Rutherford County District Attorney Jennings Jones Drops All Charges in ‘Cannabidiol’ Arrests and Product Seizure

The District Attorney’s office announced in a statement Tuesday that all criminal charges filed in connection with allegations of selling products containing a substance closely related to the active ingredient in marijuana called ‘cannabidiol,’ commonly known a CBD, against store clerks and markets will be dropped and the records expunged . In addition to the criminal charges, all public nuisance actions taken against markets will be dismissed and all property seized under the court’s order will be returned. District Attorney General Jennings Jones said that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations chemists informed his office of the limitations of their ability to determine the origin and amount of controlled substances in the samples provided, which effectively removed the foundation of his case: Chemists from TBI have now informed my office they cannot determine whether the cannabidiol detected on these products came from a hemp plant or marijuana plant. I was also informed that the TBI lab cannot determine the level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in any of the products they tested. It now appears that the TBI lab reports, if they had been accurately written, should have stated that their findings were ‘inconclusive’ as to whether cannabidiol is a controlled substance. The cannabidiol substance detected…

Read the full story

Meet Youth In Government Governor Stella London

By Emeline Sharpe Print Press Editor 65th Annual Youth in Government General Assembly, Nashville, Tennessee NASHVILLE, Tennessee–Stella London, Governor of the 65th annual Youth In Government conference, is a senior this year at Mt. Juliet High School. She has participated in the program every year, growing from a scared freshmen to the confident governor we all know in four short years. “I remember being at the governor’s banquet my freshmen year and seeing Tyler Dorr (2015 governor). From that point on I knew that I would run for governor,” says London. Since that moment her freshmen year, the program has done so much to change her life for the better. Stella says, “It changed my career path and set me up to do want I want to do in life, I’m doing political science and music business in college because of Youth In Government.” The program has opened up many other opportunities for London as well. Last summer she was invited to attend the Conference On National Affairs, and next week she will be in Washington, D.C. to advocate for the YMCA Center for Civic Engagement and Tennessee Youth In Government. As governor, Stella is responsible for working with her…

Read the full story

Bill to Allow Armed Teachers in Entire State, Not Just Rural Counties, Passes House Subcommittee

A bill sponsored by State Rep. David Byrd (R-Waynesboro) that seeks to expand the authorization of an employee to carry concealed weapons on school property beyond distressed rural counties to the entire state, HB 2208, passed its first stop in the House, the Civil Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday by a vote of 5 to 2. In the wake of the Parkland, Florida high school shooting, calls for allowing trained teachers and school employees to conceal carry, thereby enabling a more immediate life-saving response in the case of a shooter on what are currently “soft targets,” have come from multiple sources including the National Rifle Association and President Donald Trump. Byrd, a teacher and coach for decades also served as a principal in Wayne County high schools for ten years before retiring and joining the Tennessee General Assembly in 2015, has now gained 44 House co-sponsors for the bill. For three years, Byrd has been fighting to obtain funding of School Resource Officers (SROs) through a budget appropriation from the governor’s office. According to Byrd’s office, every school in Tennessee should have an SRO, but approximately 60 percent of students in Tennessee are currently not protected by SROs. With an estimated…

Read the full story

First Year Guide For Youth In Government Success

by Magdalena Perez Student Journalist 65th Annual Youth In Government General Assembly, Nashville, Tennessee NASHVILLE,Tennessee–As a first year delegate you may be nervous, scared, or worried, but trust me, you are not the only one. Every delegate has been in the exact same place, even the most confident Gubernatorial candidate. Don’t let nerves get in the way, Youth In Government is truly an amazing experience and you will want to enjoy every second of it. So how do you? Here are some tips to know for a successful year at Youth In Government. Don’t be afraid to talk to other students just because you don’t know them. Meeting new friends through the conference is a great opportunity and you may have more in common than you think. It is also helpful to get to know people from other schools at the conference. Whether it be speaking pro for your bill or helping you decide to run for office, a simple hello could change everything. Although it may seem scary, raising your placard is not too bad and it’s a great way to start speaking up. Don’t be scared to ask a question or start debate. Chances are, your comment could…

Read the full story

In Clinton Foundation Frauds, the Plot Thickens Over Obama’s Role

Last week, former President Barack Obama claimed his eight years in the Oval Office were The remarks seemed, charitably, one part Clintonian (depends what “scandal” and “free” mean) and another part delusional. Today, the strategy of getting captured corporate media to repeat unvetted wishful thinking falls flat because Americans like the quick work President Donald Trump has made of reigniting growth in after-tax paychecks. More of us question Obama’s success fables spun during eight long years, too. We want and deserve answers to tough questions.

Read the full story

The 2018 Midterms Look Questionable for Democrats as the Party Lurches Ever Leftward

by Jeffrey Rendall   It goes without saying most of the media’s fascination with the political dynamics of this year’s midterms has concentrated on the intra-party tug-of-war taking place within Republican ranks, the perpetual struggle between conservatives and establishment elites for control and power. Let’s face it – it’s a lot more interesting to talk about the GOP because there appears to be genuine divisions within the factions and serious disagreements over policy. Although President Trump has largely governed as a conservative the recent budget, gun rights and immigration debates revealed he’s first and foremost a pragmatic populist who favors action – any action – over ideology. In other words, Trump won’t win any awards for his staunch defense of constitutional personal liberties or the concept of limited government. Nevertheless, the vast majority of conservatives are thankful Trump and Mike Pence are steering the executive branch ship. By and large they’ve done a good job and succeeded despite the overt attempts of the deep state to force their failure. But what about the Democrats? With all the attention on the Republicans (as it usually is) there’s been precious little highlighting of the Democrats’ own petty catfights. Sure, the minority party suffers from a lack…

Read the full story

Professional Educators of Tennessee to Conduct Teacher Survey on School Safety

Teacher

The Professional Educators of Tennessee (ProEd) announced Thursday it is conducting a ten-question, online survey for teachers from now through Friday, March 9 about the level of safety in schools. “Tennessee Public Schools are entrusted with the responsibility of educating the citizens of tomorrow,” the statement announcing the survey said: A safe and secure environment is a requirement for effective teaching and learning. Educator and student safety is a priority for Professional Educators of Tennessee. We believe school management and planning in regards for student and educators must be a constant process and priority for all policymakers. Tennessee citizens think for themselves. Educators think for themselves, with an authentic voice that advocates for students entrusted in their care. We invite Active and Retired Educators to take this brief survey and share your opinion on school safety in order that we can share with state leaders and the media. By conducting the survey, Professional Educators of Tennessee can assist and help educate legislators in understanding how teachers feel on the growing concern of school safety. Because we have the direct input of educators, Professional Educators of Tennessee advocacy efforts carry significant weight with legislators. The survey for educators is located here:…

Read the full story

65th Annual Youth In Government General Assembly Convenes in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tennessee–More than 500 high school student delegates from across Tennessee gathered in Nashville on Thursday to attend the first day of the 65th Annual Youth In Government General Assembly, a Tennessee YMCA Center for Civic Engagement program. Susan Moriarty, executive director of the Tennessee YMCA Center for Civic Engagement, who, along with associate director Elise Addington Dugger runs the annual event, told The Tennessee Star that more than 2,500 Tennessee high school students in grades 9 through 12 participate in Youth In Government events scheduled throughout the year. On Thursday, delegates met at the Nashville First Baptist Church. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday they will meet at the House Chambers, the Senate Chambers, and the Cordell Hull Building of the State Capitol. The closing ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday in the House Chambers. Delegates are assigned specific roles, either as members of the General Assembly in the House or Senate, judges on the Supreme Court or lawyers arguing before the Court, lobbyists, members of the Governor’s Cabinet, or members of the Press Corps. The 30 member press corps this year publishes two to three editions of the newspaper each day, as well as a daily video…

Read the full story