The Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition released a lengthy statement to The Tennessee Star Tuesday afternoon after a far-left gun control group directed its supporters to protest an event where the nonprofit’s Williamson County chapter will focus on eradicating human trafficking in the Volunteer State.
Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) and State Senator Jack Johnson (pictured above, left) (R-District 27) will attend.
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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) busted seven men in connection with human trafficking, according to the agency’s website.
“Over a two-day period beginning August 4th, as part of an undercover investigation aimed at addressing human trafficking in East Tennessee, authorities placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to prostitution and commercial sex cases,” according to TBI. “The focus of the operation was to identify individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors. As a result of the operation, authorities arrested seven men.”
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State Rep. Gloria Johnson (R-Knoxville) formed an exploratory committee for her expected run for U.S. Senate, and a Nashville insider told The Tennessee Star that Johnson is expected to use the upcoming special session of the General Assembly as a bully pulpit to raise the profile of her campaign.
“I’ve been told by people in the general assembly that say that she’s officially announcing the day before session, and then she’s going to roll right into session and grandstand and make the session about her campaign,” the source told The Star, adding that Johnson is expected to “ham it up with her two buddies,” referring to Reps. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Justin Pearson (D-Knoxville).
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One of three Memphis men involved in a string of 2021 hotel robberies in the city was sentenced to 31 years in prison earlier this week.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, Reginald Rose, 30, of Memphis, will spend the next three decades behind bars.
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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) on Wednesday officially confirmed that the suspect in the attempted school shooting at Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the South (MHA-FYOS) is Joel Bowman and that he has been charged with several crimes stemming from the incident.
“Today, agents secured and served Bowman with warrants, charging him with one count each of Carrying Weapons on School Property, Reckless Endangerment, Criminal Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Possessing a Firearm During the Commission or Attempt to Commit a Dangerous Felony, and Assault Against a First Responder. At the time of this release, he remained hospitalized in Memphis,” TBI said in a press release.
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The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced Thursday that a $1.5 million grant program for STEM studies is now open for applications.
Teachers will be able to apply for the grants and put them to use upon distribution in January, according to a release.
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Gov. Bill Lee (R) is once again touting the benefits of becoming a law enforcement officer in Tennessee, as he attempts to recruit out-of-staters to join the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
“Law enforcement officers from across the country recognize that there’s no better place to work, live and raise a family than Tennessee,” Lee said in statement. “Over the past two years, we’ve recruited a record number of troopers to Tennessee’s ranks, and we continue to welcome men and women nationwide to join the Tennessee Highway Patrol.”
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The founder of a nonprofit that advocates for freedom of speech on the internet is sounding the alarm on government weaponization of “middleware” companies, which he said are essentially shell organizations for government censorship.
“The reason that they call it competitive middleware is because they’re trying to create a competitive industry around middleware compliance to avoid any antitrust situations that could arise,” Mike Benz, the executive director of Foundation for Freedom Online (FFO), told The Tennessee Star Tuesday.
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A man who was shot Monday by Memphis Police after discharging a firearm into the Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the South (MHA-FYOS) has been identified as a former student, according to a U.S. Congressman.
“We have recently learned that the shooter at the Margolin Hebrew Academy was himself Jewish and a former student at the school,” said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) in a statement. “I am pleased the academy had effective security and that the police acted quickly to protect students.”
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According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), gas prices across the Volunteer State have risen sharply over the past month.
As of Tuesday, the average price for a gallon of gasoline statewide is $3.43, AAA’s website says.
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As part of the Tennessee Tax Works Act, signed into law earlier this year, Tennesseans will enjoy a three month reprieve from taxes on certain items at the grocery store.
Food and food ingredients will be exempt from state taxes from Tuesday until October 31, according to the state’s website.
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Tennessee’s Democrat elected officials will embark upon a statewide bus tour to discuss gun violence, which will end at the state capitol on the first day of the August special session on gun control.
“I’m here to announce a statewide effort that we are spearheading,” said Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville), the Democrat caucus chair in a Monday morning press conference. “You know, too often we state legislators spend a great deal of time up here in the state capitol spinning our wheels about important issues. But today I’m announcing that my colleagues and I are putting some wheels on the road and heading out across the state to personally hear from and speak with Tennessee families on this important matter.”
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A U.S. Senate hopeful offered her support for a lawsuit by the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) seeking to reinstate Critical Race Theory in Tennessee schools.
“Nothing better than seeing good folks fight back on whitewashing our history!” State Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) said on Twitter. “Teachers teach facts, not feelings!
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A new Tennessee law that bans “implicit bias training” in school took effect ahead of the new school year, which begins in the second week of August for most students.
HB015 bans school administrators from forcing teachers, faculty, and staff to be trained on implicit biases, which typically involves teaching that one race is inherently biased against another simply by existing.
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The state of Tennessee launched a dashboard with data showing how the state has spent funds granted to it via the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal bailout package for states whose economies were decimated due to lockdowns during the COVID-19 panic.
The dashboard explains the parameters of the usage of the federal funds, and notes that Tennessee received almost $4 billion of taxpayer money:
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Three suspects in a brazen, broad daylight shooting murder remain unidentified days after a video of the shooting went viral online.
The video, shared widely online and viewed at least one million times, shows three men approaching a target with firearms drawn, firing bursts of rounds, and then running away.
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According to an internal memo first obtained by German-owned Politico, the conservative Club for Growth is planning to spend seven figures on Republican U.S. House incumbents who oppose House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23) during their 2024 re-election bids.
“Club for Growth Action is prepared to spend $20 million in defense of the Patriot 20, the group of members who fought to advance conservative priorities and establish a more transparent and accountable legislative process in the House during the Speaker negotiations in January,” according to the memo. “As the largest conservative political action committee, we helped elect 17 of these 20 members to Congress and are determined to make sure they have the support necessary to win their primaries and beat Democrat challengers.”
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According to multiple reports, State Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) will challenge Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) for her seat during the 2024 election cycle.
“I’m taking a serious look at the race and having conversations with folks that are hungry for better leadership in Washington,” Johnson told Politico. “Honestly, Tennesseans deserve someone who will stand up to corrupt special interests, fight for lower costs so that every family can build a good life and that’s not Marsha Blackburn.”
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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has partially cracked another cold case, this time identifying a woman whose remains were found in Cheatham County in 1985.
Michelle Lavone Inman of Nashville, born April 17, 1961, was identified by a private lab called Othram, Inc., according to a TBI release.
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A State Representative who was expelled from the General Assembly for his role in a gun control riot at the Capitol Building in Nashville will host town halls in Memphis to discuss the same topic with his constituents ahead of August’s special session of the General Assembly.
State Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) was expelled from the General Assembly in April alongside colleague State Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville). Both men led a protest-turned-riot at the State Capitol in March, just after the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville.
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After a song recently released by country music star Jason Aldean sparked controversy, local, state and federal lawmakers are weighing in.
Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town,” which has conservative undertones, has been deemed “racist” by some on the political left, has cause a firestorm for the artist.
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The Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH) will work with local leaders to support the Red Sand Project between July 25 and 31.
‘’Human trafficking is a hidden crime in our state and across the country because victims rarely come forward to receive help or services,’’ said Tennessee Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado, MD, FACP. ‘’It’s up to all of us to bring an end to the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The Red Sand Project reminds us how crucial it is for communities, both urban and rural, to engage in awareness and education activities that support survivors of human trafficking and strengthen our prevention efforts.”
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The political action arm of a left-wing nonprofit that advocates for gun control is moving into Tennessee, according to new lobbyist registration documents.
Three members of the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, Calandrian Kemp, Samuel Tolliver, and Aurora Vasquez, have registered to become lobbyists on behalf of the organization in the Volunteer State.
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U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) along with several of her U.S. House counterparts from Tennessee has penned a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding answers after an illegal alien living in Franklin allegedly raped several boys over a period of years.
“Tennesseans deserve to know why DHS permitted a criminal to live in their community for decades and abuse their children after entering the country illegally,” Blackburn told The Tennessee Star Tuesday. “It is time to secure the southern border, deport criminal illegal aliens, and ensure our communities are safe. Until we get this crisis under control, every town is a border town, and every state is a border state.”
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A new nonprofit that has set its sights on gun control in Tennessee is run by wealthy Republican and Democrat political insiders, The Tennessee Star has found.
Voices for a Safer Tennessee pitches itself as an upstart group comprised of both Democrats and Republicans that spontaneously formed in the wake of The Covenant School shooting in Nashville on March 27.
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According to the Knoxville Police Department (KPD), two people were found dead in an abandoned building at Knoxville College when the Knoxville Fire Department (KFD) was called to extinguish an unrelated fire.
“The Knoxville Police Department is investigating after two deceased individuals were found inside of a building on the Knoxville College campus Sunday morning,” KPD said on Facebook.
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An Australian company that manufactures titanium alloy is coming to Bradley County, according to a release from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD).
Amaero International Limited will build invest $54.9 million in a manufacturing, research and development (R&D) facility in Cleveland. The R&D facility will serve as the company’s global headquarters. The company will create 105 new jobs in Bradley County.
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A group that advocates for illegal aliens has endorsed Freddie O’Connell in his bid to become Nashville’s next mayor.
The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), via its political arm TIRRC Votes, endorsed the District 19 Metro Council Member on Thursday.
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Some Tennessee families will qualify for back-t0-school cash benefits from the state government, according to a Thursday release from the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS).
“The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) will provide extra support to more than 13,000 families who receive monthly cash assistance through the state’s Families First program,” according to the release. “The payment will provide extra support to Families First participants as they begin to prepare for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Households with an active case in the Families First Program as of July 1, 2023, will receive a one-time payment on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. This one-time payment will be available around July 15, 2023.”
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The Franklin soccer coach who has been charged with rape and sexual exploitation of a minor is an illegal alien, according to new reports.
WZTV reported Wednesday that Camilo Hurtado Campos was unlawfully present in the United States, and that he has been here illegally for at least 20 years.
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According to a Wednesday report, the Franklin Police Department (FPD) has identified five more victims of Camilo Hurtado Campos, the alleged child rapist whose phone, containing graphic images and videos, was found at a local restaurant in late June.
“Those are five that we did not know about,” Franklin Police Public Information Officer Lt. Charles Warner reportedly said.
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Only 19% of Americans are interested in purchasing an electric vehicle, while Tennessee makes a massive investment in a Ford plant that will produce electric vehicle batteries.
The General Assembly in 2021 passed a law to spend $884 million in order to push the Ford deal through.
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The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will host a prescription drug take-back day on July 21, which will also double as a senior citizen health fair.
“Do you have old prescription medications that you need to safely discard? If so, please join us and our partners at the upcoming Drug Take-Back and Shred Event at the Senior Health Fair on July 21, 2023!” the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook. “Help us keep unused, expired medications from getting stolen or misused as well as discarded in our community’s water system.”
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An annual report issued this week by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) shows that violent crimes are decreasing.
The 437 page report compiles data submitted to TBI from local law enforcement agencies through the Tennessee Incident-Based Reporting System (TIBRS).
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Despite the fact that nearly all elected Republicans who hold federal office in Tennessee have endorsed former President Donald Trump in his 2024 reelection bid, the Tennessee Republican Party (TNGOP) has invited Trump’s main primary opponent to speak at its annual Statesman’s Dinner.
The dinner, which will be held at the end of July, will feature Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as the keynote speaker, according to a video posted by the TNGOP on its website.
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Authorities in Tennessee do not know exactly which soccer teams or clubs alleged child rapist Camilo Hurtado Campos, but are urging parents to contact them if they believe their child may have had contact with the disgraced coach.
“I don’t know and quite honestly, we’re trying not to be disarming to parents if they don’t hear a club named that their kids were affiliated with,” Franklin Police Public Information Officer Lt. Charles Warner told The Tennessee Star when asked whether authorities had identified which team or teams Campos coached. “We’re urging parents whose kids had contact with Campos, regardless of any program or location to contact us.”
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An inside source Friday provided The Tennessee Star with more details from a June 28 meeting hosted by radical members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in Nashville.
Earlier this week, The Star reported on the event, where an inside source provided secretly obtained audio recordings from a portion of the meeting. But what was not caught on audio, the source explained, was far more radical than what was caught on audio.
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A middle Tennessee animal shelter is urging pet owners to take caution as it says scammers are assuming its identity.
According to reports, scammers pretending to be employees of the Montgomery County Animal Shelter are attempting to bilk the owners of lost pets out of money. The scam involves calling those owners of lost pets and claiming that their pet has been found. The scammers then ask for payment in exchange for return of the pet.
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The Tennessee Star has obtained secret audio and video recording from a June 28 meeting by the far-left Democratic Socialist of America in Middle Tennessee (DS), and its plans to organize in the upcoming weeks and months.
The group is currently working on a campaign called Quilt, which describes Tennessee Republicans as “fascists,” while spewing other typical left-wing melodrama.
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Gov. Bill Lee’s office Friday announced the appointment of more than 20 new government officials to fill key roles in the state.
Lee’s first appointment was Tony Treadway, who Lee named a Trustee of the East Tennessee State University Board (ETSU) of Trustees.
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Tennesseans will begin celebrating Independence Day as early as Friday night, according to a state travel guide.
The Chattanooga Lookouts, a minor league baseball team, will have a fireworks show after the team’s Friday and Sunday night games.
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Tennessee’s attorney general Thursday announced a lawsuit against several of the largest chemical manufacturers in the country for the health damage he says they caused to Tennesseeans.
Companies including 3M, DuPont, and Chemours create products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. One of those products, according to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti (R), is called Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF).
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Tennessee State University will become the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to have a hockey team, according to the school.
“Tennessee State University is set to make history by becoming the first historically black college or university (HBCU) to offer men’s ice hockey at the collegiate level,” the school said in Wednesday press release. “TSU will make this groundbreaking announcement at Bridgestone Arena prior to the 2023 NHL Draft on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The addition of ice hockey highlights the University’s dedication to fostering diversity, inclusion, and expanding athletic opportunities for students.”
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A bill banning political discrimination in Tennessee’s universities will take effect on July 1.
SB 0178 will officially become law over the upcoming weekend.
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According to Transparent Tennessee, eight counties in the state have been determined to be economically “distressed” by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
“Each year, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) prepares an index of county economic status for every county in the United States,” according to Transparent Tennessee. “Economic status designations are identified through a composite measure of each county’s three-year average unemployment rate, per capita market income, and poverty rate. Based on these indicators, each county is then categorized as distressed, at-risk, transitional, competitive or attainment.”
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With a graphic emblazoned across a map of Tennessee saying “Good-bye Roe, hello Dobbs,” Tennessee Right to Life and its county chapters have been celebrating one year since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court ruling that gave individual states the right to make their own abortion laws.
“More than 10,000 children have been saved from abortion in our state this first year! Let us rejoice and be glad,” the organization said on its website. “Let us make a joyful noise to the Lord and let us re-commit ourselves to keeping Tennessee a safe place for unborn children and their mothers!”
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First Lady Jill Biden made an appearance at the Nashville Pride festival over the weekend, sharing a message of support on behalf of herself and President Joe Biden.
“Today I’m here on behalf of Joe my husband, Kamala and Doug to say loud and clear that you belong, that you are beautiful, that you are loved,” she reportedly said.
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating after several Tennessee State Republican officials received mail containing an unknown white powder.
The Cordell Hull Building, which is a state house office building that contains state legislators’ offices, was placed on lockdown after the incident, according to the Nashville Fire Department (NFD).
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In his capacity as a private citizen, the mayor of the town of Athens spoke out against a “pride month” display at the town’s library, eventually leading to the display being taken down.
Athens Mayor Steven Sherlin and Vice Mayor Larry Eaton demanded that the display at the E.G. Fisher Library be taken down at a Tuesday city council, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced on Wednesday its #TNSafeSummer program, which aims to help parents ensure that their children remain happy and safe during the summer months.
One resource is called the #TNKidKit.
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