Anders Lee scored twice and John Tavares picked up two assists and added an empty-net goal as the New York Islanders knocked off the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 5-3 victory on Saturday night at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. Josh Bailey had three assists, Brock Nelson and Andrew Ladd also scored, and Josh Bailey had…
Read the full storyYear: 2017
Iowa State Beats Baylor, Clinches Winning Season
Iowa State forced turnovers on two Baylor drives in the fourth quarter, and the Cyclones stopped a two-game skid by beating the Bears 23-13 on Saturday at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. Baylor drove to the Iowa State 25-yard line before Reggie Wilkerson picked off a Charlie Brewer pass and returned it 31 yards with 4:48…
Read the full storyForeign Automakers Are Investing In US Because of Pro-Business Climate
Foreign investment is vital for a healthy U.S. economy. America’s unique and hospitable climate for foreign investment brings with it economic growth, quality jobs, increased consumer choice, and reasonably priced goods. As President Donald Trump recently told business leaders in Japan: When you want to build your auto plants, you will have your approvals almost immediately.…
Read the full storyRoy Moore’s Wife Stands Strong: ‘Liberal Press’ Will Not Defeat Us
A day after beleaguered Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore despite allegations of sexual misconduct, hie wife on Friday offered a defiant defense laced with attacks on their political enemies. Kayla Moore, who has been married to the Republican nominee for 32 years and runs the Foundation for Moral Law that he created, seconded her husband’s vow.…
Read the full storyFlorida Democratic Party Leader Resigns After Report of ‘Creepy’ Behavior
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Democratic Party chairman Stephen Bittel is stepping down after a report detailing a hostile and “creepy” work environment he created for women. “When my personal situation becomes distracting to our core mission of electing Democrats and making Florida better, it is time for me to step aside,” Bittel wrote in a statement…
Read the full storyGovernor Bill Haslam Named Republican Governors Association Chairman – Again
For the second time in four years, our own Bill Haslam has been elected by his fellow Governors to serve as the Chairman of the Republican Governors’ Association (RGA). “Governor Bill Haslam is a proven conservative leader, and with his record of getting results for the people of Tennessee, I’m confident that his capable leadership and tireless work ethic will greatly benefit the RGA in 2018,” outgoing RGA Chairman Governor Scott Walker said in a statement released Thursday. “The achievements Governor Haslam has made in Tennessee are enormously impressive, and his experience providing common sense, pro-growth policies will be vital to ensuring our governors have the resources they need to compete and win in 36 gubernatorial elections scheduled to occur over the next year. It has been an honor to serve with him on the RGA’s Executive Committee for this past year and I look forward to the success he will achieve in 2018 as Chairman of the RGA,” Walker said. Nebraska’s Governor Pete Ricketts was named Vice-Chair. “Governor Pete Ricketts’ capable leadership will be a major asset to the RGA’s efforts in the upcoming year,” Governor Walker said. “He has been a tireless advocate for the people of Nebraska, working…
Read the full storyEx-Hillary Clinton Adviser Blasts Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) for Saying Bill Clinton Should Have Resigned Over Lewinsky Affair
A former adviser to Hillary Clinton blasted Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for saying on Thursday that Bill Clinton should’ve resigned after his relationship with an intern was revealed during his presidency. “Yes, I think that is the appropriate response,” Ms. Gillibrand, New York Democrat, told The New York Times when asked if Mr. Clinton should’ve stepped down…
Read the full storyTrump: Hillary Is The ‘Worst And Biggest Loser Of All Time’
President Donald Trump lashed out at Hillary Clinton Saturday, calling her a terrible “loser” after she questioned the legitimacy of the 2016 presidential election. Calling the former Democratic nominee “Crooked Hillary,” as he often does, Trump told her: “Get on with your life and give it another try in three years!” Crooked Hillary Clinton is the…
Read the full storyCommentary: James Comey Needs to Be Asked These Questions
Many House and Senate Republicans are calling for a new special prosecutor to investigate the 2010 Uranium One deal, the Clinton Foundation, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and James Comey. Former Attorney General Eric Holder should be added to the list, as he was a sitting member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United…
Read the full storyPaula Jones: Hillary, I Did Not ‘Misremember’
Paula Jones, the former Arkansas state employee who sued Bill Clinton for sexual harassment, said Hillary Clinton is wrong to claim her husband’s victims are “misremembering” his actions. “Every situation has to be judged on its own merit,” Clinton recently told Rita Cosby of ABC News. “And there were allegations that were disproved. It’s unfortunate that…
Read the full storyGrover Norquist: Renegade Senators Won’t Hold Up Senate Tax Bill
Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) cheered of a $1.5 trillion tax cut, but he was feeling as much trepidation as elation knowing his party’s No. 1 domestic policy goal is now in the hands of the fickle Senate. Byrne was blunt in the statement he released after the 227-205 vote. “I truly hope the Senate does not…
Read the full storyNCAA Women’s College Basketball Champions from South Carolina Turn Down White House Visit with President Trump
The Golden State Warriors won’t be the only champions to turn down President Donald Trump’s White House invitation. According to the Associated Press, the South Carolina women’s basketball team has turned down an invitation to visit the White House: Well @POTUS invited @GamecockWBB to White House for NCAA celebration tomorrow and they declined — Doug Feinberg…
Read the full storyChairman of Metro Nashville School Board Defends Mosque Speaker Giving Students Misleading Information
On October 17th, students from Metro Nashville Meigs Middle Magnet School visited the Islamic Center of Nashville (ICN) where Dina Sirois, the mosque’s operations director, told them that they would “talk about beliefs and practices in Islam.” The Tennessee Star contacted Ms. Anna Shepherd, Chairman of the Metro Nashville School Board about the audio recording of the presentation given to the students, and asked the following questions: how to find a copy or link to the MNPS policy that complies with the [2016] Tennessee law [regarding inclusion of religion in local curriculum] and whether public notice and comment related to the adoption of the Metro policy was provided as required by the state law how to access information required by part (c) of the state law [a complete syllabus that includes information regarding major assignments and field trips] confirmation as to whether MNPS considers that the provisions in the [state law] also apply to guest speakers on and off school grounds during field trips Ms. Shepherd responded as follows, explaining: Please see the policies below in regard to religious education. I hope these are helpful. Sixth and seventh grade students study a number of religions as part of state’s approved Social Studies Standards. Sixth grade concentrates…
Read the full storyThe Tennessee Star Blazes by 4 Million Visits
FRANKLIN, Tennessee–In less than two months since September, traffic at The Tennessee Star has grown from 3 million visits to an astounding 4 million visits subsequent to its launch in early February. WOW!! We just had our FOUR MILLIONTH visit to The https://t.co/Awo9LigL60 since our launch Feb 6. THANK YOU, Tennessee – your readership and support mean the world to us! pic.twitter.com/aThos9gCeg — Tennessee Star (@TheTNStar) November 17, 2017 Launched on February 6, The Star hit the 3 million visit mark on September 23. It took just 7 weeks and 6 days to add another 1 million visits and hit the 4 million visit mark on Friday, November 17. It took The Star 3 months and 16 days from its launch on February 6 until it hit the first 1 million visit mark on May 23. Adding another million total visits in about half the time it took to reach the first million visits is a sign The Star’s traffic growth continues to accelerate dramatically. When asked what the secret to the upstart news outlet’s success is, Managing Editor Christina Botteri replied, “That is an interesting question. I believe it’s a number of factors that together, have created a new…
Read the full storyAlberto Gonzales Endorses Tommy Vallejos in Tennessee State House Race
Montgomery County commissioner Tommy Vallejos on Friday was endorsed by Alberto Gonzales in his race for the state House seat currently occupied by retiring Rep. Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville). A Republican, Vallejos is a pastor and board chairman for Latinos For Tennessee, a conservative political action group. Gonzales served as U.S. attorney general under former President George W. Bush and currently is dean of the law school at Belmont University. “Tommy’s story is a powerful reminder that redemption and reconciliation are entirely possible in America,” Gonzales said in a news release. “How else do you explain a rough street kid growing up to become a county commissioner, now serving his community with selflessness and passion?” Vallejos grew up in New Mexico and was involved in gangs before joining the Army and cleaning up his life. As a pastor, he has helped steer young people away from gangs and find direction. Gonzales said he has “seen firsthand Tommy’s passion to serve others and minister to the least of these in our community. He is a leader in every sense of the word, inspiring others to give back and bridging differences for the good of all.” Earlier this year, Vallejos said he intended to…
Read the full storyNFL Owners Rebuke Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones for ‘Detrimental Conduct’
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been informed by other NFL owners via letter that he is engaging in “conduct detrimental to the league’s best interests,” the New York Times reported on Thursday. The letter was sent to Jones through his attorney, David Boies, on Wednesday, one day after Jones expressed publicly that he had no…
Read the full storyUS Announces Arrests of 267 MS-13 Gang Members in Latest Sweep
U.S. law enforcement officials announced on Thursday the arrest of 267 members of MS-13, a violent gang the Trump administration has vowed to get off America’s streets. The arrests were made in recent weeks as part of a major anti-gang crackdown code-named Operation Raging Bull. Led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the operation swept up…
Read the full storyCommentary: Faith Leaders and Women Of Faith Rally For Judge Roy Moore
by CHQ Staff F2A President Janet Porter hosted a press conference for embattled Alabama conservative Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore Thursday, followed by a press conference Friday featuring Women for Moore hosted by Alabama Tea Party leader Becky Gerritson (see video below). According to reporting by our friends at CharismaNews.com F2A presented Moore with a letter signed by pro-family supporters, stating: We stand with Judge Roy Moore, a man of integrity who has never wavered from his valiant defense of the unborn, the Ten Commandments and the Constitution. We are confident the voters of Alabama will not be fooled by suspiciously timed accusations without evidence, and will reject the politics of personal destruction led by the Washington Post. If the media lynch mob and establishment politicians are allowed to ambush Judge Roy Moore, then they will destroy anyone who gets in their way. We stand with Roy Moore. The conference was held at the Birmingham Marriott. Speakers included Dr. Alan Keyes of Renew America, Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter, Pastor David Floyd of Marvin Parkway Baptist Church in Opelika, and Pastor Tom Brown of First Baptist Church in Gallant. “When Gideon of the Bible needed encouragement, God told him to go…
Read the full storyReport: Tennessee Has Given Jon Gruden an Ultimatum on Open Head Coaching Job
It appears the “Grumors” surrounding the Tennessee head coaching position have reached an apex. According to Grant Ramsey of 247Sports, Tennessee athletic director John Currie flew to Tampa on Wednesday night, where it is believe that a pitch was made to Gruden on the now open head coaching job. Ramsey’s report also includes another important piece…
Read the full storyNFL Wants More Crony Capitalism: Fights Tax Cut Bill with No Stadium Bond Breaks
The NFL has come out against House Republicans’ tax cut bill, putting the league out on a political limb even as it deals with the fallout from national anthem protests. Other big pro sports leagues are staying out of the fight, but a spokesman for the National Football League said teams don’t want to lose a…
Read the full storyJudge Declares Mistrial in Senator Bob Menendez Federal Corruption Trial
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY — A hopelessly deadlocked jury brought an end to the corruption trial of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez Thursday with the declaration of a mistrial, after a contentious 11-week courtroom drama that concluded without a final act. The government now must decide whether to retry the Democratic lawmaker from New Jersey and co-defendant Salomon Melgen, a…
Read the full storyGlobal Economist Questions Mass Transit Plans as Criticism of Mayor Megan Barry’s Nashville Proposal Grows
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry’s $5.2 billion mass transit plan continues to attract criticism, including from the senior economic adviser for a global real estate firm whose views on mass transit have been changing. Spencer Levy of CBRE was interviewed this week by the Nashville Business Journal while in Nashville for a conference. CBRE is the largest commercial real estate services and investment firm in the world and the largest in Nashville. Levy used to think that when in came to transit, the more the better, and he was sure that cities with limited transportation networks would see only limited growth. But he told Nashville Business Journal that he recognizes that hasn’t happened in cities like Nashville and Austin, Texas and Raleigh, North Carolina, which have all experienced tremendous growth. Levy said he has also changed his outlook because of changing technology. “Technology is moving so quickly, many places now are foregoing certain types of transit-oriented development — and even parking garages — because of the ability to get around town with Ubers and and where self-driving cars likely will be in 10 or 15 years,” he said. Levy said he still wants cities to invest in infrastructure, but think hard about…
Read the full storyPearn: No Points, No Problem in Showdown for Title
Crew chief Cole Pearn spent the first 35 races of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season watching driver Martin Truex Jr. amass a bevy of insurance through playoff and stage points with his series-high seven victories. All that security is gone now, as the…
Read the full storyThree Signs Hollywood Could Be Changing for the Better
Saying Hollywood needs a change in its power structure at this point in time is like saying plants need water to grow. A series of revelations about alleged sexual abusers such as Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey have opened the floodgates to many other stories and allegations from people who have worked, or still currently work,…
Read the full storyInspector General Finds VA Clinic Failed in Treatment of Troubled Navy Veteran Before Suicide
A government watchdog has found that a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in New Jersey repeatedly failed to provide mental health care for a Gulf War veteran in the months before he committed suicide by setting himself on fire in front of the clinic. The VA clinic in Northfield, New Jersey, canceled a counseling appointment for…
Read the full storyUS Defense System Has Smacked Down More Than 100 Missiles in Yemen War
The U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system has shot down more than 100 missiles fired from Yemen at Gulf Arab states since 2015, Defense News revealed Wednesday. The missiles were likely fired by Yemeni Houthi rebels over the last two years at Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for the Gulf states’ support of…
Read the full storyDa Vinci Painting Sells for World Record $450 Million
Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait of Christ, “Salvator Mundi”, sold for a record-smashing $450.3 million on Wednesday at Christie’s, more than double the old price for any work of art at auction. The painting, only recently rediscovered, was the last da Vinci left in private hands and fetched more than four times Christie’s’ pre-sale estimate of about…
Read the full storyBill Lee Opens Shelby County Campaign Office in Race for Tennessee Governor
Williamson County businessman Bill Lee on Wednesday opened a campaign office in Shelby County for his run for Tennessee governor. The office is on Poplar Avenue in Memphis, Lee announced in a press release. He also named Shelby County leaders who will help with his gubernatorial campaign. Lang Wiseman, a local attorney and former Shelby County Republican Party chairman, will chair Lee’s campaign in Shelby County. Horace Tipton will serve as the Shelby County field director. A Memphis native, Tipton worked in the Texas House of Representatives as a legislative aide and most recently worked for the campaign for Tennessee state Rep. Kevin Vaughan, a Republican who won a seat representing part of Shelby County in a special election in June. County captains for Lee’s campaign in Shelby County will include Karen Dunavant, Elaine Ervins and Rieta Selberg. “Bill has been meeting with leaders and voters in our community for months now, and his presence here shows he is continuing to follow through on his commitment to this area as governor,” Wiseman said. Lee released a detailed plan for Memphis and Shelby County last month that included an education plan, active engagement with law enforcement, a focus on infrastructure and economic development, and engagement…
Read the full storyFormer AG Alberto Gonzales: In America, Dreams Can Still Come True
NASHVILLE, Tennessee — As he travels the country speaking to young people, Alberto Gonzales asks them, how big can you dream? Many are afraid of getting laughed at if they talk about their ambitions, or they are afraid of failure, Gonzales said Thursday at a Latinos For Tennessee fundraising reception. But he wants them to know that in America, dreams can still come true. Gonzales is a former U.S. attorney general who served under former President George W. Bush and today is the dean of Belmont University’s Law School. A product of humble beginnings in Houston, Texas, Gonzales spoke of his own life as an example, telling of how his mom lived to see her son become a high-ranking official in the nation’s capital. As another example, he joked that as a young boy he dreamed of the Houston baseball team that became the Astros one day winning the World Series. That dream came true Nov. 1 when the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the title for the first time in their existence as a Major League Baseball franchise. Thursday’s fundraiser at The Standard at the Smith House in downtown Nashville was held to raise financial…
Read the full storyMt. Juliet Takes Steps to Resolve Conflict with RTA Over Music City Star Commuter Rail
Mt. Juliet city commissioners voted this week to pay $30,000 to the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) if the RTA will improve the Music City Star light rail station. Mt. Juliet and the RTA have been feuding over finances for the Nashville area’s only light rail line. The problems come as Davidson County debates implementing a large-scale mass transit plan. The Music City Star offers service between downtown Nashville and Lebanon and has stops in Lebanon, Mt. Juliet, Martha, Hermitage, Donelson and Riverfront Station. NewsChannel 5 Nashville reports: The RTA said Mt. Juliet has not paid its $30,000 annual operations payment for the last four years. Mt. Juliet city leaders said they stopped making payments when the RTA wasn’t willing to make improvements to the station. City leaders maintained the $30,000 is an optional fee and not required by law. The city has maintained its roughly $2,500 yearly dues without any problem. City leaders said they felt the $30,000 was better spent on improvement projects within the city. Because it wasn’t getting the money it said it needed from Mt. Juliet, the RTA had been discussing reducing rail service, implementing parking fees and ticket surcharges, or discontinuing service to Mt. Juliet. Commissioners…
Read the full storyHow Churches Are Preparing for Active-Shooter Situations
Did they know how many rounds a gunman fired into First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas? Did they know how many little boys and girls he killed? Did they know there was a second violent church attack that same day in Fresno, California? Barry Young’s voice rose as he led an “intruder awareness and response…
Read the full storyMark Meadows Pushes for a Special Counsel to Investigate Hillary Clinton’s Role in Trump Dossier
Rep. Mark Meadows said Thursday that a special counsel is needed to look into Hillary Clinton’s role in the Trump dossier. “You know, this dossier that Fusion GPS did – actually we know that Hillary Clinton and the DNC hired a firm – Perkins Coie actually hired them to do the dossier,” Mr. Meadows, North Carolina…
Read the full storyCommentary: All Aboard! Rep. Steve Cohen Leads Democrats to Jump on the Crazy Train to Impeachment
Cue Ozzy Osbourne. The Democrats have finally boarded the Crazy Train. A handful in the House just introduced five articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Sigh. Psychiatrists take note; here are the names: Reps. Marcia Fudge of Ohio, John Yarmuth of Kentucky, Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, Adriana Espaillat of New York and Al Green of…
Read the full storyJim Jordan: It’s ‘Unbelievable’ if U.S. Government Funded Opposition Research on Trump
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said Wednesday on “The Laura Ingraham Show” that it would be “unbelievable” if the U.S. government and the Department of Justice funded the dossier on President Donald Trump and Russia and called for a special counsel to investigate further. Jordan grilled Attorney General Jeff Sessions Tuesday during his testimony before the House…
Read the full storyKentucky Faces Lawsuit Over Bloated Voter Rolls
Judicial Watch announced Wednesday that it is suing the state of Kentucky, alleging that the state and 48 counties have more registered voters than citizens 18 and older. The Bluegrass State was one of 12 that Judicial Watch recently threatened with a lawsuit. The organization noted that the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America…
Read the full storyHospital Workers Want to Throw Off a Union They Never Wanted to Join
Employees at a hospital in Pennsylvania are petitioning the National Labor Relations Board to overturn a board regional director’s decision to unionize the workers without their consent. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill East’s 160 workers were forced into a union membership with the Service Employees International Union through the “accretion doctrine,” a policy that allows the NLRB to…
Read the full storyBob Corker Called Roy Moore ‘A Bridge Too Far’ But Gives Al Franken a Pass: ‘I Just Don’t Want to Be Weighing In’
Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) called on Republican Roy Moore to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race in Alabama after unsubstantiated allegations of sexual harassment more than 30 years ago were made against him. But on Thursday, Corker refused to call for any punitive actions against Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) after photographic evidence substantiated a more recent claim of sexual harassment brought against him by a woman who was on a 2006 USO tour of Afghanistan with the former Saturday Night Live comic. “I receive these kinds of questions every day about all kinds of things and I just — I don’t really have a lot — I don’t know enough . . . I just, again, I just don’t want to be weighing in on these things every day when I know nothing about them,” Corker told The Intercept when asked about the conduct of his friend and Senate colleague from Minnesota. The Intercept added: But when a reporter pointed out that he had weighed in on the Roy Moore scandal, Corker asked, “How did I weigh in on Roy Moore?” Look, I’m sorry, but even before these reports surfaced, Roy Moore’s nomination was a bridge too far. — Senator…
Read the full storyJon Gruden Addresses Coaching Rumors During ‘Mike & Mike’ Appearance
The GRUMOR is officially back on!!! During an appearance on Mike & Mike Wednesday, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach and Monday Night Football broadcaster Jon Gruden was asked about a potential return to coaching, as well as specifically being linked once again to the job at the University of Tennessee. “I haven’t really talked to anybody,”…
Read the full storyCollege Football Writer Doesn’t ‘Think There’s Any Doubt’ Bret Bielema Will Probably Be Gone
Things haven’t gone well for the Arkansas Razorbacks on the gridiron this season and, frankly, it feels worse around the program than the team’s 4-6 record would indicate. With that as the backdrop, athletic director Jeff Long was relieved of his duties on Wednesday and that shined a (very) bright light on the status of head…
Read the full storyPredators Goaltender Shifts: Recall Anders Lindback, Demote Juuse Saros
The Nashville Predators recalled Anders Lindback from Milwaukee and assigned fellow goaltender Juuse Saros to the American Hockey League affiliate, the team announced Thursday. Lindback has an AHL-leading eight wins to go along with a 2.46 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in 11 games this season for the Admirals. Signed to a one-year contract in…
Read the full storyHouse Passes $1.4 Trillion Tax Cut, 227-205
With spines stiffened by a presidential pep talk, House Republicans easily approved a $1.4 trillion tax cut Thursday, taking the first big step toward a decades-overdue overhaul that the GOP hopes will send the economy soaring. Desperate for a legislative win, Republicans linked arms and plowed ahead, brushing aside Democratic warnings that the bill will be…
Read the full storyThrowback Thursday: Remember When Dianne Feinstein Railed Against Illegal Immigration
An old video from 1994 that surfaced online this week shows just how dramatically the Democratic Party has changed its position on immigration in just 23 years. The video shows a segment on immigration from the CBS News show “Face the Nation” from that year, with a younger Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) sounding like President Donald…
Read the full storyOutdoor Ice Skating Rink to Open in Murfreesboro Saturday
Many people in Middle Tennessee love doing things outdoors, and this winter it will be easier to stay active, thanks to a new outdoor ice skating rink set to open in Murfreesboro on Saturday. The rink is at Fountains at Gateway near Saint Thomas Rutherford. There will be holiday decorations, photos with Santa, and special events such as “Movies on Ice” film screenings, live concerts and themed skate nights. The rink will be open through Jan. 3. Fountains at Gateway is a new development that includes office buildings, stores and restaurants, with plans also for apartments and a hotel. “Winterfest” featuring the ice rink is designed to be an annual event. “We are truly delighted to introduce Winterfest at Fountains and bring outdoor ice skating to Murfreesboro,” developer Scott Graby, president of Hearthstone Properties, said in a news release. “Winterfest is the first of many community events we look forward to hosting at Fountains.” The ice rink is also available to host corporate events, holiday parties, school spirit nights, and church and youth events. For hours and other information, visit fountainswinterfest.com.
Read the full storyCato Institute Expert: Nashville Mayor Megan Barry’s Mass Transit Plan ‘A Bad Investment’
A senior fellow with the Cato Institute is the latest expert to criticize Nashville Mayor Megan Barry’s $5.2 billion mass transit plan. The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank based in Washington, D.C. Barry wants to raise taxes to pay for a light-rail network, improved and expanded bus service, and an underground tunnel downtown. Currently, the Music City Star connecting Lebanon and downtown Nashville is the only commuter rail service in the area. Randal O’Toole wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal last week in which he criticized Barry’s plan for Davidson County, as well as mass transit proposals in San Antonio and Tampa. O’Toole wrote: These proposals are questionable at best and reckless at worst, given that transit ridership—including bus and what little rail these regions have—is down in all three jurisdictions. This is a nationwide trend: Data released this week by the Federal Transit Administration shows that ridership is falling in nearly every major urban area (with Seattle as a notable exception)… The main reason for this drop-off is that low gas prices and ride-sharing services have given people better options. Census data show that 96% of American workers live in households with at least one car,…
Read the full storyRep. Scott DesJarlais Calls Impeachment Attempt ‘Political Stunt’
One Tennessee congressman called U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen’s attempt to impeach President Donald J. Trump a “political stunt.” Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) and other House Democrats on Wednesday filed five Articles of Impeachment against the president. U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-03) told the Tennessee Star, “Americans voted for Donald Trump and Republicans to improve the economy and national security. That’s what we’re working on and would be glad to have Democrats’ help. I think that’s what the country would like. “Political stunts, which might make some feel better about an election loss, only slow progress on important matters like cutting middle-class taxes and rebuilding our military. I’m focused on a positive agenda for Tennesseans.” In the Articles of Impeachment, Cohen and his co-sponsors cited allegations of Russian interference in the presidential elections, alleged links between Trump’s campaign and Russia and the firing of FBI Director James Comey. The Democrats also accused Trump of profiting off his business brand during his presidency (a process called emoluments), the pardoning of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Trump’s disagreements with the news media. Cohen is the ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. He called for the committee to…
Read the full storyRoy Moore Accuses Mitch McConnell of Trying to ‘Subvert the Will of Alabamians’
Roy Moore kicked off Wednesday by taking another shot at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is calling on Mr. Moore to end his Republican bid for the U.S. Senate in Alabama over allegations of sexual misconduct involving minors. The former state chief justice has since made Mr. McConnell a top target of Twitter. “Mitch McConnell…
Read the full storyTennessee Teachers Burdened by Heavy Workload, Survey Results Show
Tennessee teachers are worn down by their workload and don’t think their school districts are doing enough to address the problem, results of an October survey by Professional Educators of Tennessee (ProEd) show. The Nashville-based organization which represents teachers surveyed 536 educators from more than 81 districts. This was the second year for the annual comprehensive survey. “I wasn’t surprised at all that teacher workload was the number one issue,” said Bethany Bowman, director of professional development for ProEd and a former teacher. Bowman said bureaucratic state and district mandates make a teacher’s job exhausting. “There’s so much more to it than just instructing a class,” she said. The survey asked teachers to rate around 20 issues as being very critical, critical, somewhat critical or not critical. After workload, the top 10 most critical issues included salary, literacy, parental engagement, instructional time, planning time, lack of respect, benefits, school safety and administrator quality. The survey also asked educators to rate how they felt their district or school addressed the issues. Only 29 percent of educators rated their districts above average with respect to workload, only 31 percent rated their districts above average for addressing salary issues, and only 37 percent…
Read the full storyTrump ‘Very Proud’ of Trip to Asia, Says Progress Made on Security, Trade
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is “very proud” of his five-nation, 12-day trip to Asia, asserting lots of progress was made on issues such as security and trade. In remarks delivered behind closed doors Tuesday at the East Asia Summit in Manila, Trump reiterated that North Korea remains a major global military threat. “North…
Read the full story50 New Immigration Judges on Duty, and 370 More Coming
The United States is on the verge of reversing an immigration court backlog that has been building for years, Attorney General Jeff Sessions testified Tuesday. Immigration hawks long have pointed to the backlog, now about 600,000 cases, as a factor in undermining enforcement. Sessions told the House Judiciary Committee that the backlog has barely grown during…
Read the full storyPresident Trump Picks Immigration Crackdown Advocate Thomas Homan to Head ICE
President Trump on Tuesday nominated Tom Homan to become the permanent head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in a move that heads off what could have been a crisis of leadership at the critical agency. Mr. Trump acted with just two days left before the Vacancies Act would have kicked in, and forced Mr. Homan…
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