Rep. Diane Black Condemns Proposed City Ordinance That Would Restrict Nashville’s Cooperation With Immigration Officials

Rep. Diane Black, who is considering running for Tennessee governor, issued a press release Tuesday strongly condemning action taken by the Metro Council to push forward a bill that would limit Nashville’s cooperation with federal immigration officials. Critics believe the bill would lead to Nashville effectively becoming a sanctuary city, putting federal funding in jeopardy and also also creating clashes with the state. The press release issued by Black, a Republican, said the legislation would “obstruct immigration law, putting illegal aliens first and the safety and security of Tennessee families last.” Black gave the following statement: First and foremost, as a mother and a grandmother, I implore the Council members to start holding illegal immigrants accountable for crime and acts of violence.  Sanctuary city policies to help and support criminal illegal immigrants pose a direct threat to our citizens and undermine the rule of law.  In Congress, I’m working with my colleagues to pass the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act to cut off funding for any municipality that helps illegal immigrants hide from the law.  It’s time for Mayor Barry to stop borrowing liberal policies from California and New York and start putting the safety and security of Tennessee families…

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Group Pushes For Removal Of Confederate Statues In Memphis

A group using the hashtag #TakeEmDown901 is organizing to push for the removal of Confederate statues in Memphis, part of a trend across the South. More than 250 people attended a rally Tuesday evening at Bruce Elementary School on Bellevue Boulevard to learn more about the group’s efforts. “These statues were built as tools of oppression during the Civil Rights movement and reconstruction,” said organizer Tami Sawyer, according to WMC Action News 5. Sawyer said the statues must go to make Memphis more attractive to millennials. One activist at the meeting said, “If you don’t take down these statues, then we will.” However, the Sons of Confederate Veterans is protesting the efforts. The group released a statement saying: Those who tear down historic monuments are no better than Nazis or ISIS. They are historical terrorists. The TearDownMemphis or TakeEmDown group bears the same characteristics. Our historical monuments, especially including the two largest Confederate monuments, are a tribute to those honored city residents of our nation’s past.  They certainly do not signify white supremacy or anything of the sort.  Both Jefferson Davis and N. B. Forrest are veterans of the United States military and of the Confederate States. The Sons of Confederate Veterans…

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State Rep. Judd Matheny to Grassroots Activist Group: ‘I Have Not And Will Not Compromise On Conservative Principles’

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee – State Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma), speaking to a group of about 50 grassroots activists, the majority of whom were Heritage Action Sentinels, made a statement that may best summarize his popularity with Tennessee conservatives. “I have not and will not compromise on conservative principles,” he told the group. The Rutherford County Heritage Action Sentinel group was founded by Katherine Hudgins, who is a Heritage Action Sentinel Wall of Honor awardee and is now a Sentinel Builder for the organization, and Jackie Archer, President of Tennessee Textbook Advocates.  The group holds meetings or activities on a monthly basis, the previous one being an appreciation luncheon for U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN) for his Heritage Action score, which at 93 percent ranks him the most conservative of the Tennessee delegation. Rep. Bryan Terry (R-Murfreesboro), who represents the district where the meeting was held, attended and extended an invitation to his 4th Annual Empowering Women Event on July 10, co-hosted by Rep. Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro). Rep. Matheny was invited to speak to the group about his plan to run for Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District, should Rep. Diane Black decide to leave the seat to run for governor, as well as…

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Metro Nashville Council Vote Moves City Closer to ‘Sanctuary’ Status

Twenty-five out of thirty-nine members present at Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting voted to pass the Mendes/Sledge ordinance forward to a third reading and final vote at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting. The ordinance will, in effect, turn Nashville into a “sanctuary city,” and set up an inevitable confrontation with both the state and federal government. It is also in line with the left-wing, open borders, pro-illegal immigrant political philosophy of Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, a Democrat. The vote was preceded by impassioned statements both pro and con; some more factually accurate than others.  Admissions were made that parents are not taking their children to be immunized, victims of domestic violence complaints are not coming forward and there is pervasive fear of interacting with law enforcement. Councilman Scott Davis claimed that downtown hotel cleaners aren’t getting paid because they’re told “you’re illegal. I don’t have to pay you.” The general theme running through supporters was this bill would make the city safer for everyone, “citizens or not,” phrasing used by Councilman Mendes to avoid the legally accurate term “illegal alien.” Mendes claimed that cities are allowed to “have choice” regarding how much they do over and above federal and state law and…

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Williamson County Deputy Shoots Suspected Car Thief On I-65 Overpass After Man Brandishes Weapon

A man was shot and killed by a Williamson County sheriff’s deputy Tuesday morning after he brandished a weapon during a pursuit, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The man was identified Tuesday afternoon as David Bryan Creson, 40, of Franklin. Creson had an extensive criminal record, reports WKRN News 2. The incident began around 9:30 a.m., when Franklin police officers began pursuing a vehicle reported stolen, according to a TBI press release. They stopped their pursuit after a while and around 10:40 a.m., deputies with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office spotted the vehicle near Lewisburg Pike. The two deputies started a pursuit that continued over the I-65 overpass at Peytonsville Road. Creson came to a stop on the overpass, got out of the vehicle, and pointed a weapon at the two deputies. One of the deputies fired, striking Creson, who died at the scene. One of the deputies suffered a leg injury during the incident, according to the press release, but no further information was provided. TBI special agents are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting at the request of Williamson County District Attorney Kim Helper. “As a reminder, the TBI acts as ‘fact-finders’ in its cases. The…

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Davidson County Republican Party Names New Chair After Previous Leader Deemed Ineligible

  Melissa Smithson has been tapped to chair the Davidson County Republican Party after former chairman Tres Whittum was found ineligible, reports the Nashville Post. Whittum, who is an analyst for state Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson), was elected to lead the party in February even though there were concerns about his eligibility. He couldn’t provide evidence that he voted in the past three Republican primaries, a requirement for officers. In May, the executive committee of the Tennessee Republican Party dismissed him from the role. Elected vice chair in February, Smithson was formally named chair on June 1. She is a longtime Republican activist and was county co-chair for the Trump campaign. Smithson once ran for Metro Council and has brought experience in PR and marketing to Republican causes, according to Green Hills News. She was involved with Save Our Fairgrounds and Stop AMP. Smithson issued the following statement upon being named chair: After working on several campaigns over the last 4 years, including the Trump campaign as co-chairman of our County, and being involved with our Davidson County Republican Party and serving on the board, I was honored on Thursday night to be elected as Chairman. As you know, I love…

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Apple CEO Asks Trump For A Softer Touch On Immigration

Apple’s top executive asked President Donald Trump to show more compassion in his immigration policy and reassure immigrant workers in the technology community that they are welcome in the U.S. Tim Cook, visiting the White House Monday along with fellow Silicon Valley power players, told Trump that the technology sector is “nervous” about the administration’s tough…

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Family Appeals Father’s Deportation, Says It Violates Their Religion

Tennessee Star

For the first time in U.S. history, attorneys for an illegal immigrant in Houston are appealing to federal religious freedom laws to annul his impending deportation. Lawyers representing Juan Rodriguez filed a lawsuit Monday on the unprecedented grounds that Rodriguez’s deportation would violate his family’s religious beliefs, specifically a Seventh Day Adventist requirement that requires families…

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Congressman Tom Reed: Scott Pelley ‘Should Never Be Employed in the Media Again’ Over GOP Shooting Comments

Rep. Tom Reed said Tuesday that outgoing “CBS Evening News” anchor Scott Pelley should never work in media again over comments he made on-air following last week’s shooting attack on Republican members of Congress. “For CBS News’ Scott Pelley to describe the brutal shooting of Congressman Scalise as ‘self-inflicted’ was beyond the pale and further proved…

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Bill Clinton Pollster Says Democrats Have a Demographic Problem: Working-Class Americans

Long-time Clinton pollster Stanley Greenberg has news for Democrats: You don’t have a “white-working class problem”; You have a “working-class problem.” Greenburg is urging the Democratic Party to get serious about addressing its problem with all working-class Americans, defined as those without a college degree. “The fact is that Democrats have lost support with all working-class…

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Bernie Sanders Tells Supporters to Act in ‘Unprecedented’ Ways to Thwart Republicans

Vermont Sen. Bernard Sanders says “unprecedented” actions by his supporters must be taken to stop Republicans from passing a health care bill in the Senate. A Facebook Live event Monday with Mr. Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren included a call for unorthodox actions to halt Republican efforts to replace Obamacare, former President Barack Obama’s signature…

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State Rep. Judd Matheny Blasts Metro Nashville Council Over Proposed ‘Sanctuary City’ Ordinances

Tennessee Star

  State Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma) tore into the Metro Nashville Council’s proposed sanctuary city ordinances on the Dan Mandis Show on 99.7 FM WWTN Tuesday. As The Tennessee Star reported on Tuesday, the Metro Nashville Council is currently considering two ordinances that would, in effect, turn Nashville into a sanctuary city. “It’s the most egregious move against public safety that the city of Nashville could possibly expose its citizens, and emergency services and social work to,” Matheny said. “It’s completely antithetical to the United States Constitution, and America. And the city of Nashville – with all due respect – they need to remember that the City operates at the pleasure of the State,” Matheny added: If they move forward with this – which I hope the’ll have the sense about them to not have a second reading (much less a third) and try to pass it – they can expect swift and severe action be the State of Tennessee. The taxpayers of Davidson county will suffer incomprehensibly if this passes. Organized crime will come to this town like a magnet from all over the country. The police will be a great risk. The citizens will be at great risk.…

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