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May 14, 2021

Nashville’s Community Oversight Board Wants Metro Police to Increase Diversity Hires Based on NAACP-Prompted Report

Metro Nashville's Community Oversight Board (COB) wants the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) to prioritize diversity when hiring. This came out of an advisory report focused on reforming MNPD hiring procedures, requested by the Nashville NAACP. In the conclusion of its report, the...

May 14, 2021

Commentary: Biden Mocks Ancient Wisdom

Human nature stays the same across time and space. That is why there used to be predictable political, economic, and social behavior that all countries understood. The supply of money governs inflation. Print it without either greater productivity or more...

May 14, 2021

Commentary: ESG Investing Is Politics by Other Means

Before Joe Biden’s election, environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing was sweeping all before it. Wall Street was coming to the planet’s rescue and saving capitalism at the same time. It was a self-serving myth. As I show in my...

May 14, 2021

IWF’s Senior Policy Analyst Patrice Onwuka Outlines Biden’s Efforts to Unionize Independent Contractors and Gig Workers

Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Senior Policy Analyst of the Independent Women's Form, Patrice Onwuka to the newsmakers line to explain the details of the Biden administrations' PRO Act and its effect on...

May 14, 2021

Biden Administration to Continue Building Part of President Trump’s Border Wall

After initially vowing to not build any more new wall along the southern border, the Biden Administration has backtracked and announced that it will resume construction on some areas of the wall, the Daily Caller reports. Construction will resume on a 13.4...

May 14, 2021

Commentary: Big Tech Censorship Is Here to Stay

Big Tech has betrayed the American people yet again – despite hopes that Facebook would finally reverse it’s ban on Donald Trump’s account, the social media giant has re-committed to a path of dangerous partisan censorship. On Wednesday, an oversight...

May 14, 2021

Amid Violence, UMich Student Government Pledges to be in ‘Lockstep’ with Palestinians in Their ‘Fight Against Oppression’

The University of Michigan Central Student Government released a scathing statement in support of Palestine and against Israel, prompted by the ongoing conflict in Jerusalem. The letter accuses Israel of "settler colonialism, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid." "We aim to do whatever is...

May 14, 2021

Tennessee Education Lottery Board of Directors Chair Resigns

Tennessee Education Lottery (TEL) Board Chair Susan Lanigan resigned her position this week. TEL spokesman Dave Smith told The Tennessee Star Thursday that Lanigan resigned “to spend more time with family.”

May 14, 2021

Tennessee Education Lottery Says Action 24/7 Operates in Line with State Law

Members of the Tennessee Education Lottery Association have formally asserted they are not investigating the online sports-betting website Action 24/7 and that the company’s internal controls meet state requirements. This, according to a letter that Tennessee Education Lottery (TEL) Executive...

May 14, 2021

Knoxville to Fund Up to $25,000 for COVID-19 Memorial Mural

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon pledged up to $25,000 for a mural dedicated to memorializing COVID-19 deaths. The mural will be a permanent memorial for over 600 Knox County residents who reportedly died from COVID-19. The commissioned artist, Kelsey Montague, is...

May 14, 2021

Democratic Socialists to Hold Anti-Israel Rally in Knoxville

A group of self-proclaimed "democratic socialists" announced in a tweet on Thursday that they will hold an anti-Israel rally on Saturday at 2pm at Market Square in Knoxville, Tennessee. The announcement of the rally comes as Israel has repeatedly had...

May 14, 2021

Commentary: Biden’s America Resembles the Bad Old Days of 1973

While President Joe Biden may look fondly back on the year 1973, the year he began serving in the United States Senate, did he really have to bring the entire country back with him to that fateful year? Today’s headlines...

May 14, 2021

State Rep. Michael Sparks Talks Finishing Up Legislative Session and Passing the Sales Tax Exemption Bill

Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Tennessee State Rep. (R) Mike Sparks of Smyrna in studio to discuss ending the legislative session and the passing of the Sales Tax Exemption Bill.

May 14, 2021

Arizona Election Auditors Claim Maricopa County Officials Deleted Databases from Voting Machines Before Handing Them Over

Maricopa County election officials tampered with election records just days before the equipment was delivered to the Arizona Senate for the 2020 election audit, according to the Senate Liaison for the Maricopa County 2020 Forensic Election Audit. Before the machines were turned...

May 14, 2021

Rep. Burchett Sends Letter to Pelosi to End House COVID Restrictions

Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) sent a letter on Thursday to Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her to end the current COVID-19 regulations that are in place for the House of Representatives. The letter from Burchett comes in response to the Centers...

May 14, 2021

Biden Admin Stops Flying Migrants to Other Cities for Easier Expulsion

The Biden administration discontinued flights carrying migrant children and family units from one part of the border to another in order to expel them to Mexico, CBS News reported Wednesday. Advocacy groups criticized the administration for flying migrant families and...

May 14, 2021

Gov. Bill Lee Launches New Partnership to Combat Human Trafficking

The State of Tennessee is partnering with multiple organizations to help combat human trafficking, Governor Bill Lee announced on Thursday. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's project, ItHasToStop.com, this form of modern-day slavery is one of the fastest growing...

May 14, 2021

Witness Says Fulton County GOP Officials Behaved Dishonorably at Recent Convention

Witnesses who attended April’s Fulton County GOP convention — already unhappy with how the convention played out — have complained of additional shenanigans that establishment members pulled to preserve their power and keep grassroots Trump supporters at bay. Fulton County GOP members...

May 14, 2021

Non-Traditional Candidates Make Cut for FSU Presidency

Florida State University (FSU) has trimmed their list of potential candidates to replace retiring President John Thrasher to nine. Among them, three notable non-traditional candidates emerged with buzz surrounding their names: Richard Corcoran, Sean Pittman, and David Coburn.

May 14, 2021

University of Minnesota Reports 10 Robberies in Five Days, Students Continue to Call for Defunding Police

The University of Minnesota reported this week that 10 robberies occurred within five days around the Dinkytown and Stadium Village areas. On May 10, the university publicized information on the robberies using its “Safe-U Advisory” service, which disseminates safety notifications to students...

May 14, 2021

Virginia’s COVID-19 Case Numbers, Hospitalizations Down to Spring 2020 Levels

Virginia's COVID-19 case numbers hit a new milestone on Monday: just 336 reported cases, according to the Virginia Department of Health; the last time numbers dropped below 400 was in June and April of 2020. According to the Virginia Hospital...

May 14, 2021

Georgia Opts Out of Extra Federal Unemployment Benefits

Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday during an interview on Fox News that Georgia will reject the federal government's $300 per week enhanced unemployment benefits. "What I'm seeing on the ground here is that every small business owner and the workers...

May 14, 2021

DeSantis Signs Bill Restricting Gun Regulations by Local Governments

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed bill SB 1884 Friday which bans local governments from imposing local gun regulations that are stricter than the state firearm laws. The measure stems from a 1987 preemption law in Florida that originally established a...

May 14, 2021

Emergency Broadband Benefit Applications Open, Provides $50 per Month to Help Recipients Pay Broadband Bills

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is accepting applications for an economic relief program providing $50 per month to help low-income families pay for broadband. "The Emergency Broadband Benefit program will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards...

May 14, 2021

DeSantis to Pardon Floridians Who Defied COVID Rules, Says He Will Grant Clemency

In a Wednesday appearance on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle," Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced that he will pardon and grant clemency to those facing legal battles for breaking mask mandates and social distancing orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. DeSantis...

May 14, 2021

Nikki Fried Announces ‘Something New’ for June 1

Earlier this week, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried released a video where she is planning on making a major announcement, and “something new” is coming on June 1. In the video, clips of Fried tout her resume as the only...

May 14, 2021

Gov DeWine COVID Vaccination Enticements on Ohio Attorney General’s Radar

Governor Mike DeWine unveiled a program to entice Ohio adults and children alike to get the COVID vaccine on Wednesday – the State of Ohio will give away $5MM and five college scholarships. Winners will be drawn weekly over five...

May 14, 2021

Norment, Saslaw Discuss If Virginia Will Remain Business-Friendly in the Future

In a post-session virtual luncheon hosted by Wason Center Academic Director Quentin Kidd, Senate Minority Leader Thomas Norment (R-James City) expressed alarm at erosion of Virginia's business-friendly status while Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw (D-Fairfax) said moderate pro-business senators were...

May 14, 2021

GOP Candidate for Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District Robby Starbuck on Rand Paul Endorsement and Why He’s Running

Live from Music Row Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed GOP candidate for Nashville’s Fifth District,...

May 14, 2021

Tennessee Officials Investigating Unemployment Claims for Those Who Refuse to Work

Tennessee government officials told The Tennessee Star they've received about 300 complaints of individuals passing up work for unemployment benefits. According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD), these are the total complaints filed since last March - when...

May 13, 2021

DeWine Offers Taxpayer Money for Giveaways to Vaccinated Ohioans

In a state-wide address, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Wednesday that individuals who get vaccinated will be entered for a chance to win a drawing of $1 million — 5 different winners will be selected. DeWine noted that the...

May 13, 2021

Representative Harshbarger Introduces Bill to Reform Occupational Licensing: ‘Freedom to Work Act’

Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) introduced the "Freedom to Work Act" on Wednesday - a bill to reform occupational licensing. The Freedom to Work Act would require federal executive agencies to review their authorities, regulations, or policies that directly impose occupational...

May 13, 2021

Commentary: H.R. 1 Would Eliminate Key Signature Verification Safeguard

Democrats have already passed H.R. 1, also known as the For the People Act, in the House of Representatives; fortunately, the bill faces a much tougher road in the Senate. Among the bill’s many serious problems are a wide array...

May 13, 2021

Poll: Majority of Voters Blame Biden for Border ‘Crisis’

As the Biden administration continues to wrestle with an influx of people illegally crossing the southern border, new polling shows Americans are unhappy with the president's handling of the issue. Polling released Tuesday from Rasmussen reports that roughly two-thirds of Americans think...

May 13, 2021

Tennessee State Employees Participate in Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Listening Session

Staff members at the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) earlier this year documented the results of a Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity listening session they held for nearly 300 state employees. DHS officials published their report in January.

May 13, 2021

Crom Carmichael Discusses the Future of the Republican Party

Wednesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael in studio to discuss the future of the Republican Party.

May 13, 2021

The Federalist Author Jenni White Discusses the Five Ways Parents Are Responsible for Public Education Failures

Wednesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed author Jenni White at The Federalist to the newsmakers line to discuss her recent article which gives five examples of how parents are responsible for the failure of...

May 13, 2021

Commentary: The Strange Death of the British Labour Party

I must visit Twitter periodically to renew my sense of horror. For lurid anthropological enjoyment, Twitter offers a safari to those inclined. Twitter is most satisfying when reality intrudes upon those dedicated to unreality, the “my-truthers.” Last week’s elections in Great Britain...

May 13, 2021

Star News Network Washington Correspondent Neil McCabe on the Ouster of Liz Cheney and Her Replacement

Wednesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Star News Network's Washington Correspondent Neil W. McCabe to the newsmakers line to give his predictions on whether or not House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney will be...

May 13, 2021

Consumer Prices Increase 4.2 Percent to the Highest Level Since 2008

The consumer price index has jumped 4.2% over the last 12 months, the fastest pace of inflation since 2008, according to a Department of Labor report. The consumer price index (CPI) increased 0.8% between March and April, according to the...

May 13, 2021

Arizona Adopts Election Reform Bill That Stops Some Voters from Automatically Receiving Absentee Ballots

Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed an election reform bill Tuesday that could stop thousands of voters from automatically receiving an absentee ballot ahead of an upcoming election. SB 1485 would remove voters who have not participated in Arizona’s last four...

May 13, 2021

Tennessee State Senator Ferrell Haile Discusses One of His Top Three Priorities Citing Progress in Safe Baby Courts

Wednesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Tennessee State Senator Ferrell Haile to the newsmakers line to talk about his three top priorities as Senator which are children, families, and education in addition to the...

May 13, 2021

Gas Crisis in Southeastern U.S. Worsens as over 1,000 Stations Run Out of Fuel

America’s southeast is seeing the worst of the growing energy crisis after a devastating hack of a major American pipeline, with well over 1,000 gas stations running out of fuel altogether, the New York Post reports. Following the hack of the Colonial...

May 13, 2021

New Federal Data Signals More Trouble for U.S. Economy

New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that prices for consumer goods have risen significantly in the past year, putting extra strain on Americans’ budgets and worrying experts. As the Biden administration fends off criticism over proposed tax...

May 13, 2021

More Than 178,000 Illegally Crossed Southern U.S. Border in April, a Two-Decade High

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported Tuesday that 178,622 people attempted to illegally enter America's southern border in April, a two-decade high. Officials said single adults comprised a majority of encounters.