Author: Peter D'Abrosca

Forbes Ranks Tennessee 11th in Country for Porch Piracy

Peter D'Abrosca
Packages

A new Forbes study ranks Tennessee the 11th worst state in the country when it comes to porch piracy, stealing packages delivered to homes before the homeowner receives them. 

“Porch piracy peaked during the pandemic when more people shopped online than ever before, according to Security.org’s annual package theft report,” according to Forbes. “Theft of parcels in general tends to increase during the holiday season as well. As online shopping continues to be on the rise, so do incidences of porch piracy.”

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Tennessee National Guardsmen in Bulgaria Training with NATO Allies

Peter D'Abrosca
TN National Guard

Several Tennessee National Guard members headed to Bulgaria this week for joint training with NATO allies.

“Nearly 20 Soldiers from Athens’ 117th Military Police Battalion and Murfreesboro’s 269th Military Police Company joined more than 140 military policemen from five different allied nations today for the opening ceremony of Beyond Horizon 2024, a multi-national training exercise held at Bulgaria’s Novo Selo Training Site, May 14-22,” according to the Tennessee Department of Military.

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RFK Jr. to Hold Campaign Event with Comedians in Nashville

Peter D'Abrosca
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Independent running for president, will hold a campaign event with big-name comedians on Wednesday night in Nashville.

“Laughter is the best medicine. Get a heaping dose and help heal America with humor at a ‘Night of Comedy’ with future President Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and future Vice President Nicole Shanahan,” said a flyer for the event.

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Former Memphis Police Officer Now Faces Federal Charges in Alleged Murder

Peter D'Abrosca
Patric Ferguson

A former Memphis Police officer who was charged in 2021 with kidnapping and murdering a man has now been charged at the federal level. 

“A federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee, returned an eight-count indictment today charging former Memphis Police Officer Patric J. Ferguson with federal civil rights, kidnapping and weapons offenses in connection with the fatal shooting of a victim identified as R.H.,” according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). “The indictment also charges Ferguson and a civilian, Joshua M. Rogers, with federal offenses for conspiring to cover up the fatal shooting and destroying evidence of the crimes. The indictment further charges Rogers with accessory after the fact for helping Ferguson cover up his crimes.”

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Pope Francis Appoints Tennessee Native as Bishop of Knoxville

Peter D'Abrosca
James Mark Beckman

Pope Francis has appointed a priest who is a native of Tennessee to become the next Bishop of Knoxville.

“Pope Francis has appointed Reverend James Mark Beckman, as Bishop of Knoxville,” according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). “Bishop-elect Beckman is a priest of the Diocese of Nashville, and currently serves as pastor of Saint Henry parish in Nashville, Tennessee. The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on May 7, 2024, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.”

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Blended Sentencing Law Passed by Tennessee General Assembly Awaits Governor Lee’s Signature

Peter D'Abrosca
Inmate

A law ensuring that Tennessee’s worst juvenile offenders do not walk free upon becoming adults is awaiting the signature of Gov. Bill Lee (R).

HB 043o, passed at the end of the most recent legislative session, “allows a juvenile court to impose a blended sentence on a child 16 years of age or older for a juvenile offense that would be a Class A, B, or C felony if committed by an adult.”

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Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Busts Five for Jail Smuggling Operation

Peter D'Abrosca
Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) said in a statement that it has arrested five people for their involvement in a drug smuggling operation into the Hamilton County Jail. 

“This operation, uncovered through a comprehensive investigation revealed a conspiracy responsible for smuggling illegal contraband into the jail,” HCSO said. “The items seized included 12 wrapped bundles of suspected blue Fentanyl, 6 Suboxone strips, 35 strips of Toon Paper (papers laced with THC), some blue powder suspected to be Fentanyl, and approximately 20 blue Fentanyl pills.”

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Leaders at College in Tennessee Cave to Demands of Pro-Palestine Protestors

Peter D'Abrosca
Dr. Robert Pearigen

Leaders at the University of the South reportedly caved to the demands of pro-Palestinian protestors who were occupying the All Saints’ Chapel on the school’s campus. 

Among other things, the protestors demanded full disclosure of how the school spends its $400,000 endowment, and that the school cut ties with any organizations that makes weapons used against Palestinians. 

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Rideshare Drivers Strike in Nashville, Other Major Cities

Peter D'Abrosca
Ride Share Driver

Rideshare application drivers in Nashville and around the country were on strike Wednesday.

“Uber, Lyft, and delivery drivers are DONE with being pushed around by app companies. We’re sick of working 80 hours/week just to make ends meet, being constantly scared for our safety, and worrying about being deactivated with the click of a button,” a group called Justice for App Workers said on its website. “Rideshare drivers and delivery workers will be striking ALL DAY and telling the app companies that WE ARE UNITED and deserve fair pay and deactivation protections.”

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Tennessee Firearms Association Sues ATF over Private Gun Sale Rule

Peter D'Abrosca
Hunting

The Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA) is joining a lawsuit with several states and pro-Second Amendment groups against the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which says that the ATF far too broadly interpreting a new law passed by Congress regarding private gun sales.

The lawsuit stems from the definition of the term “‘Engaged in the Business’ as a Dealer in Firearms,” and claims that the ATF is angling to make citizens who sell even one firearm privately subject to licensure that large firearms sellers must obtain, according to a release from TFA.

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Rep. Elise Stefanik Files Ethics Complaint Against Special Counsel Jack Smith

Peter D'Abrosca
Elise Stefanik Jack Smith

A U.S. congresswoman filed an ethics complaint against the special prosecutor in a criminal case against former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee for the same position.

Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) said in a statement on X that special counsel Jack Smith, who is prosecuting Trump for allegedly keeping classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, is interfering with the 2024 election process by attempting to speed up Trump’s criminal trial.

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Tennessee Celebrates Small Business Appreciation Week

Peter D'Abrosca

Gov. Bill Lee (R) has officially proclaimed April 28 to May 4 as Small Business Appreciation Week in Tennessee. 

Noting that small businesses are “the backbone of Tennessee’s economy, comprising a significant portion of the State’s employment including nearly half of private-sector workforce,” and that “supporting small business owners in Tennessee strengthens the State’s resilience against economic downturns and promotes sustainable economic development,” Lee released the official proclamation on the state’s website. 

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Sen. Blackburn Demands Answers from Food Delivery Apps on Illegal Alien Delivery Drivers

Peter D'Abrosca
Sen. Marsha Blackburn

A U.S. Senator from Tennessee is demanding answers from food delivery applications like DoorDash, UberEats and GrubHub, who have allegedly allowed illegal alien drivers to use their platforms. 

“The danger to Americans—and specifically consumers using your services—is real. These illegal immigrants are delivering food directly to consumers’ doors without ever having undergone a background check and often without even using their real names,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) wrote in a letter to GrubHub CEO Howard Migdal last week. “Deliveries routinely occur late into the night, compounding the dangerous situation, and—if the unimaginable happened—there would be little to no way to track the immigrant or bring them to justice.”

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U.S. Marshals Offer Reward Money for Arrest of Killers in Mass Shooting at Memphis Park

Peter D'Abrosca
Memphis Block Party

The U.S. Marshals Service in Memphis is now offering a reward for information leading to the arrests of suspects involved in a deadly mass shooting at a Memphis park last weekend. 

“The U.S. Marshals Service is currently offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of the individuals responsible for the deadly shooting in Orange Mound,” the law enforcement entity said in a press release. 

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TBI Teams Up with Knox County Forensic Center to Identify John Doe Killed in Decades Old Hit-and-Run Case

Peter D'Abrosca
TBI Building

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) in conjunction with the Knox County Forensic Center, have identified a man who was killed in a hit-and-run crash more than three decades ago. 

“On May 24, 1993, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle along Cedar Bluff Road in Knoxville,” TBI said in a press release. “The adult male, who had no identification on him, was pronounced deceased at the scene, and his body was sent for an autopsy.”

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Senators Blackburn and Hagerty Among Few to Vote Against Ukraine Funding Bill

Peter D'Abrosca
Marsha Blackburn Bill Hagerty

Tennessee’s two U.S. senators were among only a handful who voted against a bill that will send nearly $100 billion to foreign nations.

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) both voted against the Senate’s version of H.R. 815, a bill that was initially meant to help veterans receive more healthcare reimbursements but quickly ballooned into a funding package mainly for the country of Ukraine.

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Biden to Commute Sentences of Tennessee Drug Dealers

Peter D'Abrosca
Joe Biden

The White House Wednesday announced commutations for five major drug dealers, three of whom are Tennessee residents.

Daequon Charles Davis of Johnson City was convicted of conspiracy to distribute or to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine and was serving an almost 22-year sentence with a subsequent 10 years of supervised release, which began in 2017. Biden commuted for a period of 10 years, leaving intact 10 years of supervised release.

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Six Election Integrity Bills Signed Into Law or Awaiting Signature from Gov. Lee

Peter D'Abrosca
Tim Rudd

One member of the Tennessee General Assembly has been fighting for election integrity during the current legislative session, passing six bills that have either been signed into law or are ready for a signature from Gov. Bill Lee (R).

State Representative Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro) has successfully passed a half a dozen laws aimed at securing Tennessee’s election process. 

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Alleged Murderer in Killing of Rapper in Nashville Was Out on Bond in Another Murder Case

Peter D'Abrosca
Adrian Cameron

The man who allegedly shot and killed rapper Christopher Cheeks, who went by the stage name Chris King, in Nashville early Saturday morning was out on bond for another alleged murder that took place in September of 2021. 

Cheeks was shot and killed after an altercation with a group of men who attempted to rob him, according to a press release from the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). 

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Eight Months Later, FBI Won’t Provide Details on Raid That Killed Tennessee Man Theodore Deschler

Peter D'Abrosca
Theodore Deschler

More than eight months after a raid that left a Henderson man dead, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) won’t disclose details about the case, while the local police department says they weren’t made aware of the raid until after it happened.

 FBI agents shot and killed Theodore Deschler at his mother’s home where he lived in August of last year.

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Rep. Burchett: ‘We Could Have Built the Wall’ Instead of Funding Ukraine

Peter D'Abrosca
Tim Burchett Border Wall

A Congressman from Tennessee took to NewsMax to ensure Americans that he won’t vote to continue sending taxpayer dollars to Ukraine, and noted that many domestic problems could have been solved with the money Congress has already allocated to the country. 

“Of course I’m not going to vote for any more funding for Ukraine,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) said in a segment on the news station Monday. “$116 billion dollars? We could have built the wall, I believe six times. We could have fixed the Flint, Michigan lead situation a dozen times, probably. We could give every homeless veteran a million dollars in this country with the money we’ve spent on Ukraine.”

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Tennessee Bill Protects Property Owners from Squatters

Peter D'Abrosca
Tim Rudd

A new law passed by the General Assembly protects Tennessee property owners from squatters, which has become a hot topic of debate around the country as the practice becomes more prevalent.

“Home ownership is the American dream for many, the foundation for building wealth and raising a family,” State Representative Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro) said in a press release after the passage of HB 1259. “This is proactive legislation that protects property owners but also deters bad actors who have learned to exploit the law and terrorize homeowners. This creates a streamlined process for Tennesseans to quickly take back control over what is rightfully theirs.”

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Rep. Burchett: ‘FISA Needs to Die’

Peter D'Abrosca
Tim Burchett

A U.S. Congressman from Tennessee had some strong words after he joined 19 of his Republican counterparts in voting against the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) on Wednesday.

“FISA, of course, is what they use to spy, literally, on America citizens,” said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) in a video posted to his X account. “So what happens, very literally, say you have somebody working on your house, on your roof, what have you, [who is] not an American citizen, and then they contact you on their cell phone and basically because of that [the U.S. government] can follow you or investigate you or what have you, without a search warrant. And when I was told by the State Department that in fact it was problematic to have search warrants on these cases, they obviously have a problem with our Constitution. So, tough day for democracy today folks. And FISA needs to die.”

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‘Family Friendly’ Furry Convention to Be Held This Weekend in Tennessee State Park

Peter D'Abrosca
Woods Flock

Members of the “furry” community will host what they describe as a family friendly convention in a Tennessee state park beginning Friday and ending Saturday. 

“If you enjoy spending time in nature AND the furry fandom, this is the trip for you! Woods Flock is a a community that holds our annual Spring mini-con at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee (USA),” says an event invitation by a group called Woods Flock. “Participants will have a plethora of outdoor, crafty, and fun activities to choose from during their stay at our family-friendly camp.”

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Multi-Agency Effort Leads to Arrest of Jail Escapees

Peter D'Abrosca
Lincoln County Escapees Walter Allen Sr. and Christopher Meeks Captured

A search by multiple law enforcement entities ended in the capture of two jail escapees who were on the run over the weekend. 

“Sheriff Joyce McConnell would like to thank her staff for the long hours that they put in for capturing the two escapees,” said a Sunday Facebook post from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department. “Sheriff McConnell would also like to thank Ruthford [sic] County Sheriff’s Department, Fayetteville Police Department, and Tennessee Highway Patrol for their help with the capture of the two escapees!! Great job to all agencies!!”

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Domestic Violence Offender Registry Bill Moving Through Tennessee House

Peter D'Abrosca
Sabi Kumar Talking

A bill that would create a domestic violence offender registry is moving through the Tennessee House of Representatives. 

“This bill creates within the Tennessee bureau of Investigation (TBI) a registry of persons who have been convicted of the offense of domestic assault. The TBI must maintain this registry based upon information supplied to TBI by the court clerks pursuant to this bill, and information available to the TBI from the department of correction and local law enforcement agencies. The TBI must make the registry available for public inquiry on the internet,” according to the summary of HB 2898.

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Vanderbilt Confirms It is Considering Building New Campus in Florida

Peter D'Abrosca
Stephen Ross Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt University confirmed to The Tennessee Star on Wednesday that it is considering building a new campus in Florida.

“We are assessing an opportunity to expand Vanderbilt graduate programs in business and computing in South Florida,” Vanderbilt’s Senior Media Relations Specialist Julia Jordan told The Star. “We will share details as they become available.”

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Man Who Killed Blount County Deputy, Wounded Another, Indicted on First Degree Murder Charges

Peter D'Abrosca
Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr.

The man accused of killing a Blount County Sheriff’s deputy has been indicted on first-degree murder charges, according to Tuesday reports.

Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr., who allegedly killed 43-year-old Deputy Greg McGowan and injured 22-year-old Deputy Shelby Eggers during a traffic stop in February, led authorities on a days-long manhunt before he was captured on February 13.

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Tennessee Bill Would Add Fetal Development Video to Public School Curriculum

Peter D'Abrosca
Screenshot "My Name is Olivia"

A bill in the Tennessee General Assembly that already passed the Senate would, in part, require students to view a fetal development video as part of their sex education or human development curriculum.

SB 2767 requires the state’s education commissioner to submit a report of the disposition of each complaint filed by a parent or legal guardian against any school district to the General Assembly. The General Assembly’s goal is to ensure that school boards are held accountable for investigating complaints made by parents. 

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TBI Honors Legendary Special Agent Who Was ‘Addicted to Danger’ After He Passed Away Last Week

Peter D'Abrosca
TBI Special Agent Maxey Gilleland

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Monday honored a special agent who was once described as being “addicted to danger,” after he passed away last week.

Special Agent Maxey Gilleland served the agency and the people of Tennessee for 31 years, until he retired in 2004. At age 19, before joining TBI, he entered the Marine Corps and was sent to fight in the Vietnam War. There, according to TBI, he earned several Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and the Navy Cross.

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Tennessee General Assembly Passes Landmark Bill Against De-Banking

Peter D'Abrosca
Bank Teller

The Tennesse General Assembly passed a bill prohibiting banks from de-banking and closing consumer accounts based on “social credit score” systems.

SB 2148 “prohibits financial institutions and insurers from denying or canceling services to a person, or otherwise discriminating against a person, based upon the use of a social credit score or other factors,” according to the bill’s summary.

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‘Non-Partisan’ Anti-Gun Group Forms Human Chain Around Nashville Children’s Hospital on Year Anniversary of Covenant Shooting

Peter D'Abrosca
Safer TN Event

A “non-partisan” political activism group that calls for gun control held a rally in Nashville Wednesday night on the year anniversary of the mass shooting at The Covenant School.

“Together, we will wear red and link arms as we mark the anniversary of one of our community’s darkest days and honor the memory of the hundreds of Tennessee lives lost to preventable firearm tragedies over the last year,” Voices for a Safer Tennessee said on its website. “Our goal is to form a chain of 13,000 people from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt through Centennial Park and up Charlotte Avenue to our state capitol.”

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Tennessee Department of Agriculture Requiring Burn Permits Through May

Peter D'Abrosca
Controlled Burn

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division is reminding Tennesseans that burn permits are required through the middle of May. 

“Fire prevention starts with each of us practicing safe burning and only burning when it’s safe. The burn permit process communicates to residents the safe locations and times for open burning,” State Forester Heather Slayton said in press release. “During hazardous fire conditions like high winds or extreme drought, permit issuance pauses temporarily until safe conditions return. Our aim is to safeguard Tennessee’s people, communities, and natural resources. Together, we can conserve our state’s beauty and prevent wildland fires.”

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TDOT Will Halt Construction for Easter Weekend

Peter D'Abrosca
Road construction

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will halt interstate construction beginning Thursday as travelers head to their Easter destinations. 

“TDOT crews and contractors will stop all road construction work that requires lane closures beginning Thursday, March 28, at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 1 at 6:00 a.m.,” a release from the department says. “This will provide maximum roadway capacity to motorists expected to travel across the state this upcoming holiday weekend.”

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Illegal Alien, Alleged Child Rapist Charged with Federal Crimes

Peter D'Abrosca
Camilo Hurtado Campos

A former Franklin youth soccer coach has been indicted on child sex crimes and immigration crimes, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“The indictment, returned yesterday by a federal grand jury, charges Camilo Campos-Hurtado, 63, with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of receiving visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, one count of using or possessing fraudulent immigration documents, and one count of possessing an identification document or authentication feature which was stolen or produced without lawful authority,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee said in a March 21 press release. 

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