Watch The Tennessee Star Evening News Update with Michael Patrick Leahy weekdays at 5pm and on demand.
Read the full storyThe Tennessee Star Evening News Update – July 12, 2022
Day: July 12, 2022
Your Middle Tennessee Fresh Forecast with Chief Meteorologist Daphne DeLoren for Tuesday and Wednesday
Star News Network Chief Meteorologist Daphne DeLoren shares her Middle Tennessee Fresh Forecast for Tuesday and into Wednesday.
Read the full storyWhistleblower Army Doctor: Punished for Granting COVID-19 Vax Medical Exemptions, All Later Rescinded
Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, interviewed Army doctor Maj. Samuel Sigoloff, who was dismissed from his position as the medical director at the Bliss Army Health Center after he gave soldier-patients medical exemptions from the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Read the full storyElections on the Horizon: Tennessee Voter Guide Creator Craig Huey Explains How to Use It, and Highlights Top Picks
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed California refugee and the creator of Tennvoterguide.com, Craig Huey, in studio to explain how the guide works and give his top picks for candidates in the even districts running for election.
Read the full storyThe Tennessee Star Lead Reporter Aaron Gulbransen Hears Crickets Regarding Attorney General Candidates
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed official guest host Aaron Gulbransen in-studio to discuss the upcoming Epoch Times debate and the lack of transparency on candidates vying for Tennessee’s state attorney general.
Read the full storyTennessee House of Representatives Candidate for District 35 William Slater Talks About His Passion for Education, Background, and Why He’s Running
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed District 35 candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives, William Slater in studio to talk about his education, background, and why he’s running for public office.
Read the full storySenate Republican Leader Jack Johnson Says General Assembly Prepared to Make Sure National Guard Soldiers Do Not Lose Their Jobs
FRANKLIN, Tennessee – In comments made during a press gaggle held on Sunday in conjunction with his 16th Annual Boots & Jeans: BBQ & Beans Event, State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson signaled that the Tennessee General Assembly is ready to take action in order to help the Tennessee National Guard soldiers who refused the COVID-19 vaccine and that he and his colleagues are “prepared to step up to the plate to make sure these brave men and women do not lose their jobs.”
Johnson’s comments came after U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-06) gave an update on their federal legislation, which if enacted, would pull funding nationally from enforcement of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on National Guard soldiers.
Read the full storyBob Rolfe Officially Exits Department of Economic and Community Development with Farewell Message
Bob Rolfe officially exited the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) to enter the private sector Friday with a farewell message shared to social media. Rolfe has served as TNECD Commissioner since March 2017, when he was appointed by former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam.
Read the full storyMarsha Blackburn and Mark Green Provide Update on Their Federal Legislation Designed to Save National Guard Soldiers’ Jobs
FRANKLIN, Tennessee – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07) provided an update on the status of their federal legislation aimed at saving the jobs of National Guard soldiers who refused the COVID-19 vaccine as part of a press gaggle held at an event supporting Tennessee Senate Majority Jack Johnson’s re-election campaign.
Blackburn and Green have both sponsored legislation in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House, respectively, that will pull the funding from enforcement of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on National Guard soldiers.
Read the full storyCommentary: This Is No Time for Bipartisanship
“The Left, in revolutionary fashion, has waged a sustained and unapologetic attack on constitutional norms and long-held institutions—whenever it senses they no longer prove conducive to its own radical agendas.” So begins a trenchant commentary by Victor Davis Hanson on the repeated efforts of Democratic Party leadership to overthrow America’s constitutional republic. Hanson’s remarks stand in stark contrast to a famous interview given to Salon by Dana Perino in 2018, in which the former presidential press secretary was hailed as the “voice of reason.” Perino expressed disappointment that neither party “was talking civility” and considered her own party as much to blame for this incivility as the other one.
Read the full storyJudge Dismisses Loudoun School Board Effort to Block Grand Jury Investigation
A Loudoun County Circuit Court judge dismissed a lawsuit to block Attorney General Jason Miyares’ grand jury investigation into the Loudoun County School Board.
“We are pleased with the court’s ruling dismissing the School Board’s complaint and affirming Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order Number Four. This is a win for parents and students across the Commonwealth. I will never stop fighting for justice and to protect the families of Loudoun County, and the Commonwealth,” Miyares said in a press release.
Read the full storyPaul Gosar Introduces Legislation Aiming to Punish Fentanyl Distributors with Death Penalty
Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04) recently introduced House Rule (HR) 8228, which aims to punish those who distribute fentanyl, resulting in death, with the death penalty or life in prison.
“One of the many deeply troubling consequences of Joe Biden’s open border policies is the deadly flow of fentanyl across the southern border. Since Biden assumed office in January 2021, more than 1,000,000 pounds of illegal drugs have been seized, including 7,700 pounds of fentanyl in just the first five months of 2022. The overwhelming majority of fentanyl is smuggled across the border from Mexico,” Gosar said in a press release.
Read the full storyConnecticut’s AG Tong Among 20 State Attorneys General Supporting National Gun Control Rule
A coalition of 20 state attorneys general, all Democrats, are backing a federal gun rule in court.
The Final Rule, as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives named it, would enable law enforcement officials to trace any homemade guns used in crimes. In addition, the rule limits trafficking the weaponry.
Read the full storyPennsylvania Constitutional Amendment Would Stipulate: No Right to Abortion
A state constitutional amendment that passed both houses of the state legislature last week stipulates that Pennsylvania recognizes neither a right to abortion nor to public funding of abortion.
The legislation stops short of a ban on either surgical or chemically induced abortions but ensures that lawmakers may enact restrictions uninhibited by courts.
Read the full storyGroup Submits 753,759 Signatures for Abortions Rights Ballot Initiative
A group says it has collected more than enough signatures to place a question on the Nov. 8 ballot of whether abortion rights will be enshrined into state law.
The group, Reproductive Freedom for all, says it submitted a record 753,759 signatures, an amount that exceeds the minimum required amount of 425,059 valid signatures. The group tweeted Monday morning: “This victory is YOUR victory. Countless petitions, countless volunteer hours, countless miles driven to get every last signature, and *we finally did it.* Now, we are even closer to codifying reproductive rights here in MI once and for all!”
Read the full storyOhio Gov. Mike DeWine Asked to Verify Police Report of Biden Claim of 10-Year-Old Raped Girl Who Allegedly Left Ohio for Indiana to Obtain Abortion
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) apparently continues to have little to say about the claim made by Joe Biden Friday that a 10-year-old girl who was allegedly raped and became pregnant traveled from Ohio to Indiana to obtain an abortion.
On Friday the Ohio Capital Journal led with the headline, “DeWine: No Comment on Abortion Ban that Forced a Child to Indiana,” and added, “Ohio governor signed ban, but will only say rape is wrong.”
Read the full storyOn the Heels of Roe v Wade Reversal, Minnesota County Judge Strikes Down to Many Abortion Restrictions
A Ramsey County judge struck down several longstanding abortion restrictions in a Monday ruling, just two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
“The right to choose to have an abortion … would be meaningless without the right to access abortion care,” Judge Thomas Gilligan said in his ruling. Gilligan was appointed to the bench by former Gov. Mark Dayton in September 2014.
Read the full storyGov. Ron DeSantis Issues Executive Order Designed to Lower Costs of Prescription Drugs
On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an Executive Order (22-164) focused on lowering the costs of prescription drugs for Floridians by promoting transparency. The order will ensure reforms are in place to hold Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) accountable when managing prescription drug benefits for insurance companies. PBMs are third-party administrators of prescription drug programs.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the executive order at a press conference at Cape Coral High School.
“This executive order is really probably the first time Florida as a state has taken action to ensure that we’re saving money for Floridians regarding the middlemen and what happens with the prescription drug programs,” DeSantis said. “I think it’s going to be very, very meaningful.”
“For far too long leaders have chosen the path of inaction, rather than action, and fallen victim to a pharmaceutical system driven by drug companies rather than consumers,” said Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller. “Fortunately, Governor DeSantis leads with principle, always putting Floridians first and today’s actions will further this commitment by providing insight into the FDA’s review process and all agency health care contracts through the end of the decade.”
Read the full storyKemp Campaign Responds to Abrams’ Soros-Backed Fundraising Haul
The reelection campaign for Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has responded after gubernatorial challenger Stacy Abrams raised $2.5 million from a George Soros-run Political Action Committee (PAC).
“Far-left radicals from across the country are bankrolling Stacey Abrams’ campaign to bring the failed agenda of D.C. Democrats to Georgia,” Tate Mitchell, a spokesperson for the Kemp campaign, told The Georgia Star News. “Abrams and her liberal allies can – and will – continue to outraise and outspend our campaign, but we will continue to run on Governor Kemp’s record of putting Georgians first and securing historic economic success for our state.”
Read the full storyNational Border Patrol Council Endorses Arizona Gubernatorial Candidate Karrin Taylor Robson
The National Border Patrol Council, which represents the roughly 18,000 Border Patrol agents and support personnel, endorsed Karrin Taylor Robson to become Arizona’s Governor.
The group, which lobbies heavily for border security, opted to support Robson in the GOP primary, instead of contender Kari Lake.
Read the full storyRep. Tim Ryan Meets with Opposition from Ohio Farmers While Hosting Roundtable
Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH-13), who is now running for U.S. Senate, was met with opposition to his policies when hosting a round table for Ohio farmers.
According to a report from The Record-Courier, Ryan attempted to preach bipartisan solutions to issues facing residents of the state. The event was connected to his official duties as a Congressman, not his senate campaign.
Read the full storyDemocrat Attorney General Candidate Meets Florida’s State Matching Threshold
Florida Attorney General Democrat candidate Daniel Uhlfelder announced on Twitter that his campaign reached the threshold to achieve matching state funds. Uhlfelder was also the notable individual who patrolled Florida’s beaches dressed as the Grim Reaper protesting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
Read the full storyCrom’s Crommentary: ‘We Will Have to Come Up with a Way of Holding Officials Accountable Who Ignore the Law’
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio for another edition of Crom’s Crommentary.
Read the full storyFounder of the Tennessee Firearms Association John Harris Talks Supreme Court on Gun Restrictions, Special License, and Good Cause
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed John Harris, founder of the Tennessee Firearms Association, in studio to weigh in on the Supreme Court’s decision to throw out a century-old law that would restrict gun ownership and require special licensing.
Read the full storyQuang Nguyen Presents $2.4 Million to Support Veteran Housing in Yavapai County
Arizona State Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-AZ-01) recently presented a ceremonial check for $2.4 million in state funding to support a housing project to assist homeless veterans.
“America’s veterans have given so much of themselves to protect our freedoms and way of life, it’s important that we do everything we can to support them,” Nguyen said in a press release. “This funding is going to help realize an amazing project for our veterans in Yavapai County, providing housing support and other critical services for those who have served and are in need.”
Read the full storyFlorida State Senator Lofts Abortion Protection by Constitutional Amendment
Florida State Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-Miami) floated the idea of protected abortion access by way of Florida’s constitutional amendment process. His tweet comes in the wake of the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade case last month by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling.
The ruling from SCOTUS did not institute a federal ban, but allowed individual states to determine their own stance on abortion access.
Read the full storyTrump Refuses to Endorse GOP Senate Candidate in Crowded Race, Praises Greitens
Former President Donald Trump is ruling out the idea of endorsing Republican Missouri Rep. Vicky Hartzler in her Senate bid and praised one of her “controversial” primary opponents.
Trump made the Hartzler comments Friday evening on Truth Social, his social media platform. He later joined One America News on Friday and called Eric Greitens, the former governor, “a little controversial” but “tough” and “smart.”
Read the full storyBannon Discusses Testifying for Jan. 6 Panel After Trump Agrees to Waive Executive Privilege
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon, who was held in criminal contempt for not testifying to the Jan. 6 Capitol committee, is now in talks with the Democrat-led panel about testifying after former President Donald Trump sent a letter agreeing to waive his executive privilege.
Trump wrote in a letter obtained Sunday by The Guardian to Bannon and his attorney, Robert Costello, explaining why he changed his mind regarding privilege.
Read the full storyPOLL: Most Democrats Do Not Want Biden to Run in 2024
A majority of registered Democrats would like someone other than President Joe Biden to be their party’s nominee in 2024, according to a poll released Monday.
Nearly two-thirds of Democrats responded that they would rather somebody else at the top of the ticket, with respondents citing the economy, inflation and President Biden’s age as major determinants for their opposition to his leading the party in 2024, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll. Biden fared particularly poorly with younger voters; 94% of Democrats under the age of 30 said they would prefer a different presidential nominee.
Read the full storyCommentary: Conservative Americans Can No Longer Conduct Business – and Commerce – as Usual
The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was a long-awaited victory for life. While Dobbs did not make abortion illegal, it did empower the residents of all 50 states to democratically determine abortion’s legal status through their elected representatives. Currently, 22 states provide or will soon provide protection for unborn children. The other 28 states place few or no limits on abortion. The abortion battle will now move to the ballot box in each state.
Read the full story‘We’ve Lost Several Hundred Jobs a Day’: Economist Finds Red Flags in Biden’s Positive Jobs Report
Although Friday’s jobs report seemed like good news for a beleaguered economy and President Joe Biden, the report’s potential methodological issue as well as the economy’s negative growth indicate a recession is still on the horizon, according to an economist at The Heritage Foundation.
The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics’ job report for June, released on Friday, soothed some fears that the U.S. economy might be approaching a recession. However, negative GDP growth, rampant inflation and methodological issues within the report indicate that a recession is looming, according to E.J. Antoni, a research fellow for regional economics at The Heritage Foundation.
Read the full storyChinese Officials Will Soon Strap Electronic Monitoring Bracelets to COVID Patients
Hong Kong’s Ministry of Health announced it will soon require COVID-19 patients to wear electronic monitors as the pandemic continues to spread throughout China, Chinese media reported Monday.
Beginning on Friday, Hong Kong will require COVID-19 patients in quarantine to wear electronic bracelets in order to prohibit them from visiting “high-risk” places, Lo Chung-mau, Hong Kong’s health minister told reporters, according to China’s i-Cable News. Lo is a cabinet member within the administration of Hong Kong’s new chief executive, John Lee, who allegedly won 99% of votes after enforcing Beijing’s National Security Law.
Read the full storySeven Whoppers Peddled by House Democrats’ Jan. 6 Committee
House Democrats’ Jan. 6 committee has showcased numerous false allegations over the course of its hearings and investigations that have since been debunked and, in some cases, withdrawn.
The committee, which is made up of Democrats and two anti-Trump Republicans handpicked by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has promoted inaccuracies and falsehoods regarding people and events in weaving its narrative about the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, even refusing to back down from some of its allegations despite contradictory evidence.
Read the full storySole Source of Biden Claim of 10-Year-Old Raped Girl Forced to Travel for Abortion Is Activist Abortionist
Joe Biden’s claim that a 10-year-old girl had allegedly been raped and had to travel from Ohio to Indiana to obtain an abortion has failed to be substantiated by multiple news outlets.
In remarks justifying his executive order seeking to undermine the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Biden said Friday:
Read the full storyFormer Senate Senior Staffer: Senators Could Block Promotions for Military Officers Pushing Involuntary Separations of Unvaxxed Military Personnel
Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, interviewed Robby Stephany-Saunders, a former senior national security Senate staffer, about how senators have the power to block or delay promotions for military officers facilitating the involuntary separations of unvaccinated military personnel.
Read the full storyBill Hagerty Announces U.S. Senate Staff Promotions and New Hires
U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty announced several staff changes and promotions for his official Senate office on Tuesday.
Among the several new hires and promotions, were changes made to Hagerty’s press office staff. Two staffers were promoted and one new aide was hired.
Read the full storyBill Lee Comments Favorably Towards Special Session to Address 2024 RNC but Won’t Comment on Session for National Guardsmen
Governor Bill Lee’s office commented favorably towards the idea of a special session in order to address issues relating to the 2024 Republican National Convention but as of press time refuses to comment on the idea of holding a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly in order to save the jobs of Tennessee National Guard soldiers who have refused the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Tennessee Star has reached out to Governor Lee’s office on multiple occasions on the issue of National Guard soldier firings and the idea of a special session. Governor Lee’s office refused comment at every inquiry.
Read the full storyAttorney John Harris: ‘The Duties and Responsibilities of the Tennessee Attorney General Are Not in the State Constitution,’ But Are Defined by Statute
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed John Harris, founder of the Tennessee Firearms Association, in studio to comment on the possibility of a violation of the national constitutional principles of separation of powers in regard to the selection of Tennessee’s state attorneys general.
Read the full storyAmericans for Prosperity Action Endorses State House Candidate Michelle Foreman
Americans for Prosperity Action, which is the political arm of the grassroots organization Americans for Prosperity, endorsed State House candidate Michelle Foreman.
According to the group’s website, they back candidates that support policies that “foster economic growth and allow Americans to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks, eliminate burdensome regulations that stifle innovation, drive down the cost of health care and improve the wellbeing of individuals.”
Read the full storyRepublican School Board Candidate for Davidson County D-4 Kelli Phillips on Early Voting, General Elections, and Her Opponent
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed District 4 School Board Candidate Kelli Phillips in-studio to talk about door knocking, early voting, the upcoming August 4th general elections, and issue with her opponent.
Read the full story