Author: Peter D'Abrosca

FBI Gives Vague Response to The Tennessee Star’s FOIA Request over ‘Legacy Tokens’

Peter D'Abrosca

In response to The Tennessee Star’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the agency’s policy regarding “legacy tokens” left behind by mass killers, the FBI offered a vague response to an original comment request by The Star.

“While our standard practice is not to comment on specific products, which includes addressing their veracity, the FBI regularly shares information with our law enforcement partners to assist in protecting the communities they serve,” the FBI said by email. “The FBI always encourages members of the public to be vigilant and report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.”

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TDOT will Halt Construction to Ease Traffic on July 4th

Peter D'Abrosca
Road construction

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will halt all construction on July 4th to ease traffic for travelers during Independence Day.

“With so many people traveling on and around the Fourth of July, we want to do all we can to ensure they reach their destinations safely and without necessary delays,” said Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley in a news release. “We are doing so by suspending lane closures during this busy holiday travel time. Be mindful that our HELP Trucks will be on patrol and drivers must obey the law by moving over and slowing down for all emergency vehicles on the side of the road.”

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Tennessee’s Elected Officials React to Thursday’s Presidential Debate

Peter D'Abrosca
Biden and Trump

Tennessee’s elected officials reacted positively to former President Donald Trump’s debate performance against President Joe Biden on Thursday night. 

“There is no debate about it: President Trump was the clear winner tonight and the person we need to save our country,” said a statement from Sen. Marsha Blackburn. “Under President Biden, hardworking families can’t afford basic necessities, illegal immigrants are treated better than our nation’s veterans and criminals get off scot-free while the Justice Department unfairly targets conservatives.”

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Tennessee Department of Children’s Services Sued for Alleged Abuse of Disabled Children

Peter D'Abrosca
Disabled Child

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) has been sued by an activism group that supports disabled people, claiming that DCS has neglected and mistreated vulnerable disabled children. 

“When Youth enter Defendants’ facilities, they struggle to find the basic support that every child needs and deserves, such as education, mental healthcare, medical care, and physical safety,” a lawsuit filed by Disability Rights Tennessee says. “Defendants fail to provide evidence-based services designed to treat or rehabilitate Youth. Indeed, Defendants lack any coherent strategy for rehabilitating young people in their care or addressing behavioral issues, instead defaulting to incarceration. Youth therefore have no meaningful way to progress in their treatment and rehabilitation.”

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ISIS Smuggling Network Confirmed Weeks After Tennessee Congressman Warned of ISIS Crossings

Peter D'Abrosca

Two weeks after a U.S. Tennessee representative sent out a warning about members of the terrorist group ISIS crossing the open southern border, news has emerged that an ISIS smuggling network has brought more than 400 illegal migrants into the country.

Three Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials told NBC News that “over 400 immigrants from Central Asia and elsewhere who crossed into the U.S. in the past three years as ‘subjects of concern’ because they were brought by an ISIS-affiliated human smuggling network.”

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Confirmed: Steve Bannon to Report to Federal Prison in Connecticut to Serve Four Month Sentence

Peter D'Abrosca
Steve Bannon

According to a report by CNN, Steve Bannon, former Chief of Staff to President Donald Trump, will be ordered by a judge to report to a Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, stemming from a 2022 conviction on contempt of Congress charges for ignoring a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee.

Bannon has been ordered to report to prison on July 1 following a rejected appeal. 

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Democrat State Rep ‘Disappointed’ That Trump will Be on Tennessee Ballot

Peter D'Abrosca
Vincent Dixie

A Democrat State Representative told The Tennessee Lookout that he is disappointed that former President Donald Trump will remain on the ballot in the state after being convicted of 34 felonies in the state of New York.

Rep. Vincent Dixie (D-Nashville) reportedly wrote a letter to Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti claiming that Trump should be barred from appearing on the state’s ballot, and asking for a legal opinion on the matter. 

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Donor to Far-Left State Rep Aftyn Behn Says He Cancelled Planned Hosting of Fundraiser for TN-05 Republican Challenger Courtney Johnston Despite Invitation Obtained by The Star

Peter D'Abrosca

A donor to far-left State Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) said that he canceled hosting a planned fundraiser for Courtney Johnston, a Republican challenger to Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), despite a flyer invitation for the event obtained by The Tennessee Star.

According to the flyer, Margaret and George Uribe were scheduled to host a fundraiser for Johnston on Wednesday.

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Body Cam Footage Released from Shootout That Left Two Blount County Deputies Injured

Peter D'Abrosca
Blount County Shoot Out

Body camera footage released by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office shows a harrowing 20-minute gun battle during which two of its deputies were shot after responding to a welfare check call.

“I am releasing the following video synopsis of the assault on Deputy Corbin Smith and Deputy Edward Walker on June 11, 2024 on Jacob Springs Boulevard in Rockford,” said Blount County Sheriff Sheriff James Lee Berrong on Facebook, attaching the video. 

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ACLU Tennessee Silent on Judge’s Contempt of Court Threat Over Covenant Shooter Reporting

Peter D'Abrosca
MPL Courtroom

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) has remained silent during the past week as The Tennessee Star Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy was ordered to appear before a judge for a show cause hearing called on the heels of a false allegation by WSMV reporter Stacey Cameron that Leahy violated a court order by publishing journals left behind Covenant School shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale.

Leahy could face a contempt of court charge, which comes with a possible jail sentence of 10 days.

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Police Arrest Trans Person in Utah for Allegedly Killing Parents

Peter D'Abrosca
Collin Troy Bailey

In another instance of transgender violence, a biological male who was “transitioning” to become a female was arrested Wednesday for allegedly killing his parents.

According to the Washington City, Utah police, Collin Troy Bailey, 28, who goes by the name Mia, is the suspect in the slaying of his parents, Gail Bailey and Joseph Bailey, who were found dead in their home after police responded to a shots fired call.

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Media Outlets, Influencers Band Together to Show Support for Tennessee Star Editor-in-Chief

Peter D'Abrosca
Michael Patrick Leahy

On the day when The Star News Network’s Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy is scheduled to appear before a judge for publishing information from the journal of Covenant School killer Audrey Elizabeth Hale, news networks across America and the world have picked up the story. 

Leahy was ordered to appear Tennessee Chancery Court Judge l’Ashea Myles for a show cause hearing on Monday, to determine whether publishing the information interfered with Tennessee lawsuit in which Leahy and Star News Digital Media, Inc. (SNDM) are seeking to compel the full release of Hale’s writings, including those that have been called a manifesto, by the Metro Nashville Police Department.

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TBI Marks Three-Year Anniversary of Summer Wells’ Disappearance with Video Update

Peter D'Abrosca
Summer Wells

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) marked the three year anniversary of the disappearance of Summer Wells with a video update on the case. 

“We don’t have the evidence in this case to know for sure whether Summer was abducted or whether or not she walked away from her home and became lost,” said Josh Melton, the assistant director of TBI’s Criminal Investigation Division, in a video posted to X. “It’s really important for us to not focus all our attention on just one of those two.”

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Tennessee Lawmakers Defend Tennessee Star Editor-in-Chief in Legal Case over Covenant Documents

Peter D'Abrosca
Jeremy Faison and Jason Zachary

Members of the Tennessee General Assembly took to X Friday to defend Tennessee Star Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy, who was ordered to appear before Tennessee Chancery Court Judge l’Ashea Myles for a show cause hearing on Monday.

Myles issued the order after The Star published dozens of articles reporting on writings from a journal recovered from Covenant School mass shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale.

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Tennessee Officials React to Hunter Biden’s Guilty Verdict

Peter D'Abrosca
Hunter Biden

Some of Tennessee’s federal lawmakers Tuesday reacted to the news that Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, was convicted on felony gun charges.

The younger Biden was found guilty of making a false statement in the purchase of a gun, making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federally licensed gun dealer, and possession of a gun by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance in a federal court in Wilmington, Delaware. 

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FBI Asking for Help Identifying More Victims of Alleged Tennessee Child Exploiter

Peter D'Abrosca
James C. Thompson

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says it needs help locating other potential victims of a serial child exploiter from east Tennessee. 

Last week, a federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a three-count indictment against James Thompson, 71, of Lookout Mountain. The indictment alleges that Thompson transported minors across state lines with the intent of engaging in sexual activity back in 2000. 

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Maryville College Refuses to Hold Blount County Pride Event

Peter D'Abrosca

A gay pride group in Blount County said on its Facebook page that it was denied rental space at Maryville College to host an event during “Pride Month.”

“In hopes of replicating the joy and success of our 2023 event at Clayton Center for the Arts, we once again submitted an application to Maryville College for Blount Pride 2024,” Blount Pride said. “Our application was considered for several months, after which we were asked to exclude drag from the festival. We asked the college several questions, including asking them to define drag performance. They did not answer our questions, but instead, two weeks later, denied our application.”

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UT Knoxville Advisory Board Votes to Increase Tuition, Asks for Public Guidance

Peter D'Abrosca
University of Tennessee, Knoxville Students

The University of Tennessee – Knoxville’s Campus Advisory Board has voted to increase tuition by 2 percent for for in-state students and 4 percent for out-of-state students, the school announced.

“A combination of enrollment growth and state support has allowed us to keep tuition flat for five of the last six years. The costs for delivering high-quality academic programs, however, have continued to rise in that time,” said Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Allen Bolton. “We have worked hard to keep tuition increases as small as possible while still ensuring we can give students the Volunteer experience they expect.”

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Sen. Blackburn to Join Bipartisan Coalition of Colleagues in Visiting Normandy on D-Day

Peter D'Abrosca
Marsha Blackburn

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) will join a bipartisan coalition of her colleagues visiting Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of when United States troops stormed the shores and entered the European theatre of World War II.

“On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we will honor the brave Allied and American fighters who stormed the beaches of Normandy in the name of freedom around the world. We will never forget the sacrifices of the Greatest Generation, and I look forward to standing alongside my colleagues and world leaders as we pay tribute on this anniversary,” Blackburn said in a release. 

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TBI Arrests 11 Convicted Felons for Allegedly Illegally Voting

Peter D'Abrosca
Arrest

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced the arrests of 11 convicted felons for voting in local elections in 2020 and 2022, and said that four deceased felons also voted in those elections. 

“In late January, at the request of 18th Judicial District Attorney General Ray Whitley, TBI agents began investigating reports of 15 convicted felons unlawfully voting in various Sumner County elections between 2020 and 2022,” according to a TBI press release. “Agents determined four of the felons were deceased prior to the investigation. Agents investigated the remaining 11 individuals, determining all had been convicted of at least one felony and registered to vote in Sumner County after their convictions, completing documents that included language regarding not having been convicted of a felony.”

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Tennessee ‘Furries’ Will Have Float in Nashville Pride Parade

Peter D'Abrosca
People dressed up in furry suits

A group of Tennessee furries will have a float in Nashville’s 2024 gay pride parade. 

“Wowie! We’re so proud to be doing this again! If you guys remember from last year, we made international news and were seen by Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States! Pretty dang cool, huh?” said a group called MurfreesFurs on its website. “Well, now EVERY FURRY GROUP IN TENNESSEE is joining us! We are sponsoring and paying for everyone to get involved with us in unity, and we can’t wait to see the fandom united under a beautiful cause! Each furry group is going to get together in decorating and building the float with their own designs, and then we march or ride in the parade!”

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Nashville Market Closed by Court Order Due to Rampant Crime

Peter D'Abrosca
Star Market Padlocked over Crime Concerns

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) announced Monday morging that it shuttered a market in North Nashville due to excessive violence. 

“MNPD officers & detectives now are raiding & padlocking Star Market, 1613 Buchanan St, after a prolonged disruption of quality of life in this area (drug deals, gunshots, fighting, drunkenness). This is a court ordered action under TN’s public nuisance law,” MNPD said on its X account. 

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Three Tennessee Cities Among Top 20 Places Most Americans are Moving to, Report Says

Peter D'Abrosca

A report from POD, the moving and storage company, says that three cities in Tennessee are among the top 20 in America where people are moving. 

“We’re seeing more people move to the Southern Appalachian region, which includes states like North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama,” the report said. “Tennessee tied with Florida for the third most popular state for new moves.”

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Tennessee Politicians, Others Celebrate Pride Month

Peter D'Abrosca
LBGTQ supporters

On the first day of June, politicians, political organizations and private companies took to X, formerly Twitter, to celebrate gay pride month. 

“Happy Pride, everyone!” said disgraced former Nashville mayor turned congressional candidate Megan Barry. “I proudly stand with the LGBTQ+ community. Let’s celebrate love, diversity, and equality for all. Together, we can build a Tennessee where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.”

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Exclusive: Sen. Blackburn Discusses State of Economy with Former Trump Advisor

Peter D'Abrosca
Stephen Moore Marsha Blackburn

In a yet-to-be-released episode of her podcast Unmuted, Sen. Marsha Blackburn spoke with former President Donald J. Trump’s economic advisor, Stephen Moore, about the state of the economy, which the senator said is in much worse shape than the Biden administration’s official numbers.

“[R]ight now, Tennesseans are spending about $1,000 a month more than they were spending in 2020 during President Trump’s time,” Blackburn said before introducing Moore. “And repeatedly, I hear these questions. How are they arriving at these inflation numbers when they tell us it’s really not that bad? And we go to the grocery store in the gas pump and go by the clothing store, and prices are through the roof.”

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‘Chattanooga Youth Pride’ to Host Drag Shows at Seed Theatre

Peter D'Abrosca

To kick off Pride Month on June 1, a group called “Chattanooga Youth Pride” will host drag shows for children at the Seed Theatre in the Scenic City.

“The highlight of the event, there’s a stage set up for live performances by talented LGBTQ+ youth artists, including singers, dancers, poets, and drag performers,” says an online invite to the event. “The performances showcase the diversity and creativity of the community, while spreading messages of love, acceptance, and pride.”

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Gov. Lee Signs Abortion Trafficking Bill into Law

Peter D'Abrosca
Bill Lee

Gov. Bill Lee (R) on Tuesday signed a bill into law that will penalize adults who take minors across state lines to obtain abortions or sex change surgeries. 

HB 1895 “creates the criminal offense of abortion trafficking of a minor; provides for a civil action against a person committing the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor for the wrongful death of an unborn child that was aborted.”

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Billionaire-Funded Media Matters Lays Off Staff

Peter D'Abrosca

A far-left media organization, initially funded by billionaire George Soros and known for labeling conservatives as “racists,” has laid off several of its staff members. 

“We’re confronting a legal assault on multiple fronts and given how rapidly the media landscape is shifting, we need to be extremely intentional about how we allocate resources in order to stay effective,” said Media Matters president Angelo Carusone. Nobody does what Media Matters does. So, we’re taking this action now to ensure that we are sustainable, sturdy and successful for whatever lies ahead.”

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Tennessee Senators Introduce Bill to Force Biden to Follow Immigration Law

Peter D'Abrosca
Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty

Two U.S. Senators have filed a bill to require President Joe Biden’s administration to follow current immigration law. 

Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) along with counterparts from other states introduced the Reshape Alternatives to Detention (ATD) Act, which is designed to monitor potentially dangerous of illegal aliens with a GPS ankle bracelet. 

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Vanderbilt Poll: Tennessee’s ‘MAGA Republicans’ More Pro-Life than State’s Other Republicans

Peter D'Abrosca
Trump Supporters

A Vanderbilt University poll that measured Tennesseans’ sentiments on abortion among other political issues found that Republicans who identify more closely with former President Donald Trump are more pro-life than Republicans who do not. 

Vanderbilt Poll Co-Director Josh Clinton explained the distinction between what the pollsters term “MAGA Republicans” and other Republicans. 

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School Bullies Could Be Punished with Misdemeanor Under New Tennessee Law

Peter D'Abrosca
School Bully

A new law that will take effect on July 1 could put school bullies behind bars.

HB 2590, which was sponsored by State Representative Lowell Russell (R-Vonore), “makes bullying and cyber-bullying offenses subject to the same penalties as harassment; requires an officer to make a report of bullying and notify a parent or guardian when victim is a minor,” according to its summary. 

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TBI’s ‘Operation Protecting Tomorrow’ Nets 12 Arrests of Child Predators

Peter D'Abrosca
TBI Dir. David Rausch

A three month operation organized by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and executed with the help of nearly 20 local, state, and federal law enforcement partners has resulted in the arrests of 12 people on child sex crime charges. 

The operation, dubbed “Operation Protecting Tomorrow,” was designed to “identify and locate children who were victims of sextortion and online sexual exploitation, along with identifying and arresting individuals who aim to harm children online,” according to TBI.

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Memphis Men Plead Guilty in String of Arsons on Tax Service Businesses

Peter D'Abrosca
Two Memphis Men Plead Guilty to Arson

Two Memphis men have pleaded guilty to committing arson at three tax service businesses, according to the United State’s Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

“Dantoni Colbert, 35, and Edward Matthews, Jr., 33, pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit arson, and arson of three separate tax service businesses,” says a release from United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz’s office. “According to the information presented in court, on February 6 and 7, 2023, Colbert and Matthews conspired to set fire to three different buildings that were occupied by Washington Tax Services in the Memphis area.”

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Exclusive: Senator Blackburn Releases Guide on ‘True Cost of Bidenflation’

Peter D'Abrosca
Marsha Blackburn

While the Biden administration claims that the U.S. inflation rate is only 3.4 percent, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)  released a guide disputing that figure, with evidence showing that Americans are suffering far more than the administration is letting on.

“Inflation is a top concern for Tennesseans and Americans,” says a guide called “The True Cost of Bidenflation. “Under the Biden administration, inflation has hit its highest rate in 41 years, and prices across the board are up nearly 20%. Meanwhile, the administration touts that inflation is ‘only’ at 3.4%.

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MNPD Asks for Public’s Help in Solving Decades-Old Cold Case

Peter D'Abrosca
Ricky Rydell Young

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) is asking for the public’s help in solving a decades-old cold case. 

“Do you know what happened to Ricky Rydell Young, 36?” asked a Thursday post on MNPD’s Facebook page. “On May 14, 1998, A resident on Greenwood Avenue in East Nashville was walking his dog when he discovered Ricky suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest in a nearby driveway. There were no witnesses to his murder. Someone knows what happened to Ricky Young.”

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