thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--Cornell University Slammed for Allegedly Donating Student Fees to Black Lives Matter

In a letter to the editor published by The Cornell Sun , one student blasted the Ivy League ’ s Student Activities Funding Commission after it allegedly gave $ 10,000 to the Cornell Students for Black Lives fundraiser using mandatory student fees , without first telling the student body .
Cornell Students for Black Lives is not a registered student club , according to the letter , but a fundraising group that collected donations to distribute to Black Lives Matter of Greater New York , Communities United for Police Reform , NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund , Southside Community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Racial Justice .
The groups have advocated in favor of gun control , universal single-payer healthcare , tax reform , abolishing ICE , and defunding police .
One of the groups even endorsed Democratic Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders for president , the letter states .
The Cornell Students for Black Lives fundraiser received a donation from the SAFC , which is funded with student fees .
According to the letter , written by Cornell student Avery Bowers , Cornell Students for Black Lives “ received $ 2,500 more than the highest tier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” after the SAFC leadership decided to make the donation using mandatory student fees without first advising Cornell students as to where their money was going .
The letter states that “ Cornell students are free to donate their money however they see fit.
” Since the SAFC has given the money to organizations with outspoken political objectives , it “ has broken the trust of every student who is required to pay the fee.
” “ Whether one agrees with these positions or not is irrelevant — they are controversial political issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with student funds , ” the letter states .
“ It would be just as inappropriate to donate to the NRA , the Federalist Society , or any other conservative group , ” it adds .
Cornell University student and Campus Reform Correspondent Joe Silverstein said , “ the fact that money from a mandatory student fee was used to finance a radical political organization like BLM without the consent of the students is disgusting.
” According to the latest reports by the 155-year old institution , its endowment is valued at more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SAFC did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication .
Lacey Kestecher is a New York Campus correspondent for CampusReform.org .
Follow Lacey on Twitter at @ KestecherLacey .
Photo “ Black Lives Matter March ” by Jason Hargrove CC2.0 .

by Lacey Kestecher
In a letter to the editor published by The Cornell Sun, one student blasted the Ivy League’s Student Activities Funding Commission after it allegedly gave $10,000 to the Cornell Students for Black Lives fundraiser using mandatory student fees, without first telling the student body.
Cornell Students for Black Lives is not a registered student club, according to the letter, but a fundraising group that collected donations to distribute to Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, Communities United for Police Reform, NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Southside Community Center, and Tompkins County Showing Up for Racial Justice.
The groups have advocated in favor of gun control, universal single-payer healthcare, tax reform, abolishing ICE, and defunding police. One of the groups even endorsed Democratic Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders for president, the letter states.
The Cornell Students for Black Lives fundraiser received a donation from the SAFC, which is funded with student fees.
According to the letter, written by Cornell student Avery Bowers, Cornell Students for Black Lives “received $2,500 more than the highest tier student organization receives in an entire semester” after the SAFC leadership decided to make the donation using mandatory student fees without first advising Cornell students as to where their money was going.
The letter states that “Cornell students are free to donate their money however they see fit.” Since the SAFC has given the money to organizations with outspoken political objectives, it “has broken the trust of every student who is required to pay the fee.”
“Whether one agrees with these positions or not is irrelevant — they are controversial political issues that the SAFC has no place supporting with student funds,” the letter states.
“It would be just as inappropriate to donate to the NRA, the Federalist Society, or any other conservative group,” it adds.
Cornell University student and Campus Reform Correspondent Joe Silverstein said, “the fact that money from a mandatory student fee was used to finance a radical political organization like BLM without the consent of the students is disgusting.”
According to the latest reports by the 155-year old institution, its endowment is valued at more than $7.33 billion.
The Cornell SAFC did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
– – –
Lacey Kestecher is a New York Campus correspondent for CampusReform.org. Follow Lacey on Twitter at @KestecherLacey.
Photo “Black Lives Matter March” by Jason Hargrove CC2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--Bill Cosby Cites ‘Systemic Racism’ as He Fights Assault Conviction

PHILADELPHIA , Pennsylvania ( AP ) — In a nearly empty Philadelphia courtroom in June 2015 , a lawyer for Bill Cosby implored a federal judge to keep the comedian ’ s testimony in an old sexual battery lawsuit under wraps .
It was sensitive .
Embarrassing .
Private .
U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno had another word for it .
The conduct Cosby detailed in his deposition was “ perhaps criminal , ” Robreno wrote five years ago Monday , in a momentous decision that released the case files to The Associated Press , reopened the police investigation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MeToo movement .
Cosby , the Hollywood paragon of Black family values , was convicted of sexual assault in 2018 as the movement exploded and women across the globe shared personal histories of sexual harassment and abuse .
He is serving up to 10 years in prison .
And now in the midst of another historic reckoning — this time addressing the treatment of African Americans and other people of color by police and the criminal justice system — the 82-year-old Cosby has won the right to an appeal .
He hopes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The false conviction of Bill Cosby is so much bigger than him — it ’ s about the destruction of ALL Black people and people of color in America , ” Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt said when the court accepted the appeal late last month .
Cosby , who grew up in public housing in Philadelphia , has a complicated relationship with the Black community .
He earned acclaim for his groundbreaking ( and intentionally race-blind ) performances on television in the 1950s ; mingled , but rarely marched , with civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1960s ; and solidified his wealth and power with his star turn as “ America ’ s Dad , ” on “ The Cosby Show ” in the 1980s .
All the while , he promoted education and gave millions to historically Black universities .
But his increasingly jarring comments on poverty , parenthood and personal responsibility offended younger Blacks in his later years , most famously in his 2004 “ Pound Cake ” speech — which he gave just months after the sexual encounter that would prove his downfall .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ the antidote to racism is not rallies , protests , or pleas , but strong families and communities , ” as the essayist Ta-Nehisi Coates noted .
“ Cosby ’ s gospel of discipline , moral reform , and self-reliance offers a way out — a promise that one need not cure America of its original sin in order to succeed , ” Coates wrote in his 2008 piece in The Atlantic , “ ‘ This Is How We Lost to the White Man ’ : The audacity of Bill Cosby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues the court accepted don ’ t directly include racial bias , which Cosby ’ s legal team raised more often on the courthouse steps in Montgomery County than inside the courtroom .
His defenders , however , say race permeates the case .
Cosby ’ s celebrity “ does not change his status as a Black man , ” said appellate lawyer Jennifer Bonjean , the latest of more than a dozen criminal lawyers on the case .
“ It would be naïve to assume that his prosecution was not tainted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal justice process in both explicit and insidious ways , ” she said last week .
Cosby ’ s wife of 56 years has been more blunt .
In an interview last month with ABC-TV , Camille Cosby said the # MeToo movement ignores “ the history of particular white women ” who have “ accused Black males of sexual assault without any proof.
” “ We know how women can lie , ” said Camille Cosby , who made only brief appearances at her husband ’ s trials , for defense closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prison .
She declined to speak to the AP last week .
The appeal hinges on two questions that have shaped the case from the start : – Did Cosby have an ironclad deal with District Attorney Bruce Castor that Cosby could never be charged after Castor declined to arrest Cosby in 2005 ?
Defense lawyers say Cosby relied on such a promise when he gave the 2006 deposition later unsealed in accuser Andrea Constand ’ s lawsuit — and used against him at trial .
Castor agrees they did .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Castor ’ s top deputy at the time , Risa Ferman , who helped run the initial investigation and reopened it in 2015 when she was district attorney , seemed not to know about it .
– And , how many other accusers should be allowed to testify before the scales of justice tip against the accused ?
Cosby ’ s trial judge allowed just one other accuser in the first trial when the jury deadlocked , but five at the retrial a year later .
The jury convicted Cosby on all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s intermediate appeals court seemed unimpressed by either issue , rejecting Cosby ’ s first appeal .
“ The reality of it is , he gives them drugs and then he sexually assaults them , ” Superior Court Judge John T. Bender said at the arguments .
“ That ’ s the pattern , is it not ?
” But Cosby appealed again , setting up the state Supreme Court arguments expected sometime next year .
Constand knew Cosby from her job at Temple University , where Cosby was a booster , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her trial testimony matched his deposition in many respects , the key distinction being her consent to what happened at his suburban Philadelphia estate .
Both say that Cosby gave her three pills for stress before Cosby , in his words , engaged in “ digital penetration.
” Constand , a former professional basketball player , who is white , said she was left semi-conscious and could not fight him off .
( She thought she was taking a homeopathic supplement ; Cosby later said it was Benadryl , while acknowledging he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
More than 60 women , mostly white but a few women of color , have made similar accusations against Cosby .
Cosby lawyer Bonjean , though , believes the # MeToo movement is fading , and that Cosby , if he wins a new trial , might avoid what she called “ the mob-justice standards of a hashtag movement.
” Not long after the encounter with Constand , Cosby gave the “ Pound Cake ” speech to the NAACP , riffing about a scenario in which the Black community complains when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stolen piece of cake .
“ Then we all run out and are outraged , ‘ The cops shouldn ’ t have shot him.
’ What the hell was he doing with the pound cake in his hand ?
” Cosby asked .
A decade later , Black comedian Hannibal Buress took Cosby to task for his scolding .
“ You rape women , Bill Cosby , so turn the crazy down a couple notches , ” he said onstage in 2014 .
Former prosecutor Kristen Gibbons Feden , who gave closing arguments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the good Cosby did for the Black community .
She also believes that racial bias exists in the criminal justice system .
“ It doesn ’ t make Cosby innocent , ” said Feden , who is Black .
“ It means we need to fix the criminal justice system.
” Wake Forest University Dean Jonathan L. Walton , who teaches about African American social movements , said that Cosby undeniably boosted the representation of Blacks in American culture .
Yet Walton said Cosby might not be the best messenger for today ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with him as it relates to systemic racism and the injustices of the ‘ justice system , ’ ” said Walton , the divinity school dean , “ while also being suspicious of what seems to be a pattern of his , of only identifying problems when they personally benefit him.
” Mary Claire Dale is a reporter at The Associated Press .
About the Headline Photo : In this Feb. 2 , 2016 , file photo , Bill Cosby waves to cheering fans as he leaves after a court appearance in Norristown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault in 2018 .
He is serving up to 10 years in prison .
Now in the midst of another historic reckoning , this time addressing the treatment of African Americans and other people of color by police and the criminal justice system , the 82-year-old Cosby has won the right to an appeal .
( AP Photo/Mel Evans )

by Mary Claire Dale
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) — In a nearly empty Philadelphia courtroom in June 2015, a lawyer for Bill Cosby implored a federal judge to keep the comedian’s testimony in an old sexual battery lawsuit under wraps. It was sensitive. Embarrassing. Private.
U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno had another word for it.
The conduct Cosby detailed in his deposition was “perhaps criminal,” Robreno wrote five years ago Monday, in a momentous decision that released the case files to The Associated Press, reopened the police investigation, and helped give rise to the #MeToo movement.
Cosby, the Hollywood paragon of Black family values, was convicted of sexual assault in 2018 as the movement exploded and women across the globe shared personal histories of sexual harassment and abuse. He is serving up to 10 years in prison.
And now in the midst of another historic reckoning — this time addressing the treatment of African Americans and other people of color by police and the criminal justice system — the 82-year-old Cosby has won the right to an appeal.
He hopes to use the moment to his advantage.
“The false conviction of Bill Cosby is so much bigger than him — it’s about the destruction of ALL Black people and people of color in America,” Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt said when the court accepted the appeal late last month.
___
Cosby, who grew up in public housing in Philadelphia, has a complicated relationship with the Black community. He earned acclaim for his groundbreaking (and intentionally race-blind) performances on television in the 1950s; mingled, but rarely marched, with civil rights leaders and the Black elite in the 1960s; and solidified his wealth and power with his star turn as “America’s Dad,” on “The Cosby Show” in the 1980s.
All the while, he promoted education and gave millions to historically Black universities.
But his increasingly jarring comments on poverty, parenthood and personal responsibility offended younger Blacks in his later years, most famously in his 2004 “Pound Cake” speech — which he gave just months after the sexual encounter that would prove his downfall.
As he toured the country, Cosby argued that “the antidote to racism is not rallies, protests, or pleas, but strong families and communities,” as the essayist Ta-Nehisi Coates noted.
“Cosby’s gospel of discipline, moral reform, and self-reliance offers a way out — a promise that one need not cure America of its original sin in order to succeed,” Coates wrote in his 2008 piece in The Atlantic, “‘This Is How We Lost to the White Man’: The audacity of Bill Cosby’s Black conservatism.”
___
The appeal issues the court accepted don’t directly include racial bias, which Cosby’s legal team raised more often on the courthouse steps in Montgomery County than inside the courtroom. His defenders, however, say race permeates the case.
Cosby’s celebrity “does not change his status as a Black man,” said appellate lawyer Jennifer Bonjean, the latest of more than a dozen criminal lawyers on the case.
“It would be naïve to assume that his prosecution was not tainted by the same racial bias that pervades the criminal justice process in both explicit and insidious ways,” she said last week.
Cosby’s wife of 56 years has been more blunt.
In an interview last month with ABC-TV, Camille Cosby said the #MeToo movement ignores “the history of particular white women” who have “accused Black males of sexual assault without any proof.”
“We know how women can lie,” said Camille Cosby, who made only brief appearances at her husband’s trials, for defense closing arguments, and has not visited him in prison. She declined to speak to the AP last week.
The appeal hinges on two questions that have shaped the case from the start:
– Did Cosby have an ironclad deal with District Attorney Bruce Castor that Cosby could never be charged after Castor declined to arrest Cosby in 2005?
Defense lawyers say Cosby relied on such a promise when he gave the 2006 deposition later unsealed in accuser Andrea Constand’s lawsuit — and used against him at trial.
Castor agrees they did. But it was never put in writing, and Castor’s top deputy at the time, Risa Ferman, who helped run the initial investigation and reopened it in 2015 when she was district attorney, seemed not to know about it.
– And, how many other accusers should be allowed to testify before the scales of justice tip against the accused?
Cosby’s trial judge allowed just one other accuser in the first trial when the jury deadlocked, but five at the retrial a year later. The jury convicted Cosby on all three sex assault counts.
The state’s intermediate appeals court seemed unimpressed by either issue, rejecting Cosby’s first appeal.
“The reality of it is, he gives them drugs and then he sexually assaults them,” Superior Court Judge John T. Bender said at the arguments. “That’s the pattern, is it not?”
But Cosby appealed again, setting up the state Supreme Court arguments expected sometime next year.
___
Constand knew Cosby from her job at Temple University, where Cosby was a booster, alumnus and longtime trustee twice her age.
Her trial testimony matched his deposition in many respects, the key distinction being her consent to what happened at his suburban Philadelphia estate. Both say that Cosby gave her three pills for stress before Cosby, in his words, engaged in “digital penetration.”
Constand, a former professional basketball player, who is white, said she was left semi-conscious and could not fight him off. (She thought she was taking a homeopathic supplement; Cosby later said it was Benadryl, while acknowledging he once gave a 19-year-old Quaaludes before sex.)
More than 60 women, mostly white but a few women of color, have made similar accusations against Cosby.
Cosby lawyer Bonjean, though, believes the #MeToo movement is fading, and that Cosby, if he wins a new trial, might avoid what she called “the mob-justice standards of a hashtag movement.”
___
Not long after the encounter with Constand, Cosby gave the “Pound Cake” speech to the NAACP, riffing about a scenario in which the Black community complains when someone is shot by police over a stolen piece of cake.
“Then we all run out and are outraged, ‘The cops shouldn’t have shot him.’ What the hell was he doing with the pound cake in his hand?” Cosby asked.
A decade later, Black comedian Hannibal Buress took Cosby to task for his scolding.
“You rape women, Bill Cosby, so turn the crazy down a couple notches,” he said onstage in 2014.
Former prosecutor Kristen Gibbons Feden, who gave closing arguments at Cosby’s retrial, recognizes the good Cosby did for the Black community. She also believes that racial bias exists in the criminal justice system.
“It doesn’t make Cosby innocent,” said Feden, who is Black. “It means we need to fix the criminal justice system.”
Wake Forest University Dean Jonathan L. Walton, who teaches about African American social movements, said that Cosby undeniably boosted the representation of Blacks in American culture. Yet Walton said Cosby might not be the best messenger for today’s moment.
“One should agree with him as it relates to systemic racism and the injustices of the ‘justice system,’” said Walton, the divinity school dean, “while also being suspicious of what seems to be a pattern of his, of only identifying problems when they personally benefit him.”
– – –
Mary Claire Dale is a reporter at The Associated Press.
About the Headline Photo: In this Feb. 2, 2016, file photo, Bill Cosby waves to cheering fans as he leaves after a court appearance in Norristown, Pa. Cosby was convicted of sexual assault in 2018. He is serving up to 10 years in prison. Now in the midst of another historic reckoning, this time addressing the treatment of African Americans and other people of color by police and the criminal justice system, the 82-year-old Cosby has won the right to an appeal. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--Black Worker Files Discrimination Complaint Against Facebook

OAKLAND , California ( AP ) — A Black Facebook employee , joined by two others who were denied jobs at the social network , has filed a complaint against the company , saying it discriminates against Black workers and applicants in hiring , evaluations , promotions and pay .
The charge was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by Oscar Veneszee , Jr. , who has worked as an operations program manager at Facebook since 2017 and claims he has not been fairly evaluated or promoted despite his “ excellent performance ” at the company .
Two others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were unlawfully denied jobs at the company despite being qualified .
Facebook said in a statement it takes discrimination allegations seriously and investigates every case .
“ We believe it is essential to provide all employees with a respectful and safe working environment , ” said spokeswoman Pamela Austin .
Black workers account for 3.8 % of all U.S. Facebook employees and 1.5 % of all U.S. technical workers at the company .
Those numbers have barely budged over the past several years , a common pattern across large Silicon Valley firms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism a Black employee has leveled at Facebook .
Mark Luckie , who left the company in 2018 , sent a memo to his coworkers on his last day — also posted on Facebook — that chronicled what he called Facebook ’ s “ black people problem.
” “ Facebook ’ s disenfranchisement of black people on the platform mirrors the marginalization of its black employees , ” Luckie wrote .
“ In my time at the company , I ’ ve heard far too many stories from black employees of a colleague @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or ‘ aggressive ’ for simply sharing their thoughts in a manner not dissimilar from their non-Black team members.
” According to Veneszee ’ s complaint , filed on Thursday , “ people of color and Black workers in particular remain underrepresented at all levels of Facebook and especially at the management and leadership levels .
They do not feel respected or heard .
And they do not believe that Black workers have an equal opportunity to advance their careers at Facebook.
” While there may be Black Lives Matter posters on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Black workers don ’ t see that phrase reflecting how they are treated in Facebook ’ s own workplace.
” Barbara Ortutay is a Technology writer for The Associated Press .

by Barbara Ortutay
OAKLAND, California (AP) — A Black Facebook employee, joined by two others who were denied jobs at the social network, has filed a complaint against the company, saying it discriminates against Black workers and applicants in hiring, evaluations, promotions and pay.
The charge was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by Oscar Veneszee, Jr., who has worked as an operations program manager at Facebook since 2017 and claims he has not been fairly evaluated or promoted despite his “excellent performance” at the company. Two others joined Veneszee’s complaint, saying they were unlawfully denied jobs at the company despite being qualified.
Facebook said in a statement it takes discrimination allegations seriously and investigates every case.
“We believe it is essential to provide all employees with a respectful and safe working environment,” said spokeswoman Pamela Austin.
Black workers account for 3.8% of all U.S. Facebook employees and 1.5% of all U.S. technical workers at the company. Those numbers have barely budged over the past several years, a common pattern across large Silicon Valley firms.
This isn’t the first criticism a Black employee has leveled at Facebook. Mark Luckie, who left the company in 2018, sent a memo to his coworkers on his last day — also posted on Facebook — that chronicled what he called Facebook’s “black people problem.”
“Facebook’s disenfranchisement of black people on the platform mirrors the marginalization of its black employees,” Luckie wrote. “In my time at the company, I’ve heard far too many stories from black employees of a colleague or manager calling them ‘hostile’ or ‘aggressive’ for simply sharing their thoughts in a manner not dissimilar from their non-Black team members.”
According to Veneszee’s complaint, filed on Thursday, “people of color and Black workers in particular remain underrepresented at all levels of Facebook and especially at the management and leadership levels. They do not feel respected or heard. And they do not believe that Black workers have an equal opportunity to advance their careers at Facebook.”
While there may be Black Lives Matter posters on Facebook’s walls, the complaint says, “Black workers don’t see that phrase reflecting how they are treated in Facebook’s own workplace.”
– – –
Barbara Ortutay is a Technology writer for The Associated Press.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--One of the Two Protesters Hit by Driver While on Seattle Freeway Dies

SEATTLE , Washington ( AP ) — One of two people hit by a man who drove his car onto a closed Seattle freeway late Saturday night and into a crowd protesting police brutality has died .
Summer Taylor , 24 , of Seattle died Saturday evening at Harborview Medical Center , spokesperson Susan Gregg said .
Taylor and Diaz Love , 32 , of Portland , Oregon , were hit by the car that barreled through a crowd of protesters on Interstate 5 early Saturday morning , officials said .
Seattle resident Dawit Kelete , a Black man , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocking I-5 and sped into the crowd about 1:40 a.m. , according to a police report released by the Washington State Patrol .
Video taken at the scene by protesters showed people shouting “ Car !
Car !
” before fleeing the roadway .
Love is in serious condition in the intensive care unit , Harborview , Gregg said .
Love was filming the protest in a nearly two-hour-long Facebook livestream captioned “ Black Femme March takes I-5 ” when the video ended abruptly ; with about 15 seconds left , shouts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the camera starts to shake before screeching tires and the sound of impact are heard .
A graphic video posted on social media showed the white Jaguar racing toward a group of protesters who are standing behind several parked cars , set up for protection .
The car swerves around the other vehicles and slams into the two protesters , sending them flying into the air .
The driver , who was alone , fled the scene after hitting the protesters , Trooper Chase Van Cleave told The Associated Press .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car and chased the driver for about a mile .
He was able to stop him by pulling his car in front of the Jaguar , Van Cleave said .
Troopers arrived , and the driver was put in custody , Washington State Patrol Capt .
Ron Mead said .
Kelete was described by officers as reserved and sullen when he was arrested , according to court documents .
He also asked if the pedestrians were OK , the documents say .
Kelete was booked into the King County Correctional Facility on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bail was denied .
A judge found probable cause to hold Kelete on an investigation of vehicular assault .
He faces a second court hearing on Monday at which the judge will determine if he can be released on bail , according to court documents .
It was not immediately clear if Kelete had an attorney who could speak on his behalf .
Officials were trying to determine the motive as well as where he got onto the interstate , which had been closed by the state patrol for more than an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mead said they suspect Kelete drove the wrong way on a ramp .
Trooper Rick Johnson said the driver went through a barrier that closed the freeway .
Troopers did not know whether it was a targeted attack , but impairment was not considered a factor , Mead said .
Kelete has a Seattle address .
He is listed in public records as a student who attended Washington State University between 2011 and 2017 majoring in business and commerce .
His enrollment status could not be confirmed because the university was closed Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening that going forward it won ’ t allow protesters to enter I-5 and would arrest pedestrians on the freeway .
Seattle has been the site of prolonged unrest following the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis , which sparked nationwide protests .
Dozens of people were arrested this past week in connection with protests as demonstrations continue after authorities cleared the “ Capitol Hill Occupied Protest ” zone Wednesday morning .
Protesters had shut down the interstate for 19 days in a row , Mead said at a press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at The Associated Press .
Photo “ Summer Taylor ” by Black Lives Matter .

by Martha Bellisle
SEATTLE, Washington (AP) — One of two people hit by a man who drove his car onto a closed Seattle freeway late Saturday night and into a crowd protesting police brutality has died.
Summer Taylor, 24, of Seattle died Saturday evening at Harborview Medical Center, spokesperson Susan Gregg said.
Taylor and Diaz Love, 32, of Portland, Oregon, were hit by the car that barreled through a crowd of protesters on Interstate 5 early Saturday morning, officials said.
Seattle resident Dawit Kelete, a Black man, drove the car around vehicles that were blocking I-5 and sped into the crowd about 1:40 a.m., according to a police report released by the Washington State Patrol. Video taken at the scene by protesters showed people shouting “Car! Car!” before fleeing the roadway.
Love is in serious condition in the intensive care unit, Harborview, Gregg said.
Love was filming the protest in a nearly two-hour-long Facebook livestream captioned “Black Femme March takes I-5” when the video ended abruptly; with about 15 seconds left, shouts of “Car!” can be heard as the camera starts to shake before screeching tires and the sound of impact are heard.
A graphic video posted on social media showed the white Jaguar racing toward a group of protesters who are standing behind several parked cars, set up for protection. The car swerves around the other vehicles and slams into the two protesters, sending them flying into the air.
The driver, who was alone, fled the scene after hitting the protesters, Trooper Chase Van Cleave told The Associated Press. One of the other protesters got in a car and chased the driver for about a mile. He was able to stop him by pulling his car in front of the Jaguar, Van Cleave said.
Troopers arrived, and the driver was put in custody, Washington State Patrol Capt. Ron Mead said.
Kelete was described by officers as reserved and sullen when he was arrested, according to court documents. He also asked if the pedestrians were OK, the documents say.
Kelete was booked into the King County Correctional Facility on Saturday morning on two counts of vehicular assault. Bail was denied.
A judge found probable cause to hold Kelete on an investigation of vehicular assault. He faces a second court hearing on Monday at which the judge will determine if he can be released on bail, according to court documents.
It was not immediately clear if Kelete had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Officials were trying to determine the motive as well as where he got onto the interstate, which had been closed by the state patrol for more than an hour before the protesters were hit. Mead said they suspect Kelete drove the wrong way on a ramp. Trooper Rick Johnson said the driver went through a barrier that closed the freeway.
Troopers did not know whether it was a targeted attack, but impairment was not considered a factor, Mead said.
Kelete has a Seattle address. He is listed in public records as a student who attended Washington State University between 2011 and 2017 majoring in business and commerce. His enrollment status could not be confirmed because the university was closed Saturday.
The Washington State Patrol said Saturday evening that going forward it won’t allow protesters to enter I-5 and would arrest pedestrians on the freeway.
Seattle has been the site of prolonged unrest following the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked nationwide protests. Dozens of people were arrested this past week in connection with protests as demonstrations continue after authorities cleared the “Capitol Hill Occupied Protest” zone Wednesday morning.
Protesters had shut down the interstate for 19 days in a row, Mead said at a press conference.
– – –
Martha Bellisle is a reporter at The Associated Press.
Photo “Summer Taylor” by Black Lives Matter.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--Bellagio Error May Be Biggest Sportsbook Loss for Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS , Nevada ( AP ) — The nearly quarter-million dollars in winning wagers reportedly placed at MGM Resorts last Sunday might be the largest sportsbook loss in Las Vegas history on bets made after an event has started .
Seven longtime Las Vegas bookmakers can ’ t recall a larger loss , the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports .
But each oddsmaker has taken hits on past posts and said it ’ s a fairly common occurrence at books .
According to an ESPN report , Sunday ’ s bets were allowed to be placed because incorrect start times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baseball games due to a manual entry error .
Nearly all of the approximately 50 wagers were placed on self-serve kiosks at the Bellagio between 1:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. when the games in question started at 1 a.m. and 2 a.m .
Among the bets was a $ 250 , 10-leg parlay that paid more than $ 137,100 .
The Nevada Gaming Control Board is reportedly investigating the matter .
Anytime there is a dispute in excess of $ 500 , the state ’ s books are required to contact the board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ruling the books must abide by .
“ It ’ s happened to all of us , ” Westgate sportsbook director John Murray said .
“ I think every sportsbook probably since the beginning of time has dealt with this at some point .
“ We ’ ve had past post situations where our employees put in the wrong time or put in the wrong number or they forgot to close something .
It ’ s manual entry and humans are going to make mistakes.
” Robert Walker , USBookmaking director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting past-posted during his tenure as MGM Resorts sportsbook director from 1996-2008 .
“ I still haven ’ t gotten over some mistakes I made at The Mirage 20 years ago , ” he said .
“ There ’ s no worse feeling than when you see a bet come across on a game that ’ s already started .
“ I got lit up on some halftimes before .
If you don ’ t manually close out the halftime line , they keep betting it and that ’ s what they did.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ once placed a $ 3,000 halftime wager on Louisiana State late in the fourth quarter , when the bet couldn ’ t lose .
“ Once I saw that bet come across the ticker in the fourth quarter , I was mortified , ” he said .
The sportsbook locked out the ticket from cashing while Walker went to the MGM Grand to explain his mistake to the bettor .
“ He gave me the story that they didn ’ t know and they were LSU fans .
But yet you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But it was 100 % my fault .
They were guests of the casino , so at that point I sided with them and it was a mistake we had to eat .
”

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AP) — The nearly quarter-million dollars in winning wagers reportedly placed at MGM Resorts last Sunday might be the largest sportsbook loss in Las Vegas history on bets made after an event has started.
Seven longtime Las Vegas bookmakers can’t recall a larger loss, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. But each oddsmaker has taken hits on past posts and said it’s a fairly common occurrence at books.
According to an ESPN report, Sunday’s bets were allowed to be placed because incorrect start times were posted on some Korean and Chinese baseball games due to a manual entry error.
Nearly all of the approximately 50 wagers were placed on self-serve kiosks at the Bellagio between 1:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. when the games in question started at 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.
Among the bets was a $250, 10-leg parlay that paid more than $137,100.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board is reportedly investigating the matter. Anytime there is a dispute in excess of $500, the state’s books are required to contact the board, which conducts an investigation and makes a ruling the books must abide by.
“It’s happened to all of us,” Westgate sportsbook director John Murray said. “I think every sportsbook probably since the beginning of time has dealt with this at some point.
“We’ve had past post situations where our employees put in the wrong time or put in the wrong number or they forgot to close something. It’s manual entry and humans are going to make mistakes.”
Robert Walker, USBookmaking director of sportsbook operations, is still haunted by getting past-posted during his tenure as MGM Resorts sportsbook director from 1996-2008.
“I still haven’t gotten over some mistakes I made at The Mirage 20 years ago,” he said. “There’s no worse feeling than when you see a bet come across on a game that’s already started.
“I got lit up on some halftimes before. If you don’t manually close out the halftime line, they keep betting it and that’s what they did.”
Walker said a college football bettor once placed a $3,000 halftime wager on Louisiana State late in the fourth quarter, when the bet couldn’t lose.
“Once I saw that bet come across the ticker in the fourth quarter, I was mortified,” he said.
The sportsbook locked out the ticket from cashing while Walker went to the MGM Grand to explain his mistake to the bettor.
“He gave me the story that they didn’t know and they were LSU fans. But yet you’re watching the game,” he said. “But it was 100% my fault. They were guests of the casino, so at that point I sided with them and it was a mistake we had to eat.”
– – –
Photo “The Bellagio Hotel and Resort Las Vegas” by MGM Resorts.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--Despite Supreme Court Win, Energy Companies Cancel $8 Billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline

RICHMOND , Virginia ( AP ) — The developers of the long-delayed , $ 8 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline announced the cancellation of the multi-state natural gas project Sunday , citing uncertainties about costs , permitting and litigation .
Despite a victory last month at the United States Supreme Court over a critical permit , Dominion Energy and Duke Energy said in a news release that “ recent developments have created an unacceptable layer of uncertainty and anticipated delays ” for the 600-mile project designed to cross West Virginia and Virginia into North Carolina .
The companies said a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into question a permitting program used around the nation to approve oil and gas pipelines and other utility work through wetlands and streams presented “ new and serious challenges.
” “ This new information and litigation risk , among other continuing execution risks , make the project too uncertain to justify investing more shareholder capital , ” the news release said .
The massive infrastructure project , announced with much fanfare in 2014 , had drawn fierce opposition from many landowners , activists and environmental advocates , who said it would damage pristine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project built would have involved tree removal and blasting and leveling some ridgetops as the pipe , 42 inches in diameter for much of its path , crossed mountains , hundreds of water bodies and other sensitive terrain and burrowed underneath the Appalachian Trail .
Opponents also questioned whether there was sufficient need for the gas it would carry and said it would further encourage the use of a fossil fuel at a time when climate change makes a shift to renewable energy imperative .
Legal challenges brought by environmental groups prompted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to an extended delay in construction .
The project was years behind schedule and the anticipated cost had ballooned from the original estimate of $ 4.5 billion to $ 5 billion .
Reaction poured in Sunday from the project ’ s opponents , who lauded the demise of the project .
“ If anyone still had questions about whether or not the era of fracked gas was over , this should answer them .
Today is a historic victory for clean water , the climate , public health , and our communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brune said in a statement .
The project ’ s supporters said the pipeline would create jobs , help aid the transition away from coal and lower energy costs for consumers .
Economic development officials in distressed parts of the three states it would run through had hoped that the greater availability of natural gas would help draw heavy manufacturing companies .
“ Unfortunately , today ’ s announcement detrimentally impacts the Commonwealth ’ s access to affordable , reliable energy , ” the Virginia Chamber of Commerce said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ burdens businesses must deal with in order to operate.
” Separately , Dominion , which is headquartered in Richmond , Virginia , and serves more than 7 million customers in 20 states , announced it had agreed to sell “ substantially all ” of its gas transmission and storage segment assets to an affiliate of Berkshire Hathaway .
The transaction was valued at $ 9.7 billion , the company said .
The assets involved in the sale include more than 7,700 miles of natural gas storage and transmission pipelines and about 900 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently operates , the company said .
Duke , which is headquartered in Charlotte , North Carolina , is one of the country ’ s largest energy holding companies .
Duke has previously pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions from its electric generation by 2050 , and Dominion has committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the same year .
A third partner in the Atlantic Coast Pipeline , Southern Company , sold its small stake in the project earlier this year to Dominion , the lead developer .
Dominion had asserted its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently as mid-June , when it asked federal regulators for an extension of time to get the project into service .
“ We regret that we will be unable to complete the Atlantic Coast Pipeline , ” Dominion CEO Tom Farrell and Duke CEO Lynn Good said in a joint statement .
“ For almost six years we have worked diligently and invested billions of dollars to complete the project and deliver the much-needed infrastructure to our customers and communities.
” Sarah Rankin is a reporter at The Associated Press .
About the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , file photo shows two Dominion Energy buildings in downtown Richmond , Va .
The developers of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline announced Sunday , July 5 , 2020 , that they are canceling the multi-state natural gas project , citing delays and increasing cost uncertainty .
( AP Photo/Steve Helber , File )

by Sarah Rankin
RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) — The developers of the long-delayed, $8 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline announced the cancellation of the multi-state natural gas project Sunday, citing uncertainties about costs, permitting and litigation.
Despite a victory last month at the United States Supreme Court over a critical permit, Dominion Energy and Duke Energy said in a news release that “recent developments have created an unacceptable layer of uncertainty and anticipated delays” for the 600-mile project designed to cross West Virginia and Virginia into North Carolina.
The companies said a recent pair of court rulings that have thrown into question a permitting program used around the nation to approve oil and gas pipelines and other utility work through wetlands and streams presented “new and serious challenges.”
“This new information and litigation risk, among other continuing execution risks, make the project too uncertain to justify investing more shareholder capital,” the news release said.
The massive infrastructure project, announced with much fanfare in 2014, had drawn fierce opposition from many landowners, activists and environmental advocates, who said it would damage pristine landscapes and harm wildlife. Getting the project built would have involved tree removal and blasting and leveling some ridgetops as the pipe, 42 inches in diameter for much of its path, crossed mountains, hundreds of water bodies and other sensitive terrain and burrowed underneath the Appalachian Trail.
Opponents also questioned whether there was sufficient need for the gas it would carry and said it would further encourage the use of a fossil fuel at a time when climate change makes a shift to renewable energy imperative.
Legal challenges brought by environmental groups prompted the dismissal or suspension of numerous permits and led to an extended delay in construction. The project was years behind schedule and the anticipated cost had ballooned from the original estimate of $4.5 billion to $5 billion.
Reaction poured in Sunday from the project’s opponents, who lauded the demise of the project.
“If anyone still had questions about whether or not the era of fracked gas was over, this should answer them. Today is a historic victory for clean water, the climate, public health, and our communities,” Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said in a statement.
The project’s supporters said the pipeline would create jobs, help aid the transition away from coal and lower energy costs for consumers. Economic development officials in distressed parts of the three states it would run through had hoped that the greater availability of natural gas would help draw heavy manufacturing companies.
“Unfortunately, today’s announcement detrimentally impacts the Commonwealth’s access to affordable, reliable energy,” the Virginia Chamber of Commerce said in a statement. “It also demonstrates the significant regulatory burdens businesses must deal with in order to operate.”
Separately, Dominion, which is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, and serves more than 7 million customers in 20 states, announced it had agreed to sell “substantially all” of its gas transmission and storage segment assets to an affiliate of Berkshire Hathaway. The transaction was valued at $9.7 billion, the company said.
The assets involved in the sale include more than 7,700 miles of natural gas storage and transmission pipelines and about 900 billion cubic feet of gas storage that Dominion currently operates, the company said.
Duke, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the country’s largest energy holding companies.
Duke has previously pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions from its electric generation by 2050, and Dominion has committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the same year.
A third partner in the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Southern Company, sold its small stake in the project earlier this year to Dominion, the lead developer. Dominion had asserted its commitment to seeing the project through as recently as mid-June, when it asked federal regulators for an extension of time to get the project into service.
“We regret that we will be unable to complete the Atlantic Coast Pipeline,” Dominion CEO Tom Farrell and Duke CEO Lynn Good said in a joint statement. “For almost six years we have worked diligently and invested billions of dollars to complete the project and deliver the much-needed infrastructure to our customers and communities.”
– – –
Sarah Rankin is a reporter at The Associated Press.
About the Headline Photo: This April 28, 2015, file photo shows two Dominion Energy buildings in downtown Richmond, Va. The developers of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline announced Sunday, July 5, 2020, that they are canceling the multi-state natural gas project, citing delays and increasing cost uncertainty. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--Tennessee’s COVID-19 Case Count Rising, Although More Than 30,000 State Residents Have Recovered

As of Sunday night Tennessee has had a total of 51,431 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 646 deaths .
Officials at @ @ @ @ @ the latest numbers on their website Sunday night .
The website also reported that the @ @ @ @ @ .
Exactly 949 of those Tennesseans remain hospitalized..
But the Covid Tracking Project also reported @ @ @ @ @ from the virus .
As of press time , 844,735 Tennesseans had tested negative for @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health , meanwhile , reported on its website Sunday night that Shelby and @ @ @ @ @ the state in confirmed and probable COVID-19 case counts .
The TDH website listed the @ @ @ @ @ s counties Sunday : Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
@ @ @ @ @ Email tips to [ email protected ]

As of Sunday night Tennessee has had a total of 51,431 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 646 deaths.
Officials at The Covid Tracking Project reported the latest numbers on their website Sunday night. The website also reported that the virus has hospitalized 2,871 Tennesseans. Exactly 949 of those Tennesseans remain hospitalized..
But the Covid Tracking Project also reported that 30,254 Tennesseans have recovered from the virus. As of press time, 844,735 Tennesseans had tested negative for the disease.
The Tennessee Department of Health, meanwhile, reported on its website Sunday night that Shelby and Davidson counties continue to lead the state in confirmed and probable COVID-19 case counts.
The TDH website listed the following numbers for Tennessee’s counties Sunday:
• Shelby County: 11,793 cases
• Davidson County: 11,089 cases
• Rutherford County: 2,987
• Hamilton County: 2,781 cases
• Sumner County: 1,610 cases
• Trousdale County: 1,498 cases
• Williamson County: 1,313 cases
• Knox County: 1,171 cases
• Wilson County: 941 cases
• Putnam County: 883 cases
• Robertson County: 834 cases
• Sevier County: 804 cases
• Bradley County: 707
• Lake County: 692 cases
• Tipton County: 645 cases
• Bledsoe County: 620 cases
• Bedford County: 570 cases
• Montgomery County: 554 cases
• Macon County: 465 cases
• Maury County: 354 cases
• Hardeman County: 343 cases
• Hamblen County: 340 cases
• Fayette County: 317 cases
• Madison County: 299 cases
• Loudon County: 287 cases
• Rhea County: 286 cases
• Dyer County: 251 cases
• McMinn County: 237 cases
• Cheatham County: 230 cases
• Blount County: 227 cases
• Dickson County: 209 cases
• Cumberland County: 181 cases
• Washington County: 165 cases
• Lawrence County: 163 cases
• Lauderdale County: 145 cases
• Anderson County: 142 cases
• Monroe County: 140 cases
• Jefferson County: 136 cases
• Gibson County: 129 cases
• Smith County: 120 cases
• Coffee County: 119 cases
• Sullivan County: 117 cases
• Obion County: 112 cases
• Hardin County: 108 cases
• Greene County: 103 cases
• Cocke County: 94 cases
• Haywood County: 92 cases
• Marshall County: 91 cases
• Franklin County: 87 cases
• Wayne County: 86 cases
• Hickman County: 80 cases
• Warren County: 76 cases
• Marion County: 73 cases
• McNairy County: 73 cases
• White County: 70 cases
• DeKalb County: 67 cases
• Lincoln County: 64 cases
• Weakley County: 64 cases
• Grundy County: 62 cases
• Overton County: 62 cases
• Roane County: 62 cases
• Giles County: 60 cases
• Carter County: 59 cases
• Hawkins County: 57 cases
• Unicoi County: 55 cases
• Campbell County: 48 cases
• Carroll County: 47 cases
• Henderson County: 46 cases
• Claiborne County: 45 cases
• Polk County: 45 cases
• Henry County: 44 cases
• Johnson County: 44
• Grainger County: 42 cases
• Sequatchie County: 42 cases
• Crockett County: 38 cases
• Cannon County: 37 cases
• Chester County: 34 cases
• Perry County: 34 cases
• Meigs County: 32 cases
• Humphreys County: 28 cases
• Jackson County: 27 cases
• Morgan County: 27 cases
• Stewart County: 23 cases
• Decatur County: 22 cases
• Fentress County: 22 cases
• Union County: 18 cases
• Clay County: 17 cases
• Scott County: 17 cases
• Houston County: 15 cases
• Benton County: 13 cases
• Moore County: 12 cases
• Van Buren County: 8 cases
• Hancock County: 6 cases
• Lewis County: 6 cases
• Pickett County: 6 cases
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--Dave Yost Seeks Public’s Input on Whether Google Uses ‘Deceptive Sales Practices’

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said he wants the public to weigh in on the question of whether internet search engines should be “ allowed to favor their own products and services in search results.
” Yost has requested comment from the public about the practice of steering consumers to search results that boost profits for companies that own the platforms .
“ Should Google , for example , be able to put its own products above everybody else ’ s products in the search results ?
We want to know if you think that kind of thing is unfair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re OK with it , ” Yost said in a press release .
He said his request for feedback will help determine if some online search engines are violating Ohio ’ s prohibition on “ unfair or deceptive sales practices.
” The public ’ s input will inform the office as it considers whether to pursue new protections for search engine users , Yost ’ s office said .
A proposed rule could seek to regulate internet search results that preference or display in a more prominent position products and services owned or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 49 fellow attorneys general in September in launching an antitrust investigation into Google ’ s advertising practices .
“ Antitrust has always been about the concentrated power to dominate the market and society .
Money is the traditional tool to gain that monopoly power , ” Yost said at the time .
“ Data is the new money.
” As of April , the attorneys general involved in the investigation were determining if they should accelerate the probe or focus their resources on the coronavirus pandemic .
The U.S. Department of Justice is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s advertising business .
Google isn ’ t the only tech giant in Yost ’ s crosshairs .
In September , he joined seven other states in launching an investigation into Facebook for possible antitrust violations .
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said he wants the public to weigh in on the question of whether internet search engines should be “allowed to favor their own products and services in search results.”
Yost has requested comment from the public about the practice of steering consumers to search results that boost profits for companies that own the platforms.
“Should Google, for example, be able to put its own products above everybody else’s products in the search results? We want to know if you think that kind of thing is unfair or deceptive, or if you’re OK with it,” Yost said in a press release.
He said his request for feedback will help determine if some online search engines are violating Ohio’s prohibition on “unfair or deceptive sales practices.”
The public’s input will inform the office as it considers whether to pursue new protections for search engine users, Yost’s office said. A proposed rule could seek to regulate internet search results that preference or display in a more prominent position products and services owned or operated by search providers.
Yost joined 49 fellow attorneys general in September in launching an antitrust investigation into Google’s advertising practices.
“Antitrust has always been about the concentrated power to dominate the market and society. Money is the traditional tool to gain that monopoly power,” Yost said at the time. “Data is the new money.”
As of April, the attorneys general involved in the investigation were determining if they should accelerate the probe or focus their resources on the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Department of Justice is conducting a separate antitrust investigation of Google’s advertising business.
Google isn’t the only tech giant in Yost’s crosshairs. In September, he joined seven other states in launching an investigation into Facebook for possible antitrust violations.
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]m.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--President Trump Endorses Christina Hagan in Her Bid to Unseat U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan in 13th Congression

President Trump Endorses Christina Hagan in Her Bid to Unseat U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan in 13th Congressional District

President Donald Trump has set his sights on one of Ohio ’ s big races — former State Rep. Christina Hagan ’ s bid to defeat U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan ( D-OH-13 ) .
Trump on Friday tweeted his support for Hagan .
He said , “ Christina Hagan ( @ RepHagan ) will be an incredible Congresswoman for the working families of Northeast Ohio .
An early supporter of our # MAGA agenda , she is Strong on Jobs , Border Security and your Second Amendment .
Christina is running against an absolute failure , Tim Ryan , who… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worker , but never delivers .
Tim Ryan was a failed Presidential candidate and he keeps failing Ohio .
Vote for Christina Hagan , who has my Complete and Total Endorsement !
# OH13 ” .
Hagan replied , “ It has been an incredible honor to fight beside you @ POTUS @ realDonaldTrump & to advocate for America First Policies # OH13 was once a great manufacturing powerhouse & we , the American Workers , are ready to start WINNING & leading AGAIN # KAG ” .
Ryan did not take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too well .
He said , “ The “ absolute failure ” is your shameful response to the coronavirus—which has devastated our economy , hurt our workers , and killed upwards of 130K Americans .
Delete your account .
Put down your phone .
Do your job.
” Hagan served in District 50 of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2011 through 2018 .
Ryan spent much of 2019 traveling around the country in a failed presidential bid , and as of last September , he had only $ 41,050 of campaign funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incumbent , The Plain Dealer said .
Hagan had raised and spent over $ 400,000 during her last campaign , for the 16th Congressional District in 2018 .
Trump may endorse Hagan , but the Ohio Republican Party has not done so .
The Ohio Star in February reported that the state party ’ s chairwoman , Jane Timken , unendorsed state representative candidate Joe Dills , after it was revealed Dills allegedly had signed up for an account on Ashley Madison , a website married people use to find others for sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had endorsed Dills in his primary despite her having pledged not to endorse primary candidates .
Hagan failed to gain an endorsement in her primary .
That was not the first time a Timken has thrown a roadblock in Hagan ’ s path .
Jane Timken ’ s husband , then a CEO of TimkenSteel , held a fundraiser for former NFL player Anthony Gonzalez , Hagan ’ s primary opponent in the 16th Congressional District race , the CantonRep.com said .
This came despite his wife ’ s pledge to stay out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support worked for Gonzalez , who won the primary against Hagan and Michael Grusenmeyer with 53.1 percent of the primary vote , and went on to win the general election , Ballotpedia said .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .

President Donald Trump has set his sights on one of Ohio’s big races — former State Rep. Christina Hagan’s bid to defeat U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH-13).
Trump on Friday tweeted his support for Hagan.
He said, “Christina Hagan (@RepHagan) will be an incredible Congresswoman for the working families of Northeast Ohio. An early supporter of our #MAGA agenda, she is Strong on Jobs, Border Security and your Second Amendment. Christina is running against an absolute failure, Tim Ryan, who…
Christina Hagan (@RepHagan) will be an incredible Congresswoman for the working families of Northeast Ohio. An early supporter of our #MAGA agenda, she is Strong on Jobs, Border Security and your Second Amendment. Christina is running against an absolute failure, Tim Ryan, who… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2020
Trump continued, “…talks big for the worker, but never delivers. Tim Ryan was a failed Presidential candidate and he keeps failing Ohio. Vote for Christina Hagan, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement! #OH13”.
…talks big for the worker, but never delivers. Tim Ryan was a failed Presidential candidate and he keeps failing Ohio. Vote for Christina Hagan, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement! #OH13 https://t.co/ToJVHDt8sv — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2020
Hagan replied, “It has been an incredible honor to fight beside you @POTUS @realDonaldTrump & to advocate for America First Policies #OH13 was once a great manufacturing powerhouse & we, the American Workers, are ready to start WINNING & leading AGAIN #KAG”.
It has been an incredible honor to fight beside you @POTUS @realDonaldTrump & to advocate for America First Policies! #OH13 was once a great manufacturing powerhouse & we, the American Workers, are ready to start WINNING & leading AGAIN!💪🏼✅🥾🇺🇸#KAG pic.twitter.com/04FwkPlmn3 — Christina Hagan (@RepHagan) July 3, 2020
Ryan did not take to Trump’s endorsement of Hagan too well.
He said, “The “absolute failure” is your shameful response to the coronavirus—which has devastated our economy, hurt our workers, and killed upwards of 130K Americans. Delete your account. Put down your phone. Do your job.”
The "absolute failure" is your shameful response to the coronavirus—which has devastated our economy, hurt our workers, and killed upwards of 130K Americans. Delete your account. Put down your phone. Do your job. — Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) July 3, 2020
Hagan served in District 50 of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2011 through 2018.
Ryan spent much of 2019 traveling around the country in a failed presidential bid, and as of last September, he had only $41,050 of campaign funds, less than any other Ohio Congressional incumbent, The Plain Dealer said. Hagan had raised and spent over $400,000 during her last campaign, for the 16th Congressional District in 2018.
Trump may endorse Hagan, but the Ohio Republican Party has not done so.
The Ohio Star in February reported that the state party’s chairwoman, Jane Timken, unendorsed state representative candidate Joe Dills, after it was revealed Dills allegedly had signed up for an account on Ashley Madison, a website married people use to find others for sex. Under her leadership, the party had endorsed Dills in his primary despite her having pledged not to endorse primary candidates. Hagan failed to gain an endorsement in her primary.
That was not the first time a Timken has thrown a roadblock in Hagan’s path.
Jane Timken’s husband, then a CEO of TimkenSteel, held a fundraiser for former NFL player Anthony Gonzalez, Hagan’s primary opponent in the 16th Congressional District race, the CantonRep.com said. This came despite his wife’s pledge to stay out of party rivalries.
The Timkens’ support worked for Gonzalez, who won the primary against Hagan and Michael Grusenmeyer with 53.1 percent of the primary vote, and went on to win the general election, Ballotpedia said.
– – –
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--William Lamberth Commentary: We Need Bill Hagerty Representing Us In The U.S. Senate

This November will decide the fate of our country for years to come .
Will we become a nation run by radical Democrats who will destroy our country ’ s foundation with expensive socialist policies and violence in our streets , or will we re-elect President Donald Trump and send a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate to protect our nation ’ s freedoms and principles ?
In his first four years in office , President Trump and his Administration have moved our country in the right direction .
Just last week , we celebrated the 200th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States Senate confirming the 200th constitutionalist judges nominated by President Trump .
These policies have reshaped our judicial system for years to come and have protected our country from drug-smuggling criminals and human traffickers crossing our border illegally .
I believe it is imperative that we re-elect President Trump for another four years to continue his America First agenda .
President Trump also needs conservative allies in the Senate to work with him to implement his agenda .
Bill Hagerty has worked alongside the President since volunteering for him full-time during his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given Bill his “ complete and total ” endorsement because he knows he will continue to serve all Tennesseans and the country , faithfully .
One of the things I admire most about Bill is his dedication to Tennessee and his vision for our state .
A native of Sumner County , Bill was taught Christian conservative values from a young age and learned the value of hard work .
These values have remained with Bill ever since , as he has worked hard to achieve successes in business , and most importantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is truly dedicated to our state and country ; he epitomizes what it means to be a public servant .
He entered public service as Tennessee ’ s Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to use his business expertise to bring thousands of jobs to Tennessee at a time when our state ’ s economy was underperforming .
He successfully had a hand in Tennessee ’ s recognition on the national stage for a booming economy .
As Ambassador to Japan , which has the third-largest economy in the world , Bill worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deals between our two countries .
They worked together to stand up to those countries that threatened the national security of the U.S. and our Japanese allies , such as North Korea , Iran and China .
Bill also stands behind our law enforcement officers 100 percent .
He knows they are the only thing standing between law and order and anarchy .
I know that Bill will stand with President Trump for the rule of law .
We need Bill in the Senate to combat the radical Democrats ’ call to defund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need to support law enforcement and defund abortion providers , like Planned Parenthood , not the police .
In the U.S. Senate , Bill will continue all of our work to rebuild the economy , continue to stand up to Communist China and stand with our law enforcement officers .
No one will fight harder for our Tennessee values than my friend , Bill , and I am proud to join President Trump in supporting him for the U.S. Senate .
This November , let ’ s re-elect President Trump and send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fate of our nation depends on it .
State Representative William Lamberth represents District 44 which includes part of Sumner County .
This editorial endorsement is Majority Leader Lamberth ’ s personal opinion .

By William Lamberth
This November will decide the fate of our country for years to come. Will we become a nation run by radical Democrats who will destroy our country’s foundation with expensive socialist policies and violence in our streets, or will we re-elect President Donald Trump and send a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate to protect our nation’s freedoms and principles?
In his first four years in office, President Trump and his Administration have moved our country in the right direction. Just last week, we celebrated the 200th mile of the border wall and the United States Senate confirming the 200th constitutionalist judges nominated by President Trump. These policies have reshaped our judicial system for years to come and have protected our country from drug-smuggling criminals and human traffickers crossing our border illegally. I believe it is imperative that we re-elect President Trump for another four years to continue his America First agenda.
President Trump also needs conservative allies in the Senate to work with him to implement his agenda. Bill Hagerty has worked alongside the President since volunteering for him full-time during his 2016 campaign, and the President has given Bill his “complete and total” endorsement because he knows he will continue to serve all Tennesseans and the country, faithfully.
One of the things I admire most about Bill is his dedication to Tennessee and his vision for our state. A native of Sumner County, Bill was taught Christian conservative values from a young age and learned the value of hard work. These values have remained with Bill ever since, as he has worked hard to achieve successes in business, and most importantly, while raising a family.
Bill is truly dedicated to our state and country; he epitomizes what it means to be a public servant. He entered public service as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to use his business expertise to bring thousands of jobs to Tennessee at a time when our state’s economy was underperforming. He successfully had a hand in Tennessee’s recognition on the national stage for a booming economy. As Ambassador to Japan, which has the third-largest economy in the world, Bill worked tirelessly alongside President Trump to create advantageous deals between our two countries. They worked together to stand up to those countries that threatened the national security of the U.S. and our Japanese allies, such as North Korea, Iran and China.
Bill also stands behind our law enforcement officers 100 percent. He knows they are the only thing standing between law and order and anarchy. I know that Bill will stand with President Trump for the rule of law. We need Bill in the Senate to combat the radical Democrats’ call to defund the police. Bill is right – we need to support law enforcement and defund abortion providers, like Planned Parenthood, not the police.
In the U.S. Senate, Bill will continue all of our work to rebuild the economy, continue to stand up to Communist China and stand with our law enforcement officers. No one will fight harder for our Tennessee values than my friend, Bill, and I am proud to join President Trump in supporting him for the U.S. Senate. This November, let’s re-elect President Trump and send Bill Hagerty to the Senate. The fate of our nation depends on it.
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State Representative William Lamberth represents District 44 which includes part of Sumner County. This editorial endorsement is Majority Leader Lamberth’s personal opinion.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--Pharma Trade Group Sues State Over Affordable Insulin Law Hours Before it Became Law

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America ( PhRMA ) filed a lawsuit late Tuesday seeking to strike down affordable insulin legislation the day before the law took effect .
The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act was named after a 26-year-old who died in 2017 while rationing his insulin medicine because he couldn ’ t afford the $ 1,300 refill after aging out of his parent ’ s insurance coverage .
The law seeks to act as a safety net by providing diabetics who can ’ t afford their insulin an emergency 30-day supply for a co-pay of $ 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sell a 90-day supply of insulin for a maximum of $ 50 to eligible residents who have a family income below 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines .
Insulin manufacturers who don ’ t comply can be fined up to $ 3.6 million in the first year and $ 7.2 million in the second year .
PhRMA Executive Vice President and General Counsel James C. Stansel said they ’ d offered “ real policy reforms ” that would work better for patients .
“ Unfortunately , this law is unconstitutional , overlooks common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insulin and , despite its claims , still allows for patients to be charged at the pharmacy for the insulin that manufacturers are required to provide for free , ” Stansel said in a statement .
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and claims the law is unconstitutional .
PhRMA ’ s complaint says the law violates the Fourteenth Amendment as well as the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution by forcing insulin manufacturers to provide products to Minnesotans without compensation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commandeer private property to achieve its public policy goals , ” the lawsuit stated .
It asks the court to declare the law unconstitutional and for a permanent injunction barring its enactment .
Gov .
Tim Walz held a news conference Wednesday afternoon celebrating the law going into effect , which Alec ’ s parents attended .
James Holt said his family “ is outraged ” over the lawsuit .
“ My office and I will defend [ the insulin bill ] with every resource we have , ” Attorney General Keith Ellison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m defending it on behalf of all Minnesotans who believe that no one should die because they can ’ t afford their insulin.
” Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka , R-East Gull Lake , said the lawsuit was “ poorly timed.
” “ We are very disappointed with the drug manufacturers ’ lawsuit against the Alec Smith Affordable Insulin Act after so much work went into a compromise bill assuring no Minnesotan would have to go without insulin , ” Gazelka said in a statement .
Scott McClallen is a staff writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Square .
A graduate of Hillsdale College , his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org .

by Scott McClallen
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) filed a lawsuit late Tuesday seeking to strike down affordable insulin legislation the day before the law took effect.
The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act was named after a 26-year-old who died in 2017 while rationing his insulin medicine because he couldn’t afford the $1,300 refill after aging out of his parent’s insurance coverage.
The law seeks to act as a safety net by providing diabetics who can’t afford their insulin an emergency 30-day supply for a co-pay of $35.
Another provision requires insulin manufacturers to sell a 90-day supply of insulin for a maximum of $50 to eligible residents who have a family income below 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
Insulin manufacturers who don’t comply can be fined up to $3.6 million in the first year and $7.2 million in the second year.
PhRMA Executive Vice President and General Counsel James C. Stansel said they’d offered “real policy reforms” that would work better for patients.
“Unfortunately, this law is unconstitutional, overlooks common sense solutions to help patients afford their insulin and, despite its claims, still allows for patients to be charged at the pharmacy for the insulin that manufacturers are required to provide for free,” Stansel said in a statement.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and claims the law is unconstitutional.
PhRMA’s complaint says the law violates the Fourteenth Amendment as well as the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution by forcing insulin manufacturers to provide products to Minnesotans without compensation.
“A state cannot simply commandeer private property to achieve its public policy goals,” the lawsuit stated.
It asks the court to declare the law unconstitutional and for a permanent injunction barring its enactment.
Gov. Tim Walz held a news conference Wednesday afternoon celebrating the law going into effect, which Alec’s parents attended.
James Holt said his family “is outraged” over the lawsuit.
“My office and I will defend [the insulin bill] with every resource we have,” Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement. “I’m defending it on behalf of all Minnesotans who believe that no one should die because they can’t afford their insulin.”
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, said the lawsuit was “poorly timed.”
“We are very disappointed with the drug manufacturers’ lawsuit against the Alec Smith Affordable Insulin Act after so much work went into a compromise bill assuring no Minnesotan would have to go without insulin,” Gazelka said in a statement.
– – –
Scott McClallen is a staff writer covering Michigan and Minnesota for The Center Square. A graduate of Hillsdale College, his work has appeared on Forbes.com and FEE.org.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--Michigan AG Nessel Will Comply with U.S. House ‘Partisan’ Request to Investigate Whitmer’s COVID-19

Michigan AG Nessel Will Comply with U.S. House ‘Partisan’ Request to Investigate Whitmer’s COVID-19 Nursing Home Policies

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel defiantly responded to a letter from U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise , R-La.
, regarding the number of nursing home deaths in the state attributed to COVID-19 .
Scalise is ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on the Coronavirus .
His June 25 letter – also signed by Reps. Jim Jordan , R- Ohio ; Blaine Luetkeymer , R-Mo .
; and Jackie Walorski , R-Ind .
– followed a similar letter to Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer to which she did not respond .
In the subcommittee letter , which was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states ( New York , New Jersey , California and Pennsylvania ; all states with Democratic governors ) , the Congressional members requested Nessel investigate the impact of Whitmer ’ s executive orders that housed COVID-19 patients in the same long-term care facilities as elderly nursing home residents .
Nessel ’ s June 29 response indicates the subcommittee ’ s letter was motivated by partisanship .
“ While I appreciate and share your concern for the impact of COVID-19 on the health and safety of our elderly population , I am curious as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent to states with Republican Governors , ” she wrote .
Nessel also noted she found “ troubling ” the “ context ” of the subcommittee ’ s letter .
“ You begin by saying that you ‘ understand that [ my ] investigation will not cover the Governor ’ s April 15 , 2020 order….
’ You then ask that my ‘ current review ’ include certain topics and that I produce to the subcommittee all information and documents related to my investigation.
” Nessel continued : “ I am surprised that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my office without first verifying the things that form the basis for your letter ( for e.g .
whether my office is in fact investigating and the scope of our alleged investigation ) .
” Nessel wrote she was “ deeply troubled ” the subcommittee only seemed worried about residents of long-term facilities in four specific states and “ does not extend to all the nation ’ s elderly.
” Nessel noted Michigan had fewer numbers of COVID-19 cases in elderly care facilities than Louisiana , Ohio , Georgia and Texas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the attorneys general of those states .
She also stated Illinois , Massachusetts and Connecticut – states with Democratic governors – also reported higher numbers of COVID-19 cases in long-term residential facilities than Michigan .
“ [ S ] ending a congressional inquiry only to one ’ s political opponents appears designed to produce salacious headlines rather than measurable results , ” Nessel wrote .
The Democratic attorney general stated she wouldn ’ t conduct a criminal investigation of Whitmer ’ s executive orders based on her perception of the subcommittee ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional editor at The Center Square .
He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ’ s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute ’ s InfoTech & Telecom News .

by Bruce Walker
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel defiantly responded to a letter from U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., regarding the number of nursing home deaths in the state attributed to COVID-19.
Scalise is ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on the Coronavirus. His June 25 letter – also signed by Reps. Jim Jordan, R- Ohio; Blaine Luetkeymer, R-Mo.; and Jackie Walorski, R-Ind. – followed a similar letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to which she did not respond.
In the subcommittee letter, which was also sent to four attorneys general in other states (New York, New Jersey, California and Pennsylvania; all states with Democratic governors), the Congressional members requested Nessel investigate the impact of Whitmer’s executive orders that housed COVID-19 patients in the same long-term care facilities as elderly nursing home residents.
Nessel’s June 29 response indicates the subcommittee’s letter was motivated by partisanship.
“While I appreciate and share your concern for the impact of COVID-19 on the health and safety of our elderly population, I am curious as to why similar requests have not been sent to states with Republican Governors,” she wrote.
Nessel also noted she found “troubling” the “context” of the subcommittee’s letter.
“You begin by saying that you ‘understand that [my] investigation will not cover the Governor’s April 15, 2020 order….’ You then ask that my ‘current review’ include certain topics and that I produce to the subcommittee all information and documents related to my investigation.”
Nessel continued: “I am surprised that this subcommittee would send such a request to my office without first verifying the things that form the basis for your letter (for e.g. whether my office is in fact investigating and the scope of our alleged investigation).”
Nessel wrote she was “deeply troubled” the subcommittee only seemed worried about residents of long-term facilities in four specific states and “does not extend to all the nation’s elderly.”
Nessel noted Michigan had fewer numbers of COVID-19 cases in elderly care facilities than Louisiana, Ohio, Georgia and Texas, but the subcommittee did not send letters to the attorneys general of those states. She also stated Illinois, Massachusetts and Connecticut – states with Democratic governors – also reported higher numbers of COVID-19 cases in long-term residential facilities than Michigan.
“[S]ending a congressional inquiry only to one’s political opponents appears designed to produce salacious headlines rather than measurable results,” Nessel wrote.
The Democratic attorney general stated she wouldn’t conduct a criminal investigation of Whitmer’s executive orders based on her perception of the subcommittee’s partisanship.
– – –
Bruce Walker is a regional editor at The Center Square. He previously worked as editor at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s MichiganScience magazine and The Heartland Institute’s InfoTech & Telecom News.


thetennesseestar--2020-07-06--Lt. Gov. Flanagan, Who Welcomed Toppling of Columbus Statue, Chairs Board Responsible for Capitol Ar

Lt. Gov. Flanagan, Who Welcomed Toppling of Columbus Statue, Chairs Board Responsible for Capitol Art

Lt. Gov .
Peggy Flanagan , who welcomed the destruction of a Christopher Columbus statue , chairs the board responsible for Capitol artwork and monuments .
The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning ( CAAP ) Board , led by Flanagan , recently announced a “ series of meetings focused on establishing a proactive , transparent , and public process to evaluate the monuments and artwork displayed on the Capitol Grounds.
” The goal of the meetings is to create “ a process by which artwork displayed on the Capitol Grounds might be evaluated for potential alteration , re-interpretation , relocation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Minnesota law doesn ’ t offer much clarity on formal processes for the “ potential removal of monuments and artwork from the Capitol grounds.
” “ We are in a moment when we need to have real conversations about the symbols and imagery that are in these public spaces and who makes those decisions , ” Flanagan said in a press release .
“ It is our job to create a space for those conversations .
As Chair of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board , I am excited to engage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public process where Minnesotans can be heard.
” After vandals tore down a statue of Columbus outside the Capitol last month , Flanagan said she was “ thinking of all the Native children who might now feel more welcome on the grounds and in the halls of their state government.
” “ I can ’ t say I ’ m sad the statue of Christopher Columbus is gone .
I ’ m not , ” she said in a June 10 statement , the same day the statue was toppled .
The Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains ongoing and has yet to make any arrests in the matter .
Two Republican senators asked the Minnesota Historical Society to repair and restore the Columbus statue in a letter sent last week .
They argued that the CAAP Board does not need to grant the Historical Society permission to restore the statue , since its removal was never authorized in the first place .
Under M.S .
138.68 , the removal of a statue needs to receive approval from the Historical Society , they said .
“ We are troubled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the statue seems to suggest that before the statue is replaced on its plinth , the CAAP Board must approve that step .
We fail to see how that step is required where the Historical Society has not yet provided the approval required under law for the removal of the statue from the plinth , ” said the letter .
The CAAP Board is currently seeking the public ’ s input on potential policy changes regarding the removal of monuments and artwork from the Capitol grounds .
“ The events of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of memorials in public memory and history , ” said Kent Whitworth , CEO and director of the Minnesota Historical Society .
“ We know that statues and monuments symbolize and represent different ideas to different people and in the coming days , MNHS will be offering opportunities for learning and community conversation on this important topic.
” Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star .
Follow Anthony on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who welcomed the destruction of a Christopher Columbus statue, chairs the board responsible for Capitol artwork and monuments.
The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning (CAAP) Board, led by Flanagan, recently announced a “series of meetings focused on establishing a proactive, transparent, and public process to evaluate the monuments and artwork displayed on the Capitol Grounds.”
The goal of the meetings is to create “a process by which artwork displayed on the Capitol Grounds might be evaluated for potential alteration, re-interpretation, relocation, or removal.” The CAAP Board said Minnesota law doesn’t offer much clarity on formal processes for the “potential removal of monuments and artwork from the Capitol grounds.”
“We are in a moment when we need to have real conversations about the symbols and imagery that are in these public spaces and who makes those decisions,” Flanagan said in a press release. “It is our job to create a space for those conversations. As Chair of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, I am excited to engage in a proactive, transparent, and public process where Minnesotans can be heard.”
After vandals tore down a statue of Columbus outside the Capitol last month, Flanagan said she was “thinking of all the Native children who might now feel more welcome on the grounds and in the halls of their state government.”
“I can’t say I’m sad the statue of Christopher Columbus is gone. I’m not,” she said in a June 10 statement, the same day the statue was toppled.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said the investigation remains ongoing and has yet to make any arrests in the matter.
Two Republican senators asked the Minnesota Historical Society to repair and restore the Columbus statue in a letter sent last week. They argued that the CAAP Board does not need to grant the Historical Society permission to restore the statue, since its removal was never authorized in the first place. Under M.S. 138.68, the removal of a statue needs to receive approval from the Historical Society, they said.
“We are troubled to see that the Historical Society website entry for the statue seems to suggest that before the statue is replaced on its plinth, the CAAP Board must approve that step. We fail to see how that step is required where the Historical Society has not yet provided the approval required under law for the removal of the statue from the plinth,” said the letter.
The CAAP Board is currently seeking the public’s input on potential policy changes regarding the removal of monuments and artwork from the Capitol grounds.
“The events of the last few weeks have highlighted the importance of memorials in public memory and history,” said Kent Whitworth, CEO and director of the Minnesota Historical Society. “We know that statues and monuments symbolize and represent different ideas to different people and in the coming days, MNHS will be offering opportunities for learning and community conversation on this important topic.”
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].