The fact-checkers at PolitiFact found themselves dumping former congressman Alan Grayson hours after publishing a celebratory hiring statement. Mr. Grayson, a Florida Democrat known for bombastic comments and the assertion that AR-15 rifles fire “700 rounds in a minute,’” was let go by PolitiFact.com on the same day its “reader advocate” experiment was announced. The Democrat…
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Rep. Peter King said Thursday that Rep. Devin Nunes’ memo includes “every relevant fact” to the case and believes the memo should come out. “The first time the White House saw it is we had our people officially deliver it to [the] White House counsel, and the national security lawyers, on Monday night at the White House,” Mr. King, New York Republican, said on CNN.
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One citizens’ group says the city and its backers are conducting yet another poll to try to show support for the Let’s Move Nashville Transit Improvement Plan. NoTax4Tracks said in a press release that at least one of its people received a polling call regarding the $9 billion transit plan that includes light rail service. Questions include: Would this make you more or less likely to vote for the plan? 17 cents a day cost Comprehensive light rail, bus and other Neighborhood parking zones to get on and off Will run longer hours at night If seniors get a discount If out-of-towners pay for most of it through the hotel tax It would eliminate the need to go downtown to go to neighborhood to neighborhood Which are important to you when you consider your vote: would cost $5.4 billion that we would have the highest sales tax that sales tax is regressive and would hurt lower income communities Which people are meaningful to you in making this decision: David Fox Megan Barry Someone else News of the new poll broke hours before word came of Mayor Megan Barry’s extra-marital affair with the head of her security detail, so it is…
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Chris Tomlin and friends to host second annual ‘Good Friday Nashville’ concert at Bridgestone to benefit Tennessee Kids Belong.
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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and her security chief, Rob Forrest, traveled alone together to a conference in Greece in September, several Middle Tennessee media outlets reported on Wednesday. Forrest and Barry were alone in Athens, Greece for seveb days, from September 12 to September 18, 2017 attending the Athens Democracy Forum & 100RC City Leaders Advisory Committee Meeting, according to documents released by the Mayor’s Office. During this time, Forrest was paid by the taxpayers of Metro Nashville/Davidson County to provide security for Mayor Barry. Forrest’s travel and lodging expenses were paid for by Metro Nashville/Davidson County. It is not clear whether taxpayers or a private foundation paid for Mayor Barry’s travel and lodging for the Athens, Greece trip. “Documents released by her office show that from January 2017 until present, over $30,000 taxpayer dollars were spent on Barry and Sgt. Forrest’s travel expenses. Barry took 30 trips in total, 7 of which were personal to visit her son or take vacation with friends, while 9 were with Sgt. Forrest alone, including a trip to Greece, reportedly for the Athens Democracy Forum,” WKRN reported. “During 2017, travel records show Forrest traveled with the mayor to San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver,…
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Pollster Frank Luntz isn’t exactly known around political town as a fawning admirer of President Donald Trump. In fact, the two engaged in a somewhat nasty public spat in 2015, with the latter accusing the former of using his polling position to “shake him down” and derail his presidential aspirations.
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Heartbeat Bill passed through the House Health Subcommittee on Wednesday and is headed for the full House Health Committee. The bill has been under consideration in the Tennessee General Assembly for more than a year, The bill, which has seen its share of challenges, along with its six amendments was the only item discussed in the subcommittee. After five amendments were dispensed with, the amendment that “made the bill,” was introduced by the sponsor of the main bill, Rep. Micah Van Huss (R-Jonesborough). Van Huss began by recognizing and appreciating the many people who, over the last 12 months, worked, prayed and called for the Heartbeat Bill to protect the unborn, and added, “If the unborn could speak, they would thank you as well.” Not having the votes to pass the bill through the Subcommittee in its current form, Van Huss offered an amendment that would “still save lives.” Citing a statistic from preborn.org, Van Huss said that 80 percent of mothers who see an ultrasound choose life. The amendment to the bill increases a pregnant woman’s choices, requiring that “if an ultrasound is performed as part of the examination prior to performing the abortion, the…
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In a shocking turnaround, the U.S. Justice Department has dropped its case against Sen. Robert Menendez. In a court hearing in Newark today, federal prosecutors moved to dismiss the corruption indictment against the New Jersey Democrat. Last week, a federal judge had acquitted Menendez and his co-defendant, Salomon Melgen, of seven of the 18 counts against them after a deadlocked jury could not reach a verdict in the high-profile case in November.
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by Judson Phillips On Wednesday evening, the rumors that had been percolating through downtown Nashville all day were finally shown to be true. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry admitted that she had an extramarital affair. But it was not just any extramarital affair. She was having an affair with a Nashville employee who was paid to protect her. Metro police sergeant Rob Forrest was assigned to protect the Mayor and traveled with her extensively. According to media reports, Barry traveled with Forrest at least nine times alone. According to other media reports, in the last two years alone, Forrest made $135,000 in overtime. That overtime is in addition to his regular salary and for the trips he took with the Mayor on the taxpayer’s dime. Neither Barry or Forrest are giving details, such as the time frame of the affair, presumably on the advice of their lawyers. Until there is evidence to the contrary, sane people have to assume they were having their affair while he was on duty and they were traveling together. Megan Barry used tax dollars to help pay for her affair. And she had that affair with someone who works for the city. All of this…
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State Representative John DeBerry (D-Memphis) filed a bill Tuesday that would outlaw fraternities and sororities on Tennessee’s state schools of higher education. The bill, HB2042 appears in the Tennessee Legislature’s database as simply filed, with no sponsor yet. It’s description reads: Fraternities and Sororities – As introduced, prohibits fraternities and sororities, other than professional fraternities and honor societies, from being recognized by, associated with, or operating on the campus of, any state institution of higher education. – Amends TCA Title 49. The bill targets Greek organizations that are social in nature and explicitly excludes professional organizations. The proposal comes as Greek life groups across the country have been suspended or placed on probation for instances of excessive drinking and hazing. CBS News Channel 5 notes that in 2016, there were four fraternity hazing deaths across the country that garnered attention. The men were pledging their fraternities at Pennsylvania State University, Louisiana State University, Florida State University, and Texas State University.
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President Donald Trump’s delivered five lines in his first State of the Union address Tuesday evening that could have come directly out of former President Ronald Reagan’s mouth. The president’s speech Tuesday evening, like many State of the Union addresses, focused on the unity of the American people, along with a number of domestic and foreign policy issues. The American public received the address incredibly well, with CNN and CBS polls showing over 70 percent of viewers approved for the president’s remarks.
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Not long ago, the decision by a local Virginia jail administrative board to continue alerting federal immigration authorities when it was going to release illegal immigrants would have been utterly unremarkable. In 2018, it qualifies as news.
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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry dodged repeated questions at a televised press conference Wednesday night on whether her extra-marital affair with her chief bodyguard, a city employee, was hypocritical as a champion of women’s rights. She also seemed to acknowledge she only came out because the news was breaking. “I am embarrassed and I am sad and I am sorry for all the pain I caused my family and his family, and I know that God will forgive me, but I know Nashville doesn’t have to,” Barry said. She added she hopes she can earn back people’s trust. Earlier in the day, in an exclusive interview with NewsChannel 5 Investigates, Barry insisted that she has not misused taxpayer funds as part of the relationship with Metro Police Sergeant Rob Forrest, NewsChannel 5’s Phill Williams reported on Wednesday. Forrest resigned — the term being used is retirement after 31 years with the police department. Barry said he gave notice on Jan. 17. During the press conference, Barry was asked more than once about the professional aspect of having an affair with a subordinate, especially in terms of women’s rights. The point was raised that if a man were in her position, he…
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