Author: Peter D'Abrosca

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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Biden Administration ‘Paroled’ More Illegal Aliens than Issued Visas to Legal Immigrants

Peter D'Abrosca
Intake of Illegal Border Crossers

According to report from the Federation on American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the President Joe Biden’s administration paroled more illegal aliens into the United States during the first nine months of Fiscal Year 2023 than it accepted legal immigrants through visa programs. 

Parole for illegal aliens entails a government acknowledgement that a person is present in the country illegally, but that they have permission to stay here for various reasons. 

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Tennessee Joins Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple for Smartphone Monopolization

Peter D'Abrosca
IPhone User

Tennessee has joined a multi-state antitrust lawsuit against Apple, which claims that the Silicon Valley company is monopolizing the smartphone market.

“Apple, the most valuable company in the world, stifled competition in the smartphone market at the expense of consumers,” said Tennessee Attorney General Skrmetti in a press release. “When companies win by innovating, consumers benefit. When companies win by kneecapping their competition, consumers suffer.”

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Chattanooga Volkswagen Employees File Petition for Vote to Join United Auto Workers Union

Peter D'Abrosca
Volkswagen Chattanooga

Volkswagen employees at a plant in Chattanooga have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold a vote on whether workers will join the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. 

“The milestone marks the first non-union auto plant to file for a union election among the dozens of auto plants where workers have been organizing in recent months,” UAW said in a press release. “The grassroots effort sprang up in the wake of the record victories for Big Three autoworkers in the UAW’s historic Stand Up Strike win.”

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Tennessee House Bill Would Increase Penalties for Illegal Alien Crime

Peter D'Abrosca
Monty Fritts

A bill in the Tennessee House of Representatives would trigger harsher penalties for violent crimes if the person convicted of those crimes is an illegal alien.

HB 1872 “authorizes the enhancement of criminal penalties up to life in prison without parole upon conviction of violent crimes by illegal aliens; conviction of possession of a firearm or deadly weapon by an illegal alien; or conviction of a violent crime on the property of a school by any person.”

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Sen. Brent Taylor Continues Fight Against Memphis Crime with Two New Bills

Peter D'Abrosca
State Senator Brent Taylor

The Tennessee State Senate on Monday passed two bills sponsored by State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) that focused on his continued efforts to fight crime in Memphis.

SB 2659, called the Juvenile Organized Retail Theft Act (JORTA), according to the General Assembly’s website, is a bill that “allows a juvenile court to transfer a child 15 years of age or older to be tried as an adult in criminal court for the offense of organized retail crime, theft of a firearm, or an attempt to commit such offense.”

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East Tennessee Schools Sue Major Social Media Companies

Peter D'Abrosca
Kids on tablets

More than 30 school districts in East Tennessee have joined a lawsuit first filed by Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) against social media companies, claiming that those companies are harming children.

According to WBIR, Knox, Anderson, Blount, Claiborne, Fentress, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Lenoir City, Loudon, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Oneida, and Sevier counties have joined the suit, which names eta, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Google, YouTube and WhatsApp as defendants.

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Lawmakers React to Arrests of Illegal Aliens in ‘Multinational’ Human Trafficking Ring

Peter D'Abrosca
Senator Marsha Blackburn, State Rep. Gino Bulso

Tennessee lawmakers are reacting to Monday’s Tennessee Star report that two illegal aliens living in Tennessee have been arrested in what the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) calls an ongoing criminal investigation into a multinational human sex trafficking ring. 

“Two illegal aliens caught & arrested in Tennessee have been linked to a multinational human trafficking ring,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on X. “Under Joe Biden, every town is a border town. We must close the border.”

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Exclusive: Two Individuals Arrested in Connection with ‘Multinational’ Human Trafficking Ring Are Illegal Aliens

Peter D'Abrosca
Yilibeth Rivero De Caldera

Two men arrested in connection with a “multinational criminal organization linked to human trafficking” are illegal aliens, The Tennessee Star has learned. 

In the fall of 2023, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Human Trafficking Unit arrested Yilibeth Rivero De Caldera on nine counts of Trafficking for a Commercial Sex Act. His victims, the agency said, were Central and South American female migrants who were forced into sex slavery to pay off debts owed to Rivero De Caldera in exchange for Rivero De Caldera smuggling them into the United States. 

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Tennessee House Passes Bill Requiring Law Enforcement to Notify Federal Agencies of Illegal Alien Arrests

Peter D'Abrosca
ICE Arrest

After a short debate, a bill requiring law enforcement to follow standard procedure and notify relevant federal law enforcement entities of illegal alien arrests has passed the Tennessee House.

HB 2124 “requires, rather than authorizes, law enforcement agencies to communicate with the appropriate federal official regarding the immigration status of any individual, including reporting knowledge that a particular alien is not lawfully present in the United States or otherwise cooperate with the appropriate federal official in the identification, apprehension, detention, or removal of aliens not lawfully present in the United States.”

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Virginia Home to More than 650 New Afghan Refugees

Peter D'Abrosca
Afghanistan People

Virginia has taken in more than 650 refugees from Afghanistan in the past five months as that nation continues to reel after President Joe Biden’s 2021 withdrawal of American troops.

According to a report on refugee resettlement from October 2023 through February, 655 Afghanis now call Virginia home. That is the most of any country of origin for the 1,295 refugees recently resettled in Virginia.

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Congo, Syria, Burma, and Afghanistan Top List of Countries Represented Among Georgia Refugee Intake

Peter D'Abrosca
Congo Refugees

According to a report on refugee resettlement, more refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo have been resettled in Georgia than from any other country since October of last year, following a trend among other states. 

According to the report, of the 1,469 refugees resettled in Georgia over the past five months, 267 have come from the Central African country that is both war-torn and one of the poorest in the world. 

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CDC Silent After Measles Outbreak Linked to Chicago Migrant Shelter

Peter D'Abrosca

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tight-lipped after a Tuesday CNN report linked a measles outbreak to a migrant shelter in Chicago. 

“The [Chicago Department of Public Health] announced Sunday that there were two unrelated measles cases among children at a migrant shelter in a large warehouse in the city’s Pilsen neighborhood,” according to that report. “One child has recovered and is no longer infectious, the health department said. The second child is hospitalized but is in good condition.”

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Nearly 40 Percent of Ohio’s Refugee Arrivals Are from Congo

Peter D'Abrosca
Congo People

Nearly 40 percent of the refugees resettled in the state of Ohio by the federal government since October 2023 come from one of the poorest, most war-torn nations on earth.

According to a report on refugee resettlement by state, 645 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo have been resettled in Ohio over the past five months, dwarfing the number of refugees from any other country.

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MNPD Arrests Alleged Kidnapper After He Dropped His Wallet in Gas Station Parking Lot

Peter D'Abrosca

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) Tuesday announced the arrest of man with a lengthy criminal history after he left his wallet at the scene of an alleged kidnapping. 

According to an MNPD press release, convicted felon Jaymes Greer, 24, was arrested by local authorities for the kidnapping and assault of a female acquaintance after an attentive gas station employee witnessed the alleged crimes, and found that Greer had dropped his wallet in the parking lot. 

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Former Tipton County Teacher Charged with More Sex Crimes After Further Victims Identified

Peter D'Abrosca
Alissa McCommon

A former Tipton County teacher who was first charged with sex crimes in September has been hit with more criminal charges, according to Friday reports. 

“A Tipton County grand jury returned a twenty-three (23) count indictment on March 5, 2024, charging former teacher, Alissa McCommon, 38 of Covington, with multiple sexual misconduct offenses against minors,” the Covington Police Department (CPD) said on Facebook Friday. “The Covington Police Department Criminal Investigations Division detectives and intelligence analysts worked in tandem with the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office detectives and the District Attorney’s Office to present evidence collected during the seven-month joint investigation.”

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Memphis Police Officer in Stable Condition After Being Shot in Line of Duty

Peter D'Abrosca

A Memphis Police officer is in stable condition after he was shot in the line of duty early Friday morning, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).

“At 4:19 am, officers conducted a traffic stop at 240 southbound near South Parkway. During the stop, an officer notified dispatch he had been shot,” said MPD on X. “The unknown motorist fled the scene. The officer was transported to Regional One critical. This is an ongoing investigation.”

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Tennessee Bill Would Require Enforcement of Immigration Law

Peter D'Abrosca
ICE Arrest

A bill being debated in the Tennessee General Assembly would require law enforcement agencies to follow the proper protocol of reporting illegal alien arrestees to federal authorities. 

HB 2124 “requires, rather than authorizes, law enforcement agencies to communicate with the appropriate federal official regarding the immigration status of any individual, including reporting knowledge that a particular alien is not lawfully present in the United States or otherwise cooperate with the appropriate federal official in the identification, apprehension, detention, or removal of aliens not lawfully present in the United States.”

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Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Files Bill to Protect Citizens from ‘Overzealous Parking Attendants’

Peter D'Abrosca
Car Boot

Tennessee’s Senate Majority Leader this week introduced legislation to protect automobile owners from excessive vehicle booting.

“The legislation ensures owners’ vehicles are not unfairly immobilized by overzealous parking attendants,” says a press release from Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Williamson County). “To further protect vehicle owners, the bill also proposes new regulations for towing and parking.”

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Biden Supporter Taylor Swift Encourages Americans to Vote on Super Tuesday

Peter D'Abrosca

A popstar and noted supporter of President Joe Biden encouraged Americans to get out and vote on Super Tuesday, the day with the most presidential primary elections in the country. 

“Today, March 5, is the Presidential Primary in Tennessee and 16 other states and territories. I wanted to remind you guys to vote the people who most represent YOU into power,” Taylor Swift told her 282 million followers in an Instagram story. “If you haven’t already, make a plan to vote today. Whether you’re in Tennessee or somewhere else in the US, check your polling places and times at vote.org.”

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Tennessee National Guard Deploying to Southern Border

Peter D'Abrosca

Tennessee’s governor Saturday announced that more Tennessee National Guard members will be deployed to the U.S. southern border with Mexico. 

“America continues to face an unprecedented border crisis, and people across the nation are experiencing the devastating consequences of rising crime, drug trafficking and human trafficking,” said Gov. Bill Lee (R) in a press release. “Governors are working together, taking immediate action to do what the federal government won’t do, and that is secure our border. I commend Tennessee’s National Guard troops for answering this important call to service and providing critical support.”

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Gov. McMaster Declares ‘Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week’

Peter D'Abrosca
SC GOV McMaster Storm Week

South Carolina’s governor on Monday announced that this week, March 3 through March 9, is ‘Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week.’

“The South Carolina Emergency Management Division [SCEMD], the National Weather Service [NWS], and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources [SCDNR]  jointly sponsor the week to remind people that severe storms, tornadoes and flash floods are significant hazards in South Carolina and people need to take proper safety precautions,” according to a release from the office of Gov. Henry McMaster (R). 

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South Carolina Senate Debating Bill That Would Tweak Judicial Nomination Process

Peter D'Abrosca
South Carolina

The South Carolina Senate is debating a bill that would make minor changes to how judges are appointed in the Palmetto State.

Currently, the state’s General Assembly, via its Judicial Merit Selection Commission, which consists of a “group of legislators and lawyers who do extensive investigations into judicial candidates, a process that entails examining everything from their finances to their temperament to their knowledge of the law,” appoints judges from the state Supreme Court, all the way down to circuit courts.

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Criminal Investigation Underway in Death of Mitch McConnell’s Sister-in-Law

Peter D'Abrosca

A criminal investigation is underway after Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao, sister-in-law of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), was found dead in a vehicle submerged in a pond in a small Texas town near Austin.

“This incident was not a typical accident,” the Blanco County Sheriff’s Office reportedly wrote in a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday. “Although the preliminary investigation indicated this was an unfortunate accident, the Sheriff’s Office is still investigating this accident as a criminal matter until they have sufficient evidence to rule out criminal activity.”

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