Author: Tina LaFleur

Scary Fireworks Mishap Singes Titan’s Nissan Stadium, Everyone’s Okay

Tina LaFleur

  There were some tense moments toward the end of the Independence Day fireworks display at Nissan Stadium Tuesday, as at least one shell fell, landing in the upper decks before exploding, TitansInsider.com reports. “It took place toward the end of the show,” Lansden Hill told TitansInsider.com. “The shells are supposed to go off in the air, but this one came back down and didn’t go off until it landed in the upper deck. Hill is the owner of Pyro Shows, which has been doing the fireworks show in Nashville for thirty years. “It was just one of those things that will occasionally happen,” Hill said. “That’s why the fire code requires that we keep the crowd a certain area away from it. We know out of every 1,000 shells not all of them are going to work right.” TitansInsider.com reported: The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp confirmed that the damage had taken place to the stadium and that the extent of that damage was still be assessed. Personnel from the NCVC was on hand at the site around 3 p.m. Wednesday to begin assessing the damage. The firework shell hit on the west side of the upper deck of…

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State Senator Bill Ketron Announces Bid for Rutherford County Mayor

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) is running Rutherford County Mayor, the Daily News Journal reports. It will be the fourth run for the office since his first bid in the 1990s. Via the DNJ: A Republican from Murfreesboro, Ketron ran for the office (once called county executive) in 1990, 1994 and 1998. He served on the Rutherford County Commission from 1990 to 1998 and has served in the state Senate since 2002. Ketron’s current term ends in November 2018. Ketron’s announcement is another indication the 2018 election could see a massive turnover in the Tennessee General Assembly. “Senator Ketron is just the latest in an increasingly long list of legislators who will be leaving to seek other offices or retiring. I wouldn’t be surprised if 2018 gives us as many as two dozen State House and Senate open seats. 2018 could be one of the most tumultuous years we have seen in Tennessee politics in a long time,” media consultant and political analyst Steve Gill tells The Tennessee Star. Immediately after Ketron’s announcement, “State Representative Dawn White announced that she will be a candidate for the District 13 State Senate seat in the August 2018 Republican Primary,” WGNS reported on Sunday:…

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FOXNews Star Judge Jeanine Pirro to Speak at the 9th Annual T-Bones and Politics Event

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  Former State Representative Joe Carr announced Thursday that FOXNews host Judge Jeanine Pirro will be the featured speaker at this year’s 9th Annual T-Bones & Politics fundraising event. This conservative political event will take place September 14 at The Shed in Lascassas, TN on September 14; tickets go on sale today. Those wishing to attend a private, pre-event reception with Judge Jeanine can also purchase those tickets on the website. This fundraiser benefits JoePAC, a political action committee focused on supporting and electing conservative candidates to the Tennessee General Assembly. Carr said, “T-Bones & Politics has provided some of the most dynamic and relevant political thinkers for nearly a decade and this year we’re raising the bar with FOXNews firebrand and legal scholar, Judge Jeanine Pirro! No one brings it like Judge Jeanine – with her insight, cutting wit and judicial expertise – you’ll be informed, inspired and ready to ‘Make America Great Again’.” Previous year’s speakers have included Former Bush White House Chief of Staff, Andrew Card, political insider and commentator Dick Morris, Wisconsin Governor and Presidential Candidate Scott Walker, former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn, former Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, and nationally syndicated radio talk show hosts, The Politichicks. “Come on out and enjoy the fellowship…

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Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett Rules Out Run for Governor, Sets Sights on U.S. Senate or House of Representatives

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett says he will “either run for Senate or US Congress,” WBIR reports. The announcement puts incumbents Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) and Representative Jimmy Duncan (TN-02) on notice for a challenge by a fellow Republican. A recent Tennessee Star/Triton poll found Burchett’s chances for a successful bid for the US Senate may be good, due to Tennessee voters’ collapse in confidence of Senator Corker. WBIR quoted Burchett Tuesday, saying that although the Governorship never really interested him, “I think that I need to run for one of those seats [Senate or House]. We’ll be making a decision shortly.” The Star reported Monday Burchett’s promise that he would “be on the ballot” in 2018. Voters first met Tim Burchett in the 1994 when he ran to represent the people of Knoxville in the 19th State House District and won. After two terms, he ran for and won the State Senate District 9, serving three, four-year terms. With 16 years of service in the General Assembly, in 2010 Burchett ran for and won his election for Knox County Mayor. After eight years, he is termed out. While Burchett is exploring his future prospects, a spate of candidates are stepping up to run for the open office. WBIR reports:…

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President Trump Urges Passage of Kate’s Law

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  The White House released a statement Tuesday afternoon strongly urging passage of HR 3004, more commonly known as ‘Kate’s Law’: The Administration strongly supports H.R. 3004, Kate’s Law. This bill commemorates Kate Steinle, the 32-year-old woman who was shot and killed two years ago in San Francisco as she walked along a pier with her father. The alleged shooter, Francisco Sanchez, was an illegal immigrant who had already been deported five times and had seven felony convictions. H.R. 3004 would increase the penalties that may be imposed on criminal aliens convicted of illegal reentry, deterring reentry and keeping criminal aliens off our streets. The bill is consistent with the Administration’s broader efforts to strengthen enforcement of our immigration laws and improve the security of our Nation’s borders. If H.R. 3004 were presented to the President in its current form, his advisors would recommend that he sign the bill into law.  The effort to sharpen punishments for repeatedly violating U.S. immigration laws in reaction to crimes like the murder of Kate Steinle was undertaken by former FOXNews analyst and host of The Factor, Bill O’Reilly. Early efforts to pass Kate’s Law failed in 2015 and 2016 due to blocks by then-Senator Harry…

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White House Responds to the Predictably Dour CBO Score of the American Healthcare Act

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  Within an hour of the ‘non-partisan’ Congressional Budget Office’s report showing, among other things, that over 22 million Americans would lose their insurance coverage over the next decade, President Trump issued the following statement: The CBO has consistently proven it cannot accurately predict how healthcare legislation will impact insurance coverage. This history of inaccuracy, as demonstrated by its flawed report on coverage, premiums, and predicted deficit arising out of Obamacare, reminds us that its analysis must not be trusted blindly.  In 2013, the CBO estimated that 24 million people would have coverage under Obamacare by 2016.  It was off by an astounding 13 million people – more than half—as less than 11 million were actually covered.  Then, CBO estimated that 30 million fewer people would be uninsured in 2016, but then it had to reduce its estimate to 22 million, further illustrating its inability to present reliable healthcare predictions. We know the facts.  To date, we have seen average individual market premiums more than double and insurers across the country opting out of healthcare exchanges.  As more and more people continue to lose coverage and face fewer healthcare choices, President Trump is committed to repealing and replacing Obamacare, which…

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Nashville Murders Up An Alarming 63 Percent Over Last Year

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  Following the disturbing trend in heavily urban areas like St. Louis, Detroit, and Chicago, the murder rate in Nashville has spiked an alarming 63 percent over 2016. WKRN’s Joseph Pleasant reports, “In a span of 36 hours, there have been four homicides in Davidson County.” He continues: Early Thursday morning, a man was shot to death in West Nashville. Another man was stabbed on Murfreesboro Pike in South Nashville. Later Thursday afternoon, Ahmad Osborne was shot and killed on Glastonbury Road in South Nashville. Overnight in Hermitage, Suzanne Daughtery died and police believe her husband killed her. And: These deaths bring the total number of homicides so far in 2017 to 57. Last year at this time, there were 35. Year to year, homicides are up 63 percent. East Nashville has also seen a dramatic rise in homicides. 13 people have been killed in the East Precinct, compared to three this time last year. The rapid rise in homicides has been an ongoing concern of law enforcement professionals in recent years. The New York Times’ FiveThirtyEight blog reported in January spikes in murder rates in cities across the country, noting, “Murder almost certainly increased substantially in the U.S. in 2016, one year…

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Report: State Senator Mark Norris On President Trump’s Shortlist for Possible Federal Judgeship

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  The Trump Administration is building a solid record strong appointments and nominees for the some 4,000 positions every new President must fill. In addition to those, the Administration is moving forward to seat a number of judgeships – the ones President Obama and his team were not able to pack with far-left ideologues. The Times Free Press is reporting State Senator and Majority Leader Mark Norris (R- Collierville) is in the process of being vetted for one of those positions: Two Republican sources said FBI agents had asked them about Norris as part of the customary background check for federal judicial nominations. And a former state legislator said two local law enforcement chiefs in his former West Tennessee district told him they had been contacted about Norris as well. It’s unclear whether any other attorneys are undergoing background checks for the two vacant federal judgeships in the Western District. In January, the Memphis Flyer listed Norris among five attorneys who were being discussed in political circles in connection with the two vacancies — one created in 2015 when U.S. District Judge Hardy Mays took senior status and another earlier this year when U.S. District Judge Daniel Breen did the…

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President Trump Addresses the Faith and Freedom Coalition

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  While the whole of the Establishment/Media Complex are hovered around their various media devices, hanging on the words of spurned former FBI Director James Comey, President Trump is out with the people who helped elect him. Thursday, President Trump spoke at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington DC to a capacity crowd. President Trump reminisced, “I’ve spoken to this group so much and so often – and I’ll be back. Most recently, one year ago this week when I came here to ask for your support, your help and your prayers. And WOW, did you deliver – you really did.” Watch his full remarks:

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Tuesday Marks the 73rd Anniversary of D-Day, the Invasion of Normady

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

Nearly three-quarters of a century ago on June 6, 1944 the United States joined with Great Britain, the free French forces, and Canada to mount a bold invasion of the beachhead in Normandy, France as a last-ditch effort to gain a foothold in Europe against the conquering forces of Hitler’s Germany. The 160,000-soldier seaborne operation would mark a massive pivot in the Allies’ defense against the Nazis and the bloodthirsty Axis. The National World War II Museum has a developed a moving collection of photos, reports, and personal accounts of that day by the men who were there: For over two and a half years the Allies planned and gathered their military strength to hurl into the decisive amphibious invasion of northern France and strike a mortal blow against the empire of Nazi Germany. In anticipation, Adolf Hitler stockpiled reserves across French coastlines into the Atlantic Wall defenses, determined to drive the Allied forces back into the sea. There will be no second chance for the Allies: the fate of their cause hangs upon this decisive day. After bad weather forces a delay, an expected break in the weather for Tuesday, June 6, is reported to General Dwight D. Eisenhower…

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American for Prosperity Launches Major Campaign to ‘Un-Rig’ the U.S. Economy Through Pro-Growth Tax Reforms

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  Americans for Prosperity (AFP) announced Friday it has launched the first in a series of ads calling on members of Congress to “un-rig” the U.S. economy by passing pro-growth tax reform. The ad campaign will run in the six-figure range, and appear on digital platforms targeting abut a dozen members of Congress as a part of a summer-long push to shape the House of Representative’s tax-reform efforts around five pro-growth principles. Rep. Black chairs the Budget Committee and is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which will write the tax reform bill the House will consider later this year. AFP – Tennessee’s State Director Andy Ogles said in a statement, “Americans want a tax system that is honest and fair, which will grow the economy and create jobs.” Ogles added: We hope Rep. Black will fight back against the current rigged tax system by leading the effort to pass pro-growth tax reform based on AFP’s 5 Principles of simplicity, efficiency, equitability, predictability, and no new burden on taxpayers. That means opposing a border adjustment tax – a trillion-dollar tax on consumers masquerading as a tax on imports. Included in the first round of ads is one…

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9th Annual ‘Healing Field – Flags of Remembrance’ in Murfreesboro Opens at The Grove

Tina LaFleur

  For nearly a decade, Noon Exchange Club of Murfreesboro has put on the Healing Field Flags of Remembrance event over Memorial Day weekend. The volunteer-run event is a moving tribute to our veterans, military, and personal heroes. This year’s Healing Field is located at The Grove at Wilkinson Place, and will run through 5pm Monday, Memorial Day. At this morning’s opening ceremonies, volunteers gathered to dedicate and place hundreds of American flags across the Healing Field. A wagon brimming with American flags awaiting placement by the volunteers at this year’s opening ceremony. Boy Scout troop 3200 lent several helping hands. Sisters Mary Grace (left) and Elizabeth unfurl the Healing Fields flags. Long-time volunteer Joe is a Navy vet and his dog Jack is his fishing buddy. A group of Walmart employees volunteer again this year, and brought water to share with everyone. Sara Walker and her daughter Lilyana Gillespie were among the volunteers from the New Hope Lutheran Church in Murfreesboro. This is Mike Gann’s first time helping with the Healing Fields event. Shea Young and her children Julian and Rowan are first time volunteers at the Healing field. She and her husband are both veterans and they have a son currently serving…

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Republican Gianforte Wins Montana’s Special Congressional Election

Tina LaFleur

  The mainstream media’s fever dreams have once again been broken by the will of American voters – this time, in Big Sky Country – as Republican Greg Gianforte wins Montana’s single House seat in Thursday’s special election. Decision Desk HQ called it at 10pm mountain time: We project that Greg Gianforte has won the #MTAL special election. #MTAL https://t.co/61tksgfeKf — Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) May 26, 2017 Gianforte will replace Ryan Zinke who was tapped by the Trump Administration to join the cabinet as the Secretary of the Interior. On Monday night, Gianforte made news when a reporter from The Guardian claimed that he was body slammed by Gianforte. Voters in Montana apparently were not particularly bothered by the allegation, though a local sheriff filed misdemeanor charges against the GOP candidate late Monday night. Follow real-time returns here.      

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‘DRIVE THEM OUT’: President Trump Delivers Historic Speech in Riyadh at Arab Islamic American Summit

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  President Trump’s Arab Islamic American Summit remarks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were billed as the most important speech he’s given to date. And by all accounts, he delivered. Unapologetically, forcefully, and truthfully – Mr. Trump confronted, then challenged the Arab leaders at the Summit and the world to do what is necessary to end the scourge of Islamic terror: But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them. The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries, and for their children. It is a choice between two futures – and it is a choice America CANNOT make for you. A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and extremists. Drive. Them. Out. DRIVE THEM OUT of your places of worship. DRIVE THEM OUT of your communities. DRIVE THEM OUT of your holy land, and DRIVE THEM OUT OF THIS EARTH. Watch:   Reaching out directly to people across the globe, Mr. Trump tweeted that his speech is posted in full on his Facebook page: Speech transcript at Arab Islamic American Summit ➡️https://t.co/eUWxJXJxbe Replay ➡️https://t.co/VtmlSqciXx#RiyadhSummit #POTUSAbroad — Donald J.…

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Gravity Defied at the Franklin Rodeo

Tina LaFleur

  The Franklin Rodeo wrapped up Saturday, and The Tennessee Star was there! Our photos from across many of the events show why gravity is only a ‘theory.’ Here are some of the most gravity-defying moments we captured. “I’ll step out riiiiight here!” A valiant effort! Picture-perfect Now there’s a vertical jump for you! Well… almost gravity-defying! Congratulations to all the winners; and we’ll see everyone at next year’s Franklin Rodeo!    

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Families Abound At Franklin Graham’s Decision America Tennessee Tour

Tina LaFleur

  Tennesseeans brought the whole family to The Decision America Tennessee Tour with Franklin Graham Thursday evening. “A lot of people think we’re just kids. That we don’t listen,” said one youngster. “But we do!” “My favorite part was seeing how many other people showed up,” he said. “Seeing everyone there; how many kids – it was great. It was amazing!” The Tour wraps up Sunday in Memphis. Check here for tickets and details.      

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Photos from the Decision America Tennessee Tour

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  Thursday in Clarksville, Tennessee, as the hot and humid day turned into a breezy, clear night, an estimated 4,600 people answered the invitation to join Franklin Graham at the Amphitheatre in Liberty Park for an evening of fellowship and praise, part of the Decision America Tennessee Tour.   As the park filled, attendees set up ‘camp’ festival-style, with blankets and beach chairs.   People came from all walks of life, from gubernatorial candidates, to youth pastors, to casual onlookers.     Some of them left forever changed as they were moved by the prayerful Alter Call to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts for the first time in their lives.     The Decision America Tennessee Tour’s next stop is Jackson Friday, May 19; and with wrap up in Memphis Sunday, May 21.   Watch as Franklin Graham take the stage: I'm in Clarksville to preach the Gospel and pray for our nation at the #DecisionAmerica Tennessee Tour. Share this… https://t.co/HMWVFoG7CW — Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) May 19, 2017

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Senator Bob Corker Repeats FAKE NEWS Narrative from Democrats and MSM, Calls for White House to ‘Bring Itself Under Control’

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  Tennessee’s Senator Bob Corker is once again singing from the Democrats’ hymnal. The chorus Corker joined on Monday is delivering the perennial favorite line for 2017, “the White House is in chaos,” with a dash of the debunked FAKE NEWS from the Washington Post, “White House/Russia classified intel disclosure.” “Obviously they’re in a downward spiral right now and they’ve got to figure out a way to come to grips with all that’s happening,” Corker told Bloomberg News on Monday. Bloomberg’s Sahil Kapur tweeted Corker’s additional statement that “The White House has got to do something soon to bring itself under control and in order.”   BOB CORKER: "The White House has got to do something soon to bring itself under control and in order. It's got to happen." — Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) May 15, 2017 But, as radio talk show host Laura Ingraham noted, the Washington Post “source” for the allegation “didn’t talk to ANY U.S. official” in attendance at the meeting in question: WH source with direct knowledge just told me @washingtonpost didn't talk to ANY U.S. official at mtg w/ Lavrov. "It's Fake News" — Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) May 15, 2017 and followed it up with Meaning of…

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AFP Sponsors ‘Day at the Capitol’ for Key Vote in Louisiana Gas Tax Hike Battle

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  If it seems like every other State in the Union has either raised their fuel tax – or is working on it – it’s because they are. A full 21 states’ legislatures have proposed raising the gas tax, and more of those proposals have been successful than not. California and Tennessee consumers will see a sharp increase in prices at the pump thanks to increased taxes; while South Carolina’s governor just spared his constituency by vetoing a gas tax hike. Louisiana is up next, with a vote Tuesday in the powerful Ways and Means Committee which will determine the fate of a years-long battle to raise the gas tax there. Americans for Prosperity (AFP), whose Tennessee state group opposed the gas tax in Tennessee, is sponsoring a “Day at the Capitol” through its Louisiana state group. Activists are called to gather Tuesday, May 16 in Baton  Rouge from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Ways and Means Committee room. The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. The Hayride reports: There are 19 members of the House Ways And Means Committee – 12 Republicans and seven Democrats. HB 632 by Rep. Steve Carter, which is the gas tax bill, has eight…

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McCarthy Dons “Spicey” Spicer Gear, Takes to the Streets of New York

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  Melissa McCarthy reprised her role as White House Press Secretary Sean “Spicy” Spicer on the streets of New York Friday in preparation to host the upcoming episode of Saturday Night Live. Locals tweeted McCarthy’s antics: https://twitter.com/Sifill_LDF/status/863020786130538498 The things you see in New York City. Melissa McCarthy riding Sean Spicer's podium through Midtown #SNL pic.twitter.com/BEorGZ15yS — Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) May 12, 2017 As well as the New York Post: Melissa McCarthy took her "Sean Spicer" act on the road https://t.co/m0YF8cixw7 pic.twitter.com/MICjDkGhSU — New York Post (@nypost) May 12, 2017 NBC News reported:    

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Commentary: Pure and Simple Hate Fuels the Left’s Outrage Machine, Not Trump

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  by: Jeffrey A. Rendall As the political fallout from the firing of former FBI Director James Comey trickles down from the media heavens – and Republican congressmen continue to suffer paranoid beat-downs from leftist protesters during otherwise innocuous town hall meetings – one wonders, what’s the best we can expect from our political system in the era of Trump? If the past six months is any indication, not much. Ever since President Trump won the 2016 election the reactions from liberals, Democrats and the media (one and the same) have been nothing short of hysterical, and not in the humorous sense. Take for example certain celebrities’ response to Trump’s entirely justifiable termination of Comey the other night. Katie Jerkovich of the Daily Caller reports, “Celebrities like Rosie O’Donnell, John Legend and others said it was time for President Donald Trump to be removed from office after he fired FBI Director James Comey Tuesday. “Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines said that the president had a mental illness.” The semi-washed up Maines wasn’t the only one questioning Trump’s capacity – and patriotism — over Comey. 60s/70s hippy legend Cher tweeted, “TRUMP SAYS 1 OF THE REASONS HE FIRED FBI DIRECTOR COMEY IS BECAUSE…

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Promise Kept: President Donald Trump Will Sign an Executive Order to Investigate Vote Fraud

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

President Trump will sign an executive order Thursday creating a long-awaited commission to investigate voter fraud and elections, a senior administration official confirmed. The commission will be led by Vice President Mike Pence and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who worked on the Trump transition team and is a vocal advocate of stronger immigration laws.…

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Health Insurers in Connecticut and Maryland Ask for Double-Digit Premium Hikes, Tennessee Braces for ‘Sticker Shock’

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star - Obamacare

Consumers in at least two states face the prospect of double-digit increases in health insurance rates next year, as insurers attempt to price premiums amid uncertainty, including from Congress and President Donald Trump on the fate of Obamacare. Also driving rate increases is the fact that the millions of Americans enrolled on Obamacare’s exchanges are sicker…

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When All Else Fails, @TheDemocrats Go Blue

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  Racking up the election losses is taking a toll on the Democrats’ Twitter team, it appears. After failing to avoid a runoff in the anything-goes special election to replace Georgia’s Tom Price, and looking down the abyss of no likely wins in the foreseeable future, Democrats are once again resulting to profanity to try to make an impact. Taking away health care from 24 million people is going low. Giving a shit about people is going high. https://t.co/UISq0f7Ob3 — The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) April 19, 2017   The tweet, posted just as offices were opening for the day, was a reaction to a tweet by @GOP, who pointed out the low-road, gutter-talk messaging printed on tshirts at the Democrats’ online store. 2016: “When they go low, we go high” – Michelle Obama2017: ⬇ pic.twitter.com/HoweDU2qvg — GOP (@GOP) April 19, 2017 Seems Democrats are a little sensitive about completely and singlehandedly ruining healthcare and the health insurance marketplace with Obamacare. But then, we know that was the plan all along.      

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Islamic Group Aligns with LGBT Advocates to Oppose Tennessee’s Mark Green Appointment as Army Secretary

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), perhaps best known as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terror funding scandal, issued a statement denouncing Tennessee state senator Mark Green’s nomination to serve as President Donald Trumps Secretary of the Army. CAIR – who forcefully label people and groups with whom they disagree with the Muslim Brotherhood term, “Islamophobic” – announced its opposition to Green’s confirmation due to past remarks and policy positions. Offered as proof of his “Islamophobia,” CAIR’s statement included a laundry-list of quotes by Sen. Green, apparently all from a single appearance at a Chattanooga Tea Party meeting last year. Perhaps most interesting about the pro-Islamic organization’s statement is at the end, with its acknowledgment and alignment with LGBT advocates against Green: Other groups are opposing Green’s confirmation because of his criticism of federal attempts to bar discrimination in workplaces and businesses. SEE: L.G.B.T. Advocates Criticize Nominee for Army Secretary State Sen. Mark Green is a medical doctor, West Point graduate, and a career military veteran with a distinguished record of service. He is a staunch advocate for limited government, secure borders, and fiscal responsibility. Before being tapped for the Army Secretary position, Green was strongly considering a run for…

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LGBT Groups Mount Opposition to Tennessee’s Mark Green as Army Secretary

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  LGBT advocates like Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Army Military Partner Association (AMPA) are organizing to block the confirmation of Tennessee state senator Mark Green as President Trump’s next Army Secretary. In what appears to be a coordinated media campaign, several news outlets are reporting Green’s policy positions and record on so-called LGBT issues are “deeply concerning.” Friday, the New York Times reported: A Tennessee state senator who has criticized federal attempts to bar discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in workplaces and businesses was nominated on Friday to be President Trump’s next secretary of the Army. After a brief bio, the Times quoted from a blog post by AMPA: On Tuesday, the American Military Partner Association, the largest organization of L.G.B.T. military families, accused Mr. Green of making “a shameful political career out of targeting L.G.B.T. people for discrimination.” Monday, TheHill.com published: LGBT groups are raising pressure on President Trump’s nominee for Army secretary, just three days after the pick became official, and are vowing a fight. Trump “couldn’t have picked a worse nominee to pick a fight with Congress,” David Stacy, government affairs director at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), said Monday. Tuesday morning, the Washington post…

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Justice Neil Gorsuch Sworn In

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  A little more than a year after the sudden death of beloved Justice Anotin Scalia, President Donald Trump introduced Judge Neil Gorsuch to take the Oath of office to be the next Associate Justice on the Supreme Court Monday. Following a private swearing to the Oath of Office all federal officials must take by Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Anthony Kennedy officiated a public swearing to the Oath of Office of Supreme Court Justices, making Gorsuch the 113th Justice to sit on the court. Right Side Broadcasting covered the event, held outdoors in the White House Rose Garden: The Oath of the Supreme Court Justice is: I, Neil M. Gorsuch, do solemnly swear that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God. Justice Gorsuch’s elevation to the Supreme Court restores the full bench of nine jurists. Reuters reported: Donald Trump reveled in the biggest political victory of his presidency at a…

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Groundbreaking ‘Trans-Siberian Orchestra’ Founder Paul O’Neill Found Dead

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  The music world has suffered another loss as the unexpected passing of Trans Siberian Orchestra (TSO) founder Paul O’Neill was announced Wednesday.   The Los Angeles Times reported: Paul O’Neill, who founded the progressive metal band Trans-Siberian Orchestra that was known for its spectacular holiday concerts filled with theatrics, lasers and pyrotechnics, has died at the age of 61. O’Neill was found dead in his room by hotel staff at a Tampa Embassy Suites late Wednesday afternoon, University of South Florida police spokeswoman Renna Reddick said. There were no obvious signs of foul play, and a medical examiner is working to determine an official cause, she said. TSO burst onto the music scene shortly after their founding in 1996 with their unique re-imagining Christmas carols an original holiday-themed tunes – but many will remember their first time hearing the band with this classic viral video from 2005: https://youtu.be/rmgf60CI_ks   Selling more that 12,000,000 albums and selling out the largest arenas, TSO defied the struggles many music acts face in today’s marketplace. LATimes: O’Neill was a rock producer and manager who began putting together the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 1996, blending heavy metal with classical music and creating a unique brand…

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Alexander Staffer Resigns Amid Identity Theft Charges

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

Johnathon Cox Griswold, a staffer in Senator Lamar Alexander’s Knoxville office, has resigned as a result of felony identity theft charges filed in February. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports: A staffer with U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander’s Knoxville office has resigned after being charged with felony identity theft for allegedly withdrawing approximately $6,000 using a stolen bank debit card, according to an arrest warrant. Jonathan Cox Griswold, 38, was charged Feb. 21 after being captured on a surveillance camera making multiple withdrawals from an ATM at Home Federal Bank, 5538 Kingston Pike, using the victim’s personal identification number and card, the warrant reads. David Cleary, Senator Alexander’s Chief of Staff said in a statement that while the Senator is disappointed to hear of Griswold’s arrest, as far as he knows, the alleged wrongdoing is unconnected to his official duties in Knoxville. Griswold’s arraignment is set for April 13 in Knox County General Sessions Court.

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The Legendary Don Rickles Has Died

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  Renowned comedy icon Don Rickles had died. He would have been 91 in May. Rickles burst into the mainstream with his acerbic style after Frank Sinatra spotted him in a night club in the late 1950s. A pioneer in the genre of ‘insult comedy,’ Sinatra said in later interviews he was impressed with how fearlessly Rickles would take on hecklers. His take-no-prisoners style soon earned him such nicknames as, “The King of Zing,” “Mr. Warmth,” and “The Merchant of Venom.” Although not really know as a big screen star, he has appeared in many box office hits, including the 1960 dramatic comedy, “The Rat Race;” campy Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello romp, “Beach Blanket Bingo;” and Scorsese’s high-stakes drama, “Casino.” But perhaps his most famous role to the current generation is as the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the groundbreaking “Toy Story” series. Amid the bustle of a busy news day, the internet took a moment to mourn his passing: https://twitter.com/50sAnd60s/status/850080053773963264   Over a Bloody Mary in Beverly Hills, insult comic Don Rickles tells the best Sinatra story ever https://t.co/uvtWgghXdS #VFArchives pic.twitter.com/PucWBGkQKd — VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) April 6, 2017   Comedian Don Rickles dies at 90 https://t.co/KsAzcjFcTf The only man to pick on…

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FAKE NEWS: State Rep. Andy Holt Declares NewsChannel 5’s Traffic Camera Citation ‘Investigation’ of Him a Sham

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  Tennessee State Representative Andy Holt (R-Dresden) fired back at so-called “fake news” regarding a report by News Channel 5’s Ben Hall. In a statement, Representative Holt shot down the local reporter’s implication that Holt – a notorious and outspoken opponent of automatically operated “red light cameras” by third-party vendors as a revenue generator for the state – somehow hid his record of unpaid traffic citations. Hall’s report is literally the definition of fake news. There’s a very simple reason I refused to talk to Mr. Hall about my traffic camera tickets. He’s a known peddler of fake, biased news. It’s actually funny that he fell right into the trap by writing a misleading headline and creating a fake story because I wouldn’t talk to him. The truth is, I’m more than happy to talk about my unpaid traffic camera citations, and I have been very public about that. I welcome any real journalist to come in my office, sit down with me, and report on the real story. Instead, Representative Holt said Hall’s story was a massive missed opportunity for the journalist to expose a very serious and corrupt operation. Mr. Hall really dropped the ball here. He let his…

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The Last Renaissance Man

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

By: Richard Gunderman CC 2.0 Gaze at Alexander Von Humboldt’s 1814 self-portrait and you peer into the eyes of a man who sought to see and understand everything. By this point in his life, at age 45, Humboldt had tutored himself in every branch of science, spent more than five years on a 6,000 mile scientific trek through South America, pioneered new methods for the graphical display of information, set a world mountain climbing record that stood for 30 years and established himself as one of the world’s most famous scientists, having helped to define many of today’s natural sciences. Humboldt, born in Berlin, is sometimes called the last Renaissance man – he embodied all that was known about the world in his day. He spent the last three decades of his life writing Kosmos, an attempt to provide a scientific account of all aspects of nature. Though unfinished at the time of his death in 1859, the four completed volumes are one of the most ambitious works of science ever published, conveying an extraordinary breadth of understanding. Throughout his life, Humboldt sought out the world’s interconnections. Today knowledge can seem hopelessly fragmented. The sciences and humanities speak different languages, the…

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Peyton Manning Will Not Run for Senate in Tennessee: ‘I Have NO Interest in the Political World’

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

Rumors swirling of a possible US Senate run by legendary football star Peyton Manning on the heels of a possible 2020 retirement of Senator Lamar Alexander have been sidelined. For now. The Denver Post reported University of Tennessee alum Manning denied any interest in the Senate, stating: “I have NO interest in the political world.” Via the Post: “I don’t know where that came from. Last week I was going to run a team, this week I going to apparently run for Senate, and next week I’ll be an astronaut,” Manning said. “I have no interest in the political world, but would like to continue serving communities.” Manning said he’s “excited about the next chapter of my career” and that he has “a bucket list” of things he wants to do before finding something new. “The best advice I got was to not sign up for something full-time right away that you can’t commit to,” he said. “I’m taking my time and seeing what my options might be.” So… we’ll put him down as a “maybe.” Read the Post’s full report at: http://www.denverpost.com/2017/03/22/peyton-manning-political-world-interest/

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American Killed in London Islamic Terrorist Attack

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

The New York Daily News reports at least one American was injured and another killed in the Westminster Bridge terror attack Wednesday. Utah couple Kurt Cochran and his wife Melissa were in London on a ‘dream vacation’ to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Via the Daily News: “Our family is heartbroken to learn of the death of our son-in-law, Kurt W. Cochran, who was a victim of Wednesday’s terrorist attack in London,” said Melissa’s brother, Clint Payne, in a statement issued by the Mormon church. “Kurt was a good man and a loving husband to our daughter and sister, Melissa.”   Read the full story at: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/utah-man-identified-victim-deadly-london-attack-article-1.3006601

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Kentucky Set to Rally for President Trump in Louisville

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

  The Kentucky Exposition Center  is brimming with well-wishers and rally-goers, who have lined up in the thousands to see President Trump in Freedom Hall. Leading up to the actual event, Right Side Broadcasting Network is offering live coverage outside the venue. People are happy, enthused and making new friends while waiting for the President to arrive. The event is scheduled to begin at 3:30pm eastern time. Catch the RSBN livestream, here:        

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Hot Food, Fast: The Home Microwave Oven Turns 50

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

By: Timothy J. Jorgensen, Director of the Health Physics and Radiation Protection Graduate Program and Associate Professor of Radiation Medicine, Georgetown University The year 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the home microwave oven. The ovens were first sold for home use by Amana corporation in 1967, but they had actually been used for commercial food preparation since the 1950s. It wasn’t until 1967, however, that technology miniaturization and cost reductions in manufacturing made the ovens small enough and cheap enough (a still steep US$495; US$3,575 in 2017 dollars) for use in the kitchens of the American middle class. Now, it would be hard to find a U.S. home without a microwave. Amana, a subsidiary of Raytheon corporation, actually called their first model the “Radarange” – a contraction of radar and range (as in stove). What do microwave ovens have to do with radar? Radar is an acronym for “radio detection and ranging.” Developed prior to World War II, the technology is based on the principle that radio waves can bounce off the surfaces of large objects. So if you point a radio wave beam in a certain direction, some of the radio waves will come bouncing back to you, if…

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Giles County Chicken Breeder Quarantined After Testing Positive for Avian Flu

Tina LaFleur
chickens

Tennessee state department of agriculture officials have identified a third outbreak of avian flu. A flock of chickens at a commercial poultry breeding operation has tested positive for “low pathogenic avian influenza” (LPAI). It is not the same as the China H7N9 virus affecting Asia and is genetically distinct. The facility in question is a chicken breeding operation in Giles County, near the Alabama state line. The company that operates it is a different company from the one associated with the recent detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in neighboring Lincoln County. At this time, officials do not believe one premises sickened the other. On March 6, routine screening tests at the Giles County premises indicated the presence of avian influenza in the flock. State and federal laboratories confirmed the existence of H7N9 LPAI in tested samples. “This is why we test and monitor for avian influenza,” State Veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher said in a statement. “When routine testing showed a problem at this facility, the operators immediately took action and notified our lab. That fast response is critical to stopping the spread of this virus.” As a precaution, the affected flock was immediately exterminated and buried; and the…

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State Senate Transportation Committee Passes Amended Gas Tax Hike

Tina LaFleur

The State Senate Transportation Committee passed an amended version of Gov. Haslam’s Gas Tax hike (SB 1221) on Monday. Among the changes were a removal of the inflation indexing provision, a cut in the governor’s proposed gas tax increase from 7 cents per gallon to 6 cents per gallon, and a cut in the proposed diesel fuel tax increase from 12 cents to 10 cents per gallon. Senate revisions to Gov. Haslam’s road-funding bill: – Reduces governor’s proposed gas tax increase from 7 cents per gallon to 6 cents. Phases increases in over 3 years with 4 cents in Fiscal Year 2018, 1 cent in FY 2019 and 1 cent in FY 2020. – Reduces governor’s proposed diesel tax increase from 12 cents per gallon to 10 cents. Phases in over 3 years with 4 cents in FY 2018, 3 cents in FY 2019 and 3 cents in FY 2020 – Alternative fuel tax increase of 8 cents phased in over 3 years. – Removes inflation indexing provision – Removes 3 percent rental car surcharge – Deepens Haslam’s proposed cut to state’s sales tax by reducing the 5 percent tax to 4 percent beginning July 1 as opposed to the 4.5 percent originally…

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New Genetically Engineered American Chestnut Will Help Restore the Decimated, Iconic Tree

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

American chestnut trees were once among the most majestic hardwood trees in the eastern deciduous forests, many reaching 80 to 120 feet in height and eight feet or more in diameter. The “then boundless chestnut woods” Thoreau wrote about in Walden once grew throughout the Appalachian mountains. They provided habitat and a mast crop for wildlife, a nutritious nut crop for humans and a source of valuable timber. The species has a sad story to tell. Of the estimated four billion American chestnut trees that once grew from Maine to Georgia, only a remnant survive today. The species was nearly wiped out by chestnut blight, a devastating disease caused by the exotic fungal pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica. This fungus was accidentally introduced into the United States over a century ago as people began to import Asian species of chestnut. It reduced the American chestnut from the dominant canopy species in the eastern forests to little more than a rare shrub. After battling the blight for more than a century, researchers are using the modern tools of breeding, bio-control methods that rely on a virus that inhibits the growth of the infecting fungus, and direct genetic modification to return the American chestnut…

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Clarksville Municipal Broadband Provider CDE Lightband, With Taxpayer Losses Topping $75 Million, Suffers More Outages

Tina LaFleur
Tennessee Star

By Chris Butler CDE Lightband of Clarksville, the municipal broadband outlet that cost taxpayers $75 million, has had an outage, yet again, as of Wednesday. The municipal broadband service has had several outages over the past three years, inspiring a public uproar and raising questions about the grandiose claims made by city officials when they approved the network more than a decade ago. CDE officials said on their Facebook page Wednesday that an outage had occurred and that “engineers are working to resolve as quickly as possible.” Angry CDE customers, however, responded to that post with the following comments: CDE Lightband was supposed to provide local businesses with faster and more reliable web connections than private-sector providers AT&T and Charter, which serve the city of 142,000 that straddles the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. Voters gave CDE Lightband the go-ahead in a referendum 11 years ago. One major outage occurred on April Fool’s Day one year. CDE Lightband has 15,000 customers, with packages ranging from $44.95 to $249.95 per month, according to CDE’s website. – – – Reprinted with permission TennesseeWatchdog.org      

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