Day: January 23, 2018

Mae Beavers Cancels Appearance at Gubernatorial Education Forum Due to Mother’s Passing

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Former State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Mae Beavers cancelled her scheduled appearance at Tuesday’s SCORE Gubernatorial Forum debate with the announcement of the loss of her beloved mother, Evelyn Louise Spruill: It is with much regret that I will not be able to be at the SCORE Gubernatorial debate tonight. SCORE is focused on educational issues and you will not find a candidate more passionate about the education of all our children. My mother passed away this weekend and her funeral was today, and though I was looking forward to this debate, it is not possible to be with you tonight. My mother was one of the hardest working women you have ever known. When we four children were small she babysat for others and did laundry for Trevecca Nazarene University students so that she and Dad could pay tuition for four children to go to Trevecca Elementary School. Every night before bed, she read Bible Stories and books that I will always remember. We were encouraged to do our best in school, and my Mom loved all forms of education, so much so, she earned money as a proof-reader to support me and my siblings, by even proofing medical…

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The National Inventors Hall of Fame Inducts ‘Refrigeration,’ ‘DNA Synthesis,’ ‘Lycra,’ ‘OLEDs’ and 8 More

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Inventors Hall of Fame

The first-down line that appears on television screens during football games, the tissue-typing test that matches organ donations with compatible recipients, and the OLEDs that light up the screen of the iPhone X—we take technologies like these for granted. This year, however, they’re getting a spotlight: These three innovations, along with nine others, have earned their creators a spot in the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

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Two Republicans, State Sen. Steven Dickerson and State Rep. Jeremy Faison, Introduce ‘Medical Cannabis Only Act of 2018’

Christina Botteri

Much to the delight of the pro-pot activist base, Tennessee State Sen. Steven Dickerson (R-Nashville) and State Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) introduced a controversial measure Thursday that seeks to legalize a certain form of marijuana to be used for medical purposes, dubbed, “Medical Cannabis Only Act of 2018” (SB1710). The Nashville Business Journal reports that the Act requires several safeguards to closely monitor and restrict the manufacture, distribution, prescription, and dispensing of the drug: According to the bill, an electronic verification system would be established through which qualifying patients would receive a registration identification card. Using card readers, cannabis establishments and law enforcement would be able see, in real time, how much cannabis the patient was allowed to purchase, as well as when and where the purchase occurred. Once reaching their dosage per month, the patient would not be able to use the card for the remainder of the time. If a patient possessed more than the dosage amount, criminal drug possession laws would then apply. Furthermore, the Act empowers counties to opt-out from allowing dispensaries to operate in their jurisdictions, and for those counties that do, local governments may choose – through a local referendum – to allow (or not) dispensaries. The Journal reports the…

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Actually, It’s Lindsey Graham Who Is Out of Mainstream on Immigration

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Sen. Lindsey Graham ripped senior White House aide Stephen Miller as holding immigration views that are out of the American political mainstream, but a new poll suggests it is the South Carolina senator who is alienated form public sentiment. The Harvard CAPS/Harris poll indicates a majority opposed the partial government shutdown that Graham supported and suggested broad support for many of the immigration views that Miller — and his boss, President Donald Trump — advocate.

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Congressman Phil Roe Still Undecided on a 2018 Re-Election Bid

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Despite questions from constituents and local media,  Representative Phil Roe (R-TN-01) has not yet announced if he will run for re-election in 2018. The most recent inquiry came from, the Kingsport Times News, who asked on a conference call Friday if the retired physician had decided if he would be adding his name to the August primary ballot. “I have not,” the ten-year incumbent answered, adding: “… from a health standpoint … I’ve had a CT (computer tomography) scan, which was normal. I’m very pleased about that. … In another three to four weeks, I’ll have a blood test to see whether that’s normal and OK. Those things will impact the decision you make. So far, I’ve gotten great results. Physically I’m feeling better.” Roe was diagnosed with an early form of prostate cancer in 2017 and is reported to have responded well to treatment. As for the timeline on when he is decide one way or another, the Times News writes that Roe said he has “some things for the VA [Veterans Administration] that are critical” and, “All of these are weighing on my decision and it’s going to be coming rather quickly. … I have a national platform now.…

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Seven Ways Comey’s FBI Helped Hillary Go Scott-Free on Email Crimes

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Former FBI Director James Comey and other key senior bureau executives violated at least seven basic rules for credible investigations in 2016 to ensure former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would escape prosecution for using a private email server and address to conduct official diplomatic business, according to former U.S. Attorney Joseph diGenova. “What this is about is to exonerate Hillary Clinton of a clear violation of the law with regard to the way she handled classified information with her private server. Absolutely a crime, absolutely a felony,” diGenova said in with Ginny Thomas of the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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Shock Poll: Americans Want Massive Cuts to Legal Immigration

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Americans strongly back giving illegal immigrant “Dreamers” a pathway to citizenship – but a new poll found they also strongly back the other changes President Trump is pushing to build a border wall system, eliminate the visa lottery and curtail the chain of family migration. The Harvard-Harris Poll, taken in the run-up to the government shutdown, even found huge support for cutting the level of legal immigration, which stands at more than 1 million a year, to less than half that.

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Debate Preview: GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Answer Five Questions on Education

Tennessee Star Staff

The Gubernatorial Candidate Educational Forum will be held at Belmont University and broadcast on NewsChannel 5 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm tonight, Tuesday, January 22. The Tennessee Star will be there, along with six of the seven leading gubernatorial candidates from the Republican and Democratic parties. Republicans in attendance will be Randy Boyd, Bill Lee, Mae Beavers, and Tennessee Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R- Nashville). Democrats in attendance will be Karl Dean and State Rep. Craig Fitzhugh (D-Ripley). Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06) will be the only gubernatorial candidate not in attendance. Black is in Washington, where Congress is currently in session. Earlier this month, the Professional Educators of Tennessee (PET) asked all seven candidates five questions about education. PET has graciously shared their responses with The Tennessee Star. As a preview of tonight’s debate, we present the responses of the five leading GOP Gubernatorial candidates to those questions. QUESTION 1: Thank you for taking the time to share with our educators today. On behalf of our members, I would like to say we are grateful you are offering yourself for Governor. Please share with educators a little about who you are, and why you are running for…

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Trump Slaps Big Tariffs on Imported Solar Panels, Riling Renewables Industry

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The Trump administration announced Monday that it will impose hefty tariffs on the cheap, imported panels that have driven the rapid expansion of solar power in the United States, a move that industry groups warn will slow the spread of renewable energy and cost thousands of jobs. The tariffs come as Trump has vowed to take a tough line against cheap foreign imports that are undercutting American manufacturing industries.

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Commentary: Jeff Sessions Is Turning the Justice Department Around

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By Printus LeBlanc   While everyone is wondering what was said and what was not said, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is quietly restoring the rule of law and eliminating the progressive leftist funding mechanisms installed by the Obama administration. It is time to recognize the excellent work Attorney General Jeff Sessions is doing. One of the most overlooked actions Attorney General Jeff Sessions took was to end third-party settlements. Under the previous administration, the Justice Department allowed companies it fined to pay third-parties organizations not associated with the original crime. Not only did the department allow the offenders to pay third-parties, they received double the credit for doing so. The payments would go to Obama administration approved organizations such as National Council of La Raza, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition and the National Urban League. All left leaning organizations that help the help the Democrat Party carry out its mission. Congressional investigators estimate at least $3 billion went to third-party groups during the Obama administration. Sessions issued the order on June 7, 2017, stating, “When the federal government settles a case against a corporate wrongdoer, any settlement funds should go first to the victims and then to the American people— not to bankroll…

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Gubernatorial Candidate Randy Boyd: The Volume is Going to be Turned Way Up

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Boyd in Kingsport

During a campaign trip to Kingsport, tucked up on the northeast corner of the state, the local newspaper spent some time with gubernatorial hopeful Randy Boyd and came away with two clear messages: the Knoxville businessman and former Haslam appointee is in-it-to-win-it, and is about to ‘turn the volume way up.’ “It’s early and in some of the early polls, when they ask about me, it’s about name ID,” Mr. Boyd told the Kingsport Times News. “[Black] usually leads with name ID, but being known and being favored to be the next governor are two different things. Most people really haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about it yet, but over the next six months, the volume is going to be turned way up. People are going to learn more and more about the candidates. I still believe they are going to vote for a nonprofessional politician and business person and outsider over some politician in D.C.” (emphasis added) Boyd’s claim to be a ‘nonprofessional politician’ is accurate. However, recall that Randy Boyd was tapped by the Haslam Administration in 2013 to serve as a special adviser on higher education, where he helped to develop the ‘Drive to 55’ initiative. It was during his…

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Governor Bill Haslam Announces ‘TN Together’ to ‘End the Opioid Epidemic’

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Governor Haslam unveiled his administration’s ambitious plan to confront Tennessee’s accelerating opioid crisis on Monday, called “TN Together.” Joined on stage by Lt. Governor Randy McNally, State House Speaker Beth Harwell, and Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Bivins, Governor Haslam aims to implement a three-pronged initiative “to end the opioid epidemic” that focuses on prevention, treatment and law enforcement. “This is a crisis that knows no boundaries and impacts many Tennesseans regardless of race, income, gender or age,” Governor Haslam said in a statement. “Our approach will be aggressive with provisions to limit the supply of opioids and significant state and federal dollars to provide treatment to those in need. I applaud the collaboration and the considerable work of the House and Senate on the TN Together plan, as well as the judicial branch’s leadership through the Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative and National Opioid Task Force, and I ask all stakeholders around this issue to work together to achieve real reform and action that will save lives.” In all, Governor Haslam will propose a $30 million budget in state and federal funding to launch and run TN Together in the 2018-19 fiscal year. That amount will include: The three components of TN Together include prevention,…

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