Day: March 21, 2018

Steve: A New Kind of Aurora Demystified by Scientists

Admin

Few things compare to the dazzling light show performed by nature’s northern and southern lights – but they’re not alone. It was only in the past few years that a new type of aurora was found. Thanks to the watchful eye of citizen scientists and photographers, we can now add to program an exquisite short-lived shimmering purple ribbon of plasma called Steve. Meanwhile, scientists have had time to carefully study the phenomenon in an attempt to learn what makes it tick.

Read the full story

Senate State & Local Government Committee Passes Two Important Anti-Ilegal Immigration Bills

Chris Alto

A bill to strengthen Tennessee’s law prohibiting sanctuary cities was passed by a majority vote of the Senate State & Local Government Committee with only Democrat State Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) voting no. Among other features of SB2332, sponsored by State Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville), is a broadened definition of “sanctuary policies or practices” that help shield criminal illegal aliens and encourages more illegal immigration to those locations. Several weeks ago, the State and Local Director from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) spoke to the committee reminding them that “sanctuary policies come in all shapes and sizes:” Some are written, some are not. Some are enacted through local laws while others masquerade as ‘welcoming resolutions; some even appear as internal law enforcement agency policy. Despite these differences in appearance, the uniting factor is that sanctuary policies place a greater emphasis on the welfare of illegal aliens than the welfare and safety of citizens and legal residents in their own communities. Tennessee’s current statute only addresses written sanctuary policies. Nashville promotes itself as a “welcoming city” – in fact, so welcoming that in June 2017, two ordinances were introduced by Councilmen Bob Mendes and Colby Sledge promoting practices that…

Read the full story

Bill Allowing Trained Teachers To Carry Concealed Firearms On School Property Passes House Committee

Laura Baigert

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The bill allowing private certified firearms instructors and the local law enforcement agency to train teachers who are allowed to carry concealed firearms on school property passes the House Civil Justice Committee by a vote of 8 to 3 along party lines. House Bill 2208, sponsored by David “Coach” Byrd (R-Waynesboro), after about an hour and a half of debate, passed another hurdle Tuesday. As previously reported by The Tennessee Star, the bill expands a previous bill by Byrd that was restricted to the distressed rural counties of Wayne and Pickett, after local law enforcement did not conduct the training and following the Parkland, Florida school shooting. Byrd, a teacher, coach and principal before retiring and joining the Tennessee General Assembly, would prefer to have a School Resource Officer (SRO) in every school. But, across there state there are approximately 800 SROs for the 1,800 schools, providing coverage to only about 40 percent. The financial reality is that, at a cost of approximately $45,000 per year, rural distressed counties cannot afford to have an SRO in every school. The bill is “permissive,” in that each individual Local Education Agency (LEA) can opt in but is not compelled…

Read the full story

Report: Painters Union Center in Nashville Luring Illegal Aliens Using False Information

Chris Alto

An “ICE Free Zone” flyer  was reported to have been posted on the door of the new worker resource center opened in Nashville by Local 456 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). Regardless of the union’s effort to lure illegal immigrants to the the center, it is not, according to ICE guidelines, off bounds to immigration officials. The Star asked ICE Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Nestor Yglesias whether an “ICE Free Zone” would discourage ICE officers from entering the premises if they had probable cause to believe a removable alien was inside the building. Mr. Yglesias referred The Star to the FAQ on Sensitive Locations and Courthouse Arrests posted on ICE’s website. “Sensitive locations” are those places where ICE enforcement and removal actions are less likely to occur although there are circumstances under which, exceptions will be made and enforcement actions will proceed. Places like the union’s Nashville office are not included in any of the “sensitive location” categories. Local 456 has teamed up with the TN Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) and Worker’s Dignity Dignidad Obrera to provide information and assist those who seek out the center’s resources. Nashville Workers Dignity organized in 2010 to represent “wage theft” from low wage…

Read the full story

Commentary: Close the Primaries in Tennessee for a Strong Two-Party System

Admin

by Tracy Miller, PhD   Williamson County Republican Party released a Resolution to Close the Primaries in the state of Tennessee late last week.  But why?  Isn’t it better to let Democrats help decide which Republican they like most or (perhaps) hate least? Recently, screen shots have been flying around where people admit that in order to get elected they have to slap an “R” in front of their names.  Hang out at the polling stations and you often can hear groups of Democrats mumbling about holding their nose and voting for this or that Republican candidate – the one who is most like a Democrat or the one who has the least chance of winning. This is especially true for the primaries – think NFL draft where we try to assemble the Republican lineup for the upcoming season.   No harm in letting the Patriots or the Texans help us choose our players, right?  After all, some of our opponents are often friends and all-around good sports.  Maybe a few extra Monday morning quarterbacks or opposition party coordinators can help, right? Wrong.  Enough of the comedy.  All an open primary does is allow the powerful to remain in power – because…

Read the full story

Ten Teens Arrested in Nashville for Aggravated Rioting during ‘National Walkout Day’ Violence

Admin

Just short of a week after students from across the country participated in the so-called “National Walkout Day,” Metro Nashville Police announced the arrest of ten teens for their role in the outrageous and violent behavior at Antioch High School. Eighteen-year-old Fiacle Mugisha (pictured) was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with aggravated rioting, along with nine other classmates. They include two 17-year-olds, two 16-year-olds, four 15-year-olds, and one 14-year-old who also face aggravated rioting charges, but in Juvenile Court. According to the MNPD statement, “The students are alleged to have been screaming and yelling while jumping on a School Resource Officer’s police car, causing serious damage to the roof and hood.” As The Tennessee Star reported: Some students at Antioch High School took the opportunity to sow chaos and destruction Wednesday during the so-called “National Walkout Day” organized by the far-Left group, Women’s March only one month after the horrific school shooting in Parkland, Florida. NewsChannel5 reports that the Metro Nashville Police are looking into incidents of a few students taking down a flag and jumping on a police car, but that no arrests or citations have been issued. Fellow protesters posted some of the incidents on social media.   Several media outlets report that the violent…

Read the full story

College Student Back in Class After Being Kicked Out for Defending Two Genders

Admin

Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s president on Monday allowed a student who had been kicked out of a religious studies class for claiming there are only two genders to return to the course, intervening before the Academic Integrity Board could rule on a dispute.In an email to the campus, IUP President Michael Driscoll said he decided to “indefinitely pause” the proceedings — while reserving the right to restart the process.

Read the full story

Poll: Majority of Americans Believe ‘Deep State’ Controls Washington

Admin

A large bipartisan majority of Americans believe that Washington is controlled by a “Deep State” of unelected government officials, according to a new poll. The Monmouth University Poll found 60 percent of respondents feel that unelected or appointed government officials have too much influence in determining federal policy. The belief is consistent regardless of party affiliation, with 59 percent of Democrats, 59 percent of Republicans and 62 percent of independents agreeing that appointed officials hold too much sway in the federal government.

Read the full story

Commentary: Our Public Schools Are Less About Learning and More About Indoctrination

Admin

By Printus LeBlanc   It has been almost a week since the “student” walkout over school safety. After studying the event and the aftermath, it has become increasingly clear the walkout was nothing more than a political stunt. It had nothing to do with safety; it had nothing to do with allowing students to voice their opinions, it was all about progressives in national politics and the schoolhouse using children as political props. This begs the question, why are we funding these political indoctrination camps? The students didn’t walk out over cellphones and driving. The students didn’t walk out over bullying which leads to thousands of teen suicides each year. No, the students walked out over the Second Amendment which the progressive left has been trying to eliminate for decades. Following the horrendous events in Florida, progressives seized on the opportunity to use the children to get what they wanted. A few examples across the nation show just how political the walkout was. A student in Hilliard, Ohio made the decision he did not want to get involved in the politics of the anti-gun debate. He chose to stay in class. The student should be celebrated for wanting to concentrate…

Read the full story

The Public Tells Hollywood Once More: We Want Faith-Based Films

Admin

Whenever a faith-based film performs well at the box office, many in the industry may be surprised — while the rest of the country is not. This trend continued over the weekend with the release of “I Can Only Imagine.” The movie focuses on singer Bart Millard’s relationship with his father before the elder man passed away when Millard was just 18 years old. The movie embraces the theme of forgiveness, specifically when it comes to family members.

Read the full story

MSNBC’s Barnicle Claims Obama Era Was ‘Virtually Scandal-Free’

Admin

MSNBC senior contributor Mike Barnicle gushed over former President Barack Obama Tuesday on “Morning Joe,” claiming with a straight face that Obama’s eight years in the White House were “virtually scandal-free.” Barnicle was interviewing Robert Gibbs, Obama’s first White House press secretary, when he lavished President Donald Trump’s predecessor with unvarnished praise. Without attempting to disguise his less than favorable opinion of Trump and his administration, Barnicle asked Gibbs about “the damage that’s being done to the institution of the presidency today” after eight years under an “exemplary” president.

Read the full story

Conservative Grassroots Leader Andy Ogles Wins Republican Nomination for Maury County Mayor at Convention

Admin
Conservative Grassroots Leader Andy Ogles Wins Republican Nomination for Maury County Mayor at Convention

The Maury County Republican Party held their nominating convention Saturday, and in a surprising twist, selected former Americans for Prosperity State Director and U.S. Senate candidate Andy Ogles to be the Republican nominee for County Mayor. “Maury County faces major fiscal issues in the coming years, and I think I am the candidate to solve them,” Ogles told The Daily Herald moments after his nomination. State Rep. Sheila Butt (R-Columbia), who is not seeking re-election in 2018, nominated Ogles for the office at the convention on Saturday. “I have worked with Andy Ogles on several issues over the past few years. I was delighted when he and his family chose to move to Maury County several years ago,” Butt told The Tennessee Star in an exclusive statement, adding: Andy understands the issues facing our community and the process of governing. He understands budgets and taxes. He understands the importance of a community being financially sound and meeting the needs of a growing population. There are challenges ahead for Maury County. We are in the process at the State level of passing a Private Act that will help with the accountability and the transparency of our County budget. There are real problems that need to be addressed. Andy…

Read the full story