Tennessee Star Staff, Author at Tennessee Star - Page 7 of 45

Early Voting Turnout Bounces Back in Nashville Special Mayoral Election as 11 Polling Places Open

May 12, 2018May 11, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Early voting turnout increased dramatically on Friday to 2,810, more than double the 1,205 that turned out for the first five days in the Nashville special mayoral election as the number of polling sites increased from one to eleven, to bring the total votes cast to 4,215 in six days. With eight more days early voting left, turnout projections remain will behind the 123,000 who turned out for the May 1 transit referendum. Extrapolating at a rate of 3,000 per day for the next 8 days, total early voting would be about 28,000. Assuming double that on election day May 24, total turnout would be in the range of 55,000 to 60,000, about half of the May 1 transit plan referendum. “As more satellite voting locations make casting a ballot in the Special Election easier we should expect the numbers of votes to increase dramatically,” Tennessee Star political editor Steve Gill pointed out. “But without the presence of other candidates on the ballot, the participation level in this race will likely be a record low. That will make polling difficult and predictions of which two candidates are most likely to emerge in a runoff even harder.” “A quick sprint election…

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Jeff Obafemi Carr: ‘I Can Deliver a Transit Plan That Serves The City of Nashville Without Being an Extra Burden on the Taxpayers Within 12 Months’

May 12, 2018July 23, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Jeff Obafemi Carr and Steve Gill

Nashville mayoral candidate jeff obafemi carr, whose company was brought in to consult for strategy and served as Senior Advisor/Strategist for the No Tax for Trax group that successfully opposed the $9 billion transit plan defeated by voters in the May 1 referendum, told Tennessee Star political editor Steve Gill in an exclusive interview on Friday that transit will be his number one priority if elected mayor of Nashville/Davidson County in the May 24 special election. “I can deliver a transit plan that’s effective, cost-efficient, and serves most of the city of Nashville in an effective way without being an extra burden on the taxpayers within 12 months,” carr told Gill. “That’s a goal that I want to check off the list,” he said. “The second thing I want to do is create an effective, affordable housing plan that doesn’t benefit just a few directors or a few housing builders, but gives people an opportunity to be innovative, and it also should be a transdisciplinary approach, that means it should intersect with any transit oriented development.” “The third thing that comes up for me is youth violence. It’s important. I’m the candidate that’s created programs that are successful. That have…

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Acting Nashville Mayor Briley Conducts Town Hall About Political Issues on Taxpayers’ Dime Two Weeks Before Special Election, Claims It’s ‘Official Event’

May 11, 2018May 11, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

NASHVILLE, Tennessee–Acting Nashville Mayor David Briley held a town hall at the Coleman Park Community Center which featured a number of questions on politically related policy issues from attendees on Thursday, paid for by the taxpayers of Nashville/Davidson County, just two weeks before the May 24 special Nashville mayoral election in which he is a candidate. Briley intends to conduct several more such town halls between now and the special election. The Tennessee Star asked the Mayor’s Office if the Nashville/Davidson Metro Government is paying for these town hall events, which appear to be political events rather than official events? Or is the Briley campaign paying for them? “These are official events, not political ones,” Michael Cass, a spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office responded. “Mayor Briley wants to hear what taxpaying citizens are thinking and have direct dialogue with them. He said at his press conference the night he was sworn in that he would be holding town halls around the county, and that will continue after the election. Each of these events is held on Metro property,” Cass added. “So since these town halls are official events according to the Mayor, the taxpayers of Nashville/Davidson County are paying for them?”…

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Early Voting Polling Location Looks Like a Ghost Town as Anemic Turnout Continues for Special Nashville Mayoral Election

May 11, 2018May 11, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

The exterior of Metro Nashville/Davidson County’s Howard Avenue Office Building looked more like a ghost town on Thursday than the city’s only open early voting location. Turnout on the fifth day of early voting in the May 24 special mayoral election tumbled to anemic levels, as only 166 residents of Nashville/Davidson County cast their votes. The grand total for five full days of early voting–all conducted at only one polling location, the Howard Avenue Office Building–is just 1,205, or barely 240 early votes cast per day. That early voting turnout is in stark contrast to the more than 3,000 early votes per day that were cast during the early voting period of the May 1 transit plan referendum in which more than 59,000 residents of Nashville/Davidson County early voted, about 64,000 voted on election day, giving a total turnout of a little more than 123,000 voters. Early voting results are expected to take a significant uptick today, when the number of early voting locations increases from one to eleven. Early voting begins today at 7:00 am and ends at 7:00 pm at these ten additional locations: Belle Meade City Hall Bellevue Library Bordeaux Library Casa Azafran Community Center Edmonson Pike…

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Mayoral Candidate State Rep. Harold Love: Nashville ‘Can’t Succeed As A City if Only 24 % of our High School Graduates Who Attend College Are Graduating’

May 11, 2018May 13, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Steve Gill interviews State Rep Harold Love

State Rep. Harold Love (D-Nashville) sat down with Tennessee Star political editor Steve Gill on Thursday for the first in our series of exclusive interviews with the top tier of candidates in the May 24 special election for Mayor of Nashville. Love identified education and safety as his two top priorities in a potential Love administration. (See the 20:10min mark of the video below) “Our high school graduates who choose to go to college, only 24 percent graduate from college,” Love told Gill, adding: Anybody who hears that number and let’s it flow through their mind knows that we can’t succeed as a city if only 24 percent of our high school graduates who choose to go to college are graduating. That means they come back to the city and they are not going back to college. I know that college is not for everybody, but those who choose to go to college . . . we have to improve our educational excellence of our high school graduates.” Love added that education and safety go hand in hand. “A recent Washington Post report said . . . where are America’s prisoners born? They said of all the zipcodes in the…

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Predators Season Over As Jets Beat Them 5 to 1 in Decisive Game 7

May 11, 2018May 11, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Predslose

There will be no storybook ending to the Nashville Predators’ 2017-2018 National Hockey League season. The Predators fell to the Winnipeg Jets 5 to 1 in the decisive Game 7 of their Western Conference semi-final series in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Thursday. This year, it’s the Jets who now going on the the Western Conference finals, where they will face the Vegas Golden Nights. The Washington Capitals, coached by former Predators head coach Barry Trotz, face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals. The official Predators post game tweet summed up the evening: It ended sooner than anyone would have wished. #StandWithUs | #WPGvsNSHhttps://t.co/L5Ju352xIa — p-Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) May 11, 2018 The night started poorly for the Predators and got progressively worse. The Jets’ Tyler Myers scored at the 8:41 mark of the first period to put the visitors up 1 to 0. Then his teammate Paul Stastny scored at the 10:47 mark to put the Jets up 2 to 0. P.K. Subban scored the Predators first and only goal at the 15:54 mark to narrow the deficit to 2 to 1. Predators coach Peter Laviolette pulled Goalie Pekka Rinne after the first period, replacing him with…

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State of Tennessee Appeals Federal Judge’s Dismissal of Refugee Resettlement Lawsuit

May 10, 2018May 10, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

On Thursday, Tennessee appealed a federal judge’s ruling in March that dismissed the state’s lawsuit against the federal government’s resettlement of refugees in the state on 10th amendment grounds. The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan representing the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee General Assembly, and Tennessee legislators State Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster) and State Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) at no cost in the litigation, announced “it has filed an appeal of the federal district court decision which dismissed its case,” in a statement released on Thursday: The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee General Assembly, and state legislators Terri Lynn Weaver and John Stevens, challenged the constitutionality of the federal refugee resettlement program as a violation of the principles of State sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment. The Notice of Appeal was filed this morning with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The appeal will be heard by a panel of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals For The Sixth Circuit. “We are grateful to the designated representatives of the General Assembly, State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and William Lamberth…

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Stunningly Low Turnout of Just 194 on Fifth Day of Early Voting Suggests Big Trouble for Status Quo in Nashville Mayoral Special Election

May 10, 2018May 9, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

The fifth day of early voting in Nashville’s special mayoral election on Wednesday saw another stunningly low turnout–only 194 residents of Nashville/Davidson County cast their ballots, bringing the five day early voting total to an anemic 1,039. After five full days of early voting, less than one-third of one percent of the active registered voters in Nashville/Davidson County (which is slightly more than 360,000) have cast their ballots in the May 24 special mayoral election to select a mayor who will serve out the remaining one year and three months of disgraced former Mayor Megan Barry’s term. Barry resigned on March 6, the same day she pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge related to her two year long affair with her bodyguard, former Metro Nashville Police Department Sgt. Rob Forrest. The anemic turnout levels spells big trouble for the campaign of Acting Mayor David Briley. First, it confirms that voters find him an uninspiring candidate. Second, it indicates that voters are likely burned out on politics, after they turned out in droves–about 123,000 total voters went to the polls–to decisively reject the $9 billion transit plan Briley endorsed, 64 percent to 36 percent. Finally, and perhaps more importantly, it…

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Very Low Early Voting Turnout in First Four Days of Nashville Special Mayoral Election

May 9, 2018May 8, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Vote

Turnout for the first four days of early voting in the Nashville special mayoral election is abysmally low, with a total of only 845 ballots cast so far. Only 277 votes were cast on Friday, 89 on Saturday, 220 on Monday, and 259 on Tuesday, according to a report sent to The Tennessee Star and other local media outlets by the Davidson County Election Commission late Tuesday. Only ten more days of early voting remain between Wednesday and Saturday, May 19, the last day of early voting (early voting is not open on Sundays). The election date is Thursday, May 24. The Howard Office Building downtown is the only early voting location open between now and Thursday. On Friday, another ten early voting locations will be open until May 19: Belle Meade City Hall Bellevue Library Bordeaux Library Casa Azafran Community Center Edmonson Pike Library Goodlettsville Community Center Green Hills Library Hermitage Library Madison Library Southeast The low early voting total so far for the May 24 special mayoral election contrasts dramatically with the early voting for the recently completed May 1 transit referendum, when just a little more than 59,000 residents of Nashville/Davidson County early voted, an average of…

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Nashville Metro Council Member Angie Henderson Calls on Acting Mayor David Briley to ‘Break Cleanly from Hidden Deals of Dean/Barry Era’

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

On Saturday, Nashville Metro Council Member Angie Henderson (District 34) called on Acting Mayor David Briley to “restore trust in Government ASAP before May 24 election.” “He should break cleanly from the hidden deals/arrangements of the Dean/Barry era,” Henderson said in this tweet: Noticing a common thread? It is imperative that @MayorBriley restore trust in @MetroNashville Government asap before May 24 election. He should break cleanly from the hidden deals/arrangements of the Dean/Barry era. https://t.co/0dnLBHpe4R — Angie E. Henderson (@angienashville) May 6, 2018 Days before the May 1 $9 billion transit plan referendum, which Nashville/Davidson County voters rejected by a 64 percent to 36 percent, Henderson, who graduated from Bryn Mawr, where she majored in “The Growth and Structure of Cities,” said she would vote no on the transit plan and criticized the Briley administration for its handling of that proposal, as The Tennessee Star reported: In an episode of the Nashville Sounding Board podcast discussing the light rail transit plan. Nashville Metro council members Freddie O’Connell and Angie Henderson were guests. O’Connell said, “I think that as a councilmember trying to do the best job of representing my constituents… I will say I think a mistake was made by…

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Swain Blasts Acting Mayor Briley: He ‘Mismanaged Funds in Times of Plenty,’ His Budget Is ‘Dependent on Property Sales That Don’t Have Council Approval’

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Mayoral candidate Carol Swain came out swinging on Tuesday against Acting Mayor David Briley’s last minute proposal to come up with an extra $38 million shortfall in his proposed 2019 Metro Nashville budget by selling three existing properties currently owned by the Metro Nashville Davidson County Government. Swain’s campaign issued its pointed response in a tweet on Tuesday morning: The Dean, Barry and now Briley administrations have mismanaged the city’s funds in times of plenty. Our reserve fund is almost empty, we have a ballooning balance sheet, & next year’s budget is dependent on property sales that don’t have council approval. #budgetonaprayer 🙏🏻 https://t.co/v8WokfOaB1 — Carol M Swain For Nashville Mayor (@CarolSwain4Nash) May 8, 2018 In an article titled “Mayor Briley is banking on land sales, parking overhaul to make up $38M in budget,” The Tennessean on Tuesday reported on Briley’s proposal, the details of which were apparently finalized over the weekend between his State of the Metro speech on Friday and the communication of the plan to the Metro Council on Monday: Briley last week proposed a “status quo” $2.23 billion operating budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year that would be just a $22 million increase over the current year, meaning…

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Dr. Mark McDonald: Postmortem Analysis of the Let’s Move Nashville Plan’s Train Wreck

May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

by Dr. Mark McDonald, Professor of the Practice of Civil Engineering at Lipscomb University There is no doubt after the transit referendum that the proposed master plan was found to be a train wreck by almost two of three voters. This is a most unfortunate situation, as the window of time to manage Nashville’s rapid growth is shrinking and if not managed competently, Nashville will pay dearly for it. In this article I will provide my insight as to why the plan failed, what I think is good and bad about the result, and where I believe Nashville should go from here. Let’s first of all establish a few baseline facts. Nashville’s surface streets in the urban core are approaching gridlock at peak hours. Nashville’s interstates are operating regularly at level of service F at peak times, when most of our citizens need the network to be reliable and efficient. Our primary arterials are operating at capacity, and we will have a very large number of people moving to middle Tennessee in the next 20 years. Our city’s infrastructure is totally unprepared to handle this population explosion, and to make matters worse, the additional motorists expected on our highways will…

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Predators Bounce Back to Tie Series in Winnipeg, Beat Jets 4 to 0

May 7, 2018May 7, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Preds

The Nashville Predators bounced back on Monday night to tie their Western Conference Stanley Cup semi-final series with Winnipeg 3 games apiece, defeating the Jets on their home ice 4 to 0. The series returns to Nashville for a seventh and deciding final game on Thursday. Victor Arvidsson put the Predators ahead for good at the 1:02 mark of the first period, with assist from Roman Josi and Ryan Johansen. In the second period, Filip Forsberg put the Predators up 2-0 with a goal at the 8:15 mark, with assists from Ryan Johnsen and Craig Smith. Forsberg scored his second goal of the game at the 5:55 mark in the third period, to put the Predators up 3 to 0. Arvidsson and Josi assisted. Later in the final period, at the 15:58 mark, Arvidsson got his second goal of the game, an empty netter, to make the score Predators 4, Jets 0. Predators goalie Pekka Rinne returned to form after a subpar Game 5, stopping all 34 shots on goal by the Jets.

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Acting Mayor David Briley Echoes Megan Barry in His New TV Ad ‘Moving Forward’

May 6, 2018May 6, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Acting Mayor of Nashville David Briley is echoing the themes and policies of disgraced former Mayor Megan Barry in his new television ad, titled “Moving Forward.” The ad began airing Thursday on both local broadcast networks and cable outlets. With a bank roll in excess of $400,000, Briley is expected to keep his ad campaign on both broadcast and cable outlets until election day, May 24. Two of his rivals in the mayoral race–State Rep. Harold Love (R-Nashville) and former Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain–are currently running television ads on the local cable system. You can watch Briley’s ad here: . Here is the trancript of the ad, which features the voice of Briley only: These days, it seems like everyone is on the move. As Nashville’s new mayor, it’s my job to get us all moving in the same direction: forward. We’ve worked hard to build our economy. Now let’s work on what’s important to families. By building stronger and safer schools. Working for more affordable housing. And finding new traffic solutions we all can agree on. Because when we’re all moving forward, no one gets left behind. In 2015, when he was running for vice mayor, Briley ran…

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Predators Fall to Jets 6 to 2

May 5, 2018May 5, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Preds

Hopes that the Nashville Predators will make a repeat appearance in the NHL’s Stanley Cup Championship Finals diminished in Bridgestone Arena Saturday night when the visiting Winnipeg Jets easily defeated the home team in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals, 6 to 2. The loss put the Predators one game away from elimination, as Game 6 returns to Winnipeg on Monday, where the Jets have enjoyed a huge home team advantage throughout the regular season and into the playoffs. Down three games to two, the Predators will have to win the away game in Winnipeg to force a decisive Game 7 back in Nashville. After a scoreless first period, the Jets jumped to an early lead when Paul Stastny scored at the 7:44 mark of the second period. The Predators’ Yannick Weber answered to tie the game up at 1 to 1 with an unassisted goal at the 11:08 mark, but the Jets jumped back into the lead barely a minute later when Kyle Connor put the visiting Jets up for good with a goal that made the score Jets 2, Predators 1. It was all down hill for the Predators after that. Conor scored his second goal at…

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Liberal Media Interest in The Tennessee Star Continues . . . And Documents Some of Their Own Journalistic Flaws

May 5, 2018May 5, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Another day, another story expanding upon the Politico story about “Baby Breitbarts” that highlighted The Tennessee Star. Jason Schwartz talked to Tennessee Star Political Editor Steve Gill a few times, got some insights from those familiar with The Tennessee Star — including critics like the Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini — and earlier this week published a detailed, fair and balanced story. New York Magazine built from his story without even talking to us. They declared — without any factual foundation — that our intent is to promote a conservative ideology with no regard to profitability. We charge our advertisers. We want more of them. Contact us ASAP if you would like to become an advertiser! We are profitable, have been profitable from the inception, and want to be even more profitable. Influencing the political environment; informing readers (and listeners) so they can become more actively engaged and more discerning in the political process; and, exposing the corruption, fecklessness and duplicity of political leaders are all bonuses! And, we might add, a heck of a lot of fun! Then, Brian Stelter, who hosts CNN’s Reliable Sources, interviewed Gill for his weekday podcast. Again, a fair, entertaining and interesting interview…

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Diane Black Calls on Gov. Haslam to Sign Anti-Sanctuary City Bill

May 5, 2018May 5, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Diane Black Would Veto in-state tuition benefits for illegal immigrant students

On Wednesday, Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06), a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, called on Gov. Bill Haslam to sign the anti-sanctuary city bill (SB 2332/HB2315) passed by the Tennessee General Assembly last month. “The voters of Tennessee want our leaders in Nashville to get tough on illegal immigration,” Black said in a statement released by her campaign. “Sanctuary cities have no place in our state, and Governor Haslam should sign the anti-sanctuary cities legislation passed by the General Assembly – the duly elected representatives of the people of Tennessee. It is a common-sense bill that supports law enforcement and prohibits local governments from rewarding illegal immigration. It needs to become a common-sense law,” Black concluded. The statement by the Black campaign continued: While Tennessee already has a law making sanctuary cities illegal, that law defines sanctuary cities as cities with written sanctuary policies. SB 2332/HB 2315 would expand that law to apply to cities who don’t necessarily make a written policy, but don’t cooperate with the federal government’s immigration enforcement. Each of the four Republican candidates for governor have different positions on the issue. Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) voted for and supported the bill in…

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Bill Lee on Anti-Sanctuary City Legislation: ‘As Governor I Would Sign This Bill’

May 5, 2018May 5, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Bill Lee

Bill Lee, one of four candidates seeking the Republican nomination for governor, weighed in on the anti-sanctuary city legislation passed by the Tennessee General Assembly that Gov. Haslam has not yet signed into law. “As I’ve said throughout this campaign, I am opposed to sanctuary cities,” Lee said in a statement released by his campaign to the Tennessee Star late Friday night. “They embrace lawlessness and put our entire state at risk. I would use every single tool in my power to stop them and enforce the rule of law. As governor, I would sign this bill,” Lee concluded. As The Tennessee Star reported last week, the Tennessee General Assembly passed the anti-sanctuary city bill last month despite “[r]epeated efforts by House members to derail [it].” The bill passed the Tennessee House of Representatives by a 64 to 23 vote. “State Sen. Mark Green [R-Clarksville] passed the Senate companion bill SB 2332, with a solid 23 -5 vote,” The Star reported. “We’ve seen time and again that the consequences of illegal immigration can be severe, and sometimes, even deadly. This bill puts Tennesseans first,” Green said in a statement at the time. Far left activists, including the Tennessee Immigrants Rights…

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NFIB Grades 110th Tennessee General Assembly from the Small Business Perspective

May 5, 2018May 4, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) rated the 110th Tennessee General Assembly on Wednesday, just few days after Tennessee’s legislative body adjourned for the year. “The Tennessee Legislature is now adjourned, but NFIB/TN worked hard to protect the state’s small business owners right until the end. In late April, just before adjournment, hundreds of NFIB/TN members made calls and emails about House Bill 2310. This bill contained a harmful provision that would have authorized the state to hire third parties to conduct sales and use tax audits. However, thanks to your activism, NFIB/TN convinced lawmakers that the state should always conduct these proceedings rather than farm them out to vendors who would have access to confidential taxpayer information,” the NFIB said in a statement, adding: Here’s a roundup of the other key state victories achieved for your small business over the past two years during the 110th General Assembly, none of which could be achieved without your support—thank you for raising your voices! Labor Reform (SB 262) This bill preempts any local governments from establishing predictive or restrictive scheduling laws on businesses. NFIB/TN supported it, and it passed the House 67-24-1 and the Senate 29-3. Regulatory Reform (SB 1194,…

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Commentary: Rod Rosenstein’s Attempted Coup Against President Trump Intensifies

May 5, 2018July 18, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

by George Rasley, CHQ Editor Anyone who thinks the Deep State gave up its attempt to unseat President Trump when the Obama-era FISA abuses were revealed should think again. Yesterday, NBC News revealed Federal investigators wiretapped the phone lines of Michael Cohen, the longtime personal lawyer for President Donald Trump who is under investigation allegedly for a payment he Wiretap Michael Cohenmade to pornographic actress “Stormy Daniels” who alleged she had an affair with Trump, according to two people with knowledge of the legal proceedings involving Cohen. Editor’s update: It now appears the FBI did not wiretape Cohen, rather it was a “pen register” which is often a predicate to a wiretap. It is not clear how long the wiretap has been authorized, but NBC News reported it was in place in the weeks leading up to the raids on Cohen’s offices, hotel room, and home in early April, according to one person with direct knowledge. At least one phone call between a phone line associated with Cohen and the White House was intercepted, the person told NBC News. Previously, federal prosecutors in New York have said in court filings that they have conducted covert searches on multiple e-mail…

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$7 Million Federal Funding Scandal Hits Metro Nashville Administrations of David Briley, Megan Barry, and Karl Dean

May 4, 2018May 4, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

US Capitol

A WSMV investigation revealed on Friday that $7 million in federal flood relief funds provided to the Metro Nashville Government in 2010 were not used for flood relief at all, but were instead used to build the Ascend Amphitheater downtown. The stunning revelation rocked the special mayoral election, and cast doubt on fiscal management and legal compliance with federal funding rules on the administrations of former Mayor Karl Dean, former Mayor Megan Barry, and Acting Mayor David Briley, who is a candidate in the May 24 special mayoral election. “Nashville got $10 million from HUD’s Disaster Recovery Fund to start and received another $22 million in a second appropriation from HUD in 2011,” after the 2010 Nashville floods,” WSMV reported, adding: Our News4 I-Team investigation discovered that one-third of that $22 million – $7.4 million – never went to flooded homeowners. It was used to design Ascend Amphitheater, a downtown concert venue. “Rich Riebeling was the city’s finance director at the time; he’s now Metro’s Chief Operating Officer. The News4 I-Team asked him who decided to use the money for the amphitheater,” the WSMV report continued: “I don’t recall it,” Riebeling said. “I think it was a group decision. I’m…

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Mayoral Candidate Carol Swain Calls For Immediate Resignation of Metro Nashville Chief Operating Officer Rich Riebeling After $7 Million Funding Scandal

May 4, 2018May 4, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Mayoral candidate Carol Swain called for the immediate resignation of Metro Nashville Chief Operating Officer Rich Riebeling on Friday. Earlier in the day, WSMV broke the story that Metro Nashville Government used $7 million in federal funding received in 2010 and 2011 that was supposed to be dedicated to flood relief to build the Ascend Amphitheater. Riebeling was the finance director for Metro Nashville at the time. “The voters of Davidson County are tired of broken promises, underfunded schools, and cronyism that rewards those at the top. Riebeling has been in Metro government since 2007 and served as finance director under Karl Dean and COO under Megan Barry and David Briley,” the Swain campaign said in a statement released late Friday. “For too long Metro government has been squandering the taxpayer funds of hard working Nashvillians,” Swain said in the statement. “Today’s revelation of the misappropriation of federal HUD flood relief funds is just another example of the corruption that is plaguing City Hall and the rest of Metropolitan government. As finance director of the city, Reibeling was either complicit in this act or ignorant of it. He can delegate authority, but he cannot delegate responsibility,” she continued. “Riebeling has…

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CNN’s Reliable Sources: Brian Stelter Interviews Tennessee Star Political Editor Steve Gill

May 4, 2018May 13, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Brian Shelter Interviews Steve Gill

CNN’s Brian Stelter interviewed Tennessee Star Political Editor Steve Gill in Thursday’s edition of the network’s Reliable Sources podcast about the recent national interest in The Star and its reporting on state and local news. “Steve Gill, co-founder of The Tennessee Star website, tells Brian Stelter about his local coverage with a conservative bent. Are sites like his filling a void left by local newspapers? Gill says he is “filling a void” in the marketplace, citing “flaming” liberal bias from other outlets. Stelter says these local sites are another sign that the U.S. is reverting back to a more partisan press,” CNN said in its promotion of Stelter’s interview. “This weekly podcast is our chance to go in depth with media leaders and newsmakers, a chance to highlight some of the stories that might otherwise get lost amid the absolutely crushing news cycle that we’re all experiencing” CNN’s Stelter explained. “This week I wanted to highlight a story in Politico by author Jason Schwartz. The headline is ‘Baby Breitbarts to pop up across the country?” It’s a really interesting story about what Schwartz says is a growing trend of ‘opaque, locally focused, ideological outlets dressed up as traditional newspapers.’ He…

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Early Voting Begins Today in Nashville’s Special Mayoral Election

May 4, 2018May 4, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Early voting in Nashville’s special mayoral election began today, just three days after residents of Nashville/Davidson County went to the polls and defeated the $9 billion Nashville transit plan, 64 percent to 36 percent. Taxpayers will spend an extra $2 million on the May 24 special mayoral election, thanks to the ill advised and legally unsound decision made by the Davidson County Election Commission to schedule the election for a later date, rather than follow the law, as The Tennessee Supreme Court later told them to do in a landmark legal decision last month. The legal and common sense decision that the Davidson County Election Commission rejected would have scheduled both the transit plan referendum and the special mayoral election for the same day, May 1. Residents of Nashville/Davidson County can early vote beginning today, and continuing until Saturday, May 19, as News Channel 5 reported: Right now, you can only vote at the Howard Office Building in downtown Nashville. Hours vary but it opens at 8 a.m. every weekday. All early polling locations will open next Friday, May 11. WSMV offered this guide to early voting: The following locations will be open for voting starting Friday, May 11: Belle…

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Attorney Who Won Special Mayoral Election Case: Head of Davidson County Election Commission Who ‘Set Fire to $2 Million of Taxpayer Money’ Should Resign

May 4, 2018May 4, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Jamie Hollin, the attorney who represented plaintiff Ludye Wallace in the historic mayoral special election date case the Tennessee Supreme Court decided unanimously in his client’s favor last month, is calling on Jim DeLanis, Chairman of the Davidson County Election Commission to resign for causing the Metro Nashville/Davidson County Government to spend an extra $2 million on the May 24 special mayoral election. Hollin appeared at Monday’s meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee Meeting of the Nashville/Davidson County Metro Council. When the Committee Chairman, Council Member Tanaka Vercher, opened up discussion of a resolution to appropriate $2 million for the special mayoral election on May 24, Council Member Glover asked how it came to be that the city was spending an extra $2 million on a second election just three weeks and two days after more than 120,000 voters turned up to vote in the May 1 Nashville transit plan referendum, which was defeated by a 64 percent to 36 percent margin. At around the 53:00 mark in the video of the Budget and Finance Committee meeting (which can be seen and heard in the video clip below), Committee Chair Tanaka Vercher asked Hollin to express his views on the…

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Commentary: New Study Shows Trump is Right, Gun Free Zones Make Schools More Dangerous

May 4, 2018May 3, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

by CHQ Staff Our friend Christopher Hull, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, of the Center for Security Policy just shared an eye-opening study with us, that demolishes the liberal shibboleth that “gun free zones” make schools safer. You can read the entire study through this link, and it is well worth the time. Gun Free Zones ChartHull’s study confirms the argument President Trump made after Parkland that a gun-free zone “is like target practice” for school shooters such as the alleged Florida killer, Nikolas Cruz. “They see that and that’s what they want,” said the President. “Gun-free zones are very dangerous. The bad guys love gun-free zones.” Hull reminds us the next day Trump pointed out to a room full of Governors at the White House, “You have a gun-free zone, it’s like an invitation for these very sick people to go there.” Naturally, the Left and squishy Republicans went nuts, but Dr. Hull’s study supports President Trump’s position. Hull crunched the numbers on school shootings per year, number killed per year, and number wounded per year for the period 1968-1990, before the Gun-Free School Zones Act (GFSZA) was signed into law, and after it was put in place (1991-2018). In…

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Diane Black, Marsha Blackburn, and Scott DesJarlais Nominate Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

May 4, 2018May 3, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06), Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07), Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) and fifteen additional Republican members of Congress nominated Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize on Wednesday. Black broke the news first with this tweet: Moments ago, Rep. Diane Black released her and several other members of Congress’s nomination of President Donald J. Trump to the Nobel committee for the Nobel Peace Prize. pic.twitter.com/edlwU7TAlS — Fox News (@FoxNews) May 2, 2018 In a letter addressed to the Honorable Berit Reiss-Anderson, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo Norway, dated May 2, Black, Blackburn and their Republican House colleagues made their case why President Trump deserves the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize: Since taking office, President Trump has worked tirelessly to apply maximum pressure on North Korea to end its illicit weapons program and bring peace to the region. His Administration successfully united the international community, including China, to impose one of the most successful international sanction regimes in history. The sanctions have decimated the North Korea economy and have been largely credited for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table. Black, Blackburn, and DesJarlais were joined as signators on the letter by fifteen other Republican members of…

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Predators Beat the Jets 2 to 1 to Even the Series, Head Back Home for Game 5 on Saturday

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Preds

The Nashville Predators came through in the clutch, beating the Winnipeg Jets by a 2 to 1 margin in the fourth game of the Western Conference semi-finals of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday, evening the series at 2 games apiece. Game 5 will be played at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and Saturday night, and fans around Middle Tennessee are expected to clamor into downtown Nashville to watch the game inside the arena, and outside and large watch parties. Ryan Hartman staked the Predators to a 1-0 lead at the 17:20 mark of the first period with an unassisted goal that quieted the raucous Winnipeg crowd. P.K. Subban gave Nashville a 2-0 lead at the 14:36 mark of the second period with a power play goal and assists from Flip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen. But in the third period, the Jets got some of their offensive mojo back when Patrick Laine scored on a power play at the 19:09 mark. In the end, it was a case of too little too late for the Jets, and the momentum in the series, tied now at two games apiece, swings back to the Predators. Expect to see a lot of “throwing that…

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State Sen. Mark Green Calls for Special Session of Tennessee General Assembly to Override Gov. Haslam Veto of Cancer Patient Bill

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville) and State Rep. Bob Ramsey (R-Maryville) have called on the Tennessee General Assembly to reconvene for a special session to override the Governor Bill Haslam’s veto of the Cancer Patient Choice Act. That Act, which gives patients and their physicians the choice of proton therapy for cancer treatment, passed the Senate 29-1-1 and the House 85-13. “Let’s remember where this begins: A physician and patient. The physician makes a recommendation for what he thinks or she thinks is best for the patient. Next, the pa-tient decides they want that. But then, the insurance companies step in,” State Sen. Green, a medical doctor who is running for the Republican nomination for the House of Representatives in the 7th Congressional District, said. “Unfortunately, the Governor has chosen to side with the insurance companies and their vendors–ignoring what physicians and their patients have decided is best,” Green added. The authors of the bill agreed creating a special process was not ideal and placed the bill into summer study last year. The Haslam administration was given 18 months to find a solution, but when that failed, the General Assembly took action and overwhelmingly passed this bill to protect both…

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Transit Tax Debacle Winners and Losers

May 3, 2018May 2, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

by Steve Gill Any election or referendum has a clear winner and loser after the votes are count-ed. The margins may be wide or slim, but the results are there in black and white. Every election cycle also produces less apparent winners and losers who were not on the ballot, and that is definitely the case with the Nashville transit tax battle. So, who were the winners and losers in the Barry-Briley Transit Tax referendum that was rejected by a nearly two to one margin? WINNERS 1. NASHVILLE TAXPAYERS, who avoided an unnecessary $9 billion boondoggle that would not have improved traffic congestion nor fixed Nashville roads and bridges. More importantly, they dodged having one of the highest sales tax rates in the country! 2. TAXPAYERS IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES, who would have been among those paying about 47% of the taxes for the Nashville transit scheme that would not have improved commuter traffic nor roads leading in to Nashville. 3. EVERY CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR NOT NAMED BRILEY, since every candidate for Mayor in the May 24th special election not named Briley was on the side of the 64% of Nashville voters who rejected the Briley tax increase. 4. THE…

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Tennessee Republican Party Calls on Democrats to Invalidate Nomination of Candidate Who Voted in GOP Primary

May 3, 2018May 2, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

On Wednesday, the Tennessee Republican Party called on the State Primary Board for the Democratic Party “to invalidate the nomination of Anne McGraw for Williamson County Commission.” “During early voting, Anne McGraw, a Democratic candidate herself on the May 1 primary ballot, opted to vote in the Republican primary. This decision demonstrates a malicious intent to tamper with the democratic process,” the Tennessee Republican Party said in a statement, adding: According to TCA 2-7-115: (b) A registered voter is entitled to vote in a primary election for offices for which the voter is qualified to vote at the polling place where the voter is registered if: (1) The voter is a bona fide member of and affiliated with the political party in whose primary the voter seeks to vote (2) At the time the voter seeks to vote, the voter declares allegiance to the political party in whose primary the voter seeks to vote and states that the voter intends to affiliate with that party. Being herself a candidate and therefore bona fide member of the Tennessee Democratic Party who is running for their nomination, Anne McGraw knowingly violated the spirit of Tennessee election law. “The sanctity of our elections…

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State Sen. Mark Green, M.D. Commentary: When Government Becomes Too Powerful

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

After five days off life support, 23-month old Alfie Evans died over the weekend. Having a neurodegenerative disorder, doctors didn’t expect him to live long–but Alfie fought and hung in there for nearly a week. Alfie’s parents wanted to take him to a hospital in Rome for further treatment, but the boy’s doctors disagreed, and the British courts sided with the doctors. The Italian hospital not only offered to take Alfie, Italy even granted him citizenship and had a plane ready so he could immediately be flown over. But the British government said no, and stationed police at the hospital to prevent Alfie’s parents from taking him to Rome–or even taking him home. As parents, my wife Camie and I are outraged, and join millions across the world in mourning Alfie and hurting with his parents. Our son had cancer as a child and I couldn’t even fathom how we would’ve felt if any doctor or court ever told us we couldn’t choose where to treat him. As a physician, I understand that some conditions in this fallen world are indeed incurable. But I also know–because I’ve seen it firsthand–that sometimes the impossible can happen and the incurable can be…

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Nashville/Davidson County Voters Deliver Crushing Defeat to Transit Plan, 64% to 36%

May 2, 2018May 3, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

NASHVILLE, Tennessee–Voters in Nashville/Davidson County delivered a crushing defeat to the $9.2 billion transit plan proposed by disgraced former Mayor Megan Barry and supported by Acting Mayor David Briley, 64 percent to 36 percent on Tuesday. A record turnout of 122,477 voters cast their ballots, with 100 percent of all precincts reporting. Sixty-four percent of voters, 78,710, voted against the plan, and only 36 percent, 43,767, voted for it. A little more than 59,000 voters were cast during early voting, while about 63,000 were cast on Tuesday, election day. The sentiment against the transit plan was virtually the same during each voting period. Sixty-five percent of early voters opposed the plan, while only 35 percent supported it. Among those who voted on election day, 63 percent opposed the plan, while 37 percent supported it. The election day results were remarkably close to the results of a Tennessee Star Poll released on Monday April 16, which had 62 percent of voters opposing the plan with only 27 percent supporting it. The Tennessee Star was the only media outlet in Tennessee that conducted a poll on the Nashville Transit Plan. Transit for Nashville, the group that favored the plan, conceded the race…

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Weak and Wounded, Acting Mayor David Briley Big Loser in Nashville Transit Plan Blowout

May 2, 2018May 2, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Acting Mayor of Nashville David Briley’s aura of inevitability came to a sudden and devastating end Tuesday night when voters soundly rejected the $9 billion transit plan he championed to the bitter end by a 64 percent to 36 percent margin. The man who less than two months ago had been praised by the Nashville Business Council as the only possible person who could provide “continuity” to the city after the resignation of disgraced former Mayor Barry on March 6, found himself reduced to blaming the deplorable voters of Nashville for their lack of wisdom in rejecting the boondoggle his predecessor introduced and he embraced whole heartedly. “We all can agree that we have to do something about traffic and transportation, but voters didn’t get behind this plan,” Briley said after it became clear that his cherished plan of “continuity” was going down in flames, adding: My responsibility as Mayor is to get back to the drawing board and find the common ground to develop consensus on a new way forward. Our transportation problems are not going away; in fact, we know they’re only going to get more challenging as we continue to grow. I’ll get back to work…

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Commentary: Conservatives Unanimous For Change in Support of Jordan for Speaker

May 2, 2018July 18, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Jim Jordan, Paul Ryan

CHQ Staff Conservatives are hoping Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) will decide to challenge Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for speaker, according to a poll by FedUp PAC. Showing near-unanimity, almost 99% agree that Jordan would be more likely to successfully move President Trump’s conservative-populist agenda through the House. Less than one-half of one percent believe McCarthy would do a better job. Jordan is a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus and has been a leader in the fight to cut spending, protect the Second Amendment, repeal ObamaCare, and deport illegal aliens. McCarthy is closely tied to the Washington GOP establishment and would be expected to follow Ryan’s policy of distancing himself from Trump and the conservative agenda. His previous attempt to become speaker collapsed for lack of conservative support. The contrast between Jordan and McCarthy was easily seen when Congress passed its most recent spending bill. McCarthy was a strong supporter of the $1.3 trillion bill which eliminated the budget caps adopted in 2011, funded many Democratic priorities, and was supported by a majority of House Democrats. Jordan opposed the bill, and Trump threatened to veto it until he decided that the need for more military spending justified his very…

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Nashville Transit Plan Opponent and Mayoral Candidate Carol Swain Big Winner After Voters Reject ‘Barry-Briley Boondoggle’

May 2, 2018May 2, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Carol Swain - anti-Transit Victory

NASHVILLE, Tennessee–Nashville Transit Plan opponent and mayoral candidate Carol Swain emerged the big winner Monday night as voters rejected the $9 billion plan she called “the Barry-Briley boondoggle.” Swain addressed an enthusiastic crowd of more than 100 supporters who attended the Victory Celebration for opponents of the plan hosted by her campaign and held at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville Tuesday night. Opponents of the transit plan swept to victory in the final vote count by a stunning 64 percent to 36 percent margin in record voter turnout in Nashville/Davidson County. The results were remarkably close to The Tennessee Star Poll released on April 16, which showed opposition to the plan at 62 percent, with support only at 27 percent. “Tonight is a great victory for all of Nashville,” the former Vanderbilt professor told the crowd after the pro-transit group conceded at 8:20 pm. “A $9 billion transit boondoogle that benefited developers, construction companies, and engineering firms, and left the little guy out to dry has been defeated,” she continued. “As mayor, I will work to implement immediate and long term solutions to regional traffic congestion,” Swain added. “There is a short sprint to May 24, and I’m…

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Pro-Transit Group Concedes! Opposition to Nashville Transit Plan Leads By 2 to 1 After Early Votes Reported

May 1, 2018May 1, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

UPDATE: 9:15 pm Candidate Party Votes Percentage ★ Against 56,016 65% For 30,343 35% Total 86,359 8:45 pm NASHVILLE, Tennessee–“Tonight is a great victory for all of Nashville. A $9 billion transit boondoogle that benefited developers, construction companies, and engineering firms, and left the little guy out to dry has been defeated,” Nashville mayoral candidate Carol Swain said at the Victory Celebration for opponents of the transit plan hosted by her campaign. “As mayor, I will work to implement immediate and long term solutions to regional traffic congestion,” she added. “There is a short sprint to May 24, and I’m asking for your support in my bid for Mayor of Nashville. I pledge to create a government that works for you and not against you,” the former Vanderbilt professor concluded. 8:39 pm Candidate Party Votes Percentage ★ Against 46,931 65% For 25,600 35% Total 72,531 8:20 pm The Pro-Transit Group conceded at 8:20 pm after the first dozen precincts reported today. As of 8:25 pm, the vote total was: Candidate Party Votes Percentage Against 41,999 65% For 22,451 35% Total 64,450 Rep. Diane Black’s (R-TN-06) gubernatorial campaign released the following statement after the pro-transit group conceded: “Tonight, the voters of…

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Acting Mayor David Briley Stumbles in Last Minute Defense of Nashville Transit Plan at Public Meeting in Bellevue

May 1, 2018May 1, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Acting Mayor David Briley demonstrated that he is not ready for prime time when he repeatedly stumbled Monday night in his responses to questions about the Nashville Transit Plan to a large group of voters in Bellevue. The 90 minute meeting was intended to be a last minute pro-transit pep rally, but it ended up being more like the cross examination of a witness who was not particularly compelling. Briley admitted several things damaging to the plan during the evening. He conceded to the audience that he did not think he would get federal funding for the $9 billion transit plan, already criticized as being hugely and disproportionately expensive. He also admitted that residents of Bellevue are not likely to use the proposed mass transit system. “I don’t really understand how a $9 billion investment for 3 percent turns out to be a good investment for the majority of us,” one member of the audience said, and asked Briley to explain how that math made sense. “Lots of people are not going to get on light rail or any sort of transit. I know that. We’re not saying everybody should,” a defensive Briley responded. “What we’re saying is if we…

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Predators Win Double Over-Time Thriller 5-4 to Tie Series With Jets

April 30, 2018April 30, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Preds

The Nashville Predators won a thriller against the Winnipeg Jets 5 to 4 in double over-time Sunday night at the Bridgestone Arena to tie their second round Western Conference Semi-Finals series in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at one game apiece. Kevin Fiala hit the game winner 5:37 into the second over-time period, after the game ended tied 4 to 4 in regulation, and neither team scored in the first over-time period. “Craig Smith and Fiala skated up on a 2-on-1, and Jets defenseman Byflugien failed to block Smith’s cross-ice pass to Fiala who beat goalie Connor Hellebuyck with a backhander,” ESPN reported of the winning goal. Video: OT GWG. #StandWithUs | #WPGvsNSH https://t.co/FScfJSDSnv — p-Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 30, 2018 ESPN provided this game summary, via the Associated Press: Ryan Johansen scored two goals, Viktor Arvidsson had a goal and two assists, and P.K. Subban had a goal and an assist as Nashville won both its 100th postseason game as a franchise and coach Peter Laviolette’s 50th with the team. Filip Forsberg also had three primary assists for the first time in the postseason in his career. Mark Scheifele scored two goals and had an assist. Byflugien had a…

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Mount Juliet and Lincoln County Win High School State Co-Championship in Tennessee Star Constitution Bee

April 29, 2018April 28, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

FRANKLIN, Tennessee–Mount Juliet High School and Lincoln County High School were declared co-champions in the State High School Team Competition of the Spring 2018 Tennessee Star Constitution Bee held at the Williamson County Administrative Complex on Saturday. Mount Juliet jumped to an early lead, with 9 points, one for each contestant, followed by Lincoln County with 2 points. One point each was awarded to Central Magnet School of Murfreesboro, Columbia Central High School, Stewart Creek High School, Ravenwood High School, John Overton High School, and the home school team. All told, 17 points were distributed as the competition began, one to the high school of each competitor. Mount Juliet added to its lead with a strong performance by students who provided correct answers when the remaining contestants “Asked a Friend” for help from their positions in the “Friends of the Court Bench,” where students who had been eliminated from the individual competition went to be able to add points for their high school after Rounds 1 and 2. Contestants in Rounds 3 through 7 “asked a friend” for help on four occasions. On three of those occasions, students from Mount Juliet High School–Sophia Maas and Oren Kagan–provided the contestant with…

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Cooper Moran of Lincoln County High School Wins Individual Championship at 2018 Tennessee Star Constitution Bee

April 29, 2018April 30, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Cooper Moran Wins Constitution Bee

FRANKLIN, Tennessee–Cooper Moran, a junior at Lincoln County High School, won the individual championship at the Spring 2018 Tennessee Star Constitution Bee, sponsored by the Polk Foundation, held at the Williamson County Administrative Complex on Saturday. Moran was presented a check for $3,000 as the first winner of the Andrew Woodfin Miller Foundation Scholarship, which was provided through a donation to the Polk Foundation, and presented by Constitution Bee master of ceremonies Michael Patrick Leahy, CEO and Editor-in-chief of The Tennessee Star. In addition to the scholarship, Moran will receive a free trip for two to Washington, D.C. to attend a series of events of his choosing. Moran told The Star that his mother, who was among those in the audience on Saturday, will be accompanying him to the nation’s capitol for that trip. Moran hopes to attend Vanderbilt University and plans on majoring in political science. He intends to become a lawyer. Three students, including Moran, survived seven rounds of competition involving increasingly difficult questions and an Essay round to compete in the dramatic championship round. The other two students in the championship round were Amanda Nolan of Mt. Juliet High School and Aryan Burns, also of Lincoln County…

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Mt. Juliet’s Jimmy Hayes Steals the Show With ‘Soul Man’ Version of Preamble

April 29, 2018April 28, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

FRANKLIN, Tennessee–Mount Juliet High School senior Jimmy Hayes stole the show in the Preamble Challenge warmup round for The Tennessee Star Constitution Bee Saturday with his “Soul Man” version of the Preamble, earning him “The Most Creative Preamble Award” and an extra point for his Mt. Juliet High in the team competition. Amanda Nolan, Jimmy’s Mount Juliet High classmate, wowed the judges and the audience with her pitch-perfect a capella rendition of the “School House Rock” song version of the Preamble, earning her “The Most Entertaining Preamble Award, and an extra point for Mt. Juliet High in the team competition. Alexis Henderson, a senior at Stewarts Creek High School from Smyrna, delivered the most compelling oration, earning her “The Most Persuasive Preamble” and a point for her high school. The idea behind the Preamble Challenge is to give the competing students an opportunity to begin the competition by having some fun, win points for their high school in the team competition, and get “on-stage” one time before facing a potential elimination question. Most of the competing students chose to deliver the 52 words of the Preamble in classic oratorical style, but, as in the Spring 2017 Tennessee Star Constitution Bee,…

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Tennessee Star Constitution Bee Will Be Held in Franklin Tomorrow

April 27, 2018April 27, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

FRANKLIN, Tennessee–The second Tennessee Star Constitution Bee, sponsored by the Polk Foundation, will be held in Franklin, Tennessee tomorrow, Saturday April 28 at the Main Auditorium of the Williamson County Administrative Complex. The doors open at 8 a.m., and the competition will begin at 9 a.m., and is expected to wrap up around noon. Participating secondary school contestants are encouraged to arrive by 8:30 a.m. so they can receive their contestant number and have their pictures taken. Students who have not yet signed up online to compete will be allowed to participate if they sign up on site between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. The event is open to the public, which is invited to attend. All Tennessee secondary school students in grades 8 through 12 are eligible to participate. Questions will be based on the book, The Tennessee Star Guide to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Secondary School Students, which is available free of charge. The winner of the individual competition will be awarded a $3,000 scholarship from the Andrew Woodfin Miller Foundation and will win a free trip for two (themselves and a parent) to Washington, D.C. In addition to the individual championship, at least…

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Mayoral Candidate Carol Swain to Host Victory Celebration for Opponents of Nashville Transit Plan on Election Night Tuesday

April 27, 2018April 27, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

Carol Swain

Mayoral candidate Carol Swain announced on Friday that her campaign will host a victory celebration for opponents of the $9 billion Nashville Transit Plan on election night, Tuesday, May 1, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel. “As one of the leading voices against the transit tax in Nashville, Carol M. Swain is continuing to urge voters to ‘vote against’ on May 1,” the Swain campaign said in a statement released on Friday, adding: The campaign cordially invites all those who have opposed the transit tax to celebrate their efforts and rally around modern alternative solutions. Guests can RSVP here. Carol will share her “Blueprint for Nashville” and ask voters that opposed the transit tax to support her bid for Mayor on Election Day, May 24. “It is is imperative that Nashvillians vote against the transit tax on May 1. If the referendum passes, it will tie the hands of city leaders for at least five decades and stunt the local economy,” Swain said in the statement. “The currently proposed plan does not solve our regional traffic congestion problems. The plan utilizes expensive and outdated technology that does not meet the needs of Nashville’s commuters,”…

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