I have been critical of political spending in education. For several years, whether it was advocacy disguised as philanthropy or teacher union spending, spending by both sectors has weakened the voice of stakeholders, parents, and educators. Citizens are less willing to get involved because issues are now more contentious. Even within Tennessee, too much education policy is being driven by groups outside the state.
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Intelligence forewarning of violence kept from decision makers. A plea for National Guard rejected. Security locks on a door deactivated, allowing rioters to flood into the Capitol. And now officers losing control of gear that then gets used against them.
The evidence of serious security failures inside the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 tragedy keeps mounting as House Republicans use their new found control to expose information that was suppressed by their Democratic counterparts’ original investigation.
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House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer has secured the cooperation of one of Hunter Biden’s closest business partners, setting an interview for next week with Devon Archer. Now Congress’ chief investigator is readying a subpoena to compel a New York firm to turn over a tranche of Archer’s documents that have been in storage since the FBI took them years ago.
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The Republican-led Louisiana House and Senate voted Tuesday to override Gov. John Bel Edwards’ (D) veto of a bill that would prohibit minors with gender dysphoria from obtaining life-altering transgender hormone drugs and surgeries.
The “historic” vote is only the third time a veto session ended in a single day with Republican lawmakers striking down Edwards’ veto on just one bill, Nola reported.
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Second Amendment expert and Executive Director of the Tennessee Firearms Association John Harris joined host Michael Patrick Leahy in-studio on Wednesday’s episode of The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy to discuss the high burden lawmakers must overcome in order for new gun control laws to pass constitutional muster, and the rumors at the state Capitol swirling around who is behind the push. TRANSCRIPT Michael Patrick Leahy: 6:34 a.m., broadcasting live from our studios on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee. In studio, a very good friend, John Harris, the executive director of Tennessee Firearms Association. John, the shortest amendment to the Constitution is the Second Amendment. And it basically says “the right to bear arms shall not be infringed.” Now to me, that’s pretty clear, “shall not be infringed.” Is there any lack of clarity in that to you? John Harris: There is not. But you know, I’ve been doing it for 30 years, so I’ve got a learning curve ahead of a lot of legislators because it is such a complicated concept– Michael Patrick Leahy: “Shall not be infringed?” John Harris: When you have a concept that is defined with a single period, it doesn’t leave a…
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One America News reporter and former national political editor for The Star News Network Neil W. McCabe joined The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy Wednesday to discuss the state of the 2024 GOP nomination contest, the prosecution of Donald Trump and the realization he says the Establishment elites on both sides of the aisle may well come to as the election cycle plays out.
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U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) along with several of her U.S. House counterparts from Tennessee has penned a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding answers after an illegal alien living in Franklin allegedly raped several boys over a period of years.
“Tennesseans deserve to know why DHS permitted a criminal to live in their community for decades and abuse their children after entering the country illegally,” Blackburn told The Tennessee Star Tuesday. “It is time to secure the southern border, deport criminal illegal aliens, and ensure our communities are safe. Until we get this crisis under control, every town is a border town, and every state is a border state.”
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While the Federal Bureau of Investigation is fighting any release of the Covenant killer’s manifesto in federal court, an official with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department says the local law enforcement agency would not object to a redacted release of some of the documents.
The problem could be just how law enforcement officials define “redactions.”
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Breitbart News Norfolk Southern, the powerful rail company that spurred a toxic chemical disaster in East Palestine, Ohio. this year, has set its sights on advancing a far-left agenda by promoting the Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) movement and imposing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. Norfolk Southern is strongly in favor of the ESG movement, the latest vector by which big corporations push a leftist social agenda that includes diversity quotas, solving climate change, and advancing racial equity. In many cases, large asset managers such as BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street push publicly listed companies to adopt these leftist agendas. Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street are the top three holders of Norfolk Southern. READ THE FULL STORY
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A new cross-border conservative coalition is calling on Washington lawmakers to change their policy toward Mexico and scrutinize the neighboring country for its alleged collusion with drug cartels.
The US-Mexico Conservative Policy Coalition states: “The Mexican government and Mexican criminal cartels exist in conscious and voluntary symbiosis, at multiple levels, up to and including the Mexican presidency…the current president of Mexico has expressed openness to a pact with the cartels and has spoken of his willingness to defend them from US action.
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A new bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Democrats would eliminate the use of the words “husband” and “wife” in federal laws, instead replacing them with genderless terms like “spouse.”
As reported by Fox News, the “Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act” was introduced by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), and would change many existing laws by removing “husband” and “wife” from pre-existing text. Instead, the new law would replace these words with phrases such as “a married couple,” “married person,” and “person who has been, but is no longer, married to’.”
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Tennessee has collected $2.3 billion more than budgeted in taxes and fees through the first 11 months of the fiscal year.
In June, the state collected $2.3 billion total, which was $283.3 million more than estimated and $38.7 million more than the June 2022 collections.
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Nashville mayoral candidate Alice Rolli released a statement shortly after Jim Gingrich, the former chief operating officer of AllianceBernstein, announced the suspension of his campaign for Nashville Mayor on Monday.
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Faith-based television series The Chosen has been granted the first known exemption waiver to continue filming amid the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) union strike primarily due to its crowdsourced funding and independent production.
The blockbuster series about the ministry of Jesus as seen through the eyes of his disciples is in the midst of filming its fourth season in Utah, Deadline reported Monday.
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Multiple cities are turning to school districts to house and support an influx of migrants through the summer months.
Following the expiration of Title 42, both New York City and Chicago have been overwhelmed by the number of migrants that have come to the cities, arguing that there is a lack of resources. In response, the city governments, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, have considered school districts to house migrants.
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A new nonprofit that has set its sights on gun control in Tennessee is run by wealthy Republican and Democrat political insiders, The Tennessee Star has found.
Voices for a Safer Tennessee pitches itself as an upstart group comprised of both Democrats and Republicans that spontaneously formed in the wake of The Covenant School shooting in Nashville on March 27.
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Some Republicans have of late quipped, is it any wonder the United States is facing a deadly fentanyl epidemic when the Biden administration can’t even keep cocaine out of the White House?
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) certainly isn’t surprised.
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A super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president is launching a new television ad on Tuesday using an Artificial Intelligence-generated version of Donald Trump’s voice criticizing popular Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
The Never Back Down PAC ad features an AI version of Trump’s voice reading a post he made on Truth Social last week attacking Reynolds.
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Michigan residents leery of manufacturing electric vehicle batteries in their respective backyards are watching two court cases filed on their behalf of in Marshall and Mecosta County.
On Monday, a legal demand letter challenged the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Renaissance Zone designation for the Gotion battery plant outside Big Rapids. A Calhoun County judge is expected to issue a ruling next week on whether to cease development on the Blue Oval Battery Park in Marshall during litigation related to alleged zoning violations.
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Members of the Pima County Republican Party joined a local church’s protest against a drag queen story hour held at a Tucson book store, receiving public support from an Arizona state senator who passed a bill to restrict children’s access to adult entertainment venues only to have it vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs.
Tucson parents and members of The Bridge Church were joined by members of the Pima County Republican Party on Sunday to protest a drag queen story hour held at Bookmans, who called the event one of its “most popular childhood literacy events” in its promotional materials. This drag queen story hour appears to have been postponed since March, when the store blamed a “harassment campaign” that was “spearheaded by The Bridge Church” and controversial conservative men’s group the Proud Boys for sparking security concerns.
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Pennsylvania officials announced an expansion of its directory that helps residents find addiction services near them, part of a multi-year effort to simplify the process of finding licensed providers for drug and alcohol problems.
Information for about 600 licensed treatment facilities in the state have now been submitted for Pennsylvania’s Treatment Atlas, centralizing information for 81% of all licensed centers statewide. The Atlas has been a work in progress since 2021 and 7,000 assessments have been filed through it, DDAP noted.
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Former President Donald Trump triumphs in yet another new poll.
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As Wisconsin businesses struggle through a worker shortage crisis, it appears Wisconsin’s public schools are failing to prepare students for the workforce.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce’s latest employer survey finds 73 percent of responding businesses said ‘no’ when asked if students graduating from the Badger State’s K-12 education system are prepared for the workforce.
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The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday unanimously rejected a bid from former President Donald Trump’s legal team to block an investigation from Fulton Country District Attorney Fani Willis into his efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results in the Peach State.
Trump’s team filed the request on Friday, after previously filing a similar bid in the Fulton County Superior Court, The Hill reported. That the lower court has yet to decide the matter formed the basis of the Supreme Court’s refusal.
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As Donald Trump met with voters Tuesday in Iowa’s second-largest city, a new poll found Hawkeye State Republicans aren’t happy about the former president’s recent criticisms of their popular governor.
But the poll, it should be noted, was conducted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ polling firm — an organization that has failed to provide background information on other positive DeSantis polls.
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Two weeks into her tenure as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Education, Lizzette “Lizzy” Gonzalez Reynolds is garnering positive reviews.
“I found her knowledgeable, approachable, and willing to listen,” said State Representative Kevin Raper (R-Cleveland).
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Arizona State Senator Justine Wadsack (R-Tucson) is encouraging families that the “Arizona Families Tax Rebate,” a part of the $17.8 billion state budget approved by Governor Katie Hobbs on May 15th, is expected to be sent out sometime this fall.
The Arizona Families Tax Rebate, championed by Arizona Senate Republicans and the Arizona Freedom Caucus will allow Arizona families to receive up to $750 in rebates based on 2021 tax returns.
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Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Monday that increased support and additional resources are now available to victims of human trafficking in Ohio.
The Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission has launched the Human Trafficking Victim Services Directory, which contains Ohio-based services and resources for human trafficking victims.
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On Tuesday morning Alex Triantafilou, the head of the Ohio Republican Party responded to the announcement that Ohio-born singer-songwriter John Legend is rallying with Democrats against State Issue 1 calling it an attempt to “trick ordinary people.”
This follows a Democratic-backed group One Person One Vote announcing that Legend would attend their Cincinnati rally on Tuesday afternoon to encourage attendees to vote against Issue 1 during the state’s special election on August 8th.
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The CEO of a sex toy company has been bankrolling a massive pediatric sex change clinic since 2018, according to public records and numerous reports.
Pure Romance CEO Chris Cicchinelli founded the Living with Change Foundation in 2018 to fund a massive expansion of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s Transgender Clinic after his son began identifying as a girl at age 8, according to WCPO 9 in Cincinnati. Prior to Cicchinelli’s $2 million donation, the clinic only had one nurse, one doctor and one social worker; it has since tripled its staff, been renamed the Living with Change Center (LWCC) and is now a massive operation which boasts of serving more than 800 children and young adults this year alone on its website.
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The Navy is all in for DEI. At the Navy website if one clicks on “who we are,” one of the first things that shows up is “diversity and equity.” It must be important to show up so prominently.
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I get invited to see many bands and events in Nashville. One invite was to see the country-rock band, Century Drive at the NashHouse Southern Spoon and Saloon, the week of CMA Fest. By now, I should no longer be surprised at the caliber of talent on any given day in Nashville, but once again I was blown away. Though hailing from Bend, Oregon, this band was as tight and rocking as any southern rock band I have heard.
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The Biden administration has allowed an unprecedented roughly 500,000 migrants to come to the U.S. via the expansion of entry programs, CBS News reported Tuesday.
At least 541,000 migrants lacking visas have been granted entry into the country in less than two years through the use of what’s known as parole, according to CBS News, which cited internal government statistics, court records and public reports. The use of parole authority has been part of the Biden administration’s plan to address the surge of illegal immigration at the southern border.
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Unborn babies up to 20 weeks’ gestation are once again able to be aborted in Iowa after a judge temporarily blocked the state’s new Heartbeat Protection Act which Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed into law on Friday.
As the measure was signed into law, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Planned Parenthood North Central States, and the Emma Goldman Clinic filed a legal challenge against its enforcement.
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GOP presidential candidate released a four-minute video statement on Tuesday shortly after Former President Donald Trump said the Justice Department informed him that he is a target of the January 6 Grand Jury probe. Trump must report to the jury this week.
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The Star News Network’s national political editor Matt Kittle sat in Tuesday to guest host The Simon Conway Show, broadcast live from WHO Des Moines, an iHeart radio station at KDRB 100.3HZ, where he interviewed Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. TRANSCRIPT Matt Kittle: Next is a gentleman who’s had, well, to say the very least, a very good week. At least I would say that – and I’ve covered the Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio entrepreneur and anti-woke crusader. How are you, sir? Welcome to the Simon Conway Show. So glad to talk to you again. Vivek Ramaswamy: I’m doing great. It’s great to be back. How are you? Matt Kittle: I’m good, but I think you’re better. I took a look at the latest poll today that’s out. You’re running in third place. That’s I think the third straight poll where you are just behind Ron DeSantis. It looks like there is some erosion going on, at least in one of those major polls of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. And you had a very good weekend, of course, between Des Moines and West Palm Beach. What’s the secret sauce? Vivek Ramaswamy: Well, look, I think the secret sauce is, ‘speak…
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Aaron Gulbransen – executive director of the Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition and Official Guest Host of The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – was in-studio Tuesday to deliver this week’s “Aaron’s Analysis.” Today’s edition discussed the rapidly developing 2024 election cycle and the importance of unity against the Marxist Left come Election Day.
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Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee F. Jantzen denied Abe Hamadeh’s request for a new trial in his election contest over the attorney general’s race on Friday, issuing his opinion with the reasoning on Monday. He said “the evidence showed that only about six votes difference would have been found after reviewing the numerous undercounted ballots.”
Hamadeh issued a statement shortly afterwards, “The court’s ruling is an invitation to an appeal, and we will do just that.” He added in a tweet, “I have every confidence that the (Arizona) Supreme Court is not going to let this precedent stand. It would be a terrible precedent in terms of the legal community to have the government be able to withhold evidence & get away with it.”
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Executive Director of Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition Aaron Gulbransen puts listeners in the room with him during his recent meeting with Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday’s Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy.
Gulbransen shares insider details, the points of agreement, and confirms that the Governor intends to call for a special session in August as he originally said – despite the many threats of unrest the Left have vowed to deliver.
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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Tuesday charged 16 Republicans with felony election charges in relation to their claims to be the legitimate electors of the Wolverine State during the 2020 presidential contest.
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Tennessee’s annual back-to-school tax holiday weekend, along with a three-month grocery tax holiday are about to begin.
The back-to-school holiday runs from July 28-30 and covers clothing, school supplies and computers. Specifically, clothing that costs less than $100 qualifies along with school or art supplies that cost less than $100 and computers, laptops and tablets for personal use that cost $1,500 or less.
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The Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition (TNFFC) Board of Directors met with Governor Bill Lee on Monday and discussed multiple issues facing the Volunteer State, including the upcoming special legislative session next month.
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A Tennessee man has been charged in connection with a threat against conservative journalist and talk radio show host Michael Patrick Leahy over Leahy’s lawsuit to obtain the Nashville school shooter manifesto, allegedly telling Leahy, “I’m willing to go to prison to end you.”
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Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was informed by the Justice Department that he is a target of the Jan. 6 Grand Jury probe and he must report to the jury this week.
“Deranged Jack Smith, the prosecutor with Joe Biden’s DOJ, sent a letter (again, it was Sunday night!) stating that I am a TARGET of the January 6th Grand Jury investigation, and giving me a very short 4 days to report to the Grand Jury, which almost always means an Arrest and indictment,” Trump wrote.
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The House Judiciary Committee on Monday sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg asking questions about possible censorship occurring on Threads, Meta’s latest social media platform.
“Given that Meta has censored First Amendment-protected speech as a result of government agencies’ requests and demands in the past, the Committee is concerned about potential First Amendment violations that have occurred or will occur on the Threads platform,” Committee chairman Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, wrote in the letter.
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Wells Fargo, one of the largest banks in the United States is facing a lawsuit from its Hispanic employees that accuses the centuries old bank of engaging in predatory lending practices against customers of the same ethnic origin.
The lawsuit, filed June 30 in a Texas federal court, accuses Wells Fargo of pressuring Hispanic employees in San Antonio to redirect Latino customers away from home equity lines of credit to more expensive but profitable refinancing options without furnishing the usual disclosures, according to a complaint filed in court.
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The Board of Directors of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) has released a statement in support of Governor Bill Lee’s decision to call a special legislative session next month.
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A top Biden administration U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official previously advocated to “abolish” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and worked with an anti-ICE group, according to her previous work and statements reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Avideh Moussavian began her tenure at USCIS in March 2022 and was later appointed to serve as the agency’s chief of the Office of Policy and Strategy in March 2023. Before her work for the Biden administration, Moussavian tweeted in 2018 the hashtag “abolishICE,” accusing the agency of “misleading the public and making our workplaces less safe.” She has also advocated to “defund” ICE and CBP, according to a 2019 tweet.
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According to the Knoxville Police Department (KPD), two people were found dead in an abandoned building at Knoxville College when the Knoxville Fire Department (KFD) was called to extinguish an unrelated fire.
“The Knoxville Police Department is investigating after two deceased individuals were found inside of a building on the Knoxville College campus Sunday morning,” KPD said on Facebook.
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A group of Republican Senators have introduced the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act, legislation that would overturn a new federal rule that charges higher fees to certain home buyers with good credit and lower fees for buyers with worse credit.
“The average American has a credit score over 716,” said Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind, who is helping lead the effort. “The Biden administration is making home ownership more difficult for everyday Americans by raising rates for most people with a credit score over 680 to subsidize riskier borrowers.”
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