March 2017 - Page 2 of 4 - Tennessee Star

Lawsuit Filed To Stop Construction of Mosque in Michigan Chaldean Christian Community

March 23, 2017June 7, 2018 Wendy Wilson

The American Freedom Law Center has filed a lawsuit on behalf of seven residents of Sterling Heights, Michigan, who oppose construction of a mosque in their largely Chaldean Christian neighborhood. Robert Muise, senior counsel for the law center, said in a statement that the Islamic group behind the plans “wanted to ‘plant the flag’ in this Chaldean Christian community by building this huge mosque. This is a community of Christians, many of whom fled Iraq because they or family members were subjected to violence and abuse from ISIS.” The action taken by the law center is the latest in a long conflict begun in 2015 over plans for the new mosque in Sterling Heights, a suburb of Detroit. It would be the third mosque in Sterling Heights. Last month, the city settled lawsuits filed by the American Islamic Community Center and the Obama Department of Justice claiming that a decision by the city planning commission to deny an application to build was rooted in religious prejudice. Residents had concerns about the large mosque creating traffic and noise in their residential area and some voiced criticism of Islam. The American Freedom Law Center maintains that the city did not have a right…

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Commentary: Repeal Means Repeal!

March 23, 2017March 22, 2017 Admin

For the past six years the Republicans in Congress have repeatedly demanded that Obamacare be repealed and replaced. In fact the House has voted over 60 times to repeal Obamacare but were regularly blocked by the Democrat-controlled Senate under Majority Leader Harry Reid. When Republicans took control of the Senate the House was able to pass a bill in 2016 to repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood that finally came to a vote and also passed in the Senate. President Obama vetoed it. As long as President Obama could wield the veto pen there was no hope of actually repealing Obamacare. But now, with President Trump in place and with his oft-repeated campaign pledge to “repeal Obamacare,” Republicans are positioned to keep their promises and kill the disastrous and costly government health insurance scheme. Yet, here we are on the verge of success and moderate Republicans like Speaker Paul Ryan and House Budget Chair Diane Black are desperately trying to simply replace Obamacare with a watered down version that replaces subsidies with credits and keeps the foundations of Obamacare firmly in place. Instead of “promises made, promises kept” the Republicans will claim “promises made, promises continued until phases two…

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Letter to the Editor: “I am fed up with these blatant, arrogant power grabs”

March 22, 2017March 24, 2017 Admin

Dear Tennessee Star, First of all, I just want everyone there to know how much I appreciate you. I have sent the Tennessee Star link to all of my friends and family – both here and in other states. The reason I’m writing today is that I am fed up with these blatant, arrogant power grabs that are so totally disrespectful and contradict the residents of Tennessee. Boss Doss plainly is answering to a boss other than Tennessee residents. I hope voters remove the 10 Republicans who voted for this “amended IMPROVE Act.” This kind of “ramming” seems to be the order of the day. Last night I was at the Metro Council meeting and watched as they went through new resolutions so quickly that I couldn’t even keep up on the agenda! The Vice Mayor actually joked with the Council person reading the resolutions about getting through them so quickly. I was there specifically regarding a zoning change. I have been to every commission meeting, council meeting, and public hearing on this proposal except one when I didn’t receive a notice. The only persons who have spoken in favor of this rezoning are the person wanting to develop…

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House Intelligence: “Reports Clearly Show That the President-Elect Was Monitored”

March 22, 2017March 23, 2017 Christina Botteri

Tennessee Star

Once again, statements by President Trump once characterized as “a lie” or “wrong” is proved to be, in fact, accurate. Moments ago House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes had to awkwardly walk back previous statements flatly denying any “wiretapping” of Donald Trump or Trump Tower prior to the inauguration. At about 2:15 (minutes:seconds) into to video clip above, Representative Nunes (CA-22) states, “I have seen intelligence reports that clearly show that the President-elect and his team were, I guess, at least monitored…” The House Intelligence Chair said more information is forthcoming Friday. The full C-SPAN video report is here: http://cs.pn/2mtozcM

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Potential GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Mae Beavers Promises to Repeal Gas Tax Increase If It Passes This Year and She is Elected in 2018

March 22, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

On Wednesday State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) wasted no time in claiming the conservative mantle as she considers a run for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2018. “Yesterday Senate and House committees advanced the Governor’s proposed tax increases on gasoline and diesel fuel towards passage. I remain adamantly opposed to ANY tax increase on working families in Tennessee, particularly when we have a huge and growing budget surplus that provides us plenty of resources to build and maintain roads and bridges,” Beavers tells The Tennessee Star. “As I explore the possibility of running for Governor, I can assure Tennessee taxpayers that my first priority as Governor would be to propose a budget that would include the complete repeal of this unnecessary and burdensome fuel tax if it does indeed pass,” Beavers promised. “I am the ONLY prospective candidate on either side of the aisle speaking out against this massive tax increase — which may help explain what is “fueling” so much interest in my potential candidacy across the state,” Beavers also blasted the credibility of the Fiscal Note quickly issued on March 16, three days after an amended version of Gov. Haslam’s gas tax increase proposal passed the…

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If Mark Green Does Not Run, Mae Beavers Will Be Only Potential or Announced GOP Candidate For Governor Who Opposes The Gas Tax Increase

March 22, 2017March 22, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Tennessee Star

“Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, said she is in the early stages of a possible run at the state’s top position after the leading conservative candidate might be headed to the nation’s capitol,” the Lebanon Democrat reported on Monday. If State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville) becomes the next Secretary of the Army, as many insiders expect will be the case, State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) will be the only potential or announced GOP candidate for Governor who opposes the gas tax increase. “Beavers said the idea to run for governor emerged recently after several phone calls and comments from supporters, many of which she spoke with at the recent Wilson County Republican Party Convention,” the Lebanon Democrat noted. “I said on Friday I would throw out the idea and see what happens,” Beavers told the Lebanon Democrat. “Sen. Green was the most conservative candidate. A lot of people felt the need to support a candidate who shares similar views,” she added. When the State Senate Transportation Committee passed an amended version of Gov. Haslam’s Improve Act last week that raised the gas tax by 6 cents per gallon rather than 7 cents per gallon, Beavers was the sole no…

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Boss Doss Breaks Rules to Ram Amended Gas Tax Increase Through House Transportation Committee

March 22, 2017March 1, 2023 Laura Baigert

Tennessee Star

In a stunning abuse of power, State Rep. Barry Doss (R-Leoma) broke a long-standing rule of the Tennessee House of Representatives to ram an amended version of Gov. Haslam’s gas tax increase through the House Transportation Committee he chairs on Tuesday. A bill containing the new and improved IMPROVE Act amendment, which restores many of the elements of Gov. Haslam’s original gas tax increase proposal, passed the House Transportation Committee in an 11 to 7 vote, but that outcome could not have taken place on Tuesday had not Chairman Doss broken Rule 34 of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Rule 34 of the Tennessee House of Representatives allows any member the privilege of “separating the question” when an amendment is added to a bill that is up for consideration. A key element of Rule 34–which is known to every member of the House–is that it is a “privilege” that can be exercised without question whenever a member invokes it in a committee hearing. It is not a “motion,” which is subject to a vote of the committee. Every chairman of every committee in the Tennessee House of Representatives, including Rep. Doss, is well aware that Rule 34 is a privilege,…

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Commentary: 100 Days of Trump: How Mark Twain Correctly Pegged the Democrats in Congress

March 22, 2017March 21, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

by Jeffrey A. Rendall March 22, 2017 At the same time the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch was going before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday, the real main “front” of the legislative “war” was still a few blocks away on the House side – and I’m not talking about the testimony of FBI Director James Comey. With a vote coming up soon on the contentious Ryancare bill there was quite a lot of focus and vote counting going on between the president, congressional leaders and the conservatives who still aren’t satisfied with the Mark Twainproduct the establishment is offering. Rachel Bade, Josh Dawsey and Burgess Everett of Politico report, “Multiple administration and Hill sources close with GOP leadership now expect a couple smaller tweaks to the legislation this week before the vote. But by-and-large they feel talks with the far-right are just about done, and that they can’t give conservatives everything they want. “That marks a major shift in the White House’s recent posture — news that will come as music to House GOP leaders’ ears. The White House last Monday instructed Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to make a number of smaller concessions to conservatives, including allowing optional work requirements…

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Outraged Vanderbilt Students Demand Wendy’s Ouster in ‘Boot the Braids’ Protest

March 21, 2017March 21, 2017 Christina Botteri

Tennessee Star

Vanderbilt students, outraged by purported unfair farm worker labor practices took some time to take a walk outside to get some fresh air protested forcefully against fast-food giant, Wendy’s. Nashville’s News Channel 5 reports: Vanderbilt students hit the streets to demand the school cut ties with the fast food chain Wendy’s. The group, which also included Nashville residents, marched from Vanderbilt’s campus to the Wendy’s location on West End. The event was organized by the group “Nashville Fair Food.” The march was part of the “Boot the Braids” campaign led by students at universities across the country. Their parents must be so proud.

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Under Governor Haslam, Tennessee Department of Transportation ‘Overhead’ Costs Have Grown 63 Percent, While ‘Highway Infrastructure’ Spending Has Shrunk By 33 Percent

March 21, 2017March 1, 2023 Laura Baigert

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) total costs for “Administration” plus “Headquarters Operation,” what would be considered “overhead” in the business world, have grown by 63 percent, from $78.9 to $117 million, in the seven years between Gov. Haslam’s first budget in FY 2011-12 and his proposed budget for FY 2017-18. While TDOTs overhead has skyrocketed, spending on one of the main Programs for road improvements, “Highway Infrastructure,” has gone down by more than 30 percent in that same time period. Table 1 provides the details of TDOT’s “Recommended Budget By Program and Funding Source” obtained from multiple years of budget documents and includes the links to the source documents and the page references. The table demonstrates that since fiscal year 2010-11, the last year of Governor Bredesen’s administration, there are multiple Programs, including Administration, Headquarters Operation, State Industrial Access, Planning and Research, Interstate System and Highway Infrastructure and TDOT as a whole, for which the funding was reduced by Gov. Haslam’s in his first year and have never recovered. Table 1 Department of Transportation Recommended Budget by Program Source Source Source Source Source Sheet 46 of 656 Sheet 46 of 550 Sheet 46 of 558 Sheet 47 of 558…

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Grover Norquist’s Endorsement of Gov. Haslam Gas Tax Increase Backfires

March 21, 2017March 23, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Tennessee Star

Gas tax increase supporters initially believed they had scored a great political coup on Monday when Washington insider Grover Norquist, founder of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), declared his support for the amended version of Gov. Haslam’s IMPROVE Act that passed the Senate Transportation Committee last week. That amended version reduced the proposed gas tax increase from 7 cents per gallon to 6 cents per gallon. But the fierce backlash from conservative opponents of the gas tax increase in Tennessee to the last minute attempt by supporters of the governor’s plan to bolster its chances by calling in a “celebrity ” who has never lived in the state and knows little of the intricacies of the bill or the state’s budget, spells more, rather than less, political trouble ahead for the governor and his allies. “The recent amendments made by the Senate, and supported by Gov. Haslam, have improved the bill to the extent that the bill is now a net tax decrease, and thus not a violation of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge…ATR scores the amended version of SB 1221 / HB 534 as a net tax cut and therefore Taxpayer Protection Pledge compliant,” Norquist wrote “in a memorandum to…

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Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith Among 100 Catholic and Evangelical Leaders Critical of Trump’s Plans to Cut Foreign Aid Funding

March 21, 2017March 21, 2017 Wendy Wilson

More than 100 Christian leaders from across the country have signed a letter asking Congress to protect funding for America’s foreign aid programs. The letter reveals divides among Christians over President Trump, whose plans continue to enjoy the support of many other Christians. The letter comes as Trump is proposing a 28 percent budget reduction for relief programs run by the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Trump’s budget for 2018 also calls for a 35 percent reduction in spending for the Department of the Treasury’s International Programs. Signers of the letter include Catholics and evangelical pastors, heads of faith organizations and recording artists and authors. Prominent names include Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. Both Dolan and Rodriguez spoke at Trump’s inauguration. Other signers include World Vision USA president Rich Stearns, former Southern Baptist Convention president Ronnie Floyd, Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford and Alec Hill, president emeritus of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Musical artists include Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Third Day. The letter noted that “many countries experience unparalleled suffering and loss of life due to extreme poverty, disease, natural disasters and conflict.” “Matthew…

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Commentary: A Time for Fairness

March 21, 2017March 21, 2017 JC Bowman

Any state law or district policy should be designed to require equal treatment of all teacher associations. If followed correctly, the state would simply be facilitating an open playing field for all associations, and teachers themselves would make the ultimate decisions of which organization to join – if any.

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Faith: Verse of the Day for Tuesday, March 21

March 21, 2017March 20, 2017 Dana Hunsinger Gill

Tennessee Star - Verse of the Day

VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing March 21, Tuesday Psalm 37:8-9 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

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Senate Passes Joint Resolution to Elect Tennessee’s Attorney General

March 20, 2017March 20, 2017 Christina Botteri

Tennessee Star

State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) successfully began the process to amend the Tennessee Constitution to allow the State Attorney General to be elected by a popular vote, with the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 57. “Currently, the attorney general is twice removed from those he or she is supposed to represent – the people of Tennessee,” said Senator Beavers aid in a statement disseminated to media by Republican Press Secretary Darlene Schlicher. “It is time we let the citizens have more of a say in their government.” The Senate Join Resolution passed overwhelmingly 22 – 8. To amend the Tennessee Constitution, the proposal will require a simple majority by the 110th General Assembly currently in session, and then a two-thirds majority in the 111th General Assembly elected in 2018. After passage in 2018, the amendment would go to a statewide referendum in 2022. Finally, in order to be adopted, a proposed constitutional amendment needs 50 percent-plus-one votes more than the number of votes cast in the gubernatorial election. The statement reads: [pdf-embedder url=”https://tennesseestar.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Beavers-elected-AG-2017-floor-vote.pdf” title=”Beavers elected AG 2017 floor vote”]

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Kentucky Set to Rally for President Trump in Louisville

March 20, 2017March 20, 2017 Tina LaFleur

Tennessee Star

The Kentucky Exposition Center is brimming with well-wishers and rally-goers, who have lined up in the thousands to see President Trump in Freedom Hall. Leading up to the actual event, Right Side Broadcasting Network is offering live coverage outside the venue. People are happy, enthused and making new friends while waiting for the President to arrive. The event is scheduled to begin at 3:30pm eastern time. Catch the RSBN livestream, here:

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Thirty Tennessee General Assembly Members Signed The ‘Taxpayer Protection Pledge,’ But Some Are Breaking It With The IMPROVE Act

March 20, 2017March 1, 2023 Laura Baigert

“Politicians often run for office saying they won’t raise taxes, but then quickly turn their backs on the taxpayer. The idea of the Pledge is simple enough: Make them put their no-new-taxes rhetoric in writing,” says Americans for Tax Reform. The “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” commits an elected official or candidate for public office “to oppose [and vote against/veto] any efforts to increase taxes.” According to the Americans for Tax Reform searchable data base, the Pledge has been signed by 30 active Tennessee State Representatives and State Senators, who are listed below. State Representatives State Senators District First Last District First Last 24 Kevin Brooks 17 Mae Beavers 19 Harry Brooks 16 Janice Bowling 71 David Byrd 22 Mark Green 63 Glen Casada 26 Dolores Gresham 16 Bill Dunn 27 Ed Jackson 11 Jeremy Faison 23 Jack Johnson 56 Beth Harwell 13 Bill Ketron 7 Matthew Hill 5 Randy McNally 22 Dan Howell 1 Steve Southerland 68 Curtis Johnson 24 John Stevens 89 Roger Kane 14 Jim Tracy 38 Kelly Keisling 57 Susan Lynn 72 Steve McDaniel 36 Dennis Powers 45 Courtney Rogers 61 Charles Sargent 49 Mike Sparks 40 Terri Lynn Weaver The IMPROVE Act includes five tax increases: a…

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Report: Speaker Beth Harwell Says She Will Run For Governor

March 19, 2017March 19, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Citing a Facebook post on Friday by a former chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported on Sunday that Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) says she will be running for the Republican nomination for governor in 2018: For well over a year, Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell has held her cards close over whether she will seek the 2018 GOP nomination for governor. But the soft-spoken Nashville representative appears to have exposed her hand to former Tennessee Republican Party chairwoman Susan Richardson Williams, who dished Friday in a Facebook post. “Just got a call from Speaker Beth Harwell to let me know she is running for Governor next year too!” wrote Williams. “Let the games begin! Wow!” Asked to elaborate, Williams said in an email she had “nothing more than [Harwell’s] call to let me know she was running” to share. “I congratulated her and said I was happy that we may have at least two women in the race. I have too many friends in this race!!!” A Harwell spokesman did not respond to a Times Free Press email about Williams’ Facebook post Saturday. “Hard to believe this was an attempt at a…

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Nashville Democrat State Rep. Brenda Gilmore Opposed Illegal Immigration Ten Years Ago

March 19, 2017March 19, 2017 Chris Alto

Tennessee Star

Prior to being elected as a Democrat to represent Davidson County’s 54th district in the Tennessee General Assembly, State Rep. Brenda Gilmore (D-Nashville) served on the Metro Council of Nashville and Davidson County from 1999-2007. During her last year serving on the Metro Council, Gilmore sponsored Resolution No.RS2007-1753, “A Resolution requesting Senator Lamar Alexander, Senator Bob Corker and the Davidson County Congressional Delegation to introduce and support comprehensive legislation to address illegal immigration issues.” Gilmore cited the following concerns justifying her resolution: “WHEREAS, due to its abundance of construction-related jobs, the Nashville area has become a magnet for illegal immigrants in recent years; and WHEREAS, the rising cost of providing government services to illegal immigrants is having a tremendous negative impact on our state and local government; and WHEREAS, as a result of the increasing number of criminal offenders arrested in Nashville that are undocumented aliens, Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall recently gained approval from the federal government for Nashville’s participation in the 287(g) program, which will provide enhanced communication and cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement to help identify and initiate deportation proceedings on criminal illegal immigrants; and WHEREAS, recent polls have documented the public’s frustration…

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Commentary: Trump’s Budget Puts GOP Congress On The Spot

March 19, 2017March 18, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Tennessee Star

Commentary: Trump’s Budget Puts GOP Congress On The Spot George Rasley, CHQ Editor March 19, 2017 It doesn’t matter what politicians say, you can always tell what their priorities are by what they spend your tax dollars on. And this is especially true of Capitol Hill’s establishment Republicans who for years have talked about cutting spending, but always pass budgets that fund Democratic Party priorities and Far Left liberal organizations. However, this year Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are on the spot because Trump budgetPresident Trump has proposed the most conservative budget since Ronald Reagan was President. (You can review President Trump’s Make America Great Again budget plan through this link.) So, this year the responsibility and the plaudits – or more likely the blame – for what gets funded will be squarely on the shoulders of Capitol Hill’s Republican leaders who can no longer blame Obama for funding Planned Parenthood, race-based groups like La Raza, and liberal boondoggles like the National Endowment for the Arts. In the simplest terms, President Trump’s new budget proposes to raise discretionary defense spending by $54 billion in the next fiscal year and cut domestic discretionary spending by an equivalent…

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Three Teens Arrested In Nashville For Robbing Cab Driver At Gunpoint

March 19, 2017March 17, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Three teens were arrested Friday morning after allegedly robbing a cab driver at gunpoint outside a Nashville apartment building. The suspects fled after the incident on Glastonbury Road near I-40 and Briley Parkway. Police deployed spike strips on I-40 East near Old Hickory Boulevard to stop their vehicle. Jose Calderon-Auguilar, 17, Victor Hernandez, 15, and Francis Hernandez-Aguilar, 17, were taken into custody, according to a Metro Nashville Police Department news release. Police found a sawed off-shotgun inside their vehicle. One of the teens had the cab driver’s keys. All three are charged in juvenile court with aggravated robbery. The Tennessee Star was told that police do not release information about immigration status of individuals arrested.

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Metro Nashville Public Schools Proposes Expanding Programs For English Learners

March 19, 2017March 18, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

Metro Nashville Public Schools hopes to spend $4.7 million on adding numerous new positions next year to meet the needs of students who have a native language other than English. In the district’s proposed budget for the 2017-2018 school year, MNPS plans to add 31 English Learner (EL) teachers to address state-mandated student-teacher ratios, according to a factsheet on the district’s website. The district also wants to add seven teacher professional development positions and 19 interpreters and translators. In addition, the proposal calls for adding six new tutors for afterschool tutoring and expanding summer school programming. “Continued growth in the district’s EL population brings the need to further expand the scope and depth of EL services,” the factsheet reads, noting that MNPS gains more than 1,000 new EL students each year. Those students include immigrants and refugees born in other countries as well as those born in the U.S. but who are exposed primarily to another language at home before starting school. Languages spoken include Spanish, Arabic, Kurdish, Farsi, Burmese, Nepali, Somali, Swahili and Vietnamese, among others. While activists support the expansion of EL programs in public schools, critics view the related expenditures as burdening taxpayers with soaring, unchecked immigration growth. MNPS…

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Faith: Verse of the Day for Sunday, March 19

March 19, 2017March 19, 2017 Admin

Tennessee Star - Verse of the Day

VERSE OF THE DAY Be blessed and be a blessing March 19, Sunday Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. 3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

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Hot Food, Fast: The Home Microwave Oven Turns 50

March 18, 2017March 19, 2017 Tina LaFleur

Tennessee Star

By: Timothy J. Jorgensen, Director of the Health Physics and Radiation Protection Graduate Program and Associate Professor of Radiation Medicine, Georgetown University The year 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the home microwave oven. The ovens were first sold for home use by Amana corporation in 1967, but they had actually been used for commercial food preparation since the 1950s. It wasn’t until 1967, however, that technology miniaturization and cost reductions in manufacturing made the ovens small enough and cheap enough (a still steep US$495; US$3,575 in 2017 dollars) for use in the kitchens of the American middle class. Now, it would be hard to find a U.S. home without a microwave. Amana, a subsidiary of Raytheon corporation, actually called their first model the “Radarange” – a contraction of radar and range (as in stove). What do microwave ovens have to do with radar? Radar is an acronym for “radio detection and ranging.” Developed prior to World War II, the technology is based on the principle that radio waves can bounce off the surfaces of large objects. So if you point a radio wave beam in a certain direction, some of the radio waves will come bouncing back to you, if…

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Giles County Chicken Breeder Quarantined After Testing Positive for Avian Flu

March 18, 2017March 18, 2017 Tina LaFleur

chickens

Tennessee state department of agriculture officials have identified a third outbreak of avian flu. A flock of chickens at a commercial poultry breeding operation has tested positive for “low pathogenic avian influenza” (LPAI). It is not the same as the China H7N9 virus affecting Asia and is genetically distinct. The facility in question is a chicken breeding operation in Giles County, near the Alabama state line. The company that operates it is a different company from the one associated with the recent detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in neighboring Lincoln County. At this time, officials do not believe one premises sickened the other. On March 6, routine screening tests at the Giles County premises indicated the presence of avian influenza in the flock. State and federal laboratories confirmed the existence of H7N9 LPAI in tested samples. “This is why we test and monitor for avian influenza,” State Veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher said in a statement. “When routine testing showed a problem at this facility, the operators immediately took action and notified our lab. That fast response is critical to stopping the spread of this virus.” As a precaution, the affected flock was immediately exterminated and buried; and the…

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6 True-Life Facts About St Patrick to Impress Your Friends (and Deepen Your Faith)

March 17, 2017July 18, 2018 Christina Botteri

Saint Patrick’s Day is here, and so it goes we join millions across the globe to don our best green garb and imbibe in a panoply beverages from the unnaturally verdant Shamrock Shake to the local pub’s green draft – all in a joyous tradition to cheer one another in the name of a spiritual hero of Ireland. But did you know the true-life story of the man who would become St. Patrick is as harrowing as any high adventure you might find in the pages of a Batman comic? Here are 6 facts you might not have known about the life and times of St. Patrick: (1) St. Patrick was not Irish. St. Patrick’s only known name prior to his canonization is “Patricius.” He was a born late in the fourth century in Roman Britain – most likely the modern Wales region, although some scholars say it was Scotland. Like many Romans of that era, his family were devout Christians. His father, Calpurnius was a deacon, and his grandfather Potitus, was a priest. (2) St. Patrick did not share his family’s faith, and was a skeptic. In his book, Confessio, St. Patrick writes that as a boy, he was…

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Teens Upset About Pizza Toppings Arrested For Firing Gunshots At Market

March 17, 2017March 17, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

Three teens were arrested this week for firing shots at a market in North Nashville from a car because they were unhappy with their toppings on a pizza. The teens, ages 18, 17, and 16, were taken into custody after an undercover detective doing surveillance in the area witnessed the gunfire Tuesday afternoon, called for backup and followed the car to a house on 32nd Avenue North, according to a Metro Nashville Police Department news release. Police seized three handguns and one hydrocodone pill from the car, which had been reported stolen. One of the suspects told police that shots were fired at the D.B. Todd Market on Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Boulevard because the clerk gave them a pizza with the wrong toppings. The teens are each charged with aggravated assault x 12, unlawful handgun possession and vehicle theft. Djuan Bowers, 18, and Tynerick Turner, 17, are also charged with aggravated robbery for a Feb. 20 hold-up in which the victim was robbed at gunpoint off Hickory Hollow Lane in Antioch. Bowers is being held on a $50,000 bond. Turner and the 16-year-old are being charged in juvenile court.

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Huge Crowd at Trump Rally in Nashville ‘Optimistic About the Future’

March 17, 2017March 17, 2017 Laura Baigert

The unseasonably cold temperature that topped out about 40 degrees with a substantial wind chill had no apparent impact on the enthusiasm of President Trump’s supporters who showed up by the thousands in Nashville on Monday. About 10,000 made it in to the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in time to hear the president’s speech, while as many as 5,000 who had stood in line did not make it in, due to the TSA security clearance process. Most of those waiting in the line that extended more than a half mile from the auditorium’s entrance had been there about six hours before being able to get inside. For many, the positive experience started while standing in that long line of rally ticket holders. Robin, who called in to Ralph Bristol’s Morning Show Ralph Bristol on WTN 99.7 the morning following the rally, said that there was “camaraderie” amongst those waiting in line and that everyone was “optimistic about the future.” Even though she arrived at 2:30 p.m., Robin was not able to get into the Auditorium before President Trump finished his speech, but said she would do it all again. Inside the Auditorium, the event started with comments and heads bowed for…

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Refugee Resettlement and Illegal Immigration Driving Up Education Costs in Tennessee

March 17, 2017March 16, 2017 Chris Alto

Refugees

The TN Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) is among the most aggressive opponents to the legislature’s constitutional challenge to the federal refugee resettlement program and to current and past legislative efforts to reduce illegal immigration to Tennessee. However, TIRRC takes credit for “helping to pass a bill to increase statewide funding for English language learner (ELL) programs in public schools by $30 million.” As the legal and illegal immigrant population in Tennessee has grown, so has the cost to state and local taxpayers to teach non-English speaking students in the state’s public schools. State funding for English Language Learner (ELL) services in Tennessee public schools has increased annually bringing the 2012 $49 million up to $65.8 million in fiscal year 2016. The required local share has increased from $21 million to $28.2 million during the same time. In September 2016, Metro Nashville Public Schools sued the state wanting more money for ELL services, alleging that the state did not meet the Basic Education Program funding formula and as such, state funding was inadequate to pay for the proper ratio of students to teachers and translators. Tennessee Department of Education spokeswoman Sara Gast wrote that the state had provided $220 million in new…

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Kentucky Man Wants Fewer Snowflake Meltdowns, More Honest Debate

March 16, 2017March 16, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Michael Morton considers himself a cautious supporter of President Trump. There are some things he really likes about the president, but in other areas he has some doubts. His main mission in coming to Trump’s rally in Nashville on Wednesday was to draw attention to the way substantive discussions are being hindered by progressives who take offense easily and don’t want to engage in honest debate. “I’m trying to get people to open their minds,” said Morton, who was carrying a sign outside the Nashville Municipal Auditorium that took aim at “snowflakes” and people needing safe spaces. The 33-year-old Nashville native today lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he attends Western Kentucky University. He previously served in the army. He’s studying Chinese in hopes of using the language someday in a business or government position. Morton said he thinks Trump’s travel ban temporarily barring citizens from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. is reasonable, and he also likes that Trump champions the 2nd Amendment. He’s not so sure about Trump’s handling of the repeal of Obamacare. “I don’t know if he had a solid plan before he went in,” Morton said. For people to talk intelligently about the issues,…

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Alliance Defending Freedom Video: Wisconsin Students Favor Rights of Muslims Over Rights of Christians

March 16, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin last week challenging a local ordinance in Madison and a state law that force creative professionals to promote messages that violate their beliefs. “Every American, and especially creative professionals, shouldn’t be threatened with punishment for disagreeing with the government,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jonathan Scruggs in a news release. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Amy Lynn Photography Studio. According to ADF, the laws require Amy Lawson, a Christian and the owner of the business, to create photos and blog posts promoting pro-abortion groups and same-sex marriages if she creates content that promotes pro-life causes or celebrates the marriage of one man and one woman. The lawsuit is a pre-enforcement challenge. “Such lawsuits enable citizens to challenge a law that threatens their rights before the government enforces it against them,” the ADF news release said. “Pre-enforcement cases are the ‘bread and butter’ of civil rights litigation, with organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood routinely filing them to attack laws they oppose, sometimes even before those laws take effect.” To illustrate the progressive impulse to want to punish those who refuse to promote a liberal message but extend…

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State Senator Mark Green Praises Fellow Tennesseans At Wednesday’s Trump Rally in Nashville

March 16, 2017March 16, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

State Senator Mark Green, fresh off news that President Trump is considering him for Secretary of the Army, was greeted with applause and cheers Wednesday as he spoke before Trump’s arrival at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Green, who prior to being considered for a post in the Trump administration had announced intentions to run for governor in 2018, complemented Tennesseans for being “hard-working people with common sense” who did the right thing by voting for Trump overwhelmingly in the 2016 presidential race. “You just saved America,” he told the crowd. Green (R-Clarksville) said that Tennesseans want accountable and limited government, legal immigration, fewer regulations and a military committed to winning on the battlefield – all things President Trump is fighting for. Since Trump’s win, the stock market has reached historic highs and more people are going back to work, Green said, enthusiastically stating that “the Trump bump is real.” Green also said that Tennesseans are ready to repeal Obamacare but, like Trump in his speech, did not offer specifics on what a new plan should look like. Fierce debate over healthcare is under way in Washington, D.C., with many things still unclear as to what degree free market principles will…

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Randy Boyd Endorses ‘Partnership for a New American Economy’ Approach to Illegal and Legal Immigration

March 16, 2017March 15, 2017 Chris Alto

Gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd is a named member of the Partnership for a New American Economy (PNAE). The PNAE has shortened its name to “New American Economy” but hasn’t changed its advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform which highlights the work ethic and perceived business ambitions of legal and illegal immigrants over native-born Americans. Founded in 2010, the PNAE is a powerful and well-funded coalition led by business leaders and chambers of commerce which formed to convince the public and policymakers that comprehensive immigration reform like the 2013 “Gang of Eight” amnesty bill would help grow the economy and create jobs for Americans. Included in PNAE’s “15 key economic issues of immigration reform in America” are: Supporting legal status for the 11.4 million undocumented immigrants which PNAE says pay taxes and do the jobs American citizens won’t do, and despite being in the country illegally, “even start their own businesses.” In a 2014 Wall Street Journal oped, PNAE co-founder Rupert Murdoch said that illegal immigrants who are already here should be provided a path to citizenship. Supporting resettlement of refugees who PNAE says that after living in the U.S. between 16-25 years are earning well above the income of refugees who have been here…

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Man of the Hour Sean Spicer

March 16, 2017March 16, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Before President Trump arrived Wednesday evening at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, his press secretary Sean Spicer had his moment in the spotlight. And what a moment it was. Trump fans clamored for a spot at his side, eager for a chance to say hello and have a photo taken with him. Spicer could barely manage his way through the crowd, but he handled it all with a smile and gracious spirit that any Southerner could appreciate. The enthusiasm for Spicer was so great that Bloomberg News wrote an article about it, noting that while he is lampooned in liberal parts of the country, “in Nashville, Spicer was a bona fide celebrity.” The news outlet quoted Spicer as asking his fans, who praised him for standing up for Trump, “You guys want to come to a briefing?” Spicer, 45, previously worked as chief strategist and communications director for the Republican National Committee. Prior to that, he was assistant U.S. trade representative for media and public affairs under former President George W. Bush. Spicer has also served as an Easter Bunny at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

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Commentary: Ryancare a Kamikaze Mission for Trump

March 16, 2017March 16, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

George Rasley, CHQ Editor Those of us who have been around conservative politics for a while will remember the smirk on Democratic Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell’s face when he got President George HW Bush to destroy his presidency by abandoning his “no new taxes” pledge. That same smirk is flitting across establishment Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s face as he rams his Obamacare 2.0, RINOcare or Ryancare health care bill through the House while claiming support from Kamikaze pilotPresident Trump. There are two main reasons for why Ryancare is such a disaster for President Trump; the first is that Ryancare is merely Obamacare with a big government establishment Republican spin on it, and the second is that it continues to be most financially burdensome to the small businesses and independent workers who were a key component of Trump’s electoral coalition. It’s a twofer for Ryan: He and his big government DC pals continue to control people’s lives by controlling the health care and health insurance market and they screw Trump in the process. For those innocent souls who are inclined to take serial liar Paul Ryan at his word about his bill, the Texas Public Policy Foundation…

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President Trump At Nashville Rally Defends Executive Order Banning Travel From Six Middle Eastern Countries

March 16, 2017March 15, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

President Trump in Nashville on Wednesday defended his revised travel ban, which earlier in the day was blocked by a federal judge in Hawaii. “We’re going to take our case as far as it needs to go, including all the way up to the Supreme Court,” Trump said during his speech at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. “We’re going to win. We’re going to keep our citizens safe.” The ban is part of an executive order issued March 6 that outlines measures to protect America from terrorists and others wishing to harm the U.S. The new order was released in response to a similar order from Jan. 27 that was blocked by a federal judge in Washington state and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Various changes were made to try to appease judges, but Wednesday’s ruling in Hawaii shows that hurdles still exist because of what Trump called “judicial overreach.” Among other revisions, the new order took Iraq off a list of seven Middle Eastern countries whose citizens are temporarily barred from entering the U.S. The revised executive order temporarily bans citizens of six Middle Eastern countries who do not currently have “green card” immigration status from entering the U.S.: Yemen, Sudan,…

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RIGHT NOW: President Trump Rally Live in Nashville

March 15, 2017March 15, 2017 Admin

Tennessee Star

Our RIGHT NOW coverage is going inside the Nashville Municipal Auditorium as President Trump’s rally begins… This is a link to a livestream of the event: UPDATE: UPDATE: If you have pictures or short video you want to share, text them to 615-538-8526, or email us at [email protected]. Developing…

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RIGHT NOW: Nashville Welcomes President Trump

March 15, 2017March 15, 2017 Christina Botteri

Tennessee Star

As the afternoon rolls on, an estimated 30,000 people are lined up to see President Trump speak tonight at 6:30pm. We have pictures coming in from the airport where Gov Haslam is waiting to welcome Air Force One, as well as in and around the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. UPDATE: UPDATE: UPDATE: First video from inside the venue… Developing… – – – The Tennessee Star is on-the-ground now with RIGHT NOW coverage all day.

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BREAKING: New York Times Reports State Senator Mark Green Under Consideration for Secretary of the Army

March 15, 2017March 15, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

The New York Times is reporting that State Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) is under consideration by President Trump to be named Secretary of the Army. Senior admin official confirms Mark Green is being considered for secretary of the Army. — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 15, 2017 Several sources have independently confirmed this report to The Tennessee Star. Green is considered a front runner in the race for the Republican nomination for Governor of Tennessee in 2018. Should he not run, there will no longer be a strongly conservative candidate in the race to challenge Randy Boyd and potential candidate Rep. Diane Black (R-TN).

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Metro Transit Authority CEO Steve Bland Asks Nashville Mayor Megan Barry for $85 Million Increase in Capital Budget

March 15, 2017March 15, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

“The Metro Transit Authority asked Nashville Mayor Megan Barry for a 427 percent capital budget increase on Monday,” Fox 17 WZTV reports. MTA’s request for this quadrupling of its capital budget comes as the Tennessee General Assembly is debating Gov. Haslam’s IMPROVE Act proposal, which would increase gas taxes by 7 cents per gallon and diesel taxes by 12 cents per gallon. As The Tennessee Star reported earlier this week, in FY 2015-2016, highway user fees, primarily gas and diesel taxes, generated $1.2 billion in revenue for the State of Tennessee. $309 million of these highway user fees were given by the State of Tennessee to cities and counties for “transportation” projects: The Haslam administration has not, as of yet, presented evidence that all of the $309 million in highway user fee taxes sent to city and county governments for “transportation” projects is spent on road construction. “The money in the cities and counties column is their share of the collected taxes,” State Rep. Lynn asserted in her email to a constituent. It is at present unknown how much of these $309 million in highway user fee taxes sent to city and county government is spent on projects such as parks,…

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RIGHT NOW: Nashville Prepares for President Trump (UPDATES)

March 15, 2017March 17, 2017 Christina Botteri

Tennessee Star

President Trump will rally in Nashville at 6:30pm, and The Tennessee Star will be here with RIGHT NOW coverage all day. – – – The chilly Nashville morning is no match for these dedicated Trump supporters! UPDATE: UPDATE: UPDATE: UPDATE: UPDATE: Developing…

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House Transportation Committee Delays Vote on The IMPROVE Act Another Week

March 15, 2017March 1, 2023 Laura Baigert

State Rep. Courtney Rogers (R-Goodlettsville), Vice-Chair of the House Transportation Committee, acted as Chair when the committee convened on Tuesday in the absence of Chairman Barry Doss (R-Leoma), who was not present at the hearing. Acting Chair Rogers reported to the committee members present that Chairman Doss had asked that HB 534, the “caption bill” for the IMPROVE Act, be “rolled” for one week. The request, which constitutes the second delay in as many weeks of a vote on the bill, seemed an unexpected turn of events to the full-to-capacity meeting room that included media, camera crews, and several Tennessee Department of Transportation representatives. As The Tennessee Star reported last week, the committee voted 9 to 8 when it met one week earlier on March 7 to “roll” the bill forward to this Tuesday’s meeting in order to allow the committee members to review the numerous amendments proposed to the bill. A point of order raised at the March 7 meeting by State Rep. Timothy Hill (R-Blountville)–whether it was in order for Chairman Doss, as sponsor of the bill, to preside over the hearing–was raised indirectly at Tuesday’s meeting. Hill’s earlier point of order was resolved at the March…

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Commentary: St. Patrick’s Day: A Reflection

March 15, 2017March 19, 2017 JC Bowman

It was that desire for freedom, education and the wish to control their own destiny that so many Irish left Ireland. As a son of St. Patrick, it is important to remember we are still a country of dreamers. We may have different religious and political persuasions, but we are linked by shared necessities and joint aspirations. Education is the key equalizer.

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