Month: March 2018

Tennessee GOP Mounts Full Court Press to Defeat Self-Described ‘Liberal Atheist Activist’ in 14th State Senate District Special Election

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With the 14th State Senate District special election set for just six days from now on Tuesday March 13th, Tennessee Republicans are mounting an all-hands-on-deck attack on Democrat Gayle Jordan as she faces off against Republican Shane Reeves in the contest to determine who will replace former State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), who resigned in November to take a position in the Trump administration. Jordan, the Democratic candidate, is a self-described “hippie liberal atheist activist” who officiates same sex weddings and jokes about “doing her part to destroy the fabric of American society.” Since 2016 Jordan has served as the Executive Director of Recovering from Religion, a Kansas City-based non-profit that works to lead Christians away from faith. As of this writing, the Recovering from Religion Twitter account features Jordan on its cover image. In their announcement of Jordan, they noted that she took particular pride in her fundraising prowess and that she was “instrumental in bringing in a $13 million soccer complex to her hometown in Tennessee:” Recovering From Religion Names New Executive Director Kansas City, KS—Recovering from Religion is delighted to announce that Gayle Jordan has been named as its Executive Director beginning January 2016. Jordan brings extensive organizational…

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State Rep. Mike Sparks Commentary: In Order to Fix Nashville’s Traffic Problems, We Must First Study the Traffic Before We Raise Taxes

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traffic jam

by State Representative Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna)   ON I-24 SOMEWHERE NORTH OF SMYRNA, Tennessee — Interstate 24 from Rutherford County to Nashville, which goes through my district, might be consistently the most congested stretch of highway in Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. With the exponential growth of middle Tennessee, drivers face increased traffic congestion daily. While stuck in traffic many of us who commute to Nashville are asking ourselves the same question: What else can be done to help alleviate our traffic problems? Our government and our leaders need to learn to do more with less without increasing taxes. We should continue to pursue options such as encouraging ride-sharing, alternative work schedules, and an improved BRT Bus Rapid Transit system, HOV lane enforcement as a few options to reduce traffic. At the age of 19, I was working at Whirlpool factory in LaVergne, and I would pay a coworker $5 each week to carpool. As I drive from my home district to Nashville, I have watched how bad the traffic congestion is getting. I have continuously promoted ride-sharing, which has encouraged my staff to carpool, many of whom are using the new mobile app Hytch Rewards, to…

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Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Rep. Scott DesJarlais to Rally for State Senate Candidate Shane Reeves This Saturday

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The Shane Reeves campaign announced Tuesday that Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), a candidate for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate, and Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) will host a rally Saturday morning, March 10, for Republican Shane Reeves to help build momentum for the State Senate District 14 special election candidate. “I know Shane Reeves will fight to foster an agenda that will create jobs and promote prosperity for state senate district 14,” Rep. Blackburn said in a statement. “We need a conservative businessman in Nashville who will stand with President Trump here in Tennessee. Shane will represent well the values and beliefs of the 14th district and I look forward to showing my support for him on Saturday in Murfreesboro,” Blackburn added. “Having known Shane for over six years, I’m confident he will immediately contribute to the legislative process bringing an expansive knowledge of business and healthcare to the table,” Rep. DesJarlais, who is seeking re-election to his seat in Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District, said. “I look forward to joining team Reeves this Saturday to support his campaign and ensure republican voters understand the urgency and importance of getting out to vote next Tuesday,” DesJarlais added. Here are the…

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NAACP Urges National Gun Confiscation

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NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson called for a national gun confiscation program in a syndicated column through Black Press USA on Monday. Comparing recent school shootings to the violence and discrimination black students faced after the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, Johnson wrote that “fear and terror still exist in our children’s classrooms” because of the “National Rifle Association and the politicians [sic] that support them.”

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Kansas’ College Gun-Grabbers Mum as New Report Shows Plunging Crime Rate After Campus Carry Enacted

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Despite vicious opposition from the progressive Left, the Kansas legislature enacted campus carry at the University of Kansas in October, 2017. Six months later, a new report shows that crime – especially violent crime – has plummeted, and criminal weapons violations have dropped to zero. “Overall, crime decreased 13 percent, with 671 criminal offenses reported to KU police in 2017 compared to 770 incidents in 2016, according to a news release from the KU Office of Public Safety,” the Lawrence Journal-World reported, adding: Notably, with lawful concealed carry of handguns being allowed on campus for the first time beginning July 1, 2017, KU police tallied zero criminal weapons violations in 2017, according to crime statistics provided by police. Prior to 2017, campus police have recorded a total of 14 weapons violations since 2008, according to the statistics. (emphasis added) Campus carry advocates have been predictably positive in their reaction of the news, celebrating the reduction of the fear, pain, and loss felt by crime victims and the increase of a safer campus that encourages an open learning environment. “Antonia, your advocacy kills more people. There is no way promoting more guns on campus can EVER equal less violence!!” Yes, unless the people behind…

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Report: FBI Agent Peter Strzok Didn’t Follow Up on Possible Breach of Clinton Email Server

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The FBI agent charged with investigating Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server became aware of a possible breach, but never followed up, Fox News Channel has reported. Citing sources familiar with the investigation, Fox News reported Peter Strzok discovered an irregularity in the server’s metadata in 2016 – just before the presidential election – but did not conduct a formal damage assessment.

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CDC: ER Visits for Opioid Overdose Up 30 Percent in Recent Year

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Emergency room visits from opioid overdoses spiked 30 percent from July 2016 to September 2017, the government said Tuesday in a sobering report that underscores the need for targeted resources and expanded treatment. Every corner of the U.S. saw an uptick due to the prescription painkiller and heroin scourge, led by an average increase of 70 percent in the Midwest and followed by the West, at 40 percent.

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Trump’s Steel Tariffs Protect National Security, End $8 Billion in Foreign Aid Annually to Canada, Mexico, South Korea and Brazil

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By Robert Romano   President Donald Trump is keeping the promise he made in 2016 and is protecting the American steel industry, instituting a 25 percent tariff across the board on steel imports. No nations are excluded. The move comes as the U.S. imported 34.5 million metric tons from around the world, a 16 percent increase from 2016 when it was 30 million metric tons. In comparison, while America’s steelworks are heating up once again, they comparatively only grew by 3.4 percent in 2017 according to the International Trade Administration to 81.6 million metric tons from 78.5 million metric tons. This flooding of U.S. markets is designed to drive down prices here by dumping subsidized steel products here, making it harder for domestic producers to maintain market share. The imported steel is much cheaper. In the event of war, keeping U.S. productive capacity at high levels is critical, to prevent shortages at a time when production would be needed the most and imports cannot be guaranteed. As the Commerce Department noted in its recommendation for instituting the tariffs: “Domestic steel production is essential for national security applications. Statutory provisions illustrate that Congress believes domestic production capability is essential for defense requirements and critical…

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David Briley Sworn In As Mayor of Nashville

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David Briley was sworn in as the eighth mayor of Metro Nashville/Davidson County at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 54 and a half years after his grandfather, Beverly Briley, was sworn in as the first mayor of consolidated Metro Nashville/Davidson County in 1963. As Vice Mayor of Nashville, the position to which he was elected in 2015, David Briley was in line to become mayor in the event of the resignation or death of the elected mayor under terms of the Metro Nashville/Davidson County Charter, which, ironically, his grandfather had a hand in crafting. Former Mayor Megan Barry resigned in disgrace earlier on Tuesday after pleading guilty to felony theft of property charges in the morning. A special election will be held in August to select a mayor who will serve the remaining year of former Mayor Barry’s term. “The ceremony took place in the Metro Council Chambers where Briley had presided as Vice Mayor and President of the Metro Council since his election in August 2015,” WSMV reported. “The acting mayor said he does not plan to travel with a police security detail and he plans to drive himself to and from work,” WKRN reported, a marked contrast to his…

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Former Mayor Megan Barry Smiles for the Camera in Mug Shot

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As the firestorm surrounding former Mayor Megan Barry’s abrupt resignation and guilty plea on a felony charge continues to roil Nashville, the Metro Nashville Police Department released Barry’s booking photo on Tuesday. A serene, fresh-looking mugshot of Barry will now hold its place is the annals of political history as Nashville’s first woman elected to the Mayor’s office resigns in disgrace. Even with the mayor’s guilty plea, investigations continue, which could mean trouble for her top staff. The Nashville Scene’s Steven Hale tweeted the photo: https://twitter.com/iamstevenhale/status/971085824677818369

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Judson Phillips Commentary: What Kind of Deal Did Megan Barry Get?

Tennessee Star Staff

On Tuesday, Megan Barry resigned as Nashville’s mayor. But before she announced her resignation, she made a trip to criminal court. What happened there? Here is what WKRN said about it: Nashville Mayor Megan Barry pleaded guilty in Davidson County court to felony theft charges Tuesday morning. One condition of her plea agreement was to resign from the office of mayor. Barry pleaded guilty to felony theft of property over $10,000 charges. It is a conditional plea agreement for which Barry will receive three years unsupervised probation. She also must pay $11,000 in restitution and if she follows her plea agreement for next three years, the charges can be dismissed and expunged. In plain, non-lawyer English, Megan Barry walked into the courtroom never having been convicted of a felony. When she left, she still was not a convicted felon. Barry entered a plea under Tennessee’s judicial diversion statute, Tennessee Code Annotated 40-35-313. This is often referred to as a conditional guilty plea. In this type of case, the defendant makes a conditional plea but the judge does not enter the judgment (the legal instrument that convicts someone). The person then serves a period of probation and if they successfully complete…

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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry Resigns In Aftermath of Extramarital Affair With Bodyguard

Tennessee Star Staff

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry announced her resignation at a brief press conference held Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. at Nashville City Hall. The announcement came shortly after she pleaded guilty to felony charges of theft in a Nashville criminal court. “Today is primarily about the smooth transition of power from my administration to that of Vice Mayor David Briley,” Barry said in a statement that lasted less than three minutes:   Nashville, with its boundless energy its infectious optimism . . . will in years ahead continue its steady march to the very top of the list of great American cities. It’s a continued climb that I will watch, but I will watch as a private citizen. Barry’s bodyguard and lover, MNPD Sgt. Rob Forrest, also faces criminal charges, apparently. “Sgt. Forrest is being led into the Court House right now,” NewsChannel 5’s Phil Williams reported at 10:15 a.m.  

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Tennessean Report: ‘Nashville Mayor Megan Barry Is Expected to Announce Her Resignation Tuesday Morning’

Tennessee Star Staff

UPDATE:  At 9:05 a.m., WKRN reported “JUST IN: Davidson County Criminal Court says Mayor Barry is expected to appear in criminal court this morning.” 8:15 a.m. The Tennessean is reporting that “Nashville Mayor Megan Barry is expected to announce her resignation at a press conference Tuesday morning.” The mayor has begun calling close advisers to inform them of it, according to multiple sources. The resignation comes amid an investigation of an affair with her former bodyguard Metro police Sgt. Robert Forrest. The resignation means that Vice Mayor David Briley will become acting mayor. This report comes less than 24 hours after The Tennessee Star reported that “On Monday embattled Nashville Mayor Megan Barry called a report by WTN’s Brian Wilson that sources say the mayor and her bodyguard boyfriend Sgt. Rob. Forrest visited Mt. Olivet Cemetery at sunset on several occasions over a six month period “false and slanderous.” The Star has asked Mayor’s Office spokesperson Sean Braisted for comment, but has not yet received a response. Metro Councilman Steve Glover, however, did respond to an inquiry from The Star. “That is my understanding,” Glover told The Star when asked if he can confirm or deny whether Mayor Barry is…

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Early Voting Numbers in the 14th District State Senate Special Election Concern Republicans

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Early voting in the March 13 Special Election in the 14th Senatorial District to fill the vacancy created when State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) resigned to accept an appointment from the Trump Administration continues at a slow pace. Through Friday, March 2, 2018 only 4,211 votes had been cast. Early voting in Bedford, Moore, Rutherford, Lincoln, and Marshall counties continues through Thursday, March 8. The Special Election pits Republican nominee Shane Reeves against Democrat Gayle Jordan. Reeves won the nomination by a two to one margin over fellow Republican Joe Carr in January. Jordan was unopposed in the Democratic Party primary. Republican supporters of Reeves have expressed concern over the low turnout, particularly in the wake of the 17th Senatorial District Special Election last year. In that election Republican Mark Pody narrowly defeated his Democrat challenger by about 300 votes in a heavily Republican District that included Wilson, Cannon, DeKalb, Smith, Clay and Macon counties. Pody, a state representative, had 5,990 total votes while Democrat Mary Alice Carfi received 5,682 votes. “Republicans nearly lost the seat Sen. Mae Beavers vacated; the Pody margin was seen as a ‘wake up call’ for Republicans to focus on voter turnout in this election…

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U.S. Doctors Who Cut Open Seal Created by Female Genital Mutilation In Pregnant Refugees Then Resew and Close the Opening After Birth May Be at Legal Risk

Chris Alto

A detailed story about pregnant African refugees in Minnesota who were genitally mutilated before arriving in the U.S. has raised possible legal implications for obstetricians and mid-wives who first “deinfibulate” or cut open the seal created by the genital mutilation, but then resew the opening closed, or “reinfibulate” the woman after a baby is born. The question confronting these healthcare providers, is whether they are complicit in violating laws prohibiting all forms of female genital mutilation (FGM) when, for non-medical reasons, they “reinfibulate” in order to accommodate religious or cultural practices or even personal preferences. FGM or FGM/C the more culturally sensitive term “female genital cutting or circumcision,” is a practice that “comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” Critics of the term “female circumcision” say this is an effort by multicultural feminists to normalize immigrant cultural practices that are banned in the U.S. Infibulation typically refers to Type III FGM in women who have had most of the external female genitalia removed and what is left is sewn closed leaving only a small opening. The American College of Nurse-Midwives considers reinfibulation…

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Bill To Be Heard In House Subcommittee Tuesday Would Make It A Felony For Local Elected Officials To Vote In Conflict With State Or Federal Laws On Immigration Or Historical Memorials

Laura Baigert

A bill scheduled to be heard in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee Tuesday would make it a felony for a member of a local governmental body to vote in conflict with state or federal laws on immigration or historical memorials. House Bill 2552 sponsored by Representative Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro) creates a Class E felony when an ordinance or resolution that expressly conflicts with state or federal law relative to immigration or historical memorials is knowingly voted on by a member of a city or county legislative body. The crime would be punishable by fine only. However, as with all felony convictions by a public official, the violator would be subject to removal from office. If passed, this bill would directly combat the issue of rogue local governments that seek to create sanctuary cities or removing historical monuments as has been seen in the cities of Nashville and Memphis over the past year. Regarding the bill, Rep. White told The Tennessee Star, “The simple fact is, in America, no one should be able to openly disregard our laws without consequences.”   Elaborating on recent events within the state of Tennessee, Rep. White continued, If a local official violates our laws against…

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Diane Black Details Plans to Expand Higher Education Alternatives with Career and Technical College Programs

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Diane Black released her comprehensive plan to build on Tennessee’s success and make the state’s education system the best in the country, noting that, “Every Tennessean deserves the right to live their version of the American Dream.” The gubernatorial front-runner said in a statement, “That starts with a good education. But not every student’s dream means a 4-year degree. We need to rethink our education system. A top down approach to education doesn’t work. We need to take a bottom up approach that addresses the individual needs of every Tennessee student.” The Black campaign released an outline of the plan centered around supporting students who want to pursue interests in fields of study not offered by a traditional four-year college program, reprinted here in full: Prepare Students for Good Jobs: Schools should prepare children to follow their dreams.  We want our young people to go to college.  But what about students who want to start a career when they graduate from high school? Students who graduate from Career and Technical Education programs earn more at the outset of their careers and have little or no debt compared to students graduating from four-year universities. We should incorporate aptitude testing in the middle school years…

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Uncertain Future for Illegal ‘Dreamer’ Immigrants as ‘Deadline’ Passes

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The hopes of hundreds of thousands of “Dreamers” were on hold Monday as lawmakers missed an initial deadline for resolving the fate of immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that shields nearly 700,000 of the immigrants from deportation was supposed to expire on March 5, six months after President Donald Trump announced he was ending it.

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Supreme Court to Hear Case Challenging Sex Offender Registry Requirements

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U.S. Supreme Court

The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a case involving a man who says he shouldn’t have to be on the sex offender registry because his conviction came before the 2006 federal mandatory listing law was enacted. Congress, in writing the law, gave the attorney general the authority to decide when the registration requirements kicked in, and the Bush administration said it should apply to all sex offenders – including those whose convictions predated enactment.

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Congressional Hopeful Bob Corlew Affirms His Commitment to Trump Agenda in Second Television Ad

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Former judge and current Congressional candidate Bob Corlew once again affirmed his commitment to support the ambitious Trump Agenda as he announced his second television commercial, set to debut Tuesday. The 30-second spot, he told supporters in a sneak-peek email, is titled “Opportunity” and it is based on what he has heard from constituents as he crisscrossed the district over the past month since announcing he candidacy: It has been one month since we announced our campaign and in that time, I have traveled from Pleasant View, to Hendersonville, to Manchester, to Cookeville, and everywhere in between I have had the awesome honor to be in the company of fellow Tennesseans who make Tennessee the best place to live, and to listen to their concerns, their dreams and what they want from their next Congressman. That’s why today, I released “Opportunity” to share what I have heard from Tennesseans during my travels. There is no question that folks here in Tennessee believe that President Trump is leading us in the right direction, but they want their representatives in Washington who care about our country and will support President Trump’s agenda. That’s why I want to go to Congress to stand with President Trump to build…

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Justice Alito Exposes the Hypocrisy of Liberal Double-Standards for All to See

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by Joe Carter   You probably haven’t even heard about it, but  there was an exchange in the Supreme Court that future generations will regard as one of the most significant revelations of our political era. The case of Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky concerns a Minnesota statute that broadly bans all political apparel at the polling place. When Andrew Cilek went to vote in 2010, he wore a shirt bearing the image of the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag and a button that read “Please I.D. Me.” The poll worker asked him to remove the shirt and button because it supposedly violated the state law. Cilek filed a lawsuit opposing the regulation as an infringement on his First Amendment right to political expression. He also noted that the standard for what is acceptable is arbitrary and the enforcement itself could be politicized since the polling workers are chosen by local political parties. In the oral arguments, Justice Alito agreed that the law does seem arbitrary and observed that “so many things have political connotations, and the connotations are in the eye of the beholder.” How could any poll worker, he asked, be even-handed in enforcing the regulation? Daniel Rogan,…

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Commentary: If Congress Is Really Concerned About ‘Foreign Meddling,’ Get Illegal Immigrants Off the Voter Rolls

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By Printus LeBlanc   Multiple congressional committees and a Special Counsel have spent millions of taxpayer dollars to investigate foreign interference in the 2016 election and have come up with some memes from Russia. Meanwhile, recent reports from several states indicate there is real foreign influence in U.S. elections being ignored by Congress and the Special Counsel. Voter fraud is a far more significant threat to our democracy than $300 in Facebook ads for Pennsylvania, and it is time for Congress, the Department of Justice, and the Special Counsel to go after the real foreign influence. On Monday, the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PLIF) filed a lawsuit against Pennsylvania officials for failing to comply with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). The PLIF is seeking records related to registered voters for inspection, which the NVRA makes legal. The foundation is seeking the information to ensure the Pennsylvania voter rolls are clean and have good reason to think otherwise. In December, Philadelphia Election Commissioner Al Schmidt told state lawmakers there was a glitch in the state’s motor voter system. Schmidt also told the lawmakers that after the Pennsylvania Department of State completed the Noncitizen Matching Analysis more than 100,000 driver’s license numbers associated with noncitizens…

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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry Calls Report by WTN’s Brian Wilson That Sources Say She Visited Mt. Olivet Cemetery with Bodyguard Boyfriend ‘False and Slanderous’

Tennessee Star Staff

On Monday embattled Nashville Mayor Megan Barry called a report by WTN’s Brian Wilson that sources say the mayor and her bodyguard boyfriend Sgt. Rob. Forrest visited Mt. Olivet Cemetery at sunset on several occasions over a six month period “false and slanderous.” Last week, NewsChannel 5 reported, based on sources as well as security video footage shot by nearby local businesses, that Barry and Forrest’s SUV had repeatedly visited the Nashville City Cemetery on a number of mornings for short periods of time, ranging from 12 minutes to 24 minutes. Wilson’s report, which aired on 99.7 FM WTN’s Nashville’s Morning News at 5:05 am and again at 7:05 am on Monday, relied upon sources he considers credible.   At 9 a.m Monday, Mayor Barry sent out this tweet:   Mr. Wilson, your story is false and slanderous and I would appreciate it if you would stop spreading these lies. — Megan Barry (@MayorMeganBarry) March 5, 2018   Wilson punched back, inviting the mayor on his show for a full hour on Tuesday to discuss these and other allegations.   The Tennessee Star contacted Mayor Barry’s office and asked for responses from the mayor to two questions: 1. Mayor Barry today…

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Anti-Skullduggery Act Invoked in Sumner County Commission GOP Primary Marred by Allegations of Candidate Intimidation

Laura Baigert

The little-known and rarely used “Anti-Skullduggery Act of 1991” has been invoked by Sumner County officials in the already contentious Republican primary in the 7th District of the Sumner County Commission. The colorfully named law, enacted as TCA 2-5-101(h)(1) provides that if a qualified incumbent dies or properly withdraws on the last day for withdrawing, additional candidates may qualify within seven days of the original withdrawal deadline. Effectively, the Anti-Skullduggery Act allows a seven day extension for new candidates to qualify and an additional four days after the new qualifying deadline to withdraw. According to Sumner County Administrator of Elections, Lori Atchley, the purpose of the Act is to prevent an incumbent from setting up their replacement with a last minute qualifying petition and withdrawal by the incumbent. In the case of the Sumner County 7th Commission District, single-term incumbent commissioner JoAnne Kemp intends to move out of the county in a relatively short timeframe, and, as such, withdrew her name as a qualified candidate. Unintentionally, Kemp’s withdrawal occurred on the final day, thereby legally requiring the Sumner County Election Commission to extend a qualifying and withdrawal period limited to the 7th County Commission district. The original filing deadline for the May 1…

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Analysis: The Top 6 Logical Fallacies to Look Out For in Today’s Gun Control Debate

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by Jon Miltimore   In 2017, the data website FiveThirtyEight declared that the U.S. had become more polarized on the issue of guns that at any time in the nation’s history. Because of the emotional nature of the debate, both gun control advocates and Second Amendment proponents increasingly resorted to violent rhetoric (“burn her!”), conspiracy theories, and especially irrational thinking. Here are six of the most common logical fallacies you’ll find in the current debate on guns in America. 1. Non Sequitur Non sequitur translates as “it does not follow.” They are more common in casual conversation than formal debate. Example: I can’t believe you didn’t like The Last Jedi. You loved The Empire Strikes Back and Mark Hamill is in The Last Jedi. It does not follow that all fans of the original Star Wars trilogy will like The Last Jedi just because Luke is in the movie. In the gun debate, argument sometimes devolves into non sequiturs. Example: I don’t support the murder of innocents; therefore I don’t vote Republican, since Republicans often support the Second Amendment. 2. False Dilemma/False Dichotomy News media are notorious for presenting public options as a binary choice: do nothing or pass federal gun control legislation. “Donald Trump does nothing; Paul Ryan does nothing; Mitch McConnell does nothing,”…

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Senator: Kim Jong Un Must Realize Trump Is ‘Very Different’ From Previous Administration

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Tennessee Star

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un must realize that Donald Trump is a “very different” U.S. president with a different policy than that of the previous administration, an influential U.S. lawmaker has said. “Kim Jong Un is dealing with a very different person in President Trump,” Republican Senator James Risch of Idaho told VOA’s Korean Service “He’s not dealing with President (Barack) Obama anymore.”

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President Donald Trump Mocks Democrats, Media, White House Turnover, and Self at Gridiron Gala

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President Trump shrugged off the latest staff resignations in the West Wing Saturday night with a big dose of humor, calling it “another calm week at the White House.” In a speech at the annual Gridiron dinner in Washington, Mr. Trump took self-deprecating aim at his management style, and also poked fun at Democrats, the media and some of his own advisers.

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Trump Administration Strikes Multiple Deportation Deals; What’s in Them?

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The Trump administration reports it has succeeded in reducing the number of countries that refuse to accept citizens deported from the United States. The administration says more than a dozen countries have been removed from the “recalcitrant” list. That opens the path for deportations to begin for some of the roughly 100,000 people from recalcitrant nations who have final orders of removal.

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Australia Warns of Trade War, Pushes for Trump Tariffs Exemption

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Australia Sunday warned against tit-for-tat retaliation and the outbreak of a trade war that could slow global economic growth, as it pushed to be excluded from US President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs. Canberra has sought to be exempt from the hefty tariffs, citing an understanding reached with the United States at G20 meetings last year. There are also local industry concerns that the tariffs could see cheap steel destined for the US flood the domestic market instead.

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China Will ‘Take Necessary Measures’ If US Harms Trade

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China will “take necessary measures” if the United States harms the country’s economic interests, a Chinese official said Sunday, as President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium. “China doesn’t want a trade war with the United States,” Zhang Yesui, spokesman for the National People’s Congress, told a news conference on the eve of the rubber-stamp parliament’s annual session.

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Sen. Gardenhire Bill Removes In-State Tuition From Definition of State Benefit So He Can Give it to Illegal Aliens

Chris Alto

Desperate to give illegal alien students in-state college tuition, Sen. Todd Gardenhire’s bill SB2263, removes publicly subsidized reduced college tuition from the current state law definition of “state or local public benefit.” SB2263 would amend Tennessee’s “Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act” which defers to the federal law definition of  a “state or local public benefit.” A 2017 opinion issued by Attorney General Herb Slatery notes that this federal law was “based on Congress’s asserted interest in ‘remov[ing] the incentive for illegal immigration provided by the availability of public benefits.’” But the federal law does permit states to grant public benefits to illegal aliens through state legislation. The AG’s opinion was in response to a 2017 bill sponsored by Gardenhire and Rep. Mark White who is also committed to securing in-state tuition for students unlawfully present in Tennessee. White has sponsored the House companion bills to Gardenhire’s Senate bills. Their 2017 bill would have allowed the governing boards of state colleges and universities to grant in-state tuition to illegal immigrant students. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee but failed in the House Committee in a 6 – 6 tie vote. White “preserved” the bill by rolling it to the 2018 session instead…

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Bruce Willis’ Reimagining of Classic 1970’s Bronson Thriller ‘Death Wish’ Arrives in Theaters Amid Heated Gun Control Debate

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“The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun.” – Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the National Rifle Association Enter Dr. Paul Kersey, devoted family man-turned-ruthless vigilante in “Death Wish.” Director Eli Roth (“Hostel”) reboots the classic 1974 revenge drama with Bruce Willis taking on the lead role embodied by the late Charles Bronson in the original “Death Wish” and its four – yes, four – sequels. With a shift in setting from the mean streets of 1974 New York City to the meaner streets of 2017 Chicago, Dr. Kersey dons a hoodie and vows to take down the thugs who murdered his wife (Elisabeth Shue) and raped his daughter (Camila Morrone).

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The Story of How Halo Top Ice Cream Reached the Top

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 by Brittany Hunter   No one expects healthy desserts to taste good. It is one of life’s harsh realities that we have had to learn to live with: you can either eat healthy food, or eat delicious food; you can’t have it both ways. But that was before Halo Top entered the market and was met with unconventional success. Visit any grocery store that sells the healthy protein-packed ice cream in the late afternoon or evening hours and you will see empty shelves where the beautiful gold-lined pints once stood. So high in demand are these low calorie, low fat, low sugar ice cream flavors, large supermarket chains can barely keep up with the consumer demand. But unlike many successful brand name products, Halo Top comes from humble origins. In fact, its creators had to overcome some major obstacles and wait six years before they achieved market success. And what is perhaps most intriguing about Halo Top is its refusal to do things in the traditional way. But it is this innovative mindset and the ability to learn from mistakes that has helped Halo Top reach the top. Changing the Way We Eat Ice Cream For many of us, ice…

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Daughter of WKRN’s Davis Nolan Follows in Dad’s Footsteps

Tennessee Star Staff

NASHVILLE, Tennessee–Amanda Nolan, who served as the Youth In Government Press Corps video producer this weekend, comes by her interest in news and media naturally. Her father is WKRN meteorologist and weekend anchor Davis Nolan. “My wife Ami and I are very proud of Amanda. Her video production comes mostly for her love for music and producing music videos,” Amanda’s proud dad told The Tennessee Star on Friday. “I used to play in a band, and music and weather were my interests. I am glad Amanda is ‘carrying the torch!’ for the music. We are also very proud of her interest in political science. She has really enjoyed YIG [Youth In Government] over the years,” Nolan added. The Star caught up with Amanda Nolan on Saturday as she carried out her video producer duties–which include producing a daily video newscast–at the 65th Annual Youth In Government General Assembly at the State Capitol. We read her dad’s comments to her–which she heard for the first time as we read them–and asked for her reaction. Here’s what she said:   “It made me feel so happy. I love my dad,” Amanda told The Star. “He’s so caring, and he’s always so proud of me…

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Judson Phillips Commentary: Conservatives and Republicans, Here Is Your Wakeup Call!

Tennessee Star Staff

by Judson Phillips Conservatives and Republicans have just gotten a wakeup call. The problem is, no one is paying attention. In Texas, a new record has been set for early voting in a non-Presidential election. Who is turning out these votes? It is the Democrats, not the Republicans. Democrats, across the nation, are turning out in record numbers, while conservatives and Republicans are staying home. If conservatives and Republicans don’t get off their collective backsides and get involved now, this fall will be a disaster of biblical proportions. The Republicans should hold the Senate. The Democrats have 24 seats they are defending, including 10 in states carried by President Trump. The Republicans are only defending 8. At least four of the Democrat seats are rated as tossups and only one Republican seat. The House is much more problematic. The Republicans have a 25 seat majority in the House but the Democrats are putting on a full court press. Where are the Republicans? The Republicans are playing safe ball, just trying to keep their majority. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who pulled off what most people considered impossible in 1994 and gave the GOP its first majority in the House in…

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