A U.S. Senator from Wisconsin joined Foundations of Freedom (FOF) to discuss his reelection campaign, and a lawsuit filed against the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC).
“It makes no sense to me why the left is trying to fundamentally destroy this country, but they are,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI). “Quite honestly, I’m more tired of the anger and the division.”
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Tennessee’s governor Thursday announced another addition to the Volunteer State’s newly upgraded school safety plans.
“Tennessee has done a lot of work this year to make our schools safer,” said Gov. Bill Lee (R). “And today I want to speak directly to parents about a new tool just for them.”
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Amid historic inflation that has eaten away at Americans’ paychecks, the mayor of Shelby County is calling for Tennessee’s General Assembly to pass a law increasing the minimum wage.
“Today, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris released his administration’s recommendations for the upcoming session of the Tennessee General Assembly,” said a release from Harris’s office. “Mayor Harris’ priorities center around legislative actions that support youth and families, increase public safety, improve access to healthcare, and strengthen our democracy. One of Mayor Harris’ top legislative priorities is the adoption of a state-wide minimum wage of at least $15.”
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A U.S. Senator from Tennessee slammed President Joe Biden for his open borders policies, and contextualized the amount of illegal aliens who will cross into the United States under the Biden administration.
“With an estimated 5,500,000 illegal border crossings so far, Biden is on track over a 4-year term to allow illegal immigration in an amount nearly double the entire population of Tennessee,” Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) said Tuesday on Twitter.
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A former Memphis Police officer was sentenced to more than a decade in prison after pleading guilty to several crimes.
On January 24, 2020, former Memphis Police Officer Sam Blue 63, pled guilty to conspiracy to violate civil rights by using force, violence, and intimidation, and conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce,” said a press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ). “On October 25, 2022, United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. sentenced Blue to 144 months in federal prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.”
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A U.S. Senator from Tennessee spent much of the day Monday and Tuesday blasting President Joe Biden’s administration for its lack of interest in border security.
“At least 98 potential terrorists exploited Joe Biden’s open border in the last year. This is a dire national security crisis,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
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Instead of handing out tickets for non-working head and tail lights, Nashville will soon began using a new tactic.
“Chief John Drake this afternoon announced that motorists driving with blown headlights or taillights will now receive the gift of free professional bulb replacement through vouchers being supplied to [Metro Nashville Police Department] officers by the Lights On! program,” according to a release from the city.
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The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) is urging Tennesseeans to get rid of their unneeded prescription medications later this week.
“Whether it’s a recent surgery, dental procedure, or clearing out a home after the death of a loved one, there are so many situations where people have mass quantities of medications just sitting around. Safe and secure disposal through Take Back Day events is just about the easiest way we all can have an impact on substance use and addiction in our communities,” said TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams, LCSW. “And with deadly doses of illicit fentanyl being pressed into counterfeit pills, there’s never been a more important time to take back your medications so that young people never begin experimenting with medications they find in the home.”
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A tour that aims to teach college students about the ills of socialism will stop at the University of North Florida Wednesday.
“The national ‘Truth About Socialism’ tour, which aims to educate students on college campuses across America about the dangers of socialism ahead of the midterm elections, is coming to the University of North Florida,” according to the press release from the organizers of the event. “This event will be hosted by Turning Point USA in partnership with the Leadership Institute, and members of the press are encouraged to attend.”
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As part of a wave of new crime prevention and response strategies in Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee (R) joined Fox News to tout his new Violent Crime Intervention Fund.
“We have a crime problem in this country, there’s no doubt about it, and Tennessee hasn’t escaped that problem,” Lee told former host and former U.S. Congressman Trey Gowdy on the channel’s “Sunday Night in America.”
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As Election Day nears, a Political Action Committee (PAC) is hosting a bus tour that will stop in Franklin, Tennessee, to rally for former Maury County mayor and U.S. congressional candidate Andy Ogles, bringing with it some notable names in the world of politics.
“Truth and Courage PAC #TakeBackAmericaBusTour is hitting the road to educate and equip conservatives all across the country,” according to a media advisory from that group. “Join us to hear directly from national and local leaders who are taking the charge to save our great nation. Midterm elections are around the corner and so is the TAKE BACK AMERICA Bus Tour, bringing the red wave to you! The opportunity to win back America is now.”
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The head of Tennessee’s Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has been tapped to lead the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), according to the Tennessee Department of Military, TEMA’s parent agency.
“Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) Director Patrick Sheehan was named president of the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), for a one-year term leading the professional organization of emergency managers,” according to a press release.
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According to recent reports, the Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS)’ Chief of Human Resources is investigation by the school district, though the school district has not released an official reason for that investigation.
Dr. Yolanda Martin is the subject of the current scrutiny.
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Unemployment remained near record lows in Tennessee during September, according to new data released this week.
“The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September came in at 3.4% and is just 0.2 of a percentage point away from Tennessee’s all-time low rate of 3.2%,” according to a press release from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
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An anti-child mutilation protest of an estimated 1,000 people held on Friday afternoon in Nashville that featured a long list of Republican speakers and child rights activists also brought out a smaller group of far-left counter protesters.
“‘Gender-affirming care’ is neither affirming nor care,” says an invite to the rally. “In September, The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh unveiled an alarming report on the use of irreversible—and harmful puberty blockers, cross sex hormones, and surgeries on healthy children at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. Children should be able to trust their doctors, but are instead at the mercy of a destructive ideology led by activists.”
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A Hamilton County School Board member has fired back after a left-wing Hispanic group called for her job over comments she made regarding the explosion in growth in the school district’s Hispanic population.
“We had about 8,000 Hispanic students last school year, and at last count the number was 8,671 this year,” Rhonda Thurman told The Chattanoogan in August, sparking the controversy. “They arrive every day at schools like Howard in groups of five or more. It is mind-boggling to me the burden it puts on the schools, the teachers and the taxpayers.”
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A new documentary about the face of the COVID-19 pandemic response in the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci, received 125,000 views on its opening day Tuesday, according to a press release.
The film, called The Real Anthony Fauci, is based on a book called The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
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The Club For Growth Foundation will release a scorecard based on voting records of elected officials from 2021, the contents of which were exclusively shared with The Tennessee Star Thursday.
“The Foundation conducted a comprehensive examination of each lawmaker’s record on votes related to pro-growth policies and computed an Economic Growth Score on a scale of 0 to 100. A score of 100 indicates the highest support for pro-growth policies,” according to the scorecard provided to The Star. “The Foundation’s study examined over 4,400 floor votes and, in the end, included 20 Tennessee House votes and 20 Tennessee Senate votes.”
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A charter school representative Wednesday reacted to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission’s (TPCSC) vote to reject applications for Founders Classical Academy in Williamson and Sumner Counties.
Brian Haas works for Del Rey Education, which helps launch charter schools nationwide, and works with Founders Classical.
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A social media trend that began on the popular app TikTok is taking its toll on the streets of Memphis, according to that city’s police chief.
As auto thefts soar in Memphis, Police Chief CJ Davis reportedly said the “Kia Boys” are partly to blame.
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A left-wing Hispanic group is calling for the resignation of a member of the Hamilton County School Board after that school board member noted a vast increase in the number of Hispanic students enrolled in county schools.
“We had about 8,000 Hispanic students last school year, and at last count the number was 8,671 this year,” Peggy Thurman told The Chattanoogan in August. “They arrive every day at schools like Howard in groups of five or more. It is mind-boggling to me the burden it puts on the schools, the teachers and the taxpayers.”
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After a wave of violent crime in Memphis and questions about the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) turnaround time for rape kits, TBI in Jackson has officially opened the application period to hire forensic analysts.
“Combine your science smarts and passion to serve on our team in the Jackson Crime Laboratory! We’re looking for new forensic scientists to help us grow! The application window closes Wednesday!” TBI said on Twitter, attaching a link to the job application.
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Despite massive turnout in support of two Founders Classical Academy charter schools, the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (TPCSC) has rejected the schools’ bids to open campuses in Williamson and Sumner counties.
“I think it is clear that this school has a lot of community support,” Tess Stovall, TPCSC’s executive director reportedly said. “However, that is not the only thing that one needs for a school to be successful.”
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The executive director of Tennessee’s Public Charter Schools Commission has recommended against two new charter schools, after last month battling to stop a charter school from opening in Rutherford County and another from opening in Williamson County.
Tess Stovall reportedly agreed with the Memphis-Shelby County School Boards unanimous votes – one in April and another in July – and recommended against the opening of Binghampton Community School and Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy.
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Nashville Mayor John Cooper Monday announced that he and the city’s professional football team had reached an agreement to build a new stadium.
The Tennessee Titans will reportedly have a new stadium by 2026, replacing the current Nissan Stadium, according to Titans Wire. The deal was made after months of negotiating whether to repair the current 23-year-old stadium, or build a new one.
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Shelby County’s notoriously soft on crime District Attorney announced several new hires that he says will make his office more diverse.
I’m proud to announce that the [Shelby County District Attorney]’s office has added six new attorneys to the team: Ernest Brooks, II, Denania Galloway, Melanie Headely, Kindle Nance, and Krysa Scully will join the office as Assistant District Attorneys. Jessica Indingaro will serve as Special Assistant for Projects & Government Relations. All will start between now and mid-November,” said District Attorney Steve Mulroy on Twitter.
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A Tennessee appellate court said a public housing complex in Columbia must uphold the Second Amendment rights of its tenants.
“As a threshold matter, we recognize that Columbia Housing is a government entity acting as a landlord of the Creekside Acres residences,” Appellate Judge Frank Clement Jr. wrote in a Thursday opinion. “For this reason, the actions of Columbia Housing and the policies of Creekside Acres must conform to the [U.S.] Constitution.”
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In what has been a banner week for funding of local law enforcement in Tennessee, the Volunteer State’s governor pledged $54 million to assist law enforcement agencies in their recruiting efforts.
“To stay ahead of the nationwide spike in crime, Tennessee is taking every step to recruit, train and retain highly-qualified law enforcement officers to keep our communities safe,” said Gov. Bill Lee (R) in a Friday press release. “I commend police departments and sheriff’s offices for their continued partnership, and I’m confident these additional measures will strengthen public safety and relieve financial burdens for local law enforcement agencies.”
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The president and CEO of Chattanooga’s Chamber of Commerce, credited with spreading woke ideology during her time as the chamber’s leader, is leaving Chattanooga to take the same role in Oklahoma City.
Christy Gillenwater’s work “led to hiring a newly established Vice President of Diversity and Inclusive Growth as well as establishing the CEO Pledge for Racial Equity, a commitment by CEOs to intentionally enhance their efforts to achieve equity of opportunity within organizations and the broader Chattanooga community,” according to The Chattanoogan.
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A documentary about Dr. Anthony Fauci, the face of America’s COVID-19 lockdowns, mandates, and restrictions, is set to debut in only a few days.
“The Real Anthony Fauci, the latest film from documentary filmmaker Jeff Hays exposes the motivations behind “America’s Doctor” to issue unquestioned edicts that upended everyday life during the Covid-19 pandemic,” according to a press release. “Fauci has drawn criticism from a number of fronts. The film is based on the runaway bestselling book The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.”
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After the American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Children’s Hospital Association asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate people and organization who speak out against gender transition surgeries for minors, a U.S. Senator from Tennessee wrote to the DOJ to ensure the protection of Americans’ First Amendment rights.
“We write to express our concern with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) continued pattern of abusing its investigative authority to police the speech of Americans and stifle ongoing policy debates,” said a letter penned by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and co-signed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TN) among others.
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A late September letter from the Federal Department of Education (DOE) to the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) threatened to pull TDOE’s federal funding over what the federal government describes as failure to comply with federal assessment reporting standards in 2021.
“The assessment and accountability compliance issues are significant because they not only impact the State’s ability to provide clear and transparent information to the public about school performance, but also result in the State using information that is not comparable across schools in TDOE’s statewide accountability system,” said the letter addressed to Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Peggy Schwinn.
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The Moms for Liberty chapter in Williamson County next week will hold an event in conjunction with Parents’ Choice Tennessee to teach the county’s parents about woke left-wing curriculum in schools, according to a Tuesday release.
The event has been dubbed SEL101. SEL stands for “Social Emotional Learning.”
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The city of Nashville’s Metro Council has allocated a large sum of money to Planned Parenthood, despite the fact that the abortion organization is no longer performing those procedures in the state.
“Metro Council pulled $500,000 from city departments, including police, to send money to Planned Parenthood,” according to one report.
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After the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the Children’s Hospital Association asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate critics of transgender surgery for minors, Tennessee’s Attorney General is leading a coalition of his peers in responding.
“We, the undersigned State Attorneys General, write to express our deep concern with the recent letter you received from the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, and the Children’s Hospital Association asking you to investigate and prosecute people who question the medical establishment’s current treatment of children struggling with gender dysphoria,” says the letter penned by Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, and co-signed by 12 other attorneys general. “You cannot and should not undertake such investigations or prosecutions.”
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Tennessee’s governor Tuesday announced that the state would give local law enforcement $100 million to fight violent crime.
“As Americans face rising crime nationwide, TN is launching the $100 million Violent Crime Intervention Fund to equip local law enforcement with tools to keep every community safe,” said Gov. Bill Lee (R) on Twitter. “I invite all TN police departments & sheriff’s offices to apply today.”
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Greater Chattanooga Right to Life said it will be participating next week in a national pro-life trend.
“We, along with other pro-life people from coast to coast will take to highway overpasses during rush hour with banners bearing the simple message that ‘Abortion takes a human life,'” according to the group’s website. “This message is especially needed right now given the high stakes of the midterm election. With one election, we could lose all the ground we’ve gained this year!”
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The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) says residents should be on high alert as mail theft in the city increases.
“Due to an increase in mail theft, we suggest that if you are mailing important documents or currency, please refrain from using mail drop boxes,” said a weekend message from CPD. “Go inside the post office instead.”
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The First Lady of the United States will visit Nashville Wednesday to promote COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
According to several reports, First Lady Jill Biden will arrive in Nashville for a late morning visit to a COVID-19 vaccination site.
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Tennessee’s gas prices are once again on the rise after Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced that it would cut oil output by two million barrels per day.
Monday, a gallon of gas in the Volunteer State averaged $3.39, up from last Monday’s average of $3.19, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data collected from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) says that Tennessee ranks third in the nation in violent crimes per capita.
According to the annual FBI report, the number of violent crimes per 100,000 people in Tennessee in 2021 was 674. The only regions with higher violent crime were Arkansas, averaging 708 violent crimes per 100,000 people, and Washington, D.C. (included in the data despite not being a state) at a whopping 968 violent crimes per 100,000 people.
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The City of Jackson is listed as an official sponsor of Jackson Pride’s weekend LGBT pride celebration, which features an all-ages drag show.
“Jackson Pride is an annual event celebrating the LGBTQIA community and its allies. Hosted every fall right here in Jackson, TN, it celebrates inclusivity in a fun, family-friendly environment,” says the city’s official website.
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An amendment to Chattanooga’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget adds nearly $1 million for the city to hire nine new law enforcement officers.
According to the report, $924,019 so the city can hire two Executive Chiefs, five Majors, and three social workers from the city’s Community Health Organization.
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After more than a year of investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Justice has charged pro-life protestors, including an 87-year-old woman, with a little-known federal crime for allegedly blocking the entrance to an abortion clinic.
The incident occurred on March 5, 2021, when the ringleader of an ad hoc pro-life group called Chester Gallagher live streamed he and several other protestors blocking the entrance to the Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee.
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After a report exposed Vanderbilt University Medical Center for performing and bragging about performing gender transition surgeries for minors, and after a letter from Tennessee state legislators, the hospital has agreed to cease all such medical procedures.
“HUGE NEWS: following our report, Vanderbilt has agreed to pause all gender transition surgeries on minors,” said Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh, who first exposed the medical center. “The fight is far from over but this will save children from mutilation and abuse. An incredibly important victory. Praise God.”
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After a similar show embroiled Chattanooga Pride in controversy, Jackson Pride is set to host an all ages drag show as part of its annual pride week celebration.
“This event aims to bring the LGBTQIA+ population together, including communities within this community. Funds raised at the Jackson Pride Event will allow us to continue to expand and grow our mission of supporting diversity through awareness,” said Darren Lykes, a Jackson Pride Board Member. “We are thankful to all of the sponsors and volunteers who, without their support, we would not be able to make the event possible.”
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Tennessee’s Governor on Wednesday touted the state’s new Education Savings Account (ESA) program.
“When TN families can choose the right school for their child, that student has an even greater shot at success in life,” said Gov. Bill Lee (R) on Twitter. “That’s what our Education Savings Account program is all about. Nearly 1,000 families have applied. 350+ are already approved. And we’re just getting started.”
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A conservative non-profit in Hamilton County has launched a petition to bar anyone under 18 years old from attending a drag show.
“We the people of Tennessee sign below petitioning the legislature of our state to pass a law that requires all drag performances be for persons who have reached the age of 18 and above only,” says a petition page on the group’s website. “Children under the age of 18 shall not be permitted to attend, even if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.”
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As President Joe Biden visited Hurricane Ian devastated Ft. Myers, Florida Wednesday, Tennessee’s National Guard was in the area providing emergency assistance.
“Aircrews from the Tennessee National Guard’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion continue to help Floridians in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian,” said a press release from the Tennessee Department of Military. “Three UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from Nashville and Jackson, Tenn., are currently in Fort Myers assisting with rescue and recovery efforts.”
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A group that runs charter schools told The Tennessee Star that plans for one of the schools it represents, Founders Classical Academy of Brentwood, were misrepresented by officials of Williamson County Schools during an appeal hearing held before the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission in Brentwood on Monday.
“Much of the Williamson County Schools presentation, especially the closing, dwelled on our purported ‘inability to effectively serve students,’ based on our lack of general bus transportation (Founders provides busing for special needs and in situations where necessary, and serves more diverse populations than most districts the schools reside in, with parents being willing to drive their children, as they are in Williamson), and lack of food services,” said Brian Haas of Del Rey Education., a company that helps launch Founders Classical Academy public charter schools around the country.
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