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September 24, 2021

Gov. Lee Announces ‘Promising Results’ from K-8 Summer School Because of Law Passed in January 2021 Education Special Session

Governor Bill Lee announced on Wednesday that results from policies passed during the January 2021 special legislative session have provided "encouraging data." According to Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn, the Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act allowed...

September 24, 2021

Metro Nashville Council Member Allegedly Trying to Change Zoning of a Property Against Owners’ Wishes

Metro Nashville Council Member Dave Rosenberg is allegedly trying to change the zoning of a property to hurt the property owners, with whom he allegedly has stark political differences. One of the property owners, Nashville businessman Crom Carmichael, said the...

September 24, 2021

Commentary: Little Outcry over Antifa’s Equal-Opportunity Beatdowns of Journalists Left and Right

From covering displaced refugees around the globe to the obstacles faced by protesters seeking change in America, freelance photojournalist Maranie Staab believes her camera can be a force for truth and social justice. The work of a “conflict photographer” often requires...

September 24, 2021

New Signs Up in Mount Juliet Urge People to ‘Say No to Panhandling’

New street signs have been spotted around Mount Juliet urging people to “Say No to Panhandling”. The sign offers an alternative suggestion which is “Contribute to the Solution - Give to Local Charities”.

September 24, 2021

Rep. Scott DesJarlais Leads Republican Letter Questioning Biden Restriction of Coronavirus Antibody Treatments

Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) led an effort by 55 Republican lawmakers to demand answers on why the Biden administration moved to limit potentially life-saving coronavirus antibody treatments. The letter, also signed by Reps. Mark Green (R-TN-07) and Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01),...

September 24, 2021

Cost of College Textbooks in Tennessee Nearly Equal to One Additional Semester in School, Study Finds

Tennessee Comptrollers released a report Thursday that addressed what they said was the rising costs of college textbooks in the state. “Although the cost of course materials is only one component of the cost of a postsecondary education, by the...

September 24, 2021

Jobless Claims Increase to 351,000 as Economic Recovery Slows

The number of Americans filing new unemployment claims increased to 351,000 last week as the economy continues to slowly recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The Bureau of Labor Statistics figure released Thursday represents an increase in the number of new jobless claims...

September 24, 2021

Wisconsin Tribes Sue to Stop Wolf Hunt, Claim It Violates Treaties

The latest lawsuit over Wisconsin’s wolf hunt is coming from the state’s Native American tribes. Six communities in the Ojibwe tribe filed a lawsuit in federal court on Tuesday to try and stop the hunt, which is scheduled for November.

September 24, 2021

Catholic Vote President: Government Has ‘No Authority’ to Tell Americans ‘What They Can or Cannot Believe’

The federal government has “no authority” to tell Americans “what they can or cannot believe” when it comes to religious exemptions to vaccinations, the president of non-profit political advocacy group CatholicVote.org told the Daily Caller News Foundation. Thousands of Americans are...

September 24, 2021

‘Overdose Crisis’: Methamphetamine-Related Deaths Nearly Tripled from 2015 to 2019

U.S. methamphetamine-related deaths in adults between the ages of 18 to 64 nearly tripled from 2015 to 2019, according to a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The study found that the number of psychostimulant-related overdoses increased from 5,526 to 15,489, a...

September 24, 2021

Construction Industry Experiences Slowdown as Labor, Supply Shortages Wreak Havoc

The construction industry is struggling to recover from the pandemic due to difficulties hiring workers and severe supply chain shortfalls, a report found. Construction contractors project revenue to remain stagnant and below pre-pandemic levels over the next 12 months even...

September 24, 2021

Republicans Press White House for Public Account of Military Equipment Lost to the Taliban

Twenty House Republicans signed a letter to President Joe Biden Thursday demanding a public account of the military equipment lost in Afghanistan and the risks that it poses to the U.S., its allies and its interests. The letter, led by...

September 24, 2021

Soros-Funded Group Sends Letter to FCC Calling for Murder of Republicans

A far-left group funded by radical billionaire George Soros submitted a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) calling for Republicans to be murdered, according to the Washington Free Beacon. The group in question is Free Press, which is funded...

September 24, 2021

Retired Physician Turned Pastor Speaks Out Against New Monoclonal Antibody Protocol

On Wednesday, Rev. Dr. Donna Whitney, Pastoral Assistant at Metropolitan Interdenominational Church in Nashville and retired Physician, spoke out against the Tennessee state's decision to prioritize monoclonal antibody treatment for those most likely to be hospitalized rather than for whoever...

September 24, 2021

Facebook Reveals How It Decides What Content to Suppress

Facebook released its updated Content Distribution Guidelines on Thursday, shedding more light on how the tech giant decides what content it suppresses. While Facebook has previously provided some details on the types of content that receive reduced distribution in Facebook’s...

September 24, 2021

Editor and Publisher of the New England Review Press, Rebecca Bynum Talks Publishing and New Book ‘The Quran Speaks’

Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Editor and Publisher of the New England Review Press, Rebecca Bynam in studio to talk about the world of publishing, controversy, and new book The Quran Speaks.

September 24, 2021

All Star Panelist Roger Simon Discusses the Monoclonal Antibody Controlled Distribution, Fascism and Communism

Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Roger Simon in studio to weigh in on the distribution of monoclonal antibody treatments and free-market pharmaceutical companies.

September 24, 2021

Arizona Charter Schools Add Thousands of New Students Amid COVID-19 Closures

Arizona’s charter schools experienced a rush of new applications amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released a compilation of state-by-state data on charter school enrollment compared with enrollment in the 2019-2020 school year. It found...

September 24, 2021

Michigan Gov. Whitmer Changes Course, Will Sign Bill Banning School Mask Mandates and Vaccine Passports

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), who earned a reputation for imposing extremely strict COVID-19 restrictions, will now sign a bill that bans mask mandates and vaccine passports. The measures are part of the state's $70 billion budget bill, which clocks in...

September 24, 2021

Fifty Georgia Professors to Mandate Masks in Classrooms, Bucking University System

Fifty University of Georgia science professors have banded together and said they will mandate masks in their classrooms, despite the fact that the University System of Georgia (USG) says students do not have to wear masks. "We are deeply devoted...

September 24, 2021

Two Afghan Refugees at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin Face Sexual Assault and Abuse Charges

Two Afghan refugees staying at Fort McCoy have been charged in separate incidents involving sexual assault of a minor and abuse. A grand jury charged Afghan refugees Bahrullah Noori and Mohammad Haroon Imaad on Thursday. Noori, 20, was charged with...

September 24, 2021

Georgia’s Pension Shortfall Ranks 19th in the Country

In much of the country, public pension funding has been one of the most persistent public policy problems. For years, many state governments have failed to make necessary investments in their retirement system, resulting in funding gaps that increasingly present...

September 24, 2021

Virginia Redistricting Commission Running Out of Time to Complete General Assembly Maps

The Virginia Redistricting Commission is scrambling to find more time to finalize General Assembly draft maps ahead of a series of public hearings on October 4-7. On Monday, the commission saw separate sets of draft maps proposed by the two...

September 24, 2021

Florida Governor DeSantis Bypasses Biden Administration, Acquires Monoclonal Antibodies Directly from GlaxoSmithKline

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday that the state of Florida purchased thousands of monoclonal antibody treatments directly from GlaxoSmithKline, a producer of the treatment. The move by DeSantis bypasses a restriction placed by President Joe Biden's administration, allowing...

September 24, 2021

Phoenix Hospital Worker Says Adverse Effects of COVID-19 Vaccine Aren’t Being Reported

The investigative media organization Project Veritas released video secretly recorded by a Phoenix hospital worker of her co-workers discussing how there is a cover-up going on hiding the adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. Jodi O’Malley, who works as an...

September 24, 2021

The Virginia Citizens Defense League is Pressuring the Petersburg City Council over a New Gun Ban on City Property

The Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) is calling for a pressure campaign on the members of the Petersburg City Council after the council approved a gun ban on city property similar to bans enacted in other localities. "Petersburg slipped through...

September 24, 2021

Florida to Appeal Federal Judge’s Ruling Declaring ‘Sanctuary City’ Ban Unconstitutional

Florida will appeal a federal judge’s injunction prohibiting the state from enforcing its two-year-old “sanctuary cities” ban. U.S. Southern District of Florida Judge Beth Bloom Tuesday released a 110-page ruling declaring portions 2019’s Senate Bill 168 are unconstitutional and that...

September 24, 2021

Ohio Gov. DeWine Primary Challenger Jim Renacci Slams New ‘Vax-to-School’ Initiative

Former GOP congressman Jim Renacci, who is challenging Governor Mike DeWine in 2022, on Thursday slammed a new vaccine initiative announced by DeWine, dubbed "Ohio Vax-to-School." The new program will award dozens of scholarships ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 in...

September 24, 2021

Middle Tennessee Students Gather Together in Prayer for ‘See You At The Pole’ Day

On Wednesday, some Middle Tennessee students gathered together and began their morning in prayer. Wednesday marked 2021’s "See You At The Pole" (SYATP) Day in which students unite in prayer near the flagpoles at their schools around the United States...

September 24, 2021

Sumner County School Board Passes Resolution to Ask State for Flexibility Concerning COVID-19

On Tuesday, the Sumner County School Board passed resolutions regarding COVID-19 in their district. The resolution will now go to state lawmakers asking them not to require a waiver to have 180 school days if they have to shut down...

September 24, 2021

Florida Lawmaker Files Abortion Bill Titled the ‘Florida Heartbeat Act’

Florida House Representative, Webster Barnaby of Deltona, filed an abortion bill (HB 167) Wednesday, titled the "Florida Heartbeat Act" that, like Texas, would ban most abortions in the state, and allow lawsuits against doctors that violate the law. The bill...

September 24, 2021

Brother of Minneapolis City Council Member in ‘Critical Condition’ Following Stabbing Incident

The brother of Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman is in critical condition following a stabbing incident in Minneapolis. In a Facebook post, Osman said that his brother is currently in the ICU. Osman said, “Yesterday afternoon my brother Liban...

September 24, 2021

Florida Judge Issues Temporary Injunction Against Gainesville Vaccine Mandate

Judge Monica Brasington of the 8th Judicial Circuit Court has issued a temporary injunction against the City of Gainesville’s COVID vaccine mandate. The decision indicates a slight, early victory for employees who are seeking to not receive the vaccine. Brasington...

September 24, 2021

Michigan’s $70B 2022 Budget Stuffed with $146 Million in ‘Pork’

Michigan’s $70 billion budget for fiscal year 2022 increases government spending by 11.5% from last year’s $62.8 billion budget. The increased spending includes one-time funds from federal stimulus packages, raising concerns Michigan can’t sustain current spending without hiking taxes or...

September 24, 2021

Virginia State Corporation Commission Staff Report: Dominion Energy Should Pay Customers $312.4 Million Refund

As testimony in an ongoing review of Dominion Energy, a State Corporation Commission (SCC) staff report recommends a $312.4 million refund to the utility's Virginia customers after finding that the utility's earnings exceeded a regulatory threshold by $1.143 billion in...

September 24, 2021

Critical Race Theory Debate Heating Up in Ohio General Assembly

School districts, teachers unions, student groups and parents lined up at the Ohio House to testify against two bills that would stop schools from teaching what sponsors called “divisive concepts” in the classroom. The House State and Local Government Committee...

September 24, 2021

Florida Mayors Split on Critical Race Theory After Mayors’ Conference Vote

Earlier this month, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) affirmed their support for teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Florida’s public K-12 schools. The conference adopted Resolution 68 entitled “In Support of Critical Race Theory in Public K-12 Education.” The...

September 24, 2021

Shawn Parker Commentary: Capitalism Gives People More Options Than Socialism

The Columbus Dispatch published a number of Letters to the Editor Thursday that were referencing the cost of crackers at the local grocery store in response to the question of the week “is capitalism or socialism responsible for a box...

September 24, 2021

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter Won’t Seek U.S. Senate Seat, Endorses Herschel Walker

Staff for U.S. Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) said Thursday he will not run for the United States Senate to replace incumbent U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA). Carter will instead support Herschel Walker, a Republican, to run against and then replace Warnock.

September 24, 2021

Pennsylvania County Commissioners’ Group Opposes Live-Streaming of Mail-In Vote Counting

Bipartisan enthusiasm for election-reform legislation appeared solid at a Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee hearing on Thursday, save for one part: video live-streaming of mail-in-ballot counting. Elements of the bill, sponsored by Sen. David Argall (R-PA-Pottsville) and Sen. Sharif Street...

September 24, 2021

New Poll Shows Craig Edges Whitmer in Governors Race, but Strong Support in Detroit Keeps Whitmer Within Striking Distance

A new poll conducted by the Trafalgar Group shows Republican James Craig leading Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in a potential general election contest. The survey, released on Tuesday, demonstrated the former Detroit police chief leading Whitmer 50 percent to 44...

September 24, 2021

State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson: ‘Any Provider Who Wants to Prescribe Monoclonal Antibody Treatment to Someone Who Has Been Vaccinated Can Do So’

Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson to the newsmakers line to weigh in on the confusion regarding monoclonal antibody treatment in Tennessee.

September 23, 2021

Shooting Inside Tennessee Kroger Leaves 13 Shot, One Dead

On Thursday, 13 people were injured and 1 killed after a shooting broke out at a Memphis, Tennessee suburb grocery store. The shooting took place in the Kroger grocery store at 240 New Byhalia Road in Collierville, Tennessee.

September 23, 2021

House Passes $1 Billion Measure for Israel’s Iron Dome, Despite Lack of Progressive Support

Despite opposition from progressive lawmakers, the Democratic-led House passed $1 billion of funding for Israel's Iron Dome on Thursday with the help of Republican votes. Oregon Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenhaur, the presiding officer, deemed the bill passed with a simple...

September 23, 2021

States Prepare for Limits on Key COVID Treatment, Criticize Federal Rationing

Demand for a key COVID-19 treatment has led to a nationwide shortage, and as President Joe Biden's administration rations how much each state receives, some governors are pushing back over having to decide how to use their limited supplies. Many...