Day: August 11, 2017

Tennessee Taxpayers Fund Conexion Americas’ ‘Education Equity’ for Students Here Legally and Illegally

Chris Alto

  Last year Conexion Americas, a multi-million dollar funded Latino advocacy organization headquartered in Nashville, convened the Tennessee Educational Equity Coalition (TEEC), which it now leads. Partnering with the George Soros funded Migration Policy Institute, TEEC launched the “TN English Learner Network.” TEEC does not appear to be a separate corporate entity, but rather merely a “project” of Conexion Americas, according to the most recent Conexion Americas annual report. Renata Soto, founder and director of Conexion Americas, was elected in 2015 to lead the National Council of La Raza’s (La Raza) board. George Soros has generously funded La Raza over the years in amounts typically exceeding $2 million. Gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd is a mega donor to Conexion Americas, which received $250,000 from Randy and Jenny Boyd in 2016, and his education non-profit Complete Tennessee, which works in a reciprocal relationship with Soto and the TEEC. Soto serves on his board and his organization serves as a State Partner to TEEC. Both Complete Tennessee and the TEEC say they want to address “equity gaps” in the education provided to Tennessee students. Both Soto and Boyd are tied to organizations that support “tuition equity,” which is the legislative reference to a bill that would…

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Former Agriculture Commissioner John Rose Announces Candidacy for GOP Nomination in 6th Congressional District

Tennessee Star Staff

  On Thursday, former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner John Rose announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the Sixth Congressional District to succeed incumbent Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06), who recently announced that she is a candidate for governor. Rose was appointed as Agriculture Commissioner by former Governor Don Sundquist in 2002, and served in that job until 2003. Rose joins State Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma) as the second candidate who will be competing in the August 2018 Republican primary for the party’s nomination to succeed Black in the November 2018 general election. “I’m John Rose and I’m doing something I’ve never done before – run for public office. I’m a farmer and small business owner who is ready to take bold action for the betterment of Tennessee’s 6th District. I’m going to work to earn your vote and keep it as your next Congressman,” Rose posted on his Facebook page on Thursday. “I am a farmer and small business owner who is ready to be actively involved in pushing the conservative movement that inspired so many as President Trump sought office for the first time,” Rose elaborated on his  campaign website. “Chelsea and I were two of the voters who elected…

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State Rep. Judd Matheny Travels 8,000 Miles During First 40 Days of Campaign for 6th Congressional District GOP Nomination

Tennessee Star Staff

State Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma) has traveled more than 8,000 miles across the 6th Congressional District in the first 40 days since he announced his candidacy for the GOP nomination to succeed Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06) as the district’s representative in the United States House of Representatives, according to his campaign. “Since his announcement on June 30th, Matheny and his Campaign Team have covered an astounding 8,259 miles in the first 40 days! Judd and his team are just getting started!” the Matheny campaign team said in a statement emailed to The Tennessee Star: Judd’s campaign team had a successful, first 40 days in fundraising efforts, and have several fundraising events scheduled between September 1 and October 30, 2017, including one with Country Music Group “Trick Pony” as the entertainment, on September 18th at Tims Ford Lake, Holiday Landing Marina – Blue Gill Restaurant! Contact Jennifer Hamblin at 615.504.0244 for ticket information. You have got to love Judd’s theme – “For Our Tomorrow, Judd Takes Action Today.” So far, he is living up to this anthem. “No one will out work me or be more dedicated to the citizens of the sixth district,” Matheny said.   In June, Matheny spearheaded…

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Trump: ‘Fire and Fury’ Comments May Not Have Been ‘Tough Enough’ Warning to North Korea

Tennessee Star Staff

President Donald Trump on Thursday doubled down on his fiery rhetoric against North Korea, telling reporters at an impromptu news conference during his working vacation in Bedminster, New Jersey, that his “fire and fury” comment might have been too tame. Standing beside Vice President Mike Pence, Trump said North Korea’s rapid development of missiles that can…

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Tennessee Officials Find Building Violations At Home For the Aged In Memphis

Wendy Wilson

Tennessee state officials have suspended new admissions of residents to a small neighborhood group home for the aged in Memphis because of violations of building standards. Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner announced the decision in a news release Wednesday. A special monitor has been appointed to review operations at the 11-bed Cummings Foster Group Home. The violations were found during a life safety survey on July 12 and the investigation was completed Aug. 4, when the suspension went into effect. The news release noted that the health commissioner “may suspend admissions to a home for the aged when conditions are determined to be, or are likely to be, detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the residents.” An order is in effect until conditions “have been and continue to remain corrected.” The home must post the order at a public entrance. The home has the right to a hearing before the Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities or an administrative judge.

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Commentary: How to Annihilate U.S. Socialism and Force Washington to Listen

Tennessee Star Staff

by John Anthony, founder, Sustainable Freedom Lab Socialism’s barbs have sunk deep into the heart of America’s soul. We see the Titanic struggle as Democrats and Republicans jointly hamper Trump’s attempts to return choices to the people. Washington will never willingly stop its progressive control, but we can make them. As one who has studied the progressive/socialist movement from the Congressional halls to small communities across the country, I believe we have a rich opportunity to adapt an explosive method to defeat the anti-Constitutional forces in America. For years, Constitutionalists have joined marches, attended meetings, written articles, and built networks. Through speeches, seminars and videos we have exposed regionalists for grabbing local authority, sustainable development for driving up housing costs, and federal regulations for usurping local land use and zoning laws. Experts in education, climate science, and Constitutional law have bared how our federal agencies and court system are turning the land of the free into regions of the fettered. Despite successes, every week reveals the incessant ‘tick-tock’ of the socialist advance. In September 2016, the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority used taxpayers’ money to reduce the monthly rents to $75 for HUD residents who visited relatives overseas for up to…

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Family Action Council of Tennessee To Hold Biblical Worldview Seminar

Wendy Wilson

Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT) will hold a half-day seminar this fall on cultivating a biblical worldview. The “Restoring the Vision” seminar on Saturday morning, November 11 at the Nashville School of Law will address such questions as, “What is the point of being a Christian? What are we are ‘saved’ for? Is Christianity about more than piety in this life and heaven later?” David Fowler, president of FACT, said on the group’s website that he wrestled with these questions when he reached a crisis point in his life in his 30s. At the time, he was going through the everyday motions of practicing law, thinking about Christianity in mostly an insular way as something that compels us simply to live a moral life and hope for God’s blessings while waiting to go to heaven. The answers he discovered to his questions changed the direction of his life. During the seminar, Fowler will share passages from throughout the Bible that will drive home his points in a comprehensive way. “But these foundational biblical truths aren’t ‘new’ or ‘newly discovered.’ They provided a vision for Christendom that transformed cultures and birthed Western Civilization, a vision that has largely faded within…

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Nashville Metro Council Candidate Jack Byrd To Stand Trial For Extortion

Wendy Wilson

  A candidate for Nashville’s Metro Council will go on trial for extortion in October. Jack Byrd III is one of five candidates running for the District 33 seat left vacant when Councilman Sam Coleman was sworn in as a Nashville judge to replace former Judge Casey Moreland, who resigned amid a corruption scandal. District 33 covers part of Antioch. Early voting for the special election was set for July 26-Aug. 10, with election day being Aug. 15. Byrd, 28, is a former reserve officer for the Lynnville Police Department in Giles County and the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. In May, he was indicted in Giles County on two felony extortion charges for allegedly threatening a Lynnville alderman and the mayor because he was upset that city officials had disbanded the reserve program. In a motion to dismiss, Byrd’s attorney said that then-Alderman Wil Sands launched a “personal vendetta” against Byrd after Byrd provided security in police uniform at the June 2016 gay pride festival in Nashville. Sands was unhappy when he came across photos on Facebook of Byrd working at the festival and made “insulting comments” and began harassing Byrd, the motion says. The motion also alleges that Sands was known…

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