund”User Fees ” Directed to General Fund, Education & Debt Svc. As % of Highway Fund Total Sales & Use Tax Revenues Sales Tax $ to Highway Fund % Sales Tax to Highway Fund Data Source (Link to Document) Page of Data Source 2017-18 $187,100,000 26.2% $8,861,100,000 $22,600,000 0.26% Estimated 99 of 558 2016-17 $195,200,000 26.5% $8,564,100,000 $22,600,000 0.26% Revised Est. 98 of 558 2015-16 $189,572,000 26.2% $8,267,224,400 $22,625,400 0.27% Actual 97 of 558 2014-15 $177,611,900 25.1% $7,706,018,700 $38,165,000 0.50% Actual 97 of 550 2013-14 $196,234,300 28.9% $7,286,164,500 $53,797,600 0.74% Actual 97 of 542 2012-13 $194,365,000 28.4% $7,012,028,700 $60,902,800 0.87% Actual 97 of 545 2011-12 $193,243,800 28.2% $6,899,944,000 $64,574,000 0.94% Actual 111 of 656
The state of Tennessee budget documents detail the revenue sources and the basis of apportionment for those revenues. For every one of the “user fee” revenues, the Tennessee Code Annotated that directs funds away from the Highway Fund is cited.
There are also allocations to the Highway Fund, such as Gross Receipts Tax-Other and Beer Tax, that would otherwise be considered General Fund revenues, as the majority of those revenues are allocated to the General Fund. However, the increase of 25 to 29 percent to the Highway Fund is net the General Fund dollars.
In the upcoming 2017-18 budget year, the redistribution of “user fees” strictly to the Highway Fund would increase the Highway Fund by $187 million, and combined with the past six years would have added a total of $1.3 billion to the Highway Fund, all without a gas tax increase.
The co-mingling of funds goes both ways.
“Sales and Use Tax” revenues have been and continue to be allocated to the Highway Fund.
During Gov. Haslam’s administration, the percentage of state sales tax revenues allocated to the Highway Fund ranged between 0.26 and 0.94 percent. Essentially, the alternate “Hawk Plan,” named for Rep. David Hawk of Greenville, which allocates 0.25 percent of the sales tax revenues to the Highway Fund has been in effect for years to an even greater extent.


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Tiktok to Fight Trump Over His Pending Order to Ban Its App

NEW YORK , New York ( AP ) — Video app TikTok said it will wage a legal fight against the Trump Administration ’ s efforts to ban the popular , Chinese-owned service over national-security concerns .
TikTok , which is owned by China ’ s ByteDance , insisted Monday that it is not a national-security threat and that the government is acting without evidence or due process .
The company said it will file suit against the government later Monday in federal court in California .
A copy of the complaint could not be obtained .
President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , first a sweeping but unspecified ban on any “ transaction ” with ByteDance , to take effect within 45 days .
He then ordered ByteDance to sell assets used to support TikTok in the U.S. Over past year , TikTok has tried to put distance between its app , which it says has 100 million U.S. users , and its Chinese owners .
It installed a former top Disney executive as its American CEO and named two other Americans chief security officer and general counsel .
TikTok has also said it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has held talks with Microsoft with to buy parts of its English-language app .
Other companies and investors have reportedly expressed interest as well .
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have shared concerns about TikTok that ranged from its vulnerability to censorship and misinformation campaigns to the safety of user data and children ’ s privacy .
But the administration has provided no specific evidence that TikTok has made U.S. users ’ data available to the Chinese government .
Instead , officials point to the hypothetical threat that lies in the Chinese government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese companies .
TikTok says it has not shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government and would not do so , and that it does not censor videos at the request of Chinese authorities .
In excerpts of from its forthcoming complaint , TikTok said that it has protected U.S. user data by storing it in the U.S. and Singapore , not China , and “ by erecting software barriers that help ensure that TikTok stores its U.S. user data separately from the user data of other ByteDance products.
” The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banning TikTok “ with no notice or opportunity to be heard ” violated its Fifth Amendment due-process rights .
It also says that the order is not acting “ based on a bona fide national emergency ” and seeks to ban activities that “ have not been found to be “ an unusual and extraordinary threat , ” which it says is required by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act , which Trump cited as one of the bases for his order .
Getting a court to overturn the government ’ s determination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be very difficult , said Christian Davis , a Washington lawyer with Akin Gump whose practice focuses on foreign investment and international trade .
The administration has “ significant discretion ” with national-security issues , he said .
While due-process claims might be easier to argue , it ’ s not clear what TikTok could gain .
He said the company could possibly win a delay in the order ’ s implementation or force a rewrite of the order to address concerns .
Tali Arbel is a technology reporter for The Associated Press @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Project Veritas Sues Oregon Calling Undercover Journalism Law Unconstitutional

Project Veritas ( PV ) and the Project Veritas Action Fund ( PVA ) have filed suit against the state of Oregon .
The lawsuit calls Oregon ’ s laws regarding undercover journalism “ unconstitutional , ” and says that the law prohibits journalists from “ exercising their First Amendment rights to engage in undercover newsgathering.
” The suit goes on to state that “ undercover newsgathering and reporting could result in criminal charges if undertaken in Oregon ” and the restrictions hamper efforts by Project Veritas and it ’ s action fund to investigate the government and local protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalism , the suit claims , “ based on past experience , PV and PVA have found that announcing their recording efforts has caused individuals to refuse to talk or to even distort their story , ” and that the lawsuit is intended to allow the organizations to better investigate issues of race relations , police accountability and disruptive protesting in Portland .
The lawsuit gives specifics on what actions they believe are currently illegal , stating that PV would “ secretly record interactions between the police and protestors , ” as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police and PV journalists and protestors .
Project Veritas is seeking injunctive relief to legalize these actions so that it can investigate claims that “ Portland police have been ordered to stand down and to not engage protestors , even when they act violently or damage property.
” Portland first saw protests on May 29th as the death of George Floyd sparked backlash across the country , reports KGW , a local NBC affiliate .
Since then , the protests have cycled between demonstrations and rioting , with the BBC reporting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so bad the Federal Government sent in agents to defend federal buildings .
The violence in Portland has not been restricted to Federal Buildings and police .
A video released last month shows Andrew Duncomb , a conservative reporter who films demonstrations and riots being stabbed by a protester .
Protests and riots in Portland have long been dangerous for reporters .
Andy Ngo was attacked by a number of Antifa members last year when filming a protest in the city .
Safety is a major concern listed in the lawsuit , stating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life in Portland have proven dangerous to reporters , PV fears that the safety and even lives of its journalists would be endangered if it were to record conversations openly and in plain view.
” – – – Ben Kolodny is a reporter for The Ohio Star and the Star News Network .
You can follow Ben on Twitter .
Tips can be sent to [ email protected ] Photo “ James O ’ Keefe Project Veritas ” by James O ’ Keefe Project Veritas .
Editors note : Neil McCabe , The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Correspondent , also serves as a contract communications manager for Project Veritas .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Operation Legend Puts Focus on Violent Crime, Not Politics

KANSAS CITY , Missouri ( AP ) — At the small apartment where 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro was shot dead in his sleep , the sliding glass door is riddled with bullet holes .
Glass is still strewn on the patio outside , the shards crunching under the feet of Attorney General William Barr and Police Chief Rick Smith as they visit the crime scene .
After the Kansas City boy was killed in June by a gunshot meant for somebody else , the Trump administration launched a nationwide crackdown on violent crime named in his honor .
The Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations for an inside look at Operation Legend as Barr visited law enforcement officials in Detroit , Kansas City and Cleveland .
President Donald Trump and his attorney general have touted the operation , spread across nine U.S. cities , as a much-needed answer to spiking crime that Trump claims is caused , at least in part , by the police reform movement and protests that have swept across the U.S. since George Floyd ’ s death in May .
“ The future of our country , and indeed our civilization , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
“ These are all Democrat-run places .
But these are people that don ’ t have any clue what they ’ re doing.
” But spiking crime defies easy explanation , experts say , pointing to a toxic mix of issues facing America in 2020 : an unemployment rate not seen in a generation , a pandemic that has killed more than 175,000 people , stay-at-home orders , rising anger over police brutality , intense stress , even the weather .
And to the 300 investigators deployed to the nine cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help , this isn ’ t about politics .
It ’ s about reducing crime , working to solve outstanding cases and prioritizing the arrest of violent criminals .
Police have welcomed the partnership , as they have with previous operations , and some activists are cautiously optimistic .
Despite what Trump has claimed , the operation is routine .
Some federal operations go on for months or years , and the arrests can number in the thousands .
So far , Operation Legend has yielded over 1,000 arrests for both state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and robbery offenses , with many of the people already wanted by police .
Some 200 people are facing steeper federal charges , and 400 illegal firearms were seized .
Besides Kansas City , Detroit and Cleveland , the Justice Department has sent additional personnel to Chicago , Albuquerque , Milwaukee , St. Louis , Indianapolis and Memphis , Tennessee .
In Detroit , agents circled a motel that police officials said had been a hotbed for criminal activity for years .
As the caravan pulled into the parking lot of the yellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Craig hovered overhead in a helicopter outfitted with special cameras to watch from the sky .
Five people were arrested , and agents seized three ounces of cocaine , one ounce of fentanyl and a handgun .
Craig said the execution of the operation — and in some cases bringing federal charges , which generally result in stiffer penalties — will help to drive down violent crime in Detroit and get so-called “ trigger-pullers ” off the street .
“ This is certainly welcomed , ” Craig told the AP .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well with our federal partners .
So , to get the added resources and engage in an operation like we did today , that ’ s what makes a difference in our community in reducing violence.
” Malik Shabazz , 58 , a longtime activist in Detroit , said any help the city gets to address rising crime will help , but he believes the motives should be scrutinized .
The answer , he said , is not simply to flood neighborhoods and streets with more police .
The roots of crime are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism , segregation and other ills born of America ’ s racism .
“ Do we have a crime , grime and slime problem in Detroit ?
Yes , we do , ” Shabazz said .
“ Every city does .
Every township does .
While we need help with all these problems , we need resources .
I ’ m all about organizing against the crime , but people need jobs with living wages and dignity and health insurance .
We need better education.
” In Kansas City , local police detectives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration have compiled large boards listing all open homicide cases , a reminder of the reason they are pushing to get shooters off the street .
As of Friday , there had been 125 homicides in Kansas City this year , according to police statistics .
The city is on pace to top the record number of homicides from the early 1990s , and non-lethal shootings also are on the rise .
The city ended 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was announced in July , Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas , a Democrat , said he welcomed any help to get violent criminals off the streets , but he does not want agents used to investigate non-violent crimes to increase arrest numbers .
Several civil rights groups have publicly opposed the operation and pushed Lucas to more forcefully denounce it and lead the effort to reduce police budgets to better fund social organizations , such as housing and health care .
Federal agents in Cleveland recovered dozens of weapons and seized drugs during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nearly three dozen people have been charged with federal crimes there .
Kareem Hinton of Black Lives Matter Cleveland believes the operation is a federal effort to “ squash ” police accountability and reforms with stop-and-frisk tactics that will ensnare innocent people .
He says the increases in violent crime have been triggered by high unemployment and a lack of services to deal with untreated mental health problems .
“ Rather than have police handle the crime , ” Hinton said , “ Why not have services in place to handle the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials have repeatedly said the agents are not there to replace officers , take on a standard policing role or squash accountability .
Instead , they work side-by-side with detectives to solve lingering homicide cases and target specific violent criminals who generally drive up crime rates .
“ I ’ m really happy with the way it ’ s going , ” Barr said .
“ They are getting a lot of these bad guys off the streets.
” “ What they don ’ t want is an outside intrusive force taking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ If this is the sort of group that pinpoints murders , they are wanted .
If they extend to more broad-based policing , we don ’ t want them here to supplant our local police department , especially at a time when people are already asking questions about police relationships with the community.
” The man suspected of killing LeGend was arrested recently in the namesake partnership .
The boy ’ s mother said this week she hoped more deaths would be solved .
“ I am beginning to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powell said .
“ But I want to make sure I help everyone out I can.
” Michael Balsamo is a reporter with The Associated Press .
Associated Press writers Colleen Long in Washington , Corey Williams in Detroit , Margaret Stafford in Liberty , Missouri , and Mark Gillispie in Cleveland contributed to this report .
About the Headline Photo : In this Wednesday , Aug. 19 , 2020 , photo Attorney General William Barr participates in a roll call with police officers from the Kansas City Police Department in Kansas City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Texas A&M Professor and NASA Researcher Zhengdong Cheng Arrested for Alleged China Ties

Texas A & M professor and NASA researcher Zhengdong Cheng was arrested Sunday for alleged conspiracy , false statements , and wire fraud .
According to a United States Department of Justice press release , Cheng allegedly “ willfully took steps to obscure his affiliations and collaboration with a Chinese University and at least one Chinese-owned company.
” Cheng ’ s research grant barred him from collaborating with Chinese entities .
Cheng allegedly provided false information to Texas A & M and NASA , allowing him to receive federal funds for a research grant .
Cheng is associated with Guangdong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign institutions of higher education .
He gained access to what the DOJ called “ increased access to unique NASA resources , such as the International Space Station , ” resulting in better positioning at Guangdong and other universities .
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers explained that “ Once again , we have witnessed the criminal consequences that can arise from undisclosed participation in the Chinese government ’ s talent program.
” He said the Department of Justice will work to “ expose the exploitation of our nation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , assistant director of the FBI ’ s Counterintelligence Division , said that Cheng allegedly “ knowingly deceived NASA officials about his association with Chinese owned companies and universities , willingly accepted U.S. government funding , and defrauded his university.
” FBI Houston Special Agent Perrye Turner stated that Texas A & M has provided “ significant assistance through their partnership with us throughout this case.
” “ We worked closely with the FBI on this case , and we gladly will work with them again as needed , ” Texas A & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement Monday .
“ No one in higher education takes security as seriously as we do at The Texas A & M University System .
In fact , we have received several awards from the Department of Defense ’ s Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency , including one just last month.
” Campus Reform has reported on a series of similar criminal charges against professors with ties to China .
In late July , a professor at the University of Arkansas was indicted for receiving funds from China and failure to disclose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a researcher at the University of California-Davis was detained by American officials after it was discovered that she was an alleged active member of the Chinese People ’ s Liberation Army .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Crom Carmichael on Jon Meacham’s Comments on Separation of Powers and How a Technicality Kept West O

Crom Carmichael on Jon Meacham’s Comments on Separation of Powers and How a Technicality Kept West Off the Ballot in WI

Live from Music Row Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
At the end of the second hour , Carmichael weighed in historian Jon Meacham recent appearance on Face the Nation adding he was surprised anyone would have recorded that snippet in the first place .
He also found it interesting how the Democratic Party was making things difficult for Kanye West citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get on the ballot in Wisconsin .
We separate rightly church and state in this country but we ’ ve never been able to separate religion from politics .
Or religious feeling from politics .
This goes back to Jefferson who was the person who popularized the phrase , ‘ the wall of separation between church and state.
’ But he understood something that Tocqueville saw later which was that if you are leading a popular government you have to meet the people where they are .
And many people , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their heads is in fact , faith-based .
Leahy : So that ’ s Jon Meacham the Nashville based historian who is kind of in my view , I think you are a little bit more generous to Meacham than I am .
I ’ ve decided that he ’ s just unbearably sanctimonious .
And there he is trying to tell evangelical Christians that they should be voting for Joe Biden .
You know the guy who supports abortion versus Donald Trump .
Because Donald Trump has had a personal life that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perspective .
Carmichael : The part of the soundbite that I heard , I ’ m not disagreeing with you per se but the part that I heard was Jon Meacham was stating the absolute obvious .
I mean , why was it insightful to say that people ’ s religious values have something to do with the way they think ?
Carmichael : I don ’ t even know why that was recorded by anybody .
Leahy : Well , it was five very long minutes of Meacham on MSNBC perhaps the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only part that I heard was him saying that first of all he didn ’ t go into much detail about Jefferson ’ s letter about the separation between church and state .
It was actually the opposite .
And Meacham probably knows that .
Jefferson was concerned it would be the government .
By the way , Jefferson ’ s concerns are coming true today because it is the government that is telling people they can ’ t go to church .
Leahy : It was a letter to the Danbury Baptists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
Carmichael : Yes .
And the separation of church and state was to protect religion against the government , not the other way around .
But in any event , just the soundbite part that we played was that he said apparently there was some great insight that people ’ s religious values had something to do with the way they think the country should be governed .
And therefore , the people who are in government need to take that into account .
What else would you do ?
Would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
If you are a Democrat you would ignore it .
( Leahy laughs ) For people who say I ’ d like to go to church because I ’ m feeling depressed and I ’ d like to open my heart to God and to Jesus , I ’ d like to go to church because I feel terrible .
No , no , no .
You can not go to church .
But if you want to go protest you can stand next to thousands of protesters .
If you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that very close to each other .
But if you try to go to church you will be put in prison or they will shut down the church and fine both of you .
Leahy : I missed the part of the first amendment that apparently according to most Democrats now the freedoms guaranteed in the first amendment are freedom to riot and cause violence for a certain section of the population .
That apparently now overrides freedom of speech and freedom of religion .
Carmichael : Yeah .
Now there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is from the Milwaukee Journal Centennial .
Kanye West is trying to get on the ballot in a number of states .
Wisconsin is one of them running as an Independent .
Leahy : He ’ s filed all his requirements here in Tennessee and I think he ’ ll get on the ballot in Tennessee .
Carmichael : In Wisconsin , he turned in his papers according to the Democrats , he turned in his papers at five 0 one .
And you must turn them in by five o ’ clock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there says that she walked in the door of the offices at five o ’ clock and 14 seconds .
Carmichael : Yes .
The instructional part for us , Kanye West is a Black man .
Democrats are doing everything they can to keep a Black man from being on the ballot .
Carmichael : That ’ s what they are doing .
They are trying to use a technicality because these very same Democrats want mail-out voting .
These very same Democrats are happy to count votes that come in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York state where we have the evidence .
The election was on June 23rd .
A judge finally took 13,000 ballots and threw them out .
He said you can ’ t count them .
Did the Democrats take heart in that ?
We know in New Jersey that one election was so fraudulent that the judge ruled that the election would be held over again .
Within a couple of days of that judges ruling the governor of New Jersey said there was no fraud in New Jersey .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the telling part of this story in Wisconsin is that it would be very very easy to argue as the Kanye West people have argued is that they were there closer to five o ’ clock then they were to five 0 one .
So if you are rounding , you round to five o ’ clock .
Carmichael : And if you think that Black people should have the right to vote which they should then you would think that you would go out of your way to make sure a Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office would be able to do so .
You wouldn ’ t do the opposite .
You wouldn ’ t try to keep them off the ballot on a technicality that is that tiny .
Leahy : I would think that Kanye West , a Black man would have good reason to file a lawsuit in federal court alleging the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is violating his civil rights and the voting rights act of 1965 .
Carmichael : In his case could actually I think make an interesting case about the management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to how they would have to be construed in the same level of specificity .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--First Lady Melania Trump Opens Student Art Exhibit on Women’s Suffrage

WASHINGTON , D.C. ( AP ) — Melania Trump is marking the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote with an art exhibit based on works by children from all 50 states and the District of Columbia .
The first lady called adoption of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution that granted women voting rights a “ turning point ” in the women ’ s rights movement .
In remarks prepared for Monday ’ s unveiling in front of the White House , she said the exhibit would encourage parents to talk to their children about the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and help them understand the history behind women ’ s suffrage .
Mrs. Trump was also using her appearance — on the opening day of the Republican National Convention — to promote certain aspects of her husband ’ s record on women ’ s issues .
Polls show President Donald Trump facing a yawning deficit with female voters .
In the remarks , the first lady says under “ our administration ” the child tax credit was doubled , women experienced some of the lowest rates of unemployment on record and the Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions .
One of those women , White House counselor Kellyanne Conway , who is one of the president ’ s longest-serving aides , announced late Sunday that she is leaving at the end of August to spend more time with her four children .
Conway was Trump ’ s third campaign manager and made history in 2016 as the first woman to steer a winning presidential campaign .
Joining Mrs. Trump for the launch of the “ Building the Movement : America ’ s Youth Celebrate 100 Years of Women ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the young artists , female administration officials , Cabinet secretaries and state and local elected officials .
Historic photographs depicting women ’ s suffrage will be included in the exhibit .
“ It is these women and their brave actions that have provided strength and inspiration to so many mothers , daughters , and sisters who have stamped their own mark on our country , ensuring future generations of women have the ability to pursue their dreams , ” the first lady says in the prepared text obtained by The Associated Press .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he signed a proclamation marking the centennial .
Mrs. Trump announced the art project in June with a call for entries from students around the country .
More than 450 submissions flooded in .
The first lady , the Women ’ s Suffrage Centennial Commission and the White House curator ’ s office chose the winners .
The full exhibit will be available online .
Darlene Superville is a reporter with The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : First Lady Melania Trump visits an exhibit of artwork by young Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 19th amendment which afforded the vote to women , at the White House in Washington , Monday , Aug. 24 , 2020 .
( AP Photo/J .
Scott Applewhite )


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Comey Says He ‘Can’t Imagine’ He’s a Target of Durham Probe

Former FBI Director James Comey said Sunday that he has not had contact with the federal prosecutor investigating the bureau ’ s probe of the Trump campaign , but that he “ can ’ t imagine ” that he ’ s a target of a criminal inquiry .
“ Given that I know what happened during 2016 , which was a bunch of people trying to do the right thing consistent with the law , I ’ m not worried at all about that investigation of the investigation , ” Comey said in an interview Sunday on CBS News ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They just want to have an investigation to talk about , ” he said .
A former FBI attorney pleaded guilty to federal charges on Wednesday in the investigation , undercutting Comey ’ s claim that the Crossfire Hurricane team was stacked with “ a bunch of people trying to do the right thing.
” Kevin Clinesmith , who worked in the FBI general counsel ’ s office , admitted that he altered a June 2017 email to say that former Trump aide Carter Page was “ not a source ” for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact for the CIA through 2013 .
A Justice Department inspector general ’ s report blasted the FBI for a series of “ significant ” errors and omissions in applications for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act orders against Page .
On Friday , U.S. Attorney John Durham , who is leading the investigation , interviewed former CIA Director John Brennan about the spy agency ’ s intelligence-gathering activities prior to the 2016 election , as well as its role in crafting an Intelligence Community Assessment regarding Russian interference in the election .
An adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was a witness and not a target of the investigation .
Comey said that he had “ no idea ” whether he was a witness , subject or target of Durham ’ s probe .
“ I have no contact with him and haven ’ t talked with him , ” said Comey , adding , “ I can ’ t imagine that I ’ m a target.
” Durham , the U.S. attorney for Connecticut , is conducting a sprawling investigation into the FBI ’ s surveillance of Trump associates and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name of the counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign .
Attorney General William Barr , who appointed Durham to lead the investigation , has said that the prosecutor is also looking into whether Russian intelligence operatives fed disinformation to Christopher Steele , the former British spy who wrote a dossier alleging that the Trump campaign was colluding with the Kremlin to influence the 2016 election .
Several major allegations in the dossier have either been debunked or remain uncorroborated .
The New York Times reported in January that federal prosecutors were investigating whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classified information to journalists regarding a Russian disinformation effort that targeted former DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch .
The status of the investigation is unclear , and it is not known whether Durham is involved in that inquiry .
The Justice Department inspector general ’ s referred Comey to federal prosecutors for potential prosecution over the handling of memos he wrote following conversations with President Donald Trump in 2017 , but the government declined to pursue the case .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Coalition Files Lawsuits to Stop Gov. Whitmer From Silencing Free Speech in Elections, Secretary of

Coalition Files Lawsuits to Stop Gov. Whitmer From Silencing Free Speech in Elections, Secretary of State Benson From Undermining Absentee Ballot Integrity

A coalition filed two lawsuits in Michigan on Monday , a federal case against Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer for allegedly silencing political speech , and a state suit against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for reportedly circumventing state law protecting the right of Michiganders to have their vote properly counted .
The lawsuits were announced on a new website launched by the coalition : Got Freedom ?
The website is available here .
More information on the lawsuits is available here .
The coalition says they want to “ allow retail politicking leading into the general election and block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspending ballot integrity protections.
” They “ point to Whitmer ’ s threat of jail time for those seeking to host political rallies and election irregularities in Wayne County during the August 4 primary as justification for the suits.
” Phill Kline , director of The Amistad Project of the Thomas More Society , said in a statement : The two lawsuits filed today are a part of this project and Thomas More Special counsel Edward Greim , joined by local counsel Ian Northon of Grand Rapids and assisted by Thomas More Associate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ litigation .
These lawsuits challenge the actions of Governor Whitmer and Secretary Benson in their use of what is called the emergency police powers of the state .
These extraordinary powers are intended to be used when the other branches of government are unable to function and are either incapacitated due to violence or war or are fundamentally incapable of responding to a fast-changing unknown but temporary threat .
The lawsuit against Benson is connected to alarms raised by advocates that she allegedly is undermining the security of signature verifications of absentee ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .
The Election Integrity Fund ( EIF ) and its vice president , Glen Sitek , filed the suit in the State of Michigan Court of Claims against Benson .
Michigan election laws work to achieve these objectives by allowing absentee voting and prohibiting misleading voters in completing their ballots , prohibiting coercion and intimidation to force a voter to vote a certain way , only allowing those eligible to vote to cast a vote and providing for the proper counting of legitimate ballots .
By manipulating the fear of Michiganders regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side-stepped key Michigan laws protecting ballot integrity , misled the public and failed to take reasonable and responsible action to assist local clerks in preparing for the great increase in the use of absentee ballots .
These actions resulted in us teaming up with The Amistad Project of the Thomas More Society to bring this suit against Secretary Benson .
It is unfortunate that we must bring suit against one whose duty is to uphold Michigan election laws for failure to follow those very laws but it is vitally important Michiganders have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election in which each and every single vote will be properly counted .
The lawsuit says , in part : This lawsuit challenges the action of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in allowing individuals to apply for absentee ballots online .
The online system fails to comply with Michigan law and invites fraud .
The problem is this : every individual who gains access to the Secretary ’ s online application system can apply for a ballot to be mailed without submitting the actual signature of a voter .
Without a real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no signature to check against the voter signature that is already on file—a crucial anti-fraud protection .
Using the Secretary ’ s new online system , thousands of ballots will be mailed to addresses , but without the statutorily required signature comparison to ensure that the addressee voter really requested the ballot , and really requested it to be sent to that address .
Additionally , the lack of an application signature also undermines the process of authenticating ballots once they are returned via mail .
The Secretary ’ s own “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials processing these ballots to compare the signature on the ballot to the signature on the application to “ determine the legality of the ballot ” .
This comparison can not be accomplished , of course , if the application lacks an accompanying signature .
Hence , the officials can not determine the legality of the ballots requested using the Secretary ’ s online system .
The second lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan by the EIF and One Nation Michigan against Whitmer .
The plaintiffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ executive orders can not apply as a blanket criminal sanction against ‘ Responsible Politicking ’ : First Amendment assembly of more than 10 indoors , and more than 100 outdoors , in which participants use social distancing and masks.
” One Nation president and former Michigan civil rights Commissioner Dr. Linda Lee Tarver said her organization “ supports reasonable and rationale dialogue on race that acknowledges our nation ’ s failures while respecting its goodness .
However , we were told we can not rally and continue to be confronted with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Governor.
” Kline added , “ Governor Whitmer and Secretary Benson have encouraged Michiganders to vote by absentee ballot , rendering retail politicking in the months leading up to the election of even greater significance .
Unlike other years in which most ballots would be cast on election day , hundreds of thousands or millions of votes will be cast in the weeks leading up to November 3 .
As the Michigan electorate complies with the Governor ’ s insistence that they cast absentee ballots leading up to election day , her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering to speak about the candidates and issues on which they are voting.
” Catherine Engelbrecht , founder and president of True the Vote , a partner in The Amistad Project , said , “ Governor Whitmer and Secretary Benson ’ s attempt to drastically change election processes at the eleventh hour would allow anyone with Internet access to vote by mail , with no way to verify who requested the ballot or who actually cast the vote , as long as they claim to be a self-quarantining voter.
” Jason M. Reynolds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Commentary: Turn to the Founders to Remind Ourselves of What We Stand to Lose

In just about 70 days , you and I will be called upon to decide the fate of the American Republic .
Make no mistake , this is no ordinary election .
American voters have not faced such a momentous choice since an earlier generation was presented with the Constitution and called upon to decide its fate .
The vote to ratify the Constitution established a new regime , the amazingly successful American Republic , which showed the world new possibilities for liberty and prosperity and set a standard still unmatched by any country in the history of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time is a vote for regime change as surely as the original vote for the Constitution was a vote for regime change .
The Democrats have abandoned pretense .
They no longer even pretend to embrace the Constitution or the American way of life .
They are promoting rioting and political violence , they are wrecking the economy with their fraudulent COVID-19 lockdowns , and they are gearing up to control the outcome of this election by hook and crook .
Winning this one is urgently personal for those denizens of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempted coup against President Trump .
If Joe Biden wins , standing indictments will be ignored and new indictments will cease , teaching the Left that it can get away with – and even be rewarded for – committing some of the worst political crimes in American history .
We need to remind ourselves of what we stand to lose in this election .
A friend suggested that Americans ought to read the essays that make up The Federalist Papers between now and Election Day .
Indeed , why not turn to Alexander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at such a time ?
The beauty of the idea is that each Federalist number is brief .
Number 1 is about four pages , and Number 2 is less than five .
Starting now , and at the rate of one or two a day , one could read The Federalist Papers by November 3 – and it would be easy and fun because Madison , Hamilton , and Jay are such good company .
I speak from personal experience .
I worked on Common Sense Nation , my book on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best part was spending time with the American Founders .
To call writing that book a labor of love might imply that some labor was involved when in fact there was only delight .
Thomas Jefferson described The Federalist as “ the best commentary on the principles of government which ever was written.
” That ’ s still true .
And here ’ s the best part : they are written for you to understand .
They are a collection of op-eds written to persuade Americans to vote for the Constitution .
Read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You ’ ll find it clear and readable .
The first essay is the source of a quote of Hamilton ’ s that may already be familiar to many : The voters of that Founding generation – America ’ s real greatest generation – demonstrated that good government can be established by reason and choice .
Yet in 2020 , for the first time , American voters have a readily available opportunity to throw it all away .
There is no better way to meet the terrible disorientation of our time than to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans – and get reoriented .
Want to join me in reading and completing The Federalist Papers in time for the election ?
If so , we will be offering you help along the way at this site .
Stay tuned .
You will enjoy it , and it will also be good for you – and for our great country .
Robert Curry serves on the board of directors of the Claremont Institute and is the author of Common Sense Nation : Unlocking the Forgotten Power of the American Idea and Reclaiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post-Truth World .
Both are from Encounter Books .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Crom Carmichael: Joe Biden Can’t Think and Will Do Whatever His ‘Experts’ Tell Him to Do

Live from Music Row Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
During the second hour , Carmichael discussed a recent ABC interview with Joe Biden where he proclaimed that he would do whatever his ‘ experts ’ told him to do and whether they were constitutional or not because he was committed to stacking the courts .
He later analyzed Joe Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President in the Obama administration as an example of poor decision making .
Leahy : Crom Carmichael , the original all-star panelist is here .
Good morning Crom .
Carmichael : Michael , how are you , sir ?
Leahy : Well , I ’ m just awestruck at the positivity and excitement around the Democratic National Convention last week .
And now we have the Republican national convention .
I was talking with Doug Kellet in the five o ’ clock hour and I said I think it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s to beat because it was so dark and gloomy .
And I think you showed me the list of all the things they are for .
They are pretty awful .
Carmichael : Oh , yeah , I mean Biden and Kamala Harris did an interview with ABC .
Did you see that ?
Carmichael : With Muir .
And Biden said that it ’ s his experts told him to shut the economy down .
He would shut it down .
The whole economy .
Carmichael : He wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whole economy down .
There are two or three things about that that are pretty interesting .
One is he ’ s been in politics for almost 50 years .
By the way , Trump just as an aside .
Trump was giving a talk and he said that he was in Pennsylvania .
He said actually went to Scranton where Joe Biden was born .
And he said he moved from Scranton when he was nine years old .
He moved to Delaware when he was nine years old but yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scranton .
He said he hadn ’ t been to Scranton in nearly seven decades .
I just thought that was hysterical .
Now he ’ s in Delaware at his home in Delaware .
And Trump kind of rolls his eyes and he says he hardly comes out of his house in Delaware .
It was just hysterical the way he said it .
But Biden goes on ABC and he ’ s interviewed and when he says I will shut down the economy if my experts tell me too .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later .
But essentially he ’ s saying that he thinks that he should be a dictator .
That is a true dictator .
Trump never did anything like that .
Trump put out CDC guidelines .
And then it was up to the governors ’ .
There are some people that say that the constitution doesn ’ t allow Biden to do that .
That doesn ’ t matter .
One thing that Biden has made very clear is that he ’ ll stack the court so that the Supreme Court will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on one hand complains about unemployment .
On the other hand , he says I will happily , without the word happily , but it was clear , I said if my experts tell me to do it I will shut down the economy .
But let ’ s take that to an even bigger picture .
What happens if his generals tell him to bomb China ?
Well , those are the experts .
What if his foreign policy experts tell him to start a trade war and his economic experts tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
He ’ ll do it because Biden can ’ t think .
He ’ s said so .
In as many words he ’ s said that my job is not to think .
My job is to do what my experts tell me to do .
Leahy : Even if there is no constitutional authority for it ?
Carmichael : That doesn ’ t matter .
Michael , he ’ ll have the constitutional authority because he will pack the courts .
He has said so .
Leahy : Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : It doesn ’ t matter .
He said he will pack the courts .
Leahy : But if you look at the timelines , he won ’ t be able to pack the court… Carmichael : Michael , it ’ s his thinking that we are talking about here .
It ’ s his thinking .
Leahy : Speaking of thinking .
He ’ s an expert .
His name was Ron Klain and he was advising Joe Biden about the H1N1 .
Katie , play this entire clip .
Here we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the H1N1 virus .
Carmichael : That was Biden ’ s chief of staff in May of 2019 at a panel about future pandemics .
And he essentially said I was in the White House .
By the way , do you know who was the head of infectious disease at that time ?
Carmichael : Yeah .
Anthony Fauci the great expert .
Do you know how many Americans contracted H1N1 ?
60 million .
Do you know what the Obama administration did as the number escalated ?
They stopped testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand it , they stopped it all together .
Klein went on to talk about all the things they did wrong .
Now , if you recall , during Obama ’ s speech on behalf of Biden he lifted Biden up and said what a great job he did managing the H1N1 crisis .
He lifted him up in his speech .
Now we have a person who before it became politically correct at a time when the facts actually mattered .
Biden did finally get right we believe in truth and facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right .
But anyway , Klein pointed out that they did nothing right .
By the way , the H1N1 was not particularly deadly but the deaths were mostly children .
Carmichael : It was different .
So what you have here is this combination of Biden telling Muir that he will follow his experts and that ’ s the way he will govern is by following his experts .
Apparently an economic expert says but Mr. President if you shut down the economy you ’ ll put millions of businesses out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions of people in the unemployment line .
Biden won ’ t care .
Leahy : You know why ?
Because all of these shutdowns do not hurt the elite class .
It does not hurt government employees .
They don ’ t lose their jobs .
It ’ s small businesses and trade people who ’ d lose their jobs .
Carmichael : Of course .
On the one hand that unemployment rates are too high .
On the other hand , within hours he says , I ’ ll take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ll do it nationwide .
Leahy : I want to go back to one of your themes Crom about all of these talking heads in the mainstream media that do these interviews .
That general principle of complete inconsistency .
Why doesn ’ t a George Stephanopoulos , a Chuck Todd , and an Anderson Cooper point out those inconsistencies ?
Carmichael : Well , we already know that .
We know .
CNN , I have a friend of mine that says you never watch CNN .
I said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll get the other side .
And I say OK .
I already know what the other side is .
Why do I have to listen to know what the other side is ?
I already know that before Biden spoke that all the people at CNN had already written how great the speech was .
And I would accuse people and have the facts to back it up , by the way , accuse the people at CNN for being paid to support Biden .
Carmichael : For being paid to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no I ’ m not .
I ’ m not paid by the Biden campaign .
I ’ d say I didn ’ t say that .
Leahy : They ’ re being paid by CNN to support Biden .
Carmichael : If you did not support Biden you would lose your job .
Leahy : You would not have a job at CNN .
Carmichael : There is one person that tells everybody what to say .
And then they say what they are paid to say .
Leahy : You are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Carmichael : Could be .
Could be the guy above Jeff Zucker .
What I ’ m saying is that there is a point in the hierarchy and there is somebody there that wants Biden to be elected and it doesn ’ t matter how bad a job he might do .
And he is showing you how bad a job he will do because his thinking is truly incoherent .
He says on one hand we have too much unemployment .
And then he says , on the other hand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leahy : The logic would be on the one hand A .
On the other hand , not A. Carmichael : He never has had good judgment .
Every single foreign policy decision that I know of .
I ’ m not going to say that he hasn ’ t made one good decision .
But I know of , gosh , just one bad decision after another .
Perhaps the pinnacle was when he proudly said he was the only person advising Obama not to take out Osama Bin Laden when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : And this is the guy that the mainstream media is propping up .
Listen to the full second hour : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Virginia Republican House Candidate Scott Taylor Talks About His Campaign and How He See’s Things Tu

Virginia Republican House Candidate Scott Taylor Talks About His Campaign and How He See’s Things Turning for Trump

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed House of Delegates Republican candidate Scott Taylor to the show .
During the program , Taylor discussed feedback he ’ d been receiving during his recent door knocking while on the campaign trail .
He added that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were not for Trump in ’ 16 looking to vote for him in 2020 after witnessing the progress of the current administration and cognitive decline of Biden .
Fredericks : One of the delegates who was not here obviously Scott Taylor who is running for Congress .
Scott great to have .
Taylor : John good morning .
Glad you are down there representing Virginia kicking this thing off .
Fredericks : Yes .
Thank you .
I have to leave here today at seven thirty .
We have a meeting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ President today and then go from there .
Scott , tell us about your campaign .
I was here not 10 minutes and at least five people asked me , tell us what ’ s going on in the second district in Virginia .
Apparently this is a hot item here .
Taylor : Yes .
It ’ s definitely the number one race in the region .
It ’ s the top ten race in the country .
Things are going very well .
I ’ m door knocking like crazy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted precincts .
Swing precincts if you will .
The feedback is fantastic .
It ’ s going to be a close race .
There is no question there .
She has the advantage of incumbency now of course .
But she has a very bad approval rating because she hasn ’ t been here in two years .
She hasn ’ t done anything .
She hasn ’ t accomplished anything .
And our records next to each other are demonstratively far and above hers .
And people know that .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money to attack me and smash me and attacking me .
But we expected that .
But things are going well and we are going to take this district back in November .
Fredericks : Look , I ’ m excited for you .
I really am .
I ’ m always interested to know Scott Taylor when you are knocking on doors at swing voters and everybody has a knack for that now .
You are not going to the hard Republicans that you know are going to vote for you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have may or may not made their mind up that go one way or the other .
When you are knocking on doors , are people home ?
Taylor : More so than normal .
Over the years I ’ ve knocked on probably 25 or 30,000 homes .
Typically most people are not home when you are there .
But I will tell you now there are a lot more people that are home .
We just started doing this thing because obviously we are concerned about people worried about us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interesting that people are hungry for interaction .
I knock on the door and I step back a few steps when they open the door .
I have my mask with me just in case .
A lot more than normal people are home and they do want to engage and they are very appreciative that I am out there .
Fredericks : When you are talking to people at their doors , what are they saying to you ?
What are their concerns ?
What ’ s the feedback been Scott Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve talked to are very concerned about the direction of the country .
They are concerned about these protests .
The images they ’ ve seen out of Richmond .
Images they saw at the oceanfront .
The inconsistent governance of our governor and the folks in the legislature .
For example , I was speaking to a woman sitting on a porch with a plastic rocking chair the other day .
Her husband is a Veteran .
He ’ s a Republican .
She is not .
She ’ s an Independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before but she ’ s voting for him now because she can ’ t stomach Biden .
And she just thinks that the left has gone out of control .
Way to the left .
She ’ s coming back home if you will .
She ’ s going to be voting for the President .
She ’ s voting for me .
But her concerns with a special needs child and she ’ s concerned about schools .
That kid falling behind .
She ’ s concerned about the rioting if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will .
And she ’ s with the President now .
Fredericks : Well , that ’ s great .
And those stories I assume that isn ’ t just isolated , right ?
You are getting a lot of those ?
Taylor : I am .
A lot of people are very concerned about the Democratic Party and how far left they ’ ve gone .
The reality is when you talk to people , yes they want justice .
Yes , they want equality .
But not at the expense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that ’ s what they are seeing .
Hearing about defunding the police .
In our area down here we have a lot of people who are either in uniform or have been in uniform .
So there is a lot of respect for that down here .
And they don ’ t like what they are seeing in some of these other cities and in Richmond .
The capitol building in Richmond , our Commonwealth is boarded up right now .
The American flag was ordered taken down the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be a target for protesters .
That is unacceptable .
And in this area where I ’ m from , people know that folks throughout history have died holding that dam flag up .
So it ’ s no acceptable to people around here .
Fredericks : You know what Scott ?
I can feel the momentum changing .
I was saying this all last week .
You look at the poll numbers are all going in Trump ’ s favor now .
I believe the President is going to win .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , one he ’ s tied in Minnesota .
I asked permission to talk about it .
I was granted that .
He ’ s tied in Minnesota .
He ’ s within three in Pennsylvania .
All of a sudden Scott Taylor in the last three weeks and then two weeks everything started moving in the president ’ s favor .
What ’ s interesting is that Joe Biden had this convention where everybody was made to feel bad about themselves .
Hate being American .
We have a horrible country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was just horrible .
The whole four days was just depressing .
You had Michelle Obama lecturing us like a schoolmarm .
Like I should be ashamed of voting for Trump .
The whole thing was a disaster .
He actually went down in the polls .
Normally when you have a convention you get what they call a convention bounce .
Fredericks : He went backwards .
Have you ever seen that ?
Taylor : I mean he was using some of the same speeches he did when he was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot less there if you will .
For sure .
A lot less energy .
Look , he can ’ t even string a couple of sentences .
The bar was so low that he was reading off the teleprompter .
Oh he did so great because he was able to read through sentences and get it done .
But when he ’ s not there it ’ s disastrous .
This isn ’ t a political statement .
It ’ s kind of sad .
It looks like he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not like if he becomes the President it will be any easier for him .
And I think intuitively Americans are looking at that thinking , ah , I don ’ t think so .
It ’ s clear he ’ s hiding out .
It ’ s clear there ’ s diminished capability there .
You are the leader of the free world .
It ’ s not like its any less stressful .
Just look at President Bush and Obama who became grey in the first year .
But President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : He certainly does .
No question about it .
We are with Scott Taylor .
Scott is the Republican candidate for Congress in the second district .
That ’ s the Virginia Beach and all the way to Williamsburg and the Eastern Shore .
Scott Taylor represented the area from 2016-2018 .
Got defeated in the mid-terms by Elaine Luria who was running against again .
That race of course will be decided on November third .
But we really feel good about your race Scott .
Luria one of the weakest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not going to get out-worked .
I know you ’ ll be able to raise the money you need to be competitive .
I think Trump is going to win the district by maybe four or five .
Taylor : He won the district last time by four .
It ’ s interesting .
Despite the Democrats ’ narrative that oh , well there are fewer people supporting him now than they were before .
That ’ s not really what I ’ m hearing .
There are some folks here , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are bigger names and more known around here that tend to lean left and didn ’ t like the President in ’ 16 .
But they are with him now because they ’ ve seen the results .
And what Biden is promising is just too far left .
( Chuckles ) You know ?
Taylor : They are trying to sugar coat this super left agenda by putting him there and thinking that he ’ s a moderate .
I also think that Kamala on the ticket along with his record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hurt them with the younger African American voters because both of them locked up a lot of Black men .
I don ’ t see how you get around it .
It ’ s not like people don ’ t know that .
Either one they ’ re not going to vote for him and not come out .
Or two , they are going to vote for the President .
Either way , it ’ s bad for them .
I think it was a bad choice .
I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well with young African American men .
I also believe that there are a lot of folks that weren ’ t with the President in 2016 that understand the agenda that Biden is pushing down the pipeline .
And they are not for it .
And now they are with the President .
So I do think the President is going to win bigger than he did last time .
Listen to the full show here :


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Whitmer Reportedly Lone Governor Preventing Big 10 Football

Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer could be a “ major roadblock ” to the start of the Big 10 football season , according to Ohio State insider Jeff Snook .
The Spun reported that Snook is saying that Whitmer against University of Michigan playing football .
“ I was also told that one roadblock to the new plan is the fact that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been vehemently opposed to football being played – at the high school and college level – in the state this fall , ” Snook said , adding that Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s objection could keep the football teams from both University of Michigan and Michigan State University from playing .
The governor said during a press conference in May that fans would not be able to attend fall sporting events , according to The Free Beacon .
The Big 10 canceled its football season on August 11 after a meeting of the conference ’ s presidents , CBS Sports reported .
Pac-12 also announced that its seasons is canceled , while the SEC , the Big 12 and the ACC will continue with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trafalgar Group ’ s Robert Cahaly argued last week that the cancellation of the Big 10 football season could have an impact on the 2020 presidential election .
“ How people perceive the coronavirus is defining their politics .
If you believe it ’ s a hoax or you think it ’ s overblown you ’ re in the Trump corner .
If you believe everything needs to be shutdown and you won ’ t leave your home until there ’ s a vaccine you ’ re in the Biden corner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smerconish , FITS News reported .
“ But if you ’ re in the middle – and there ’ s a growing group that says ‘ hey , we ’ re going to do what we can to be safe and protect our families but we ’ re gon na live our life ’ – well , that group is growing , and how that group moves and how they perceive the candidates absolutely is going to determine how they vote.
” The Michigan High School Athletic Association has canceled its fall football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Breitbart reported .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--UVA Employees Form Union Calling for Online Fall Semester

University of Virginia employees have formed a new union and launched a campaign Monday centered around moving the school ’ s current hybrid instruction model to a fully virtual fall semester .
The union , United Campus Workers of Virginia ( UCW-VA ) , is composed of undergraduate and graduate student workers as well as university faculty and staff , according to a press release about the union and campaign .
“ [ The union ] just came out of frustration from employees of the university with the way the school was moving ahead without soliciting well rounded feedback from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graduate [ teaching assistants ] , from staff members , ” said Crystal Luo , a graduate student and UCW-VA steering committee member , in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ As the summer has gone on and then fall semester is getting ready to start I think that concerns have only become more acute.
” The union ’ s inaugural campaign called ActFASTUVA demands that the university of Virginia ( UVA ) switch to fully virtual classes and cancel student move-in , and incorporate the already existing efforts of activism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the release .
The release also mentions a growing concern about the lack of transparency and unclear priorities from the school ’ s administrative leadership and a reliance on self-governance from students to avoid a Covid-19 outbreak .
“ The campaign is working for making this a safe semester for everyone in Charlottesville , ” Luo said .
“ So , it ’ s not just about making sure undergraduates have an on-the-ground experience and it ’ s not just about making sure administrators at UVA get to pocket tuition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who work for the university and who live next to the university are protected , and that means moving classes online and making sure that students go home safely.
” Other groups cited in the campaign include UVA ’ s black student alliance , the young democratic socialists of america , and defund the Charlottesville police department , among others , according to the release .
University of Virginia officials did not respond to a request for comment from The Star .
UVA employs 28,000 people , according to its human resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ membership numbers or a breakdown of the union between students , faculty and staff , but did say that they have reached a certain threshold for official chartering with UCW-VA. Virginia state law prohibits UVA from recognizing the union , but does not bar the employees from unionizing , however .
“ I think a lot about what UVA ’ s actions would have been like at the start of the pandemic if we had a strong union presence representing workers ’ interests all across grounds .
I want to help build that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future issues , ” said Evan Brown , a graduate student and UCW-VA steering committee member , according to the press release .
When asked if switching to a virtual semester would result in union members losing their jobs , Luo said that the campaign is calling upon the university to use its nine billion endowment , with two billion already tapped for Covid-19 issues as part of a strategic investment fund , according to Luo , to make sure that no UVA employee loses their job during the pandemic .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the community rallies around this very simple ask for the university to move online that it will be successful because , ultimately , there is no amount of on-the-ground experience that is worth people losing their health and potentially their lives.
” Classes resume tomorrow online with a move-in date set for two weeks from Tuesday , Luo said .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Ohio Speaker Bob Cupp Faces First Test of Legislative Priority with Articles of Impeachment

Speaker of the House Bob Cupp ( R-Lima ) was voted into the Speaker role by the Republican Caucus .
The Speaker seat was open after former Speaker Larry Householder ( R-Glenford ) was relieved of his role following an FBI criminal complaint .
Before Speaker Cupp ascended to the top role in the House , he had to battle Representative Jim Butler ( R-Dayton ) for the spot .
Cupp and Butler lobbied for votes from House republicans before the group cast votes for the new Speaker .
The caucus rules required 31 votes in order for one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat .
The first vote returned a 30-29 result , in favor of Cupp .
One republican lawmaker was on vacation and would have , according to sources , voted for Butler – which would have tied the vote at 30 .
Given the optics on the situation that brought the house republicans to this point – former Speaker Larry Householder being charged with criminal bribery for his involvement in HB6 and his own election to the Speaker seat – the party felt it more imperative to quickly replace the dislodged leader than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to one source .
By a simple – if thin – majority vote , Bob Cupp became speaker .
On Monday Speaker Cupp stepped into the legislative limelight when members of the House released 10 articles of impeachment .
Representative John Becker ( R- Union Township , Clermont County ) posted the articles of impeachment to the website https : //impeachdewine.webs.com/ and released a statement to the press in which he wrote : Representative Becker was joined by Representatives Nino Vitale ( R-Urbana ) , Candice Keller ( R-Middletown ) , and Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a phone interview with The Ohio Star Becker said : “ this is all about the people .
Are the votes there to pass it now ?
No .
If people want to make this happen , they can contact their Reps.
It ’ s up to public opinion.
” Speaker Cupp ’ s predecessor was seen as a thorn in the Governor ’ s side – at least in words .
In one of his final efforts as Speaker , Householder whipped votes to a bill that limited penalties for COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Ohio Department of Health during a healthcare emergency .
At one point Householder was even quoted as saying to Senate President Obhof “ [ he ] needs to grow a pair ” referencing the senate leaders acquiescence to the Governor ’ s agenda .
From the get-go Ohioans who supported Householder , largely detractors of DeWine ’ s COVID crisis management , had a beef with Speaker Cupp – he was seen as a DeWine man , a rubber-stamper .
Articles of Impeachment are a microscope for many to examine Speaker Cupp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laid out on Monday called for Speaker Cupp to embrace the articles of impeachment and urge all GOP reps – even those that don ’ t want to go as far as removal – to vote FOR articles .
The logic : the process would push the matter to a trial ( which would occur in the Senate ) and at least bring some sunlight to the decisions made behind the scenes with no public transparency – decisions masked by HB197 that the Governor ’ s administration and the Ohio Department of Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information ranging from the math behind their epidemiologic models to their contract agreements with companies such as Partners in Health .
On the contrary , Speaker Cupp disavowed the impeachment initiative : Policy disagreements mount over what began as a plea from the Governor for Ohioans to be locked out of work , business and normal life on the hope to save lives has turned into almost 170 days of mandates , orders and disruption that have produced serious consequences .
• One study indicated that 50 % of Ohio ’ s restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smothering COVID policies • The CDC has indicated 25.5 % of 18-year-olds had considered suicide in the past 30 days ( data from June 24 – June 30 ) • 2/3 of high school athletes exhibited depression at levels that would require medical intervention in dealing with the loss of another sports season • The State of Ohio slashed $ 750,000,000 from its budget and turned to the federal government for a $ 3.2B loan after the state ’ s unemployment fund went broke • The Star interviewed a medical doctor with practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio that said 75 % of the adult patients treated exhibited anxiety and depression at levels requiring medical intervention Furthermore , since May at least three Ohio judges have ruled that state orders are arbitrary , unconstitutional and call into question the validity of the state of emergency that gives the orders and the Governor ’ s expanded powers credence .
Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ @ @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--All 39 Minnesota Delegate Votes Delivered to Trump at RNC

All 39 of Minnesota ’ s delegates delivered their votes to Trump at the 2020 Republican National Convention ( RNC ) on Monday .
The official re-nomination took place in Charlotte , North Carolina .
Mike Lindell – Chairman of the Minnesota Delegation and Trump Reelection Campaign , and founder of MyPillow – announced the votes .
“ We are one nation under God , and I ’ m proud to give all 39 Minnesota delegates to the greatest president ever.
” Minnesota last voted for a Republican president in 1972 .
Then-incumbent Richard Nixon won against then-U.S .
Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s recent hardships were caused by Democratic leadership , and also an indicator that Minnesota will become a red state this year .
“ This year , the terrible Democratic leadership in Minnesota made some of the worst decisions in history .
This manifested into destruction of so much of my great state and country .
With democratic leadership being exposed for what it is , and President Trump ’ s great pragmatic leadership , we will win Minnesota.
” In 2016 , Trump narrowly lost Minnesota to Hillary Clinton by 1.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Trafalgar Group in which Trump is nearly tied with Democratic candidate Joe Biden .
Less than a month earlier , Trump trailed Biden by five points .
“ Traditional Democrats are flipping in Minnesota , and now they are Democrats for Trump , ” said Lindell .
“ Just this week , the polls are now even in Minnesota.
” The Trafalgar Group famously predicted several of Trump ’ s key wins in the 2016 election .
Critics of their latest poll say that its results are skewed because 38 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years old , 90 percent of whom were white .
Trafalgar ’ s chief pollster Robert C. Cahaly responded that their group relied on 2016 and 2018 election data .
President Trump spoke near the end of his official re-nomination .
The incumbent shared his recent successes , such as with NASDAQ despite the negative impacts of the coronavirus .
Trump stated that the country was doing “ the best it ’ s ever been ” economically prior to the pandemic shutdowns .
“ We ’ re getting ready to do things like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the best way to bring unity is success .
Success brings unity , and we were there .
And then we got hit by the plague , and we won ’ t forget that.
” The RNC will continue through Thursday .
Among tonight ’ s guest speakers are First Lady Melania Trump , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , Senator Rand Paul ( R-KY ) , and both Eric and Tiffany Trump .
Live coverage of the RNC is available here .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Richmond Census Response Rate Lower than State and National Average as Count Deadline Looms

The city of Richmond ’ s 2020 census response rate is 59.3 percent , lower than the Virginia and national average , which could result in lost federal funding at state and local levels .
The deadline for census counting is September 30th – moved up a month by President Trump – and Richmond is falling behind not just nationally , but also compared to the surrounding central-Virginia counties .
The national response rate sits at 64.2 percent while Virginia ’ s overall response rate is 68.8 percent , representing the eighth highest state , according to Tableau Public a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and explore data visualizations .
The disparity between Richmond city and its neighboring counties is an even larger gap than the national and state numbers , however .
Almost all counties that surround Richmond have response rates above 69 percent , with Henrico and Chesterfield counties at 73 percent and 74 percent respectively , according to the 2020 census website .
In fact , out of all 133 counties in Virginia Richmond City ranks 89th and out of all 228 Virginia cities Richmond also ranks 89th , according to Tableau Public .
Richmond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troublesome because the government uses data collected by the census to determine important issues that impact states and local communities , according to the Urban Institute & Brookings Institution tax policy center .
“ The census provides a once-in-a-decade snapshot of what our country and state looks like – it provides a national and local population count , determines how many seats Virginia will have in Congress and it informs how much federal funding local communities will receive for public services , ” Tasha Chambers , media specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Virginia Star .
Some of the most expensive federal programs that are guided by census data include Medicaid , Federal Direct Student Loans and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers , according to the tax policy center .
“ When people do not complete the census , communities miss out on federal funding that impacts services such as schools , hospitals , WIC , SNAP , roads , bridges and more , ” Chambers wrote .
Ron Brown , a field representative with the census , said that for every person missed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money is lost over a decade , according to VPM News .
In Virginia , 94,000 people or 1.09 percent of the state ’ s roughly 8.6 million population are considered high risk of being miscounted .
Diving deeper into the numbers , 62,900 or 3.49 percent of Virginia roughly 1.8 million black population are considered high risk of being miscounted , according to a study by the Urban Institute .
Nationally , the census could undercount the U.S. population by 1.22 percent or just over 4 million people , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not responded to the 2020 Census can do so today by visiting my2020census.gov , calling ( 844 ) 330-2020 or returning the paper questionnaire they received in the mail , ” Chambers wrote .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-08-25--Aldi, Wegmans Among Grocery Stores Recalling Peaches Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

Aldi , Wegmans , Kroger and Target stores are all recalling bagged and loose peaches from Wawona Packing Company out of an abundance of caution that those products may be contaminated Salmonella .
The peaches are being recalled after an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) looking into a salmonella outbreak .
The California fruit packing company is suspected to be the source of the illness of over 60 people in nine states .
So far three people in Virginia have become ill .
Overall , there have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of the outbreak , according to the CDC .
“ We ’ re conducting this voluntary recall in cooperation with the FDA out of consideration for the wellbeing and safety of our customers and consumers , ” said George Nikolich , Vice President Technical Operations .
“ We continue to be committed to serving consumers with high quality fruit.
” The bagged Wawona peaches were distributed in 35 states including Virginia , Tennessee , North Carolina and South Carolina , according to the company announcement .
Aldi announced last Wednesday it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores in 20 states , including Virginia , according to the company announcement .
Wegmans joined Aldi in its recall over the weekend , but is also removing any in-store produced bakery items that contain fresh peaches , according to the company announcement .
The possibly contaminated fruit was distributed and sold from June 1st through August 19th , according to the company announcement .
A map of the reported Salmonella cases can be found at the CDC website , here .
Salmonella , often found in contaminated meat , is a bacterial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fever , diarrhea and stomach cramps , but some cases can be severe and require hospitalizations .
Symptoms normally start six hours to six days after infection and can last four to seven days .
Any person who has the recalled products in their possession should dispose of them immediately or return it to the store it was purchased from for a refund .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]