Lead Sponsors Withdraw Metro Nashville Council ‘Sanctuary City’ Bills

Metro Nashville Council members Bob Mendes and Colby Sledge announced at a press conference held Wednesday afternoon on the steps of the Nashville Courthouse they are withdrawing the two controversial “sanctuary city” ordinances they introduced as sponsors earlier this year. Standing in front of about a dozen supporters of the ordinances from the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugees Rights Coaliton (TIRCC), some carrying signs that said “Stand Up to Hate,” Mendes said he and Sledge were withdrawing both ordinances. One ordinance had already passed two of its required three readings and was scheduled for a vote on a third and final reading at the next Metro Council meeting scheduled for July 6. Mendes told the local media outlets present at the press conference that the ordinance could not be amended prior to the third reading, and therefore would be withdrawn. The second ordinance scheduled for a vote in August will also be withdrawn. The need for an amendment became apparent when Metro Director of Law Jon Cooper issued a legal opinion on Monday saying the ordinances were “not enforceable,” and Mayor Barry on Tuesday asked the Metro Council to “reconsider” the ordinances. Mendes did not indicate whether he and Sledge would…

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Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett Rules Out Run for Governor, Sets Sights on U.S. Senate or House of Representatives

Tennessee Star

  Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett says he will “either run for Senate or US Congress,” WBIR reports. The announcement puts incumbents Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) and Representative Jimmy Duncan (TN-02) on notice for a challenge by a fellow Republican. A recent Tennessee Star/Triton poll found Burchett’s chances for a successful bid for the US Senate may be good, due to Tennessee voters’ collapse in confidence of Senator Corker. WBIR quoted Burchett Tuesday, saying that although the Governorship never really interested him, “I think that I need to run for one of those seats [Senate or House]. We’ll be making a decision shortly.” The Star reported Monday Burchett’s promise that he would “be on the ballot” in 2018. Voters first met Tim Burchett in the 1994 when he ran to represent the people of Knoxville in the 19th State House District and won. After two terms, he ran for and won the State Senate District 9, serving three, four-year terms. With 16 years of service in the General Assembly, in 2010 Burchett ran for and won his election for Knox County Mayor. After eight years, he is termed out. While Burchett is exploring his future prospects, a spate of candidates are stepping up to run for the open office. WBIR reports:…

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Tennessee State Library And Archives To Host Presentation On Korean War Photos

The Tennessee State Library and Archives will host a free presentation July 22 on a collection of photographs from the Korean War. The event will feature the photos of David Franklin Brock, who left his home in Van Buren County in 1952 for combat engineer training and then a stint in the 2nd Infantry Division in the area of the Iron Triangle and the 28th parallel in Korea. His photos document his time in Korea and his visits home. Darla Brock, the library’s manuscripts archivist and Brock’s daughter, will present her father’s photos and discuss the history of the war. “The David Franklin Brock photo collection allows us to see history from Mr. Brock’s unique viewpoint,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett in a press release. “These photographs of the Korean War era will serve as a valuable resource for generations of Tennesseans.” People interested in attending are encouraged to register as soon as possible because of limited seating. The presentation will run from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the library auditorium. The building is at 403 Seventh Ave. North in downtown Nashville, directly west of the Capitol, and has free parking. To reserve seats, visit tslabrockcollection.eventbrite.com. The Brock collection…

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South Dakota Senator John Thune Disputes Claims Donald Trump Isn’t Involved in Health Care Talks

Sen. John Thune said Wednesday that President Trump is involved in the health care talks, despite reports that he’s actually removed from the negotiations. “The president has been very involved. He’s engaged with individual members that have specific concerns they want addressed. He’s engaged in our entire conference as you saw yesterday. He had all Republicans…

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Media Obsession: 55 Percent of Broadcast News Coverage of Trump Centered on Russia Probe

“How much has the media’s obsession with the ongoing Russia investigation smothered the rest of the Trump policy agenda? A Media Research Center study of every broadcast network evening newscast in the five weeks since the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller on May 17 found a whopping 353 minutes of airtime devoted to the Russia…

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Arkansas Man Arrested For Destroying Ten Commandments Monument At State Capitol

An Arkansas man has been arrested for plowing a vehicle into the Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the State Capitol in Little Rock less than a day after it was installed. Michael Reed of Van Buren is accused of destroying the moment around 5:15 a.m. Wednesday, according to Fox 16 News. He posted a video on his Facebook page depicting the incident and featuring only one word: “Freedom.” The 32-year-old was arrested in 2014 for driving into a Ten Commandments monument at the Oklahoma Capitol. Reed told authorities that Satan made him crash his car into the statue, and that he was bipolar and had been off his medication. He was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. The Arkansas monument was installed on Tuesday, having gone through a final stage of approval last month. The approval by the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission was largely a formality because the Arkansas General Assembly had passed legislation in 2015 allowing for the privately-funded monument. The display has been a source of controversy and the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas has threatened to sue. Earlier this year, state lawmakers blocked a proposal for a Baphomet statue pushed by the Satanic Temple as a response…

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Tammy Bruce Commentary: Liberals Ignore Violence Against Conservatives

Two weeks ago, a deranged gunman, nourished on leftist hate and rage against conservatives, went to a baseball field with the intent of assassinating Republican congressmen. That same morning, this column was unfortunately prescient in focusing on the imagery of violence against President Trump, and how “the liberal loathing of the president has entered the realm…

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Lindsey Graham Demands to Know if He Was Unmasked; Intelligence Officials Demur

Officials from the Justice Department, FBI and National Security Agency refused to tell a GOP senator and former 2016 presidential candidate whether his conversations with a foreign leader abroad had been incidentally collected and unmasked during a hearing Tuesday about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, probed national security and intelligence…

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GOP Senator: Mueller’s Hiring Spree ‘Tainted’ Russia Probe

Tennessee Star

Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) said that special counsel Robert Mueller’s hiring spree that included Democratic donors and an attorney who represented Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is “troubling” and has “tainted” the integrity of the entire probe, during an interview Tuesday on “The Laura Ingraham Show.” Risch, a former attorney and a member of the Senate…

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Metro Council Ordinance Will Protect Illegal Aliens Who Violate State Law by Driving Without a License

Metro Nashville Legal Director confirmed today that the proposed sanctuary city ordinance BL2017-739 cannot stop the sheriff from turning illegal aliens over to ICE after they’ve been arrested. However, for illegal aliens living in Nashville who open borders advocates claim are forced to break Tennessee’s driver licensing law, the ordinance could help keep them out of deportation proceedings. The proposed Metro Nashville ordinance prohibits the collection of immigration status information by any “department, board, commission, officer, or employee of the metropolitan government of Nashville and Davidson County, including law enforcement officers,” unless required by federal or state law or by court order. The Metro Nashville ordinance closely tracks Seattle’s municipal code prohibition currently being tested with the city suing to challenge the President’s Executive Order that takes on sanctuary cities. If no immigration status information is collected, then Metro Nashville will be in compliance with the federal law governing communication exchanges “regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual.” That is, unless the Tennessee General Assembly chooses to try and pass an Arizona type “show me your papers” law or simply bar local prohibitions on information collection as a way to ensure compliance with the “broader cooperative scheme between…

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Randy Boyd: ‘If I’m Elected Governor, I Will Work to Make Sure There Are No Sanctuary Cities in Tennessee’

Tennessee Star

Gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd posted on his campaign’s Facebook page late Tuesday evening that he is opposed to sanctuary cities, and urged residents of Davidson County to tell their Metro Council members to oppose the proposed sanctuary city ordinace. “Sanctuary Cities are illegal,” Boyd’s post began. “Washington has made a complete mess of our immigration system. But here in Tennessee, we will follow the law and must say NO to illegal immigration and Sanctuary Cities,” Boyd said. “I encourage everyone in Metro Nashville/Davidson County to quickly contact their Metro Council members and encourage them to strongly oppose these Metro ordinances that would ignore the law. If I’m elected Governor, I will work to make sure there are no Sanctuary Cities in Tennessee on my watch, ” Boyd concluded. Later on Tuesday evening, Boyd released a slightly longer version of his Facebook post as a statement on his campaign website, which included an extra sentence in which he “commend[ed] our state’s legislative leaders for speaking out.”: Nashville, Tenn. – Randy Boyd, Republican candidate for Governor, released the following statement today regarding proposed Metro Council ordinances and current Sanctuary City debate in Nashville: “Sanctuary Cities are illegal. Washington has made a complete…

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State Rep. Judd Matheny Speaks in Jackson County About Plan to Stop Nashville Sanctuary City Ordinance

State Rep. Judd Matheny  (R-Tullahoma) was in Jackson County on Tuesday, where he spoke to a crowd in Gainesboro about Nashville’s attempt to become a bona fide sanctuary city. Matheny spoke of the overwhelming number of Republican House members who are opposing the measure and who will intensify the fight against the initiative should a third reading pass or the motion simply be tabled for a later date. Matheny noted that the most up to date and reliable coverage of the sanctuary city issue has been provided by The Tennessee Star. The residents attending the meeting expressed strong approval for efforts to stop the Nashville sanctuary city ordinance, and were particularly interested in the details of the plans to oppose it. Matheny, as one of the leaders in the Tennessee General Assembly of the effort to stop the Nashville sanctuary city ordinance, provided details about the 63 members of the Tennessee House of Representatives who signed a letter, which was sent from his office, outlining their opposition to proposed ordinance, and asking members of the Metro Nashville City Council to vote against it. First elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2002, Matheny is one of at least two conservatives who…

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President Trump Urges Passage of Kate’s Law

Tennessee Star

  The White House released a statement Tuesday afternoon strongly urging passage of HR 3004, more commonly known as ‘Kate’s Law’: The Administration strongly supports H.R. 3004, Kate’s Law. This bill commemorates Kate Steinle, the 32-year-old woman who was shot and killed two years ago in San Francisco as she walked along a pier with her father. The alleged shooter, Francisco Sanchez, was an illegal immigrant who had already been deported five times and had seven felony convictions. H.R. 3004 would increase the penalties that may be imposed on criminal aliens convicted of illegal reentry, deterring reentry and keeping criminal aliens off our streets. The bill is consistent with the Administration’s broader efforts to strengthen enforcement of our immigration laws and improve the security of our Nation’s borders. If H.R. 3004 were presented to the President in its current form, his advisors would recommend that he sign the bill into law.  The effort to sharpen punishments for repeatedly violating U.S. immigration laws in reaction to crimes like the murder of Kate Steinle was undertaken by former FOXNews analyst and host of The Factor, Bill O’Reilly. Early efforts to pass Kate’s Law failed in 2015 and 2016 due to blocks by then-Senator Harry…

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Justice Thomas Calls Out the Supreme Court for Not Believing in the Second Amendment

Justice Clarence Thomas

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas had stern words for his colleagues when the court declined to hear a case challenging California’s handgun laws, saying that the jurists do not understand the importance of self-defense. The case, supported by the National Rifle Association, involves San Diego resident Edward Peruta, who challenged his county’s refusal to grant him…

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Two Former Lauderdale County School System Employees Charged With Theft For Collecting Pay After Employment Ended

Two former employees of the Lauderdale County Department of Education continued to be compensated after their employment with the school system ended, a report from the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has found. Both have been indicted on theft charges. The school system is in Ripley in West Tennessee. “It’s important that government entities follow a clear process whenever there is a separation of employment,” said Comptroller Justin P. Wilson in a news release Monday. “All timesheets should also be reviewed to ensure they support payroll.” Educational assistant Devyln Green ended her employment in May 2014, but auditors found that she continued to receive direct deposits to her personal bank account until December 2016, according to the news release. As a result, she received salary overpayments totaling $33,511. The school system also paid the employer portion of her Social Security and Medicare totaling $2,564 and contributed $1,770 to the state’s retirement system on her behalf. Bus driver Milton Waller ended his employment with Lauderdale County in October 2016, but continued to receive direct deposits totaling $4,459 through mid-February. The school system also paid the employer portion of Waller’s Social Security and Medicare totaling $341. The director of schools first disclosed the payments…

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Dan Walker, Candidate for State Rep. in 57th District: ‘I Stand Alongside Every Elected Official at the Local or State Level Who Opposes Nashville’s Proposed Sanctuary City’

Dan Walker, a candidate for State Representative in the 57th District, which is currently represented by State Rep. Susan Lynn (R-Mt. Juliet), released a statement on the proposed Nashville sanctuary city ordinance to The Tennessee Star late Tuesday. “As a candidate for State Representative of the 57th District I stand alongside every elected official at the local or state level who opposes Nashville’s proposed sanctuary city ordinance. This needs to be a united fight and together it will be defeated,” Walker said. “I will fight against this legislation, which ties the hands of the local law enforcement officials to incarcerate illegals who have an outstanding felony,” Walker added: This will cause Nashville and surrounding cities to be a safe haven for illegal immigrant crime activity. We the people need to stand together to keep the Metro Nashville area protected from any further crime and drug activity. It is important to keep our state’s capital city and tourism base secure. Real leadership is needed in Nashville on Capitol Hill. As a military veteran, I signed an oath to uphold the Constitution and protect my country against all enemies both foreign and domestic. With your vote I will take this fight to…

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Now It’s 65 Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives Who Oppose Nashville’s Sanctuary City Ordinance

Two more Republican members of the Tennessee House of Representatives have joined their 63 colleagues in expressing their opposition to Nashville proposed sanctuary city ordinance. On Monday, State Rep. Judd Matheny, State Rep. Bryan Terry and State Rep. Sheila Butt released a letter signed by 63 Republican members of the House expressing their opposition to the controversial ordinance, which will receive a third and final reading at the Metro Nashville Council meeting on July 6. On Tuesday, State Rep. Susan Lynn (R-Mt. Juliet) and State Rep. Kevin Brooks (R-Cleveland) released their own letter, bringing the total number of Republican members of the Tennessee House of Representatives on the record in opposition to the proposed sanctuary city ordinance to 65. The press release provided to The Tennessee Star by Rep. Kevin Brooks on his official letterhead dated June 26, 2017, states: Wilson and Bradley County Representatives Express Strong Opposition to Sanctuary City Ordinances (NASHVILLE) – Representatives Susan Lynn (R-Wilson) and Representative Kevin Brooks (R-Bradley) today expressed disapproval of two ordinances proposed by Metro Councilmen Bob Mendes and Colby Sledge.  The ordinances would in effect make Nashville a sanctuary city. “In 2009, the state legislature made it clear that sanctuary cities are prohibited in Tennessee.  I…

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