Frequent Physical Exercise Reverses Damage Done to the Heart by Aging and Sedentary Lifestyle

Exercising regularly seems to have a remarkable rejuvenating effect on the heart, according to a new study performed at the University of Texas Southwestern and the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. Researchers say moderate physical exercise can reverse the effects of sedentarism and aging which can cause problems like heart failure, provided you do it often enough.

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Gubernatorial Candidates Randy Boyd and Karl Dean Support LGBT Agenda

Despite being from two different parties, two millionaire gubernatorial candidates, Republican Randy Boyd and Democrat Karl Dean, have used the umbrella of employment discrimination to publicly validate the LGBT agenda. According to the American Psychological Association (APA),  LGB (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual),  “refers to sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is defined as an often enduring pattern of emotional, romantic and/or sexual attractions of men to women or women to men (heterosexual), of women to women or men to men (homosexual), or by men or women to both sexes (bisexual).” The “T” in LGBT refers to “transgender,” considered by the APA to describe people whose “gender identity, gender expression or behavior” does not match the sex with which they were born or assigned at birth. Gender identity “refers to a person’s internal sense of being male, female or something else; gender expression refers to the way a person communicates gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice or body characteristics.” During his tenure as mayor of Nashville and Davidson County, Karl Dean issued Executive Order No.008 ensuring that the issues of “gender, gender identity and sexual orientation” were embedded in the city and county’s employment policies. Randy Boyd voiced his support for the same agenda through…

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Beacon Center of Tennessee Sets Ambitious 2018 Agenda for Its Advocacy Arm, Beacon Impact

On the eve of the return of state Representative and Senators to Legislative plaza, the Beacon Center of Tennessee’s new advocacy arm, Beacon Impact, released its agenda for 2018. Among its initiatives for this year are to reduce regulation and licensing restrictions for blue-collar service workers like locksmiths and hair braiders; to pass meaningful criminal justice reform that emphasizes a productive life after prison; and to pursue Medicaid reforms designed to improve quality of life for the program’s recipients. The statement reads: NASHVILLE – Beacon Impact, the advocacy partner of the Beacon Center of Tennessee, has just released its 2018 legislative agenda, which focuses on the areas of criminal justice reform, reducing occupational licensure requirements, and exploring Medicaid reforms. Beacon Impact’s 2018 policy agenda will focus on the following policy solutions: Reduce and eliminate red tape for the occupations named in the Dirty Dozen. These are occupations where burdensome regulations have made it nearly impossible for low-income and blue-collar workers to earn an honest living. Some examples of occupations in need of reduced barriers include hair braiders, locksmiths, and animal massage therapists. Pass criminal justice reforms that save taxpayer money while also making Tennessee safer. In 2018, this includes working on…

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State Representative Courtney Rogers Will Not Seek Re-Election In 2018

After serving six years as the State Representative for House District 45, Courtney Rogers announced that she will not seek re-election to a fourth term in 2018. After making a number of personal contacts, Rogers made her decision public through a Facebook post on Monday morning, the day before the start of the new legislative session at noon Tuesday. Rogers’ announcement is the latest of nearly two dozen in the State House that will not be running for an additional term. Rogers has made a life of public service, retiring as a Lt. Colonel from the Air Force after 28 years of military service and continuing to serve in the Tennessee Air National Guard. Entering the political arena, Rogers said in her post, “was to serve one last tour of duty – only this time as a citizen legislator.” With funds in her campaign account and no declared Republican primary opponent, the announcement comes as a surprise and disappointment to many conservatives who have come to count on Rogers to reliably and consistently uphold constitutional principles as well as conservative and traditional values as she promised when elected in 2012. Regular observers of House floor sessions would see Rogers arrive…

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Complaint Filed Against Former State Senator Jim Tracy for Alleged Violation of the Hatch Act over Fundraiser for Shane Reeves

A complaint has been filed against former State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) for allegedly violating the Hatch Act for his participation in a fundraiser for candidate Shane Reeves, whom Tracy has endorsed to replace him. Tom Humphrey published a brief statement by John Anderson, the author of the complaint: An official complaint has been filed with the federal Office of Special Counsel charging Jim Tracy, newly appointed U.S. Department of Agriculture Director of Rural Development for Tennessee, with violation of the Hatch Act. Tracy recently hosted a political fundraising event for Republican candidate Shane Reeves, thereby violating federal law. The complaint was filed by retired schoolteacher John Anderson of Bell Buckle. Reeves is a political associate and protege of Tracy and is running with Tracy’s support for Tracy’s abandoned seat in the Tennessee state Senate. In an email sent out by Reeves’ Campaign Finance Director Rachel Barrett on November 7, 2017, recipients were solicited to attend a November 16 campaign fundraising event for Reeves hosted by Tracy. According to the Tennessee USDA Rural Development website, Tracy officially became a federal employee on November 13, 2017. His hosting a fundraiser for Reeves three days later was therefore a violation of federal law. Under…

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‘Tennessean’ President Laura Hollinsworth Announces She Will Leave Gannett as of Feb 2

In a shocking announcement Monday, Laura Hollingsworth – a 29-year Gannett Company veteran – announced to her Tennessean newsroom staff she will be leaving the company for good in early February. The Tennessean, for whom she as served as President for a year-and-a-half, published a glowing statement about her ouster: Laura Hollingsworth, president of The Tennessean and the USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee, is leaving the company, the longtime media executive announced on Monday in a newsroom address to all Tennessean employees. A 29-year veteran of the Gannett Co., parent of The Tennessean and USA TODAY, Hollingsworth oversees business operations of Gannett organizations throughout the state. Her final day is Feb. 2. “I am very grateful for my Gannett career which has taken me so many places and given me and my family so many things,” said Hollingsworth, who will continue to live in Nashville. “I simply feel this is the right time for me to explore what else I might do, where else I might have impact in new ways.” Hollingsworth led during a period of disruption and rapid transformation in the media industry. During her tenure, The Tennessean renewed its emphasis on music coverage, expanded its health care coverage, greatly…

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Judge Throws Out Case Against Bundys, Bars Retrial in Devastating Defeat for Federal Prosecutors

Cliven Bundy

A federal judge dismissed Monday all charges against rancher Cliven Bundy stemming from the 2014 Nevada standoff and barred prosecutors from retrying the case, citing “flagrant prosecutorial misconduct.” U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gloria Navarro’s dramatic ruling during a hearing in federal court in Las Vegas wasn’t entirely unexpected, given that she declared a mistrial last month after finding that federal prosecutors had willfully withheld evidence from the defense.

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Commentary: Why Are Senate Republicans Funneling Millions to Radical Left-Wing Groups?

By Richard McCarty   In 1978, the US Labor Department created an occupational safety and health training grant program, which is now called the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. In recent years, the Labor Department has awarded roughly $10 million a year in Harwood grants. The money is distributed to public colleges and universities, business groups, unions, and nonprofits. Of course, a number of these organizations neither deserve nor need taxpayer money. In President Trump’s first budget, he proposed defunding the program, and the House spending bill which covers the Department of Labor eliminated funding for the grants. Unfortunately, the Senate Appropriations Committee version of the bill allocated over $10.5 million for the grants. If they were eliminated, would the Harwood grants be missed? With the lousy record of so many government-funded training programs, it is fair to question the effectiveness of the training provided as part of the Harwood grants program. It should also be noted that some of the training classes that taxpayers have been funding only last 30 minutes to an hour. But even if the classes do meet a need, there are plenty of other sources of funding. Businesses and business groups should be fully capable of paying for their own training programs given the…

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President Trump Speaks to Enthusiastic American Farm Bureau Convention in Nashville: ‘Farm Country is God’s Country’

NASHVILLE, Tennessee–President Trump was greeted in Nashville by a raucous, capacity crowd–with standing-room-only overflow rooms watching via live video feed– as he delivered upbeat remarks highlighting his legislative accomplishments, regulatory rollbacks, and his Administration’s next steps at Monday’s 99th annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention. “I was so disappointed to learn it was the 99th,” the president quipped, noting that the 100th is “much cooler.” “I’ll just have to come back next year,” he said to roars of laughter and approval. Mr. Trump also took the opportunity to sign two executive actions designed to help clear the way for the development of broadband internet service to the large, rural regions of the country not well served buy today’s technology infrastructure. After an extended, welcoming standing ovation, President Trump began his remarks by thanking the local dignitaries in the room, including several members of the Tennessee delegation who traveled with him from Washington on Air Force One. Senators Bob Corker (R-TN), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) all received polite applause. Representative Diane Black (R-TN-06), whom President Trump has recognized as a main force for passage of once-in-a-lifetime tax reform received a more enthusiastic welcome, as did Representative Marsha Blackburn…

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