Month: August 2022

COVID-Era High School Graduates Face Uncertain Futures in College

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After nearly two years of unprecedented lockdowns, mandates, and other restrictions on daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands of graduating high school students are preparing to head off to college without having learned nearly as much as they should have.

The Associated Press reports that such students are about to enter college significantly farther behind the academic standards of previous years, almost entirely due to the pandemic’s forced transition to “online learning,” a shortage of teachers, and mask and vaccine mandates that disrupted school life for millions of students across the country. Such students risk the possibility of being grossly underprepared for the level of work required by college, and could result in a massive spike in college dropouts in the coming years.

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Marsha Blackburn Says the World Must Be Wary of the New Axis of Evil

Aaron Gulbransen

In a letter to the editor submitted to The New York Times on Wednesday, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) warned “that the world must not turn a blind eye to the dangers posed by the New Axis of Evil.”

Senator Blackburn’s letter was in response to a piece entitled “A New Axis?,” which was written by David Leonhardt and published on Tuesday, August 2.

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Chattanooga City Council Approves $100 Million Revitalization Project

Peter D'Abrosca

The Chattanooga City Council has approved a deal that solidifies a $100 million revitalization project in the city’s South Broad area. The project is centered around the baseball stadium of the Chattanooga Lookouts, a minor league affiliate of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Cincinnati Reds. “For more than two decades, these 140 acres around us have sat vacant as a sad, rusting reminder of our wasted potential,” Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly said in a press conference in June, pitching the revitalization project. “There have been no less than eight studies conducted on this site since 2003, but despite that, our western gateway has remained a blighted brownfield doing absolutely nothing to increase jobs, tourism, or quality of life for our residents.” Previously, the MLB was considering pulling the Lookouts’ affiliation with the League altogether, due to the stadium being in a state of disrepair. But now the entire area will be revitalized, turning from an eyesore to a potential economic boon for the city, which intends to use taxes generated by the new site – including office spaces, retail locations, and restaurants – to fund schools and other government-funded projects. “The City and County leveraged tax increment financing for the project, with…

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Commentary: Washington’s Incurable Case of Trump Derangement Syndrome

Admin

Like Shakespeare’s King Lear, Donald Trump is a “man more sinned against than sinning.” Trump’s enemies invariably exceed him in excesses. They accuse him of dictatorial behavior even as they seek to turn America into a left-wing authoritarian regime. The wags who dubbed their feverish hatred of him “Trump Derangement Syndrome” were right. The condition is altogether real, spurring everything from the bogus Russia investigation to the equally outlandish FBI raid on his home.

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Obama, Clinton District Court Judges Appointed Magistrate Judge Who Signed Mar-a-Lago Raid Warrant

Peter D'Abrosca

Judge Bruce Reinhart, who on August 5 signed off on an unprecedented search warrant for the Mar-a-Lago home of former President Donald Trump, was appointed by a gaggle of left-wing judges. 

Federal District Court Judges, in this case Judges in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, appoint magistrate judges who handle tasks assigned to them by the District Court judges. 

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Michigan School Choice Initiative Clears Signature Hurdle for November Ballot

The Center Square

Let MI Kids Learn filed more than 520,000 signatures with the Michigan Bureau of Elections to put an education choice initiative on this November’s general election ballot.

If the ballot initiative is approved by voters, the Michigan legislature can approve the initiative immediately. Previously, both the state House and Senate passed the bill similar to what 21 states have as law, but Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declined to sign it.

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State Representative Pushes to Constitutionally Eliminate Pennsylvania School Property Taxes

Bradley Vasoli

State Representative Frank Ryan (R-PA-Palmyra) this week proposed amending the Pennsylvania Constitution to eliminate the portion of property taxes collected by localities to fund public schools.

In February, Ryan sponsored another bill to abolish school property taxes by statute; that measure has yet to receive a vote in the House of Representatives Finance Committee. While enacting a statute requires majority assent of the House and Senate and the signature of the governor, amending the state Constitution requires House and Senate approval in two consecutive sessions. The policy would then go before Pennsylvania voters as a ballot question for approval or rejection and the governor would play no role in that process.

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Hanover County Public Schools Introduces Restroom Policy Opposed by Transgender Advocates

Eric Burk

After refusing to pass a transgender policy required by Virginia law, the Hanover County Public School Board has introduced a proposed transgender policy that, if enacted, will require a written request from both the student and their parents if that student wants to use a restroom or locker room that doesn’t correspond with their biological sex. Under the proposed policy the school board would approve or deny the requests.

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Biggs Officially Endorses Kari Lake

Peter D'Abrosca

Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake received a major endorsement from a sitting U.S. congressman.

“The Biden Administration and radical Democrats have put our nation at risk,” Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) said in his Wednesday statement endorsing Lake. “Our southern border is being invaded, inflation is out of control, and my Democratic colleagues are spending recklessly. It’s time for States to push back on the federal government’s overreach and restore the vision of the Founding Fathers. We can only be successful by electing strong Governors. I know Kari Lake will stand up to the Biden Administration and protect the liberty we value in Arizona. I look forward to working with Governor Lake!”

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Arizona and Florida U.S. Representatives Introduce Bill to Fight Inflation, Boost Retirements

Rachel Alexander

Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.-06) is concerned that Arizona is undergoing the highest level of inflation within the continental states (urban Alaska is the only part of the country with a higher level). To combat the problem, he co-sponsored H.R. 8579, the Retirement Protection Act, with Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.-19).

In a statement, Schweikert said, “This bill would play a critical role in fighting inflation while helping Americans protect their savings.” He told The Arizona Sun Times, “It improves people’s retirement future so they stay even and don’t become a victim of inflation.” 

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RNC Slams Buttigieg While He Campaigns for Democrats in Arizona

Peter D'Abrosca

The Republican National Committee (RNC) released a statement slamming Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who spent Thursday in Arizona rallying with local and federal level Democrats. 

“Biden bureaucrat Pete Buttigieg’s campaign stops are a slap in the face to hardworking Arizonans after Democrat Mark Kelly just voted to raise taxes on them during a recession and sic  87,000 IRS agents on them. Biden and Buttigieg’s attempt to bail out Mark Kelly will fail,” said RNC Spokesperson Ben Petersen. 

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Phoenix Residents Sue City over Handling of Homeless Population

Neil Jones

Phoenix City councilman Sal DiCiccio shared that a group of Arizona home and business owners recently filed a complaint against the City of Phoenix over its handling of the homeless population.

“Phoenix has long pushed homeless into Neighborhoods. People are fed up and taking matters into their own hands,” tweeted Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio. “If Phoenix is allowed to push this problem into their neighborhood, your neighborhood will be next.”

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Feds at Virginia Port Seize More Counterfeit Socks

Eric Burk

Federal law enforcement has seized another load of counterfeit diabetic socks at the Area Port of Norfolk-Newport News. The 165,707 pairs of socks in the seizure would be worth more than $2.6 million in manufacturer suggested retail price if they were legitimate.

“Norfolk, VA CBP Officers Seize Second Significant Sham Socks Shipment destined to Loudoun County, VA,” the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Baltimore field office announced Tuesday.

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Nation’s Oldest Pro-Life Organization Endorses Blake Masters for U.S. Senate

Neil Jones

The Arizona Republican Senate nominee Blake Masters recently received an endorsement from the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), a long-standing pro-life organization.

“National Right to Life is pleased to endorse Blake Masters for election to the U.S. Senate,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Blake Masters has what it takes to flip the Arizona Senate seat, and he will be a strong defender of the right to life in the Senate.”

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Corporate Media Shifts Blame to Facebook After Mom Allegedly Performs Late-Term Abortion on Teen, Hides the Body

Admin

News outlets inaccurately suggested a 17-year-old girl was being prosecuted for obtaining an illegal late-term abortion in recent headlines about a Nebraska case.

Numerous outlets covering the story emphasized Facebook’s role in the prosecution of this abortion-related case and highlighted concerns about tech companies protecting people’s data in light of new abortion restrictions going into effect. Headlines generally didn’t acknowledge the baby’s late gestational age, the concealment of the corpse or the suspicious autopsy that led the the warrant for their Facebook messages.

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Vaccine Promotion and American Rescue Plan Spending Highlight Metro Council’s Meeting Agenda

Aaron Gulbransen

Metro Nashville Council posted the meeting agenda for its Tuesday, August 16 meeting, highlighted by a resolution accepting a grant to promote vaccines and resolutions spending over $50 million in American Rescue Plan funds.

RS2022-1708, sponsored by councilmembers Burkley Allen, Erin Evans, Ginny Welsch, Zulfat Suara, and Joy Styles, is a “resolution accepting a grant from the State of Tennessee, Department of Health, to the Metropolitan Government, acting by and through the Metropolitan Board of Health, to promote the proper use of all recommended vaccines and respond to vaccine preventable diseases in collaboration with the CDC and other partners.”

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Youngkin Announces New Fellows to Join Virginia Management Fellows Program

Eric Burk

Ten new fellows will join the Virginia Management Fellows program, a joint project between Virginia Tech and the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management aimed at preparing fellows for permanent roles in Virginia agencies.The 10 fellows will be part of the 2022-2024 cohort, the fifth cohort since the program was approved by the General Assembly in 2017.

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Ohio Congressional Hopeful Used City Council Office to Coordinate with Wife’s Company

Aaron Gulbransen

Ohio’s 1st Congressional District Democrat nominee Greg Landsman used his official office to coordinate and introduce a partnership with a company where his wife works as an executive.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Landsman coordinated and introduced a partnership with 84.51 to retrieve data and identify areas of need in the area.

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Commentary: Democrats’ IRS Expansion Would Empower Ruling Elites to Target Americans

Admin

“He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.”

Those were the words of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, referring to the depredation of King George III. The sentence was part of a long list of grievances that bolstered the argument that England’s king and Parliament were becoming tyrannical.

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Biden Signs Funding Bill for Veterans Exposed to Toxins

The Center Square

President Joe Biden signed the veterans health care bill known as the PACT Act Wednesday, expanding health care benefits for veterans exposed to toxins.

After a short struggle between Senate Democrats and Republicans, the PACT Act has been signed into law and will offer benefits and services to more than five million veterans exposed to toxins during their time of service.

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Commentary: Senator Josh Hawley Is a True National Conservative

RealClearWire

In a vote of 95-1, the United States Senate approved the expansion of NATO (North American Treaty Organization) by allowing membership to two new nations Sweden and Finland. The only Senator to vote “no” was Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO). Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voted “present.” In his floor speech before the vote Sen. Hawley made a powerful argument that expanding NATO is not in America’s national interest. Whether in foreign policy, trade policy and trying to resurrect manufacturing, fighting against the radical woke social agenda, defending our borders, or defending the Constitution, Sen. Josh Hawley is demonstrating that he is not only a conservative leader, but is truly fighting to place America First and protect our nation’s sovereignty.

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Harvard University Denied Tax Cut After Lobbying to Senate Democrats

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Harvard University’s request for an endowment tax cut was denied despite frequent lobbying to Senate Democrats for its inclusion in the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 with tax increases on corporations and energy firms but did not include plans to lower the endowment tax, which is tax paid on income from individual donors to colleges, according to the bill.  Senior Executive Director of Federal Relations at Harvard University Suzanne Day sent an email in July urging Democratic Senators to eliminate the tax in the upcoming bill.

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Three Tennessee Cities Ranked Among 25 Cheapest to Live in America

Peter D'Abrosca

Three cities in Tennessee are among the cheapest to live in the United States, according to a recently-published Kiplinger report. 

To measure the cheapest cities in the United States, Kiplinger calculated the cost of living in 267 cities using a standard Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). It then narrowed its results to cities with populations of more than 50,000 people. 

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Survey: 80 Percent of Americans Believe U.S. Has Two-Tiered Justice System

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A new poll by a highly respected and accurate pollster indicates that nearly 80 percent of Americans believe there is a two-tiered system of justice in the United States.

According to The Daily Wire, the poll, formally titled the “National Issues Survey,” was conducted by the Trafalgar Group, one of the few pollsters to accurately predict President Donald Trump’s victory in 2016. Featuring over 1,000 likely voters and carried out between July 24th and July 28th, the survey asked the question “What is your opinion of the current state of the American justice system?”

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Georgia Expert Says Slight Drop in Rise of Consumer Prices Isn’t a ‘Sustainable Trend’

The Center Square

The slight drop in the rise of consumer prices may only be a momentary bit of relief as federal policy could make matters worse, a Georgia nonprofit said.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers Increased 8.5% over the past 12 months. That is down from a 9.1% year-over-year increase in June.

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Republicans Condemn FBI Seizure of Pennsylvania Congressman Scott Perry’s Phone

Bradley Vasoli

One day after the Federal Bureau of Investigation searched former President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach home on Monday, agents seized the cell phone belonging to U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA-10), eliciting outrage on his side of the political aisle.

The FBI has refused to comment on the investigation, leaving it presently uncertain what messages or other data the bureau seeks to obtain from the lawmaker’s device. Perry, who represents Harrisburg, York and surrounding communities, has been at odds with Congress’s Democratic majority and Joe Biden’s White House over investigations related to the January 6, 2021 riot and Capitol Building breach. The U.S. House select committee probing the event issued a subpoena to the congressman with which he declined to comply.

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Jim Schultz Defeats Doug Wardlow, Will Face Keith Ellison in November

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Political newcomer Jim Schultz defeated Doug Wardlow in the Republican primary for Minnesota attorney general Tuesday night.

Schultz was endorsed by the state party and has the backing of police, but Wardlow’s name recognition from his 2018 bid for the position and support from national figures like Steve Bannon and Mike Lindell had some insiders concerned the base would rally to his side.

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Michigan Democrat Candidate Claims Assisted Suicide Could Be ‘Proper and Ethical’ for Terminally Ill Children

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Democratic Michigan congressional nominee Robert Lorinser claimed it could be “proper and ethical” for children suffering from a “terminal illness” to receive a medically assisted suicide, according to a Facebook post obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

“[S]uch a difficult issue -DYING,” Lorinser, who is running to unseat Republican Rep. Jack Bergman in November and is also a doctor, wrote on Facebook on Oct. 20, 2018. “Children are harder than dying after a long life. Calling it medical assisting dying –I like. When, who, how–devil is in the details.”

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Goldwater Institute Files Lawsuit to Remove ‘Misleading’ Healthcare Debt Initiative from Ballot

Rachel Alexander

Eight ballot initiatives are on the Arizona ballot this fall, with three still waiting for approval after submitting petition signatures. One of those three is the Protection from Predatory Debt Collection Act (PPDCA) which is being challenged by the Goldwater Institute over its description that will appear on the ballot, which the think tank alleges is “inaccurate and misleading.”

Filed on Aug. 8, the lawsuit states, “The Arizona Protection from Predatory Debt Collection Act would institute sweeping changes to debt collection in Arizona that extend far beyond the measure’s purported purpose of limiting the interest rate on medical debt.”

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Ohio Republican Party Condemns FBI’s Mar-a-Lago Search

Bradley Vasoli

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Paduchik this week condemned the search of former President Donald Trump’s residence at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, FL that the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed on Monday.

Many in the ex-president’s party have expressed outrage that Biden Administration Attorney General Merrick Garland secured a warrant for federal agents to surprise Trump with a search of his home. No Justice Department has ever taken similar action to investigate a former commander-in-chief.

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Virginia Poison Control Center Director Reports Rise in Delta-8 THC Calls, Including Among Children

Eric Burk

The Blue Ridge Poison Control Center is seeing a rise in calls related to THC, including Delta-8 THC exposures among children, Director Christopher Holstege told a taskforce on Tuesday, echoing concerns nationally from the CDC issued in 2021.

“Certainly my colleagues and I have been talking about this extensively and seeing these as they were doing surveillance, with some of the first reports, we also started to see these in the fall of 2020, especially Delta-8, but more edibles, which is why we’re seeing the toddlers get to these products,” Holstege said.

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