Star News Network Chief Meteorologist Daphne DeLoren shares her Fresh Forecast for Friday and the weekend.
Read the full storyYour Middle Tennessee Fresh Forecast with Chief Meteorologist Daphne DeLoren for Friday and the Weekend
Day: June 17, 2022
Tennessee to Suspend Sales Tax on Food in August
As part of the state’s 2022-2023 budget, Tennesseans can expect that the state’s tax on food and “food related items” will not apply during the month of August.
“As Americans see their cost-of-living skyrocket amid historic inflation, suspending the grocery tax is the most effective way to provide direct relief to every Tennessean,” said Gov. Bill Lee said upon signing the budget bill. “Our state has the ability to put dollars back in the pockets of hardworking Tennesseans, and I thank members of the General Assembly for their continued partnership in maintaining our fiscally conservative approach.”
Read the full storyCommentary: Is This Any Way to Run a Party?
If The Williamson County Republican Party (WCRP) succeeds in its plans, by the close of its next meeting it will have removed or otherwise run off the majority of its elected members. Of the 8 WCRP board members who were elected, 4 have resigned or been forced out since April 2021.
As planned, the last remaining conservative, First Vice Chair Sean Raesemann will be removed from office to be replaced by someone of the chairwoman’s own choosing. That someone will make it easier for the chair to run her own show. Considering what has already been achieved by this chair, it could be some show.
Read the full storyFDA Vaccine Panel Recommends COVID Shots for Babies and Toddlers
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) vaccine advisory panel unanimously voted Wednesday to recommend the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for infants and young children despite an abundance of calls from physicians, children’s health organizations, and members of Congress to refrain from approving the shots for a population that shows the least risk for serious disease from COVID.
The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted, 21-0, in favor of recommending Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Moderna and Pfizer mRNA COVID vaccines for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children.
Read the full storyFather Frank Pavone of Priests for Life Talks Pending Supreme Court Decision on Abortion
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life spoke with The Tennessee Star on Thursday at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Policy Conference which is taking place from June 16-18 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.
Pavone spoke with The Star about the pending U.S. Supreme Court decision potentially overturning Roe v. Wade.
Read the full storySenator Marsha Blackburn Joins Letter Blasting DOJ’s Refusal to Charge Protestors Outside the Homes of Supreme Court Justices
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) joined a letter with several Republican Senators to demand answers on the lack of law enforcement action surrounding potentially violent protests that have targeted Supreme Court Justices.
Leftwing individuals have flocked to the homes of conservative members of the Court, following a leak from the Supreme Court that indicated the group favors overturning Roe v Wade.
Read the full storyFaith and Freedom Coalition Executive Director Timothy Head Talks Purpose of Road to Majority Conference and Why Nashville Was Chosen to Host
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Executive Director of the Faith and Freedom Coalition Timothy Head spoke with The Tennessee Star on Thursday at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Policy Conference which is taking place from June 16-18 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.
According to their website, “The Faith and Freedom Coalition is a national grassroots movement of over 2 million conservatives and people of faith in support of time-honored values, stronger families, and individual freedom.”
Read the full storyTennessee Representative David Kustoff Joins Republican Colleagues in Introducing Bill that Would Provide Immediate Relief to American Farmers
Tennessee Representative David Kustoff (R-TN-08) joined a group of his Republican colleagues Wednesday in introducing H.R. 8069, the Reducing Farm Input Costs and Barriers to Domestic Production Act.
Read the full storyCommentary: The Criminal Order Beneath the ‘Chaos’ of San Francisco’s Tenderloin
The epicenter of the political earthquakes rattling San Francisco’s progressive establishment is a 30-square-block neighborhood in the center of downtown known as the Tenderloin. Adjacent to some of the city’s most famous attractions, including the high-end shopping district Union Square, the old money redoubt of Nob Hill, historic Chinatown, and the city’s gold-capped City Hall, it is home to a giant, open-air drug bazaar. Tents fill the sidewalks. Addicts sit on curbs and lean against walls, nodding off to their fentanyl and heroin fixes, or wander around in meth-induced psychotic states. Drug dealers stake out their turf and sell in broad daylight, while the immigrant families in the five-story, pre-war apartment buildings shepherd their kids to school, trying to maintain as normal an existence as they can.
Read the full storyPresident of Lifeline Children’s Services Herbie Newell Talks Importance of Adoption and Helping Women in the Pro-Life Movement
President and Executive Director of Lifeline Children’s Services Herbie Newell spoke with The Tennessee Star on Thursday about his call to serve in the pro-life movement and his goals for the organization.
Lifeline Children’s Services is a pro-life Christian organization that counsels pregnant women and promotes and facilitates adoptions around the United States and the world.
Read the full storyMan Who Shot at Minnesota Police Is an Illegal Immigrant, Previously Deported Seven Times
A man whose bail was cut from $5 million to $100,000 (98% reduction) after shooting at police officers while drunkenly fleeing in a 100-mph car chase is an illegal immigrant who has been deported seven times.
Pablo Nava-Jaimes, 31, allegedly fired at least 10 rounds at police during a pursuit after leaving a barbecue where he had “8 or 9 beers” on June 5, per a criminal complaint. He stated that he “didn’t know why he fired at officers” but was frustrated because he felt police hadn’t adequately responded to vandalism of his property. This was not his first interaction with law enforcement, however, as he has previously been deported seven times, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson told Alpha News.
Read the full storyPoll Shows Kemp with Lead over Abrams
An early poll in Georgia’s gubernatorial election shows incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp (R) leading Democrat challenger Stacey Abrams.
The poll, taken by East Carolina University (ECU), was conducted between June 6 to June 9 among 868 registered voters in Georgia.
Read the full storyGubernatorial Candidate Rebecca Kleefisch Touts Endorsements by 100-Plus Local Wisconsin Elected Officials
Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch is touting endorsements by more than “100 local Wisconsin current and former elected officials from across the state.”
The local supporters include individuals that have held various positions: mayors, county board supervisors, school board members, city councilmen, and other officials.
Read the full storyYoungkin Budget Amendments Include Gas Tax Holiday, Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Abortions, and Law Against Picketing Justices
Governor Glenn Youngkin is sending 35 budget amendments to the General Assembly to approve on Friday, including a gas tax holiday, a ban on using state Medicaid funds for some abortions, and a law that would make it a class six felony to picket or demonstrate outside a courthouse or residences of justices and judges. The Democratic Senate is expected to block of Youngkin’s controversial changes, but eyes are on Senator Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) to see if he’ll vote with Republicans to approve the abortion funding ban.
Read the full storyMichigan Senate Approves $565 Million for Mental Health
The Michigan Senate approved a $565 million bill, which appropriates mostly federal funding to improve the state’s mental health system.
Senate Bill 714 aims to fund jail diversion, create treatment units to reduce emergency room overcrowding, and bolster substance abuse programs.
Read the full storyDeSantis Won’t Order COVID Shots for Children
On Wednesday, reports came out that the State of Florida would be the only state in the country to not pre-order COVID shots for children five and under. Yesterday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed that Florida would not be recommending COVID shots for Florida’s youngest residents.
Read the full storyMastriano Announces Measure Toughening Penalties for Fentanyl Pushers in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Gettysburg) on Thursday announced he will soon introduce legislation to strengthen penalties for fentanyl pushers whose sales result in deadly overdoses.
The senator is naming his measure “Tyler’s Law” after Tyler Shanafelter, an 18-year-old constituent who bought what he believed was Percocet but turned out to have acquired a fentanyl-laced product. The young man fatally overdosed.
Read the full storyNew Connecticut Tax Could Raise Diesel Prices to New Highs
A new tax will be hitting certain drivers in Connecticut, as the state’s tax commissioner announced an increase of the state’s diesel tax.
According to an announcement from the office, the rate will increase from 40 cents to 49 cents—a 23 percent increase for consumers.
Read the full storyOhio Precinct Strategy to Hold Event to Encourage Participation
Ohio Precinct Strategy, a group that supports individuals to become involved at the local level, will hold an event to inform residents of the state on ways to participate.
The event will take place on Saturday, June 18, for the majority of the day and be located at Tom’s Country Place in Avon.
Read the full storyRyan Now Blasts Ohio Senate Rival Vance on Law Enforcement, But Once Called Criminal Justice System ‘Racist’
Advertising from Democratic Ohio Senate candidate Tim Ryan, which alleges that his Republican opponent J.D. Vance has disparaged law-enforcement officers, prompted Vance this week to recall Ryan’s own severe criticisms of law enforcers.
A video ad that appears on the Ryan campaign’s YouTube channel features a monologue by Stark County Sheriff George T. Maier.
Read the full storyBiden Nominates Arizona Lawyer to Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
President Joe Biden’s administration Thursday announced a slew of judicial appointees, one of whom is from Arizona.
“Roopali H. Desai is a partner at Coppersmith Brockelman where she has practiced since 2007. From 2006 to 2007, Ms. Desai was an associate at Lewis & Roca,” said a White House press release. “She served as a law clerk for Chief Judge Mary Schroeder on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2005 to 2006. Ms. Desai received her J.D. in 2005, her M.P.H in 2001, and her B.A. in 2000, all from the University of Arizona.”
Read the full storyHuman Events News Editor Brent Hamachek Initiates Student Rapport on Current Issues with Common Ground Campus Initiative
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Human Events magazine’s news editor Brent Hamachek to the newsmaker line to talk about his new initiative to inspire communication and dialogue among college students on campus, Common Ground Campus.
Read the full storyPatrick Hedger of Taxpayer Protection Alliance: IRS Grossly Behind on Tax Returns, Watchdog Group Calls for Redefining Its Role
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Patrick Hedger, the Executive Director of the Taxpayer Protection Alliance to the newsmaker line to talk about how the IRS is behind on American tax returns and the need for them to redefine their focus.
Read the full storyADN America’s Jeff Shapiro on Hispanic Americans: ‘There’s a Far-Left Party and an American Party, and They Want to Belong to the American Party’
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Jeff Shapiro to discuss the evolving landscape of Hispanic-American news, politics, and the coming red wave.
Read the full storyRoger Simon Joins The Tennessee Star Report In-Studio to Discuss Unconventional Debate on July 12th
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist and The Epoch Times’ Editor-at-Large Roger Simon to discuss the upcoming unconventional debate at downtown Nashville’s Masonic Lodge on July 12th.
Read the full storyFormer President Donald Trump Endorses Abraham Hamadeh for Arizona Attorney General
Former President Donald Trump endorsed Republican candidate Abraham Hamadeh for Arizona Attorney General on Wednesday through his Save America PAC. Hamadeh is an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and a former prosecutor of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. He is running for current-AG Mark Brnovich’s position, who is now running for U.S. Senate.
Read the full storyArizona Legislature Considering ‘Most Expansive Education Savings Account Program in the Nation’
The 2022 Arizona legislative session is almost over, but there are still a few key bills policy watchers say have a good chance of making it into law. One is HB 2853, which would expand school choice by opening Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) to all K-12 students in the state.
Cory DeAngelis, a national education policy expert who serves as national director of research for the school choice organization, American Federation for Children, tweeted, “This would be the most expansive education savings account program in the nation. All families would be able to take their children’s education dollars to the education providers of their choosing.”
Read the full storyThe Epoch Times Editor-At-Large, Roger Simon, Discusses Liz Cheney’s Hatred and the Electra Complex
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist and The Epoch Times’ Editor-at-Large Roger Simon to discuss his recent article about Liz Cheney and her hate along with how she suffers from the Electra complex which has fueled it.
Read the full storyDeSantis Keeps Promise, Launches Education Agenda for School Board Candidates
On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis launched an education agenda focused on influencing local school board races in the 2022 election cycle.
Titled “The DeSantis Education Agenda: Putting Parents First, Protecting Parents’ Rights,”, the policy focuses on issues related to student success, parental rights and curriculum transparency.”
According to the website, “The DeSantis Education Agenda is a student-first, parent-centered initiative focused on setting Florida’s children up for success, ensuring parental rights in education, and combatting the woke agenda from infiltrating public schools….This statewide agenda is for school board candidates and school board members who are committed to advancing these priorities at the local school board level.”
In a statement provided to The Federalist, DeSantis championed the launch of the agenda, saying that “Florida has delivered the most student-focused, parent-centered education agenda in the nation” at a time when “curriculum in states around the country are being used as opportunities to indoctrinate innocent children.”
Read the full storyArizona Governor Doug Ducey Declares a State of Emergency for Pipeline Fire
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency today for the Pipeline Fire burning in Coconino County.
“Public safety is our top priority,” Ducey said. “As state and local fire officials work to contain the blaze, our office will ensure emergency officials have the resources to respond to and recover from the fire’s scars. We will continue to work with our partners on the ground to provide all support necessary to mitigate the fire and protect people, pets and property. We continue to pray for the safety of all firefighters and first responders who are battling hot and windy conditions. For a community still recovering from the path of the Tunnel Fire in April, this new blaze is a reminder for all Arizonans to be vigilant and safe this wildfire season.”
Read the full storyVA-07 GOP Candidate Anderson Launches New Ad, Democrats Highlight Jarome Bell in VA-02 GOP Primary
VA-07 GOP candidate Derrick Anderson launched his third ad of the campaign on Wednesday, highlighting his Trump-aligned policies on the border, guns, and abortion ahead of the nomination on Tuesday.
“Lawlessness on our streets. Abortion on demand. Joe Biden and the radical Democrats are destroying America,” the ad says. “Conservative warrior Derrick Anderson is ready to fight back.”
Read the full storyCommentary: A Real Congressional Committee Would Also Investigate Left-Wing Riots
Congress should investigate fully the January 6 riot at the Capitol—and similar recent riots at iconic federal sites.
But unfortunately, it never will. Why not?
Read the full storyAmerica First Attorneys Demand Rural Iowa School Stops ‘Indoctrinating’ Students with Critical Race Theory
A school district in Baxter, Iowa, is reportedly teaching a “Social Justice in Literature” course in violation of state law, and attorneys with America First Policy Institute’s Constitutional Litigation Partnership are demanding the district stop.
Read the full storyTwo DHS Senior Attorneys Are Working as ‘Detailees’ for the January 6 Select Committee
For the past ten months, two current Department of Homeland Security senior attorneys have been helping the partisan January 6 Select Committee investigate the riot at the United States Capitol, raising questions about conflicts of interest, and potential violations of the separation of powers and the Hatch Act.
Read the full storyKleefisch Slams Evers Following Emails Showing Union Influence on School Reopenings
There are new questions about who is running public schools in Wisconsin following the release of emails between Gov. Tony Evers and the state’s largest teachers’ union.
Empower Wisconsin on Wednesday broke a story showing the Wisconsin Education Association Council, or WEAC, was in regular contact with Evers’ office about the plan to reopen schools in the summer of 2020.
Read the full storySmall Business Optimism Continues to Fall Nationwide, Ohio
Small business optimism fell to its lowest point in nearly 50 years, and Ohio small business owners remain cautious about growth, according to the monthly National Federation of Independent Business Optimism Index.
The index fell 0.1 points in May to 93.1, making it the fifth consecutive month below the organization’s 48-year average of 98. At the same time, the nationwide survey showed the percentage of owners expecting business conditions to improve over the next six months fell 4 points to 54%. That also represented the lowest mark in 48 years.
Read the full story‘The Leash Is Off’: Abortion Activists Behind Attacks on Pro-Lifers Issue New Threats, Urge Others to ‘Burn’
A statement that appears to be from the violent pro-abortion group Jane’s Revenge was posted online Tuesday, saying “the leash is off” for attacks on pro-life operations and declaring violence until pro-life groups shut down.
The statement was posted to Abolition Media, an “online news source for revolutionary movements,” and promised violent attacks on pro-life organizations such as crisis pregnancy centers.
Read the full storyBorder Patrol Records Another Record High of Apprehensions, Encounters at Southern Border in May
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol published official data Thursday for apprehensions and encounters May: the highest monthly total in recorded U.S. history of 239,416.
CBP published the data after The Center Square published preliminary numbers received from a Border Patrol agent.
Read the full storyTN-5 Candidate Andy Ogles Calls to ‘End the Ridiculous January 6 Partisan Political Charade’
Tennessee 5th Congressional District candidate and Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) and congressional Democrats to “end the ridiculous January 6 partisan political charade.”
In a statement Thursday, the Republican said that the Democrat-controlled House needs to immediately end the January 6 show trial and refocus on the issues actually impacting American families.
Read the full story