Tennessee General Assembly Overwhelmingly Approves Legislation Banning Local Education Associations or Public Charter Schools from Doing Business with Entities That Perform Abortions

The Tennessee General Assembly overwhelmingly approved legislation banning local education associations or public charter schools from doing business with entities that perform abortions.

The state Senate passed the bill, 27-5, on April 11. The state House approved the legislation on March 7, 70-21. In total, 97 members of the Tennessee General Assembly voted in favor and 26 voted against.

Read the full story

Thales Academy Opens First Rural County School in Pittsboro, North Carolina

Thales Academy opened the doors of its brand new building in Pittsboro, North Carolina, Monday, as about 100 students from the academy’s Cary campus moved to the new facility in rural Chatham County.

“Chatham is the first time that Thales has been in a rural county,” Bob Luddy, the founder and chairman of Thales Academy, told The Star News Network. “So, my thought was having a facility of that quality in a rural county that’s a private initiative is going to change the way people think about K-12 education.”

Read the full story

Commentary: Biden’s Wealth Tax Is a Bad Idea That Cannot Be Ignored

Imagine a world where you were not taxed on how much you earned in a given year, but instead on how much your wealth appreciated.

To some this sounds like something straight out of John Lennon’s communist manifesto, also known as the song “Imagine.” Like the song, the music surrounding the words are enticing, but also like Lennon’s hit, the words themselves spell the death knell of freedom.

Read the full story

Tennessee Supreme Court Strikes Down Lower Court’s Redistricting Injunction That Would Have Required Drawing New State Senate Districts

The Tennessee Supreme Court struck down a temporary injunction issued by a three-judge panel that would have mandated drawing new state Senate districts.

Originally, a ruling from the lower court forced the legislative body to “fix” the boundaries within 15 days of the decision, or the judicial branch would have created its own map.

Read the full story

Candidate for Lt. Governor, State Senator Burt Jones Says It’s ‘Outrageous’ and a ‘Shame’ That Election Integrity Concerns Were Not Addressed

The Georgia Star News asked State Senator Burt Jones (R-SD25), current candidate for Lt. Governor, why some Georgia Republicans seem resistant to passing more election integrity legislation.

“Why resistance to doing anything further on election integrity? That’s the million-dollar question right there.” he said. “I’m the one that dropped in a couple bills, getting rid of drop boxes and Dominion machines. I could never get a hearing on that. That was Senate leadership that killed it. Butch and Duncan blocked it.”

Read the full story

Judge Upholds Florida Abortion Waiting-Period Law

Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey upheld a Florida law requiring women to wait 24 hours before proceeding with an abortion. The judge tossed a lawsuit challenging the Florida law after a seven-year battle. The law was signed by then-Gov. Rick Scott (R) in 2015.

Dempsey said that the plaintiffs were not entitled to a stay on the ruling as they could not demonstrate that “irreparable harm” would be caused, as well as other states having legal waiting periods on the books.

Read the full story

Pennsylvania Lawmaker Touts SAFE Act in Light of Court Ruling on Illegal Voting

Citing a recent federal court ruling, a Pennsylvania lawmaker is touting legislation to require those registering to vote in the Keystone State to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.

In late March, District Court Judge Christopher Conner of the Middle District of Pennsylvania ruled that the commonwealth must disclose documentation regarding problems in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) record-keeping system. Conner’s opinion recalled that, in 2017, the state acknowledged that PennDOT errors “permitted non-United States citizens applying for or renewing a driver’s license to register to vote in the Commonwealth.”

Read the full story

Voting Group Says Atlanta Schools Doubling Down on Left-Wing Indoctrination

The largest high school in Atlanta has partnered with a far-left group to implement the progressive agenda in schools, and now will partner with the same group to register students to vote, according to Greater Georgia, a right-wing voter registration group. 

“With over 2,000 students, North Atlanta High School is the largest public high school in Atlanta. If they truly cared about civic engagement, school administrators would invite a range of groups to help register this tremendous number of future voters, instead of turning groups away,” former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, Chairwoman of Greater Georgia, said in a Wednesday press release. “The truth is, Atlanta Public Schools are not interested in civics, or basic voter registration. Instead, they are working with the liberal New Georgia Project to indoctrinate and transform students into progressive activists. In their quest to turn Georgia blue, APS and NGP will silence those that don’t promote their ideology. Every parent deserves to know what is being taught to their kids – and reject the partisan indoctrination that is replacing real civics education.”

Read the full story

Republican Candidate for Connecticut Governor Won’t Commit to Banning Trans Athletes

Connecticut’s Republican nominee for governor Tuesday would not commit to banning biologically male transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, instead choosing to tiptoe around the issue. 

“Connecticut law prohibits discrimination,” Bob Stefanowski reportedly said. “It’s incumbent upon the high school athletic conferences to seek out the voices of young female athletes, coaches and parents to come up with policies that ensure a level playing field and protect girls’ sports.”

Read the full story

Youngkin Seeks to Force Whole Loudoun County School Board to Run Again in November

Governor Glenn Youngkin wants the whole Loudoun County School Board (LCSB) to run for re-election this year instead of just two of its members, and has amended a bill from Delegate David Reid (D-Loudoun) to make that happen.

“The last few years just absolutely signified some real challenges with the Loudoun County School Board. And so in the spirit of transparency and accountability, my amendment gives parents the ability to elect their school board. This election can reflect the will of parents, and it’s a chance with my amendment to do that right now, this November,” Youngkin said in an interview with 7 News DC.

Read the full story

Minnesota Offers Up to $87K for New Prison ‘Tattoo Supervisor’

A job board maintained by the state of Minnesota is offering a prison “tattoo supervisor” position that could pay up to $87,000 with benefits.

The posting seeks applicants who are currently licensed as tattoo technicians, have at least three years of experience, and “possess a strong, well-rounded portfolio.” The hiring agency is the Minnesota Department of Corrections, the state’s prison system, and the work is full-time out of Stillwater.

Read the full story

Maricopa County Allocates $17 Million in Affordable Housing Projects

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved $17 million in spending to create more affordable housing units.

The money–given to the state by the federal government through the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)–will go toward two separate projects. Of it, $8 million will create 50 new housing units by converting a hotel in central Phoenix. Meanwhile, the other $9 million will support the construction of affordable rental units. 

Read the full story

Youngkin Adds Former DeVos Aide to Conservative Department of Education Administration

McKenzie Snow, a former aide to Trump’s U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, is Virginia’s new Deputy Secretary of Education appointee. Snow is Youngkin’s latest education appointee, and continues Youngkin’s pattern of conservative picks for the Department of Education.

“The Governor has built a team who have been leaders and change agents in their fields. McKenzie knows first hand what it takes to build a best in class education system and we are thrilled to have McKenzie join the administration,” Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said.

Democrats reacted with alarm after The Virginia Mercury reported the pick.

Read the full story

Miyares Files Amicus Brief with U.S. Supreme Court in Thomas Jefferson High School Case

Attorney General Jason Miyares and 15 other state attorneys general have filed an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a federal appeals court decision allowing Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) to use its controversial admissions process while a lawsuit goes forward.

“Right now, there are innocent Virginians unfairly treated and punished not for anything they’ve done, but because of who they are. Thomas Jefferson High School’s new admissions process is state sanctioned bigotry – it’s wrong, and it’s the exact opposite of equality. As Attorney General, I’ll never stop fighting for the equal treatment and protection of all Virginians,” Miyares said in a press release.

Read the full story

Subway Shooting Suspect to Face Terrorism Charges

New York subway shooting suspect Frank James faces a terrorism charge after 10 people were shot Tuesday in an attack.

The 62-year-old James has been charged with committing a terrorist attack on a transportation system, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

James is in custody after he called Crime Stoppers on himself Wednesday morning before going on a stroll through East Villiage, The New York Post reported.

“A call came into Crime Stoppers,” a law enforcement source told the Post about the bizarre moment James called himself in. “The guy says, ‘You know I think you’re looking for me. I’m seeing my picture all over the news and I’ll be around this McDonalds.'”

Read the full story

Dungy Responds to Criticism After Supporting DeSantis Fatherhood Initiative

Former NFL coach Tony Dungy responded Tuesday to critics who called him a “fraud” and a “racist apologist” after he attended a press conference where Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new bill directing millions of dollars toward a fatherhood initiative.

Dungy works with the nonprofit group All Pro Dad, which provides parenting information and hosts events.

At the DeSantis press conference Dungy said, “I asked [Abe Brown], how do those young boys (19, 20, 21) get [in prison]? And he told me it’s not socio-economic, it’s not racial, it’s not education, it’s none of that. 95% of these boys did not grow up with their dad.”

Dungy also cited statistics related to fatherless children and said, “This is going to be tremendous and such a good help to fathers in Florida. This bill is so important. I want to thank all of the men and women that have been behind this. It is going to allow groups like All Pro Dad and people like those here today to do great things for our fathers here in Florida.”

Critics pounced.

Read the full story

Connecticut Legislative Intervention Sought to Repay Pandemic Unemployment Loans

Connecticut businesses are on the hook for $463 million in unemployment assistance the state owes to the federal government.

As the state’s businesses are facing higher taxes and additional assessments this fall, the state is eyeing a repayment of nearly half of the $900 million it borrowed, according to a report by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, to cover record unemployment claims throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full story

Annual Wholesale Inflation Rises 11.2 Percent, Mirroring Record Consumer Price Index Numbers

Wholesale prices in March increased by 11.2%, compared to 12 months earlier, the Labor Department said Wednesday.

The report also show the prices increased 1.1% from February to March.

The newly released numbers follow the agency saying Tuesday the price of consumer goods in March increased by 8.5%, compared to the same time last year, making the Consumer Price Index’s so-called “annualized rate” the highest since December 1981.

Read the full story

Bill Would Force Ohio Long-Term Care Facilities to Allow Visitors During Pandemics

Ohio nursing home residents are a step closer to having visitors during the next pandemic or state of emergency after the General Assembly passed a bill that requires long-term care facilities to create a visitation plan to allow compassionate caregivers to enter facilities.

Substitute House Bill 120 outlines criteria for compassionate care visitations in long-term care facilities under CMS guidance during any future epidemic, pandemic and state of emergency.   

Read the full story

Justice Department Plans to Re-Try Two Remaining Whitmer Kidnapping Defendants

Despite a humiliating defeat in what the Justice Department considered one of its biggest domestic terror investigations in recent history, federal prosecutors announced they will re-try two men who were not acquitted last week on charges of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020.

Chief District Court Judge Robert Jonker declared a mistrial on April 8 after a jury in western Michigan could not agree on the guilt of Adam Fox, the so-called ringleader, and Barry Croft, Jr. related to the alleged plot; two other men, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta, were found not guilty on all charges and went home last Friday night after spending 18 months in jail.

Read the full story

Yelp Exec: Abortion Access Is ‘Fundamental’ to Women’s Success in the Workplace

A Yelp executive said women need access to abortions to be successful at work as the company announced it would fund travel expenses for employees traveling out of state for abortions.

“The ability to control your reproductive health, and whether or when you want to extend your family, is absolutely fundamental to being able to be successful in the workplace,” Miriam Warren, Yelp’s chief diversity officer, told The New York Times.

Read the full story