Author: Tom Pappert

Biden Admin Allows Illegal Immigrants to Fly Directly to Florida, Texas as Congress Questions Using Airports to House Them

Tom Pappert
ICE flights

The recent revelation that the Biden administration has arranged for more than 380,000 illegal immigrants to fly into the United States, primarily to Florida and Texas, comes as Republicans in Congress demand answers about American airports being used to house them.

A Monday analysis of illegal immigrant flights by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) found 386,000 have been allowed to enter the country illegally through airports by the Biden administration. CIS found the majority of illegal immigrants chose Florida airports as their destination. 

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Judge Orders Opening of Court Records of Arizona U.S. Senate Candidate Ruben Gallego’s Divorce Case

Tom Pappert
Rep. Ruben Gallego

An Arizona judge ordered the divorce case between Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03) and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego to be partially unsealed, ruling the decision to permanently make the proceedings private was improper, the conservative media outlet behind the legal action to reveal the divorce records reported Friday.

The Washington Free Beacon reported that Yavapai County Superior Court Judge John Napper ruled last Tuesday that the decision to seal the records in the 2017 divorce case of Ruben Gallego, the likely Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, was improper.

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ACLU Threatens Lawsuit if Governor Kemp Signs New Georgia Election Bill

Tom Pappert
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp

Georgia’s chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) declared on Friday it will sue the state if Governor Brian Kemp signs a bill, already approved by lawmakers, to strengthen election integrity in the state.

The legislation, SB 189, removes the Secretary of State from the Georgia Board of Elections, creates new conflict of interest provisions for election officials and private individuals involved with the election process, revises the process for challenging presidential electors and creates new chain of custody requirements for mail-in ballots.

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Youngkin Vetoes Minimum Wage Hike, Bill to Regulate Marijuana After Virginia Democrats Successfully Kill Potomac Yards Arena

Tom Pappert
Virginia Gov Glenn Youngkin

Governor Glenn Youngkin on Friday vetoed bills to regulate marijuana and raise the minimum wage, which were positioned by Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly as possible bargaining chips in negotiations to build an arena for the Washington Wizards and Capitals in Alexandria, Virginia.

The arena project was officially pronounced dead last week, when Monumental Sports and Entertainment announced a deal with Washington, D.C. to stay in the nation’s capitol for decades on Wednesday.

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NewsChannel 5’s Phil Williams Claims Elite Progressives’ Meddling in Tennessee Unworthy of Reporting, Fails to Mention Bloomberg Funding in Nashville and Memphis

Tom Pappert
Newscaster Phil Williams

Phil Williams, the NewsChannel 5 reporter known for his criticism of the effort by Governor Bill Lee to expand school choice in Tennessee, claimed on Friday that meddling by rich progressives in state politics is unworthy of his reporting because Republicans have a majority in the General Assembly.

Williams failed to acknowledge the recent funding of Nashville and Memphis by Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities, a climate change initiative backed by former New York mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg.

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Fani Willis Invokes ‘Race’ in First Speech Since Being Chastised by Judge over Race-Based Church Speech

Tom Pappert
Fani Willis

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis invoked race in her first public speech since Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee cautioned her about invoking race during a previous speech delivered from the pulpit of an Atlanta church.

The district attorney made the remarks about race at the South Fulton Women of the Shield Awards on Friday, stating, “It’s hard out here always having to prove yourself two and three times.”

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Phoenix Homicides Down as Police Report Success Targeting ‘Most Violent’ and ‘Repeat Offenders’

Tom Pappert
Phoenix Police Department

Homicides in Phoenix declined in 2023, with law enforcement crediting the success of their new policy to target repeat and violent offenders.

Phoenix saw 198 criminal homicides in 2023, and police received reports of 54,472 violent and property crimes in total. The number of homicides marked an 11 percent decrease from 2022, when the city reported 223 homicides.

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Rep. Bob Good Argues Virginia Voters ‘Could Care Less’ After Republican Endorses Primary Opponent John McGuire

Tom Pappert
Rep. Bob Good

Representative Bob Good (R-VA-05) stated on Saturday that voters in his congressional district “could care less” about a recent endorsement received by his primary challenger, State Senator John McGuire (R-Goochland), framing his opponent’s supporters as “establishment moderates.”

Good told cable news outlet CNN he was unfazed by the recent endorsement of McGuire by Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), who recently endorsed the Republican’s primary challenger.

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Tennessee State Rep. Justin Jones Posts, Deletes Claim Democrat Colleagues Sold Out to Republicans

Tom Pappert
State Rep Justin Jones

Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) claimed on Thursday that his Democratic colleagues are “bought and paid for” by House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) in a now-deleted post to social media.

Jones wrote in a post to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that “Speaker Sexton has bought and paid for Dem leadership in the Tennessee House.” He accused Sexton of directing Democratic “silence and performance based on what’s best for him.”

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Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell Claims Transit Referendum Will Include Plans for 600 New Traffic Signals

Tom Pappert
Freddie O'Connell

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell claimed on Thursday that his transit referendum will include plans for approximately 600 new traffic signals, and that new technology will be used to streamline the flow of vehicle traffic in the Music City.

O’Connell addressed Nashville drivers in a series of posts to the social media platform X, writing, “one of the most important elements” to his “transportation improvement program” involves “how it improves how everyone moves, including people driving.”

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Tennessee Judge Melissa Boyd Jailed After Reportedly Testing Positive for Cocaine, Alcohol

Tom Pappert
Melissa Boyd

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd was remanded to jail by Tennessee Circuit Judge Roy Morgan on Wednesday after prosecutors provided evidence she tested positive for cocaine twice and failed to appear for a third drug test, violating the terms of her bond.

Boyd was previously granted a low, $5,000 bond after she was criminally indicted in December for alleged harassment and coercion of a former campaign employee. That employee stated Boyd abused drugs and alcohol while serving as a judge, including while she made decisions on the bench.

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Arizona State Sen. Jake Hoffman Declares Candidacy for RNC National Committeeman

Tom Pappert
Jake Hoffman

Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) on Thursday announced his candidacy to become a Republican National Committee (RNC) National Committeeman for Arizona, pledging to be a “fearless advocate” for the interests of Arizona Republicans if selected for the party position.

“Today I am proud to announce my candidacy for RNC National Committeeman for Arizona,” wrote Hoffman in a post to the social media platform X. He declared that Americans “feel abandoned, taken advantage of, and stabbed in the back,” as well as “discarded by the political class in both parties.

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Virginia Attorney General Warns Biden ‘Refusing to Fix’ Illegal Immigrant Crisis After Foreign Nationals Arrested for Child Sex Crimes

Tom Pappert
Illegal Immigrants

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares on Wednesday blamed the Biden administration for “refusing to fix” the illegal immigration crisis after two illegal immigrants were arrested for sex crimes against children in the commonwealth.

The attorney general made remarks about the illegal immigration crisis following the arrest of Isauro Garcia Cruz and Renzo Mendoza Montes, who are both illegal immigrants accused of crimes against children.

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‘Stop Cop City’ Protesters Arrested After Chaining Themselves to Crane at Future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center

Tom Pappert
Stop Cop City Protesters

Two protesters representing the “Stop Cop City” movement were arrested at the site of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center on Wednesday after police say they chained themselves to a crane and unfurled a banner with the words “Drop Cop City,” indicating their opposition to the training center.

The Atlanta Police Department (APD) confirmed a the incident in a post to the social media platform X.

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Vanderbilt Graduate Assistant Claims University Denied Bathroom Breaks to Anti-Israel Protesters in ‘Inhuman and Disgusting’ Display

Tom Pappert
Vanderbilt students pro-Palestinian protest

Students at Vanderbilt University staged a sit-in that led to arrests on Tuesday amid unrest over the institution’s refusal to allow the Student Government Senate to consider joining the anti-Zionist Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement that seeks to isolate Israel.

Vanderbilt University graduate assistant Amar Latif Qazi told The Tennessee Star that the First Amendment rights of the university’s students were infringed after Vanderbilt refused to allow a vote following a petition, reportedly signed by 600 students, which sought to amend the Vanderbilt Student Government Constitution in order to join the BDS movement.

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Arizona Attorney General Reportedly Subpoenas Former Trump Opposition Researcher Whose Attorney Exposed Fani Willis Affair

Tom Pappert
Kris Mayes

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes reportedly issued a subpoena to Mike Roman, the opposition researcher who worked former for President Donald Trump and was criminally charged in the Georgia election case against the former president.

Cable news outlet CNN reported Wednesday that Roman is “being subpoenaed by prosecutors” in the “state-level probe” into the former president’s contest of the 2020 election results launched by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.

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Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones Celebrates Passage of ‘Save Our Homes Act’ to Cap Property Tax Increases

Tom Pappert
Burt Jones

Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones on Tuesday celebrated the passage of legislation he championed to restrict property tax increases and offer property owners a chance to appeal decisions about how much they pay.

Jones said in a statement that HB 581, the Save Our Homes Act, “limits increases in property taxes years to year, reforms the appeals process, and allows for more transparency in our taxation procedures.”

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Tennessee Attorney General Skrmetti Celebrates Distribution of Almost $81 Million from Opioid Company Lawsuits

Tom Pappert
AG Skrmetti Money

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti on Friday issued a statement celebrating the recent distribution of nearly $81 million accrued through lawsuit settlements against opioid manufacturers.

A press release explained the funding is available as a result of years of litigation against “opioid manufacturers and distributors” by the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.

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Arizona Election Officials Report 2,000 Vote Discrepancy in Recent Primary, Predict Delays in November

Tom Pappert
People in Line to Vote

Maricopa County executive director Zach Schira claimed on Tuesday that recent changes to the state’s elections as a result of a “landmark” election integrity bill that enjoyed overwhelming support in the Arizona Legislature.

Schira told The Arizona Republic that complying with a provision in HB 2785 which requires election workers to count the number of early ballots at each polling location required an average of 30 to 45 minutes at polling locations across the state for the March 19 presidential preference election.

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Atlanta Democrat Confirms Primary Campaign Against Fani Willis

Tom Pappert
Fani Willis Primary Challenger

Former Fulton County prosecutor Christian Wise Smith confirmed on Monday he will launch a primary challenge against District Attorney Fani Willis, and promised to focus on “victim-centered prosecution” if he successfully unseats Willis.

Wise Smith on Monday confirmed in a statement that he is “committed to competing in the May primary against Willis,” according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The former candidate for Georgia Attorney General previously filed paperwork to run against Willis, but said he was “weighing his options” and would reach a formal decision in “the coming weeks.”

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Virginia Democrat Leaders Declare Themselves ‘Adults in the Room’ on Budget Debate, Youngkin Admin Acting Like ‘Spoiled Brats’

Tom Pappert
Virginia Democrats

Democratic leaders from the Virginia General Assembly held a press conference on Monday to discuss the state of negotiations to pass a budget for the commonwealth, raising claims about the governor’s behavior and aptitude during the negotiations.

Various Democratic leaders declared themselves the “adults in the room” during budget negotiations, claimed Governor Glenn Youngkin lacks political aptitude and accused his administration of acting like “spoiled brats” while refusing to respect the separation of powers.

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ASU Students Earn College Credit for Helping Illegal Immigrants at Charity Accused of Aiding Border Crossings

Tom Pappert
University of Arizona faculty volunteers at Casa Alitas

Students at Arizona State University (ASU) have the ability to enroll in a program that allows them to provide support services to illegal immigrants serviced by a Catholic Charities organization in exchange for school credit.

A university website reveals that any student enrolled in an ASU Health Sciences program and some students from the ASU School of Social Work are eligible to “provide aid to migrants looking for a better life” at Casa Alitas in what the university calls the MILAGRO Collaborative.

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Attorney Who Exposed Fani Willis, Nathan Wade Affair Expects Disqualification Appeal to Last Six Months, Will Not be Resolved Before Election

Tom Pappert
Atty Ashleigh Merchant and defendant Mike Roman

The attorney who revealed the affair between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and former special prosecutor Nathan Wade predicted on Monday the latest appeal to disqualify the district attorney will take up to six months, likely eliminating the possibility of the Georgia election case against former President Donald Trump going to trial before November.

Attorney Ashleigh Merchant said during a Monday appearance on Fox & Friends that she does not see “any way” Willis could receive a final confirmation she will not be disqualified from the Trump case in Georgia before the November elections.

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Democrat Activist Faces Decades in Prison After Virginia Jury Convicts on Fraud Charges

Tom Pappert
Derickson K Lawrence

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday the conviction of Democratic activist and former congressional candidate Derickson Lawrence of fraud charges related lies he told to obtain over $25,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and the misuse of over $230,000 entrusted to his company to process another firm’s payroll.

Despite his business operating in Virginia, Lawrence ran in the Democratic Party primary to represent New York’s 16th Congressional district in 2018, ultimately losing to former Representative Eliot Engel.

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Never Trumpers Blake Harris and Kim Kaegi Push ‘Moderate’ Council Member Courtney Johnston to Challenge Andy Ogles in TN-5 GOP Primary

Tom Pappert
Courtney Johnston, Blake Harris, Kim Kaegi

Tennessee Never Trump political operators Blake Harris and Kim Kaegi are pushing Metro Nashville Councilwoman Courtney Johnston to challenge Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) for his seat in the  U.S. House, multiple sources familiar with the Metro Council and Tennessee Republican politics confirmed to The Tennessee Star.

Johnston recently confirmed reports she is considering a challenge to Ogles, stating to the media, “The people of Middle Tennessee deserve better than Andy Ogles.” The councilwoman confirmed, “I am taking a very close look at the district and am talking to voters. If I run, I intend to win.”

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Fani Willis Claims She’s ‘Not Embarrassed’ by Disqualification Proceedings in Georgia Trump Case, Denies Damage to Reputation

Tom Pappert
Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis denied she is “embarrassed” by the disqualification proceedings against her and claimed her reputation was undamaged by the public questioning of her decision to appoint her former lover, Nathan Wade, as the special prosecutor overseeing her case against former President Donald Trump.

The district attorney delivered the remarks to CNN on Saturday while attending an Easter giveaway in Fulton County.

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Ohio Legislation Would Close State Primaries in ‘Great Step Forward’ for Election Integrity

Tom Pappert
Ohio State Rep. Beth Lear

Ohio State Representatives Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Brian Lorenz (R-Powell) are championing legislation that would close primary elections in the Buckeye State, requiring voters to cast ballots to nominate candidates corresponding to their registered political party.

Lear and Lorenz filed HB 437 in early March to require voters be registered as a member of a political party for 90 days in order to cast primary election ballots to select that party’s candidates. The legislation would prevent voters registered to the Democratic and Republican parties from casting primary election ballots in the other party’s contests.

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Virginia Democrats Launch ‘Hail Mary’ Plan to Fund Arena with Casino Revenue Despite Objections by Youngkin, Capitals and Wizards

Tom Pappert
State Senator Scott Surovell

Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly are reportedly working on plans to build a new facility for the Washington Capitals and Wizards in Fairfax County after the defeat of proposed legislation to build the arena in Alexandria.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) pitched a plan to use the money from a new casino in Fairfax County to build an arena, according to The Washington Post. Surovell’s plan reportedly has the support of the company seeking to build the casino, as well as political consultant Ben Tribbett, who the outlet reported also works for Senator L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth).

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Federal Budget Includes Money for Groups Accused of Aiding Illegal Immigrants in Arizona

Tom Pappert
Catholic Community Services

The new federal budget signed by President Joe Biden on Saturday includes funding to continue providing shelter to illegal immigrants in Arizona, even as many were reducing operations or preparing to close after Republicans defeated a controversial immigration and foreign aid bill.

Lawmakers approved a $1.2 trillion budget to avoid a government shutdown despite opposition in the U.S. House, where the funding bill proposed by Speaker Mike Johnson received the support of 101 Republicans. A total of 112 Republicans and 22 Democrats voted against the spending bill in the House.

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Fani Willis Reportedly Wants Trump Trial to Begin Before Election

Tom Pappert
Fani Willis Donald Trump

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is reportedly seeking to begin the Georgia trial of former President Donald Trump before voters head to the polls in November.

After Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee determined that Willis could stay on the Trump case so long as she parted ways with her former lover and special prosecutor Nathan Wade, CNN reported that multiple sources close to the district attorney claim she intends to take the former president’s case to trial soon as possible.

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Tennessee Comptroller ‘Fixes Mistakes’ by Shelby County Clerk’s Office in Just Three Weeks

Tom Pappert
Jason Mumpower and Wanda Halbert

The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office announced on Thursday that it resolved a number of “mistakes” made by Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert just three weeks after beginning an audit.

In February, Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower announced a “deep concern and lack of confidence” in Halbert’s office after she failed to submit regular revenue reports for the county, and said auditors with his office would seek to remedy the failures allegedly caused by “incompetence and willful neglect” by Halbert.

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Mayor Freddie O’Connell Courts Nashville Business Leaders to Fund Mass Transit Campaign

Tom Pappert
Nashville Mayor

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell attended a Monday evening meeting with the city’s leading business leaders and lobbyists in a bid to secure their support for his mass transit referendum scheduled for November.

The meeting between O’Connell and Nashville community leaders took place at the offices of Ingraham Industries Inc., according to the Nashville Business Journal, which reported the mayor met with many of the groups and individuals who backed the failed transit plan pitched by disgraced Mayor Megan Barry in 2018.

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Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin Vetoes 22 Democratic Crime Bills That ‘Would Have Undermined Public Safety’

Tom Pappert
Youngkin Virginia

Governor Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday announced that he vetoed 22 crime bill passed by Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly that he said “would have undermined public safety” in the commonwealth.

Youngkin confirmed the 22 vetoes in a press release announcing action on 60 bills. In addition to the vetoes, Youngkin signed 36 bills into law and made amendments to two.

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Third Arizona Educator in Maricopa County Arrested for Sex Offenses Against Students

Tom Pappert
Alyssa Todd

An educator in Buckeye was arrested on Wednesday was arrested for having an illegal sexual relationship with a minor student, marking the third arrest of a former Maricopa County teacher for sexual offenses against students.

The Buckeye Police Department (BPD) confirmed the arrest Alyssa Todd, who was employed as a coach and teacher at the Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies (OIAIS) High School when police claim she sexually abused a 15-year-old male student.

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Father of Laken Riley Demands Gov. Kemp Declare Illegal Immigrant ‘Invasion’ in Georgia Senate Speech

Tom Pappert
Laken Riley's Dad

The father of Laken Riley addressed the Georgia State Senate on Wednesday with a call for lawmakers and Governor Brian Kemp to “declare an invasion” following his daughter’s murder.

Invited to address the legislators by Senator Colton Moore (R-Trenton), Jason Riley called on lawmakers and the governor to recognize the severity of the illegal immigration crisis in Georgia and “protect citizens from this illegal invasion.”

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Tennessee Lawmakers Seek Tougher Penalties for Transporting Illegal Immigrants

Tom Pappert
Illegal Immigrants

Tennessee lawmakers are poised to pass legislation instituting harsher penalties for those caught providing transportation to illegal immigrants in the state, but first plan to introduce amendments protecting “good Samaritans” and professional drivers from unknowingly violating the law.

The Senate Judiciary Committee considered SB 2802, which would impose a $5,000 fine for individuals caught transporting illegal immigrants in the state on Wednesday, when Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) introduced an amendment to his bill he said closed existing loopholes within the law.

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Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas Acknowledges Youngkin Could Veto Budget, but Calls Potomac Yards Arena ‘Non-Starter’

Tom Pappert
Lucas Youngkin

Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas acknowledged in a Tuesday interview that Governor Glenn Youngkin could veto the budget proposed by lawmakers, but nonetheless insisted any compromise that would fund the creation of the Potomac Yards arena for the Washington Wizards and Capitals is a “non-starter.”

In her Tuesday interview with WTOP News, she acknowledged Youngkin’s remarks indicating “he may have to veto the budget,” calling it “his prerogative.” Still, she pledged, “at no point will I ever be in a position to say I am going to commit state tax dollars for an arena that’s going to benefit billionaires,” calling it “a non-starter for me.”

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Georgia Judge Allows Trump Defendants to Appeal Fani Willis Disqualification

Tom Pappert
Fani Willis

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee on Wednesday determined former President Donald Trump and eight of his co-plaintiffs may appeal his decision against disqualifying District Attorney Fani Willis from her election case against the former president.

McAfee wrote in his decision that the question of impropriety between Willis and Nathan Wade, her former lover who she appointed as special prosecutor and paid more than $650,000 in taxpayer money, “is of such importance to the case that immediate review should be had.”

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Arizona Poll Finds Trump Leads Biden, Gallego Has Slight Lead over Lake

Tom Pappert
Donald Trump, Ruben Gallego, Joe Biden, Kari Lake

Former President Donald Trump currently has the support of just under half of Arizona voters and boasts a slight lead over President Joe Biden, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The Emerson College poll found 48 percent of registered voters in Arizona support Trump’s bid to return to the White House, while 44 percent want to see Biden elected to a second term.

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Tennessee Bills to Fine Parents for Crimes Committed by Children, Treat Teenage Thieves as Adults Head to Gov. Lee’s Desk

Tom Pappert

The Tennessee General Assembly on Monday passed legislation that would see families of juvenile offenders fined for repeated criminal acts and teenage thieves charged as adults, with the bills now headed to Governor Bill Lee for final approval.

The Juvenile Organized Retail Theft Act, SB 2573, mandates that punishments for organized retail theft and car break-ins resulting in the theft of more than $1,000 worth of goods must be considered a Class E felony, which carries a sentence of at least one year in prison. The bill would additionally apply to juvenile defendants who are at least 15.

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Youngkin Reportedly Considers Veto for Skill Game Bill amid Potomac Yards Arena Feud

Tom Pappert
Youngkin Skill Games

A Monday report suggests Governor Glenn Youngkin could veto legislation legalizing skill games throughout the commonwealth as a casualty of his fight to build the Potomac Yards arena and bring the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards to Virginia.

Noting the governor’s comments last week declaring Democrats’ vision for Virginia is “let’s tax everybody as high as we possibly can, let’s put a pot shop on every corner, and let’s put a slot machine in every 7/11,” the Washington Post reported the controversial skill games bill could be vetoed due to its association with State Senator L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth).

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Georgia Latino Coalition Demands UGA ‘Denounce’ ‘Hateful Rhetoric’ After Murder of Laken Riley

Tom Pappert
Laken Riley

A number of Latino and Hispanic organizations in Georgia signed a Monday letter to the University of Georgia (UGA) president to demand action against alleged “hateful rhetoric and fear mongering” they claim started following the murder of nursing student Laken Riley on the university’s campus. Police say Riley was slain by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela.

Sent by the GALEO Impact Fund and signed by over 100 organizations and individuals, the letter claims “the community in Athens has been plagued by hateful rhetoric and fear mongering,” with “some Latino students” allegedly “afraid to walk to class alone” following Riley’s death.

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‘Clean Energy’ Candidates Reportedly Seek ‘Takeover’ of Arizona Energy Board, Want State Electricity to Reflect ‘Justice, Equity and Inclusion’

Tom Pappert
Salt River Project

A slate of self-described “clean energy” candidates who are reportedly engineering a “takeover” of the Salt River Project (SRP) Board say they want to increase Arizona’s reliance on renewable energy with a focus on “justice, equity and inclusion.”

The SRP Clean Energy Team of candidates for the SRP Board and Council elections, for which voting has commenced will conclude April 2, admits online that its “vision for SRP” involves “a diverse board” that intends to “address voting rights to give all customers a vote” and govern to “ensure justice, equity and inclusion, while prioritizing climate issues and sustainable clean energy” in Arizona’s energy generation.

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Peter Navarro to Serve Sentence at Wing of Minimum Security Prison Camp for Inmates over 60

Tom Pappert
Peter Navarro

Federal prison consultant Sam Mangel confirmed to The Tennessee Star on Tuesday that former Trump administration trade adviser Peter Navarro will serve just 90 days of his four-month sentence, and will complete the prison term at part of the minimum security satellite camp of the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Miami reserved for older inmates.

In a Tuesday phone conversation, Mangel contradicted previous reporting by The New York Times that claimed Mangel “said he was working to get Mr. Navarro into a unit devised for inmates over age 60 in a minimum-security satellite camp in the prison.”

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Georgia Attorney General Leads Coalition Challenging ‘Unlawful’ Rule Demanding Companies Issue Annual Climate Change Reports

Tom Pappert
Georgia Atty Gen Chris Carr

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on Thursday announced he is leading a coalition of 10 attorneys general in opposition to a new rule requiring publicly traded companies to create annual climate change reports.

Carr leads a coalition that includes attorneys general serving Georgia, West Virginia, Alabama, Alaska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Wyoming and Virginia in a petition for the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review whether the newly-enacted rule should remain.

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Arizona Democrat Claims Police Refused to Hear His Side of Sexual Abuse Allegation in 2015

Tom Pappert
Arizona State Rep. Jevin Hodge, George Washington University

State Representative Jevin Hodge (D-District 8) acknowledged on Monday that he was accused of sexual misconduct as a college student in 2015, but claimed police would not hear his side of events.

Hodge acknowledged a Monday article which revealed he was banned from the George Washington University campus after he allegedly tried forcing a woman to have sex with him in 2015, but claimed the encounter ended without any aggressive act.

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Virginia Drops Requirements for Churches to Hire Non-Christians, Fund ‘Sex Reassignment’ and ‘Gender Affirming’ Surgeries

Tom Pappert
Calvary Road Church

A lawsuit brought by religious and faith-based organizations against Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares was settled on Monday, with the parties forming a settlement that drops a requirement for the groups to hire non-Christians.

The conclusion of Cavalry Road Baptist Church v. Miyares was announced by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), whose attorneys represented two Virginia churches, three Christian schools and a pregnancy center network.

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Nashville Police Created Lactation Rooms, Changed Physical Requirements in Effort to Recruit Female Officers for 2030 Deadline

Tom Pappert
Commander Tiffany Gibson

Metro Nashville Police Department on Tuesday announced the department made new changes in a bid to recruit more female officers, including lactation rooms for nursing police officers, flexible schedules to better accommodate families and new physical requirements for officers that are more accommodating to women.

The department is driving up its recruitment of women in a bid to comply with the 30×30 initiative joined by Police Chief John Drake in 2021. The effort, which is tied to Hungarian-American financier George Soros, seeks to compel police departments to ensure 30 percent of officers are female by 2030.

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