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 26, 2022
Day: July 26, 2022
Your Middle Tennessee Fresh Forecast with Chief Meteorologist Daphne DeLoren for Tuesday Night and into Wednesday
Star News Network Chief Meteorologist Daphne DeLoren shares her Middle Tennessee Fresh Forecast for Tuesday night and into Wednesday.
Read the full storyAaron Gulbransen Talks Outside Money Influencing Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District Republican Primary
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed official guest host Aaron Gulbransen in-studio weighs in on top three TN5 candidates Harwell, Ogles, and Winstead but takes special note of former Blackhawk pilot Jeff Beierlein.
Read the full storyMetro Nashville School Board Candidate Fran Bush: My Record Is Transparency, Experience, and Focus on What’s Right for Our Kids
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Metro Nashville Public School District 6 School Board member and Independent incumbent Fran Bush in studio to discuss her race, the recent scuff up at an MNPS forum, and how her record speaks for itself.
Read the full storyUniversity of Virginia Professor Olivier Zunz Discusses His Biography About Alexis de Tocqueville
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed University of Virginia James Madison History Professor Olivier Zunz to the newsmaker line to discuss his recent book entitled Democracy in America where he explores the travels of Alexis de Tocqueville through America in the 1800s and his impressions of the country.
Read the full storyBarry Loudermilk Calls for Biden to Resume Keystone XL Pipeline Construction
After recent criticism of President Biden’s ‘war on American energy,’ Georgia 11th Congressional District Representative Barry Loudermilk has called for Biden to resume the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Congressman Loudermilk relayed his thoughts to The Georgia Star News.
“For the U.S. to have a robust energy sector, it would first require having a President who believes in the oil and gas industry, not one who vilifies it at every turn. But if President Biden were to embrace returning America to energy independence, one of the first things he would do would be resume construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline,” Congressman Loudermilk said.
Read the full storyKari Lake Shares Support for Coconino County as Arizona Officials Lend a Hand Preventing Flash-Flood Damages
In response to the flash flood emergencies faced by residents in parts of Coconino County, the Kari Lake Campaign shared a statement of support with the Arizona Sun Times via email.
“Flooding in rural areas represents a huge and unnecessary risk for residents. Kari Lake has already committed to providing increased funding for infrastructure improvements- including flood control measures – in rural areas to reduce the risks as much as possible, and will take an active role whenever disaster does strike,” shared the Kari Lake Campaign Communications Director Ross Trumble.
Read the full storyTennessee Star Supreme Court Justice Series: Major Opinions by Justice Holly Kirby
As Tennesseans prepare to head to the polls on August 4, where they will vote on whether to retain the state’s five Supreme Court justices, The Tennessee Star has completed a profile on each justice currently sitting on the bench.
Last week, The Star profiled Justice Holly Kirby.
Read the full storyYoungkin Presents Virginia Values Veterans Certification to Walmart
Governor Glenn Youngkin presented a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certification to Walmart on Monday, commemorating national Hire a Veteran Day.
“The fabric of the Commonwealth I often refer to as the spirit of Virginia. And the spirit of Virginia is so much stronger with our veterans being so woven into that fabric,” Youngkin said. “So I want to thank our veterans first for loving our nation and for serving selflessly. I want to thank our veterans’ families, because when you serve, they serve. And finally, I want to thank Walmart.”
Read the full storyTwo Complaints Filed Against Gary Humble Alleging Failure to Register as Lobbyist and ‘Unlawful Campaign Expenditure’
The Tennessee Star has obtained two separate complaints filed against State Senate District 27 candidate and executive director of the non-profit Tennessee Stands, Gary Humble.
Humble is running in the August 4 Republican primary against State Senator Majority Leader Jack Johnson.
Read the full storyFour Inmates Escape from Chattanooga Jail, All Recaptured
After four inmates successfully escaped from a Chattanooga jail, a Tennessee sheriff’s office says that they have all been peacefully taken into custody.
“Within 24 hours of the reported escape, all four inmates were taken back into custody due to the exhaustive and extensive investigation conducted by [Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office] personnel and our federal and local partners. I am extremely proud of the efforts of our personnel who have worked tirelessly throughout the day to ensure the swift apprehension of these four wanted fugitives was accomplished,” said HCSO Chief Deputy Austin Garrett.
Read the full storyDeSantis Touts Accomplishments at Turning Point USA Event
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) touted his accomplishments while speaking in Tampa at a Turning Point USA Student Action Summit. He discussed how the country is better off because Florida led the way in combatting COVID lockdown policies.
Read the full storyGreer Tidwell Jr. Appointed as Parks and Conservation Deputy Commissioner
On Wednesday, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers announced that Greer Tidwell Jr. has been appointed to serve as deputy commissioner for the department’s Bureau of Parks and Conservation. This is Greer’s second experience working at TDEC.
Read the full story‘Queer All School Year’: Los Angeles School District Forces Gender Theory into Classroom
The largest public school district in California is teaching a curriculum promoting transgenderism and gender theory to children, according to public documents.
The Human Relations, Diversity and Equity department at Los Angeles Unified School District is using presentations, training programs and clubs to instruct K-12 students on gender identity, according to public documents, first reported by City Journal that include classroom instruction materials and district-sponsored event calendars. The “trans-affirming” curriculum first appeared during the 2020-2021 academic school year.
Read the full storyState Department Funding Korean Influencers to Rake in International Students
The State Department is funding a non-profit to recruit Korean social media influencers to drum up international student enrollment at universities in the United States, according to a new grant proposal.
The State Department will pay a non-profit up to $100,000 to organize a 10-day trip providing the Korean influencers with an expansive view of the United States, according to the grant. The program would require the influencers to post at least one blog or vlog post about their experience in the U.S.
Read the full storyNearly Half of Small Businesses Are in Hiring Freeze, Citing Inflation and Costs
Nearly half of small business owners are not willing to hire because of labor costs and “skyrocketing inflation,” a newly released small business report shows.
The small business network Alignable released its July Hiring report which found that “45% of small businesses (SMBs) are halting their hiring, largely because they say they can’t afford to add staff.
Read the full storyCandidates Look to Bring Universal School Choice to Minnesota
Two Republican candidates for the Minnesota Legislature want to follow Arizona’s example by bringing universal school choice to the state.
Rep. Steve Drazkowski, currently running for Senate District 20, and Pam Altendorf, a candidate for House District 20A, have authored an “Education Freedom Act” that they plan to introduce if elected.
Read the full storyDeadline to Submit Application in Search for Next Tennessee Attorney General Is Friday, July 29
The deadline for an individual to submit an application to be considered in the Tennessee Supreme Court’s process of choosing the next attorney general is on Friday, July 29.
“Interested candidates must submit an application by 12:00 p.m. CDT on Friday, July 29, 2022. The Supreme Court will hold a public hearing to interview candidates on August 8 and 9, 2022 at the Nashville Supreme Court Building. The hearings will be livestreamed to the TNCourts YouTube page,” the Court said in statement earlier in July.
Read the full storyAnti-Christian Bully Dan Savage’s ‘It Gets Better Project’ Sends $10K to 50 School Districts to Push Gender Ideology
LGBTQ activist organization the It Gets Better Project has awarded $10,000 in grant funds to 50 school districts across the country to promote gender ideology.
The project was founded by LGBTQ activist Dan Savage as an organization that provides anti-bullying support for LGBTQ teens, but Savage has a history of bullying teens himself – particularly, those who identify as Christian.
Read the full storyVictor Davis Hanson Commentary: How to Erode the World’s Greatest Military
The U.S. Army has met only 40 percent of its 2022 recruiting goals.
In fact, all branches of the military are facing historic resistance to their current recruiting efforts. If some solution is not found quickly, the armed forces will radically shrink or be forced to lower standards—or both.
Read the full storyCommentary: Tennessee Government Broadband Is Socialization of Effective Industry
In recent years, communities across Tennessee have considered pursuing a municipally-run broadband network. In July of 2021, this trend continued with the Knoxville Utilities Board’s (KUB) proposal for the largest municipal fiber network in the nation being approved unanimously by the Knoxville City Council. KUB’s broadband business plan came with a colossal $702 million price tag, as well as an estimated seven to ten year network build out, with the hopes of providing service to a four-county footprint, the majority of which would be located in Knox County, where the FCC estimates that 98.3% of the area has access to three or more broadband providers already.
Read the full storyConnecticut Introduces Loan Program for Small Businesses and Nonprofits
Connecticut on Monday launched a new loan program that aims to assist small businesses and nonprofits throughout the state.
The agreement is a new “public-private partnership that provides low-interest loans” to various organizations, with the goal of growing the two sectors in “low-income and historically underserved communities.”
Read the full storyWisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson Would Vote for ‘Unnecessary’ Same-Sex Marriage Bill
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said Thursday he would vote in favor of a bill that would enshrine same-sex marriage into federal law, even though he believes the legislation is “unnecessary.”
In a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Johnson said about the legislation Democrats have titled the Respect for Marriage Act, “Prior to the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision on gay marriage, I supported civil unions.”
Read the full storyVirginia’s First Casino Earns $3.7 Million in First Week of Operating Temporary Site
The Hard Rock Bristol Casino’s temporary location earned $3.7 million in adjusted gross receipts (AGR) in its first few days, with a total of over $37.5 million played from July 5 through July 14. The casino had soft openings before opening to the public on Friday, July 8.
Virginia Lottery Deputy Director of Gaming Compliance Gina Smith highlighted the numbers and said the casino was crowded in its first days.
“I will tell you that Saturday, you could not even walk on the floor,” Smith told the Virginia Lottery Board on July 20.
Read the full storyCommentary: America’s Future Is America First
The Biden administration promised to “Build Back Better,” but for ordinary Americans, this is a broken promise.
Every day, our nation’s citizens must make ends meet with gas and groceries they increasingly cannot afford, often seeking goods they cannot find. As Americans watch inflation hit a 40-year high, they see glimpses on television of the devastation in war-torn Europe and the trafficking of innocent children across America’s southern border.
Read the full storyFormer Georgia Mayoral Candidate Sentenced to Prison for Paycheck Protection Program Fraud
Former Georgia mayoral candidate Olivia Ware was sentenced to prison for her role in a scheme that stole thousands from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
The PPP grants were issued to businesses by the federal government during the coronavirus pandemic. The funds were intended to help companies maintain payments to their employees.
Read the full storyRon DeSantis Comes Out Against Chinese Buying Land in Florida
Last Friday night on Fox News’ Ingraham Angle, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called out China for buying up large tracts of property around the country, particularly in Florida.
Read the full storyJack Maxey Reveals How He Unlocked Thousands of Deleted Emails, Images, Videos from Hunter Biden’s Hard Drive
Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, interviewed Navy veteran and businessman Jack Maxey about how he recovered hundreds of thousands of deleted emails, images and videos from Hunter Biden’s laptop hard drive.
Read the full storyDetroit Leaders Propose $203 Million for Affordable Housing
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and City Council members Mary Waters, Angela Calloway, and Latisha Johnson want to spend $203 million on affordable housing.
A seven-point plan aims to create a new housing division, renovate vacant apartments and Land Bank homes, and provide mortgage down-payment assistance using money meant to recover from COVID, as well as some state and local funds.
Read the full storyArizona Democratic Party Chair Refuses to Denounce ‘Defund the Police’ Movement
Arizona Democratic Party Chair Raquel Terán refused to denounce the “Defund the Police” movement in a recent interview.
Terán, who is running for state Senate, has often touted an endorsement from Planned Parenthood. On her website, she highlights the support and says the state must “elect a Democratic majority in our state to protect access to safe and secure abortions for those who seek care.”
Read the full storyBill to Mandate Human Trafficking Awareness Training in Lodging Introduced in Pennsylvania
State Sen. Judy Schwank (D-PA-Reading) announced on Monday she will introduce a bill mandating that Pennsylvania hotel and motel businesses train their workers in human-trafficking awareness.
Human trafficking, an industry the International Labour Office believes to generate $150 billion each year, is a form of slavery whereby human beings are defrauded or coerced into servitude that is often sexual in nature. The U.S. Department of State estimates that about 25 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking. Of those, nearly a third are children or teenagers and roughly half are women.
Read the full storyOhio Republicans Release New Ad Blasting Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Nan Whaley’s Record on Public Safety
The Ohio Republican Party released a new ad, which targets Democrat gubernatorial candidate Nan Whaley’s record on crime as mayor of Dayton.
According to the organization, residents of the city became less safe during her first six years as mayor: violent crime increased 23 percent, homicides jumped 70 percent, and aggravated assaults spiked by 97 percent.
Read the full storyCommentary: Reducing Patient Access to New Medications Is Progressives’ Latest Medicare Price Fixing Scheme
As negotiations on their tax and spending bill continue, Senate Democrats are working on a legislative proposal to have the government fix the prices of Medicare prescription medications. Though the details of the 190-page amendment differ in certain respects from earlier versions, the indisputable result would be the same: Reduced patient access to prescription drugs.
Like most giant regulatory schemes, the draft proposal is characteristically complex with numerous provisions, including detailed data collection, new mandates, tax penalties on drug manufacturers, free vaccines, and a cap on out-of-pocket costs. But the heart of the bill is the creation of a Drug Price Negotiation Program administered by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Read the full storyReport: U.S. Investigates Blacklisted Chinese Tech Giant over Concerns It May Be Spying on Missile Silos
The U.S. is investigating Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei for potential surveillance capabilities at cell towers near U.S. military bases and missile silos, according to Reuters.
Authorities are concerned that China could exploit Huawei communications equipment in the U.S. to gather sensitive data on military procedures and personnel, Reuters reported Thursday. The Commerce Department reportedly opened the investigation in 2021.
Read the full storyAlmost 60 Percent of Americans Want TikTok Banned from App Stores: Poll
Following reports of Chinese officials accessing U.S. user data, nearly 60% of Americans want social media app TikTok removed from app stores, according to a recent survey.
Read the full storyMinneapolis Residents Resort to Crowdfunding to Pay for Neighborhood Policing
Residents in Minneapolis are crowdfunding to get off-duty police officers to patrol the streets as the city continues to experience staffing shortages and an uptick in violent crime.
The Minneapolis Safety Initiative (MSI), a nonprofit seeking to increase law and order, is raising money to “buyback officer patrols.” Funds that are raised through the volunteer-led initiative will be sent to the Minneapolis Police Department to get officers deployed for shifts that the officers would otherwise not be working, MSI says.
“Officers working a buyback shift patrol in MPD vehicles, respond to 911 calls, and deter criminals—just as they do in a normal shift,” according to MSI. “All people working on this initiative are volunteers. There are fees for payment processing but otherwise, all contributions will go directly to paying for MPD buyback officer patrols.”
Read the full storyBiden Administration Accused of Gaslighting Nation with ‘Soviet Level Propaganda’ After Attempting to Redefine Recession
by Debra Heine The White House is being accused of gaslighting the American people with “Soviet levels of propaganda” as Biden officials attempt to change the definition of recession amid economic data that shows the United States is entering into a recession. A recession is traditionally defined as two consecutive quarters of economic decline. The GDP in the first quarter of 2022 shrank at an annual pace of -1.6 percent—far worse than the mild increase analysts had expected. The numbers for second-quarter economic growth will be announced Thursday morning, and they are expected to be ugly. The Atlanta Fed is projecting another -1.6% decline, meaning we have officially entered into a recession—unless we broaden the definition of recession. “What is a recession? While some maintain that two consecutive quarters of falling real GDP constitute a recession, that is neither the official definition nor the way economists evaluate the state of the business cycle,” Biden’s economic team said in a post on the White House website on July 21. “Instead, both official determinations of recessions and economists’ assessment of economic activity are based on a holistic look at the data—including the labor market, consumer and business spending, industrial production, and incomes. Based on these data, it is unlikely…
Read the full storyCori Bush Refuses to Answer Whether Biden Should Run for President, Abruptly Ends Interview
Democratic Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri abruptly ended an interview with a St. Louis reporter Monday after being asked about a possible re-election bid by President Joe Biden.
“Do you want to see Joe Biden run for a second term?” a reporter asked Bush in a video posted by Mark Maxwell, political editor for KSDK News on Twitter.
Read the full storyOut-of-State Groups Including Club for Growth Boost Andy Ogles and Attack His Opponents in TN-5 Race
Several out-of-state groups, including the Club for Growth, are spending well over a million dollars to boost Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles’ bid for the Republican nomination for TN-5 and to attack his opponents Beth Harwell and Kurt Winstead.
Club for Growth famously spent $1,000,000 against then-candidate Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
Read the full story