A group of 21 Republican governors, led by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, have sent a letter to congressional leadership expressing their objection to the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
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Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio for another edition of Crom’s Crommentary.
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Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Dad Gone Wild blogger TC Weber in studio to talk about Governor Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn’s record on Tennessee education.
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The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced on Tuesday that 12 grants totaling $34,585,121 from Tennessee’s American Rescue Plan, will be administered in the form of water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants.
“These grants will address important water infrastructure needs across our state, especially in disadvantaged communities. We commend communities who have gone through the application process, and we look forward to the substantial improvements the grant will bring,” said Governor Bill Lee.
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Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, and Symmco Inc. officials announced that the powdered metal manufacturer would invest $13.1 million to expand and locate new manufacturing operations in Hawkins County, Tennessee.
Symco Inc. will be creating 86 new jobs over five years, according to the press release.
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In a statement issued on Monday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced new appointments to the Office of the Governor, including the appointments of Erin Merrick to succeed Jonathan Skrmetti as Chief Legal Counsel, effective September 1, and Casey Black Sellers to succeed Laine Arnold as Director of Communications, effective September 2.
The Tennessee Supreme Court announced last week that Skrmetti will assume the role of Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter, succeeding outgoing Attorney General Herb Slatery who did not seek re-appointment to the role.
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The Tennessee Supreme Court decision to appoint Jonathan Skrmetti as the attorney general was outstanding. In fact, it could have powerful, transformative impact on our freedom, constitutional rights and religious liberty.
Why?
Because Tennessee must take the lead in stopping federal overreach and abuse of power.
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Governor Bill Lee’s office announced on the Office of the Governor government website on Monday that their 2022 Fall internship program is now accepting applications.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 12th.
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The Tennessee National Guard is responding to catastrophic flooding in Kentucky, sending resources to combat the impact of the natural disaster.
The flooding has led to the deaths of at least 26 people—a number that could climb as rain continues to fall in the region.
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Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Dr. Matthew Spalding, Vice President of Hillsdale College and the Executive Director of the 1776 Commission to the newsmakers line to discuss recent comments made by the college president Larry Arnn that were taken out of context in regard to teachers.
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Kroger Fulfillment Network, LLC officials announced Thursday that Kroger Co. will offer more Americans product delivery through the addition of a “spoke” facility in Nashville. The project is expected to bring 180 new jobs to Davidson County.
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Governor Bill Lee’s office commented favorably towards the idea of a special session in order to address issues relating to the 2024 Republican National Convention but as of press time refuses to comment on the idea of holding a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly in order to save the jobs of Tennessee National Guard soldiers who have refused the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Tennessee Star has reached out to Governor Lee’s office on multiple occasions on the issue of National Guard soldier firings and the idea of a special session. Governor Lee’s office refused comment at every inquiry.
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U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) endorsed State Senator Jack Jackson (R-Franklin) in his bid for another term in the Tennessee General Assembly.
Over the course of his campaign, he has picked up other endorsements from the NRA Political Victory Fund and the National Federation of Independent Business.
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Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed official guest host Aaron Gulbransen in-studio to discuss his nationwide story regarding Tennessee’s National Guardsmen losing pay as Governor Bill Lee remains silent.
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Federal and local law enforcement officials are investigating an attempted arson and vandalism attack on a pro-life resource clinic in Nashville, based on a release from the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD).
The Hope Clinic for Women is “a faith-based safe and confidential place for anyone dealing with life choices regarding past, present, and future pregnancies,” according to their website.
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Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Executive Director & CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee JC Bowman in studio to comment upon the recent statements made by Hilldale College’s Larry Arnn at an event with Governor Bill Lee regarding education.
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Thursday morning on War Room: Pandemic, Stephen K. Bannon welcomed Washington correspondent and the national political editor for The Star News Network and The Tennessee Star, Neil W. McCabe to explain how Governor Bill of Tennessee is keeping with big army’s purge of national guardsmen.
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host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Crom Carmichael in studio to discuss the support by TN5 candidate Kurt Winstead of Governor Bill Lee’s inaction against COVID-19 vaccine mandates for Tennessee’s National Guardsmen.
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Thursday morning on War Room: Pandemic, Stephen K. Bannon welcomed Captain Mickey Shelton of the Tennessee National Guard to the show to discuss his letter sent to Governor Bill Lee to take action against COVID-19 vaccine mandates for guardsmen.
Bannon: Let me bring in captain Mickey Shelton from out in Tennessee. Captain Shelton, tell us what the situation is out there. You are an officer in the National Guard.
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Tennessee 5th Congressional District candidate and former Tennessee National Guard General Kurt Winstead aligned with Governor Bill Lee’s inaction and disinformation on the guardsmen firings due to their refusal to accept the COVID-19 vaccine shot Thursday.
“I believe that the governor is working behind the scenes, doing everything in his power to help the Tennessee National Guard – no question in my mind,” said Winstead In an interview conducted by Matt Murphy on SuperTalk 99.7 fm WTN.
Winstead defended Lee’s inaction, insisting that there was nothing the governor can do to help the guardsmen, and that only the federal government can take action.
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Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, reports from Washington about how states like Tennessee are dealing with Big Army’s June 30, 2022, deadline for National Guardsmen to be 100 percent compliant with the President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s military COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
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Stephen K. Bannon welcomed Washington correspondent and the national political editor for The Star News Network and The Tennessee Star, Neil W. McCabe to discuss the vaccine mandate that’s stripping the National Guard of guardsmen in record numbers Thursday morning on War Room: Pandemic.
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee – A group of off-duty National Guard members and supporters were led by Captain Mickey Shelton and State Representative Jerry Sexton (R-Grainger) in delivering a letter to Governor Bill Lee’s office imploring him to take meaningful action to save the jobs of guardsmen who are about to be fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine after the “Guard Freedom” event that was held at Legislative Plaza midday on Wednesday.
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Following an executive meeting of the Davidson County Republican Party (DCRP), Chairman James Garrett issued the following statement upon news that up to 10 percent of Tennessee Guardsmen face being discharged for refusing a COVID-19 vaccination.
“As the Republican Party of the State Capital, our leadership and members call upon Governor Lee to step-up and order Major General Holmes to halt the discharge of our Guardsmen,” he said.
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A federal court lifted an injunction against Tennessee’s “heartbeat bill” that will implement a six-week abortion ban throughout the state.
The ruling follows a request from Attorney General Herbert Slatery to lift the measure, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade. The landmark decision previously established a constitutional right to abortion.
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Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, investigated how the Tennessee State Guard, a state-funded and state-directed all-volunteer force without a federal role or federal funding is handling the Army’s June 30, 2022, deadline for 100 percent COVID-19 vaccine mandate compliance.
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Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed official guest host Aaron Gulbransen in-studio to discuss why TN5 candidate General Kurt Winstead will not initiate help for Tennessee guardsmen about to lose their jobs or answer any real questions directly.
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Several General Assembly members in both the state House and state Senate have shared a text message with The Tennessee Star that purports to be a message from Governor Bill Lee’s office that says the governor is working on the issue and specifically mentions “religious and personal exemptions.”
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Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed retired Tennessee National Guard Master Sergeant, Jennifer Berry to the newsmaker line to discuss her upcoming retirement due to non-compliance of the COVID-19 vaccine and efforts to reverse the mandate by Governor Bill Lee.
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Several members of the Tennessee General Assembly provided comments to The Tennessee Star in support of the National Guard members who are about to be fired due to their refusal to comply with the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
State Senator Ferrell Haile (R-SD18) was the first to provide The Star with a comment. Haile exclaimed, “I do not support the firing because of refusal to be vaccinated by TN National Guard!”
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Tennessee Senate Republican Leader Jack Johnson issued a strong statement in support of Tennessee National Guard members who are due to be fired on June 30 because of their refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and encouraging Governor Lee to help these guardsmen.
In a statement issued exclusively to The Tennessee Star, Leader Johnson excoriated the Biden administration’s COVID-19 mandates and said, “It is a travesty that the Biden Administration is prepared to fire brave men and women who faithfully serve our state and nation in the TN National Guard because of their COVID-19 vaccine status.”
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee – A group of supporters of Tennessee National Guard members informed The Tennessee Star of their intention to host a Wednesday, June 29 event outside the Capitol at Legislative Plaza in downtown Nashville.
The event is called “Guard Freedom” and will feature letter readings by surrogates from active duty National Guard members who cannot speak publicly for fear that they will immediately lose their jobs, a reading of requests for Governor Lee to take immediate action on their behalf, and likely several speeches.
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Governor Bill Lee refuses to comment as Tennessee National Guard members plead for their jobs.
Sources inside the Tennessee National Guard estimate there will be much as a 10 percent force reduction from soldiers who are about to be discharged on June 30 due to refusal to accept a COVID-19 vaccination and have called on the governor to take action to protect their jobs.
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tennessee Star has obtained exclusive information from sources inside the Tennessee National Guard that are calling for Governor Bill Lee to take immediate action because “His Adjutant General is about to discharge hundreds of his National Guard Soldiers before the end of the month for not complying with an unlawful order.”
This group of Tennessee National Guardsmen provided The Star with their message for Governor Lee on the condition of anonymity:
The Governor needs to IMMEDIATELY order Major General Holmes to halt the discharge of these honorable men and women. He needs to order Attorney General Slatery to IMMEDIATELY coordinate with other state AGs to file an emergency injunction against the DoD, forcing them to reverse adverse actions against any National Guardsman for refusal to vaccinate. Governor Lee is the Commander in Chief of the Tennessee National Guard and he has that authority. It’s time to put a stop to this injustice now!
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On Thursday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers announced the winners of the 2022 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards.
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Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy and all-star panelist Carmichael discuss the method in which the Tennessee constitution dictates the selection of an attorney general in the state.
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Sources familiar with the thinking of Governor Bill Lee and his team tell The Tennessee Star that Governor Lee believes that “it is already a done deal” that his preferred choice for attorney general, Brandon Gibson, will get the appointment.
The sources spoke with The Star on background and one said, “It is very well thought by Governor Lee’s team and highest corners of office in the executive branch that the open Attorney General seat is a lock to go to Brandon Gibson.”
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The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Governor Bill Lee’s school voucher program is constitutional. The voucher program only applies to failing schools in Davidson County and Shelby County.
The court said in a statement, “The Tennessee Supreme Court determined that, while two Tennessee county governments had standing to challenge the Education Savings Account Pilot Program (the “ESA Act”), the Act is not rendered unconstitutional by the Home Rule Amendment, article XI, section 9, of the Tennessee Constitution.”
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On February 20, 2020, Nicholas Todd Sutton was executed by the State of Tennessee.
He will be the last person Tennessee executes for a very long time.
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Governor Bill Lee declined to sign new legislation passed by the General Assembly that impacts the amount of prison time served by convicted criminals, allowing the measure to go into law without his signature.
The bill, known as “truth in sentencing” legislation, mandates that individuals convicted of certain violent crimes serve their entire sentence behind bars.
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Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey is stepping down from her role as the head of the state agency.
According to a release from Governor Bill Lee’s office, Piercey is accepting a role in the private sector. Her last day in the position will be May 31.
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Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed the Executive Director & CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee, JC Bowman in studio to comment upon the Tennessee Investment for Student Achievement and Governor Lee’s relationship with Bill Gates.
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee- Governor Bill Lee could not explain why he believes Morgan Ortagus should be on the Tennessee 5th Congressional District Republican primary ballot when his Republican primary opponents’ were reportedly about to be disqualified from the ballot during a joint press conference held with U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN)after a law enforcement roundtable on border security Wednesday afternoon.
Hagerty and Lee briefly opened with statements on border security and the roundtable discussion that was held before they took questions. Lee was asked several questions about pending legislation before the Tennessee General Assembly before he was asked about Ortagus’ disqualification from the Republican primary.
Americans for Limited Government, an organization that supports reducing the size and scope of government, sent a letter to Governor Bill Lee to urge him to veto a new campaign finance reform bill, if it passes the state legislature.
SB 1005, which was passed on a bipartisan vote in the Senate, would enact multiple changes to disclosure rules for political action committees (PAC), certain nonprofits, and candidates.
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Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist and The Epoch Times Editor-at-Large Roger Simon in-studio to discuss the status of the Tennessee state three-year residency bill and the AP’s false interpretation of where it stands.
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Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer in-studio in further comment upon who in the state decides the filing deadline to be on the GOP primary ballot.
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On Nashville’s Morning News, host Mandis spoke with Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton regarding the proposed $500 million bond for a retractable roof on Titans Stadium and its benefits for Nashville and the state.
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Governor Bill Lee’s office made a presentation to the Tennessee House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on his $500 billion bond proposal for a new Titans stadium that included several generalizations with very few details.
Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Butch Eley, who functions as Lee’s chief financial officer, made the presentation on Tuesday.
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Governor Bill Lee is said to be asking the Tennessee General Assembly to issue $500 million in bonds to help fund a new Tennessee Titans stadium.
First reported by Axios, Governor Lee wants the General Assembly to approve $500 million in bonds, which would be issued by the state and likely repaid by revenue from the new stadium.
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Governor Bill Lee has placed his signature on House Joint Resolution 0856, a resolution recognizing the Mission America Foundation for the work they do to combat child and human trafficking.
The Mission America Foundation “is dedicated to eradicating Child and Human Trafficking. We utilize prior military personnel to investigate trafficking leads and providing intelligence to law enforcement agencies. We provide ‘Situationally Aware Fundamentally Empowered’ (S.A.F.E), self defense training to young boys and girls. Our focus is increasing trafficking awareness, through speaking engagements to bring awareness to the domestic trafficking problems that plague this great nation.”
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