Wendy Wilson, Author at Tennessee Star - Page 8 of 12

Aziz Sayyed Arrested On Terrorism Charges in Huntsville, Alabama

June 19, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Police in Huntsville, Alabama, last week arrested a man who was charged with soliciting or providing support for an act of terrorism, reports WHNT News 19. Aziz Sayyed, 22, of Huntsville, was taken into custody Thursday after police received a tip. Police say he is a North Carolina-born U.S. citizen. “We successfully mitigated a threat today with this arrest,” said FBI agent Roger Stanton in a news conference. The Huntsville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are working together on the case with support from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. No specifics on the threat were disclosed, but officials said the arrest eliminated any threat to the area, including Redstone Arsenal. Police Chief Mark McMurray encouraged the public to let the police know when something doesn’t seem right. “If you see something, you need to tell us,” he said. “You need to say something. This investigation actually started as a tip.” Sayyed was staying at an apartment complex near the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He faces state charges but no federal charges as of Thursday.

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Beacon Center Releases Documentary On Corporate Welfare

June 19, 2017June 19, 2017 Wendy Wilson

The Beacon Center of Tennessee is getting the word out about a short documentary it produced to educate the public about corporate welfare. Called “Rigged: The Injustice of Corporate Welfare,” the documentary runs just under 20 minutes. It takes a look at the impact of corporate welfare on small business owners struggling to compete against corporations receiving taxpayer dollars. The Beacon Center is a Nashville-based nonprofit that promotes free market research and solutions. “Beacon Center’s hope is that the documentary will be a useful tool for people who are either undecided or against us,” said Mark Cunningham, the center’s director of marketing and communications, in a press release. “It offers a look at the issue from a perspective they may have never considered. They have heard about all the ‘job creation’ and economic benefits of corporate welfare deals. Our goal is to tell the stories of the real people whom tax incentives and handouts negatively affect—stories that haven’t been told. We believe that, for far too long, free market types have merely tried to dispute the economic claims and have failed to humanize the issue. The human cost is front and center in our video.” The documentary features interviews with two furniture store…

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NASA Astronaut Jeff Williams Shares Photos From Space At Brentwood Baptist Vacation Bible School Event

June 18, 2017June 17, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Children participating in Vacation Bible School at Brentwood Baptist Church spent this past week learning about outer space and on Friday evening got the chance to meet a real, live astronaut. NASA astronaut Jeff Williams talked about his exciting career and shared his photos from space during an event to close the week. After his presentation, families lined up to have their photo taken with him. The VBS theme was “Galactic Starveyors: Discovering the God of the Universe.” A committed Christian, Williams spoke of seeing “God’s creative work” from outer space. The photos he has taken capture how famous landmarks and terrains appear from the vantage point of space. Photos he shared Friday featured the Grand Canyon, Mt. Everest, glaciers, coral reefs and sand dunes. He also displayed a photo of the Middle East, which he said he is one of the most meaningful to him because it shows the place of the history of the entire Bible, from Old Testament times through the life of Christ. Williams said Christians can only know God through the revelation of the Bible, but that that being an astronaut has helped him appreciate God’s creation. Asked what children interested in becoming an astronaut…

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Latinos For Tennessee Praises Trump’s Reversal Of Obama’s Cuba Policy

June 17, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Latinos For Tennessee is praising President Trump for reinstating travel and trade limitations on Cuba on Friday, overturning significant parts of former President Obama’s policy. Obama had lifted restrictions last year. Trump’s reversal will restrict tourism and ensure that U.S. dollars do not support the military conglomerate that monopolizes many sectors of the Cuban economy, according to a press release issued by Latinos For Tennessee. Raul Lopez, the executive director of the conservative group, fled Cuba as a young boy along with other members of his family as political refugees. “Today is a great day for the people of Cuba who yearn to be free,” Lopez said in a statement. “By reversing President Obama’s misguided policies, we will no longer be empowering the oppressive Castro regime. “Rather than benefiting the regime and its cronies, American involvement in Cuba should benefit the Cuban people, and pave the way for democracy, and greater economic and religious freedom on the island,” Lopez continued, adding, “The ball is in the Castro regime’s court. If they want better engagement from the United States, they have to support human rights, hold free and fair elections, and release political prisoners.” Latinos For Tennessee promotes faith, family, freedom and…

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Grand Prix Race Planned For Nashville

June 17, 2017June 16, 2017 Wendy Wilson

The Grand Prix might come to Nashville. The Metro Nashville Sports Authority on Thursday approved a proposal to bring a motor race to Nissan Stadium in 2019, reports WKRN News 2. The course would be laid out in the parking lots around the stadium. Grand Prix of Nashville is the group behind the plans and still needs to secure funding. Negotiations will be ongoing and the group must seek additional approvals, according to the Nashville Business Journal. The group’s leader is Joe Mattioloi III, who previously leased The Nashville Fairgrounds track and hosted NASCAR-sponsored races there. Other members of the management team include Matt Crews, Mike Gillespie and Tony Cotman. Crews, the vice president of the group, was quoted by WKRN as saying, “Like the Stanley Cup run has shown us, and like the All-Star Game last year, Nashville delivers every time it’s given a shot on the big stage. Fifty percent of the U.S. population lives within 650 miles of here. Nashville has unbelievable experience in producing large events. So, bringing a true international event to this environment sets the Grand Prix up to be one of Nashville’s biggest events, but also sets the Grand Prix up to be one of the…

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Delaware Governor John Carney Signs Pro-Abortion Legislation

June 16, 2017June 16, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Fetus on Health

Delaware has passed a bill to guarantee abortion rights in the state should Roe v. Wade be overturned, a move that removed restrictions in current law. Pro-life advocates strongly opposed the legislation, signed last week by Gov. John Carney, a Democrat. “With a pro-life President in the White House and already one pro-life Justice nominated and confirmed, abortion advocates are running scared,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, in a June 6 news release written to rally support for defeating the bill. “Planned Parenthood and the ACLU are using Delaware as a testing ground for their extreme legislation to ensure abortionists can carry out abortions without limit – even on healthy children hours from birth.” Before the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling, laws about abortion were left entirely to the states. The court in Roe v. Wade ruled 7-2 that banning abortions denied women a right to privacy protected by the 14th Amendment. The decision gave women total autonomy over pregnancy during the first trimester but allowed states some say over the second and third trimesters. The new law in Delaware removes existing restrictions on abortion, including a parental consent law for minors and a 24-hour waiting period, until viability,…

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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry Slams ICE Agents Trying To Enforce Court Orders of Removal

June 16, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry wrote a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this week strongly criticizing agents for what she views as inappropriate enforcement of immigration laws, despite the fact that the individuals the agency sought were subject to final orders of removal issued by an immigration court. “Over the past few days, we have heard disturbing reports of members of our community being stopped, questioned, and even harassed as part of an increased effort to enforce deportation orders for individuals who had previously been convicted of criminal activity,” Barry wrote in her letter Tuesday, which was published by WSMV Channel 4. The letter was addressed to an ICE community relations officer in New Orleans. Barry’s complaints centered around enforcement efforts among Kurdish immigrants, many of whom are from Iraq. She said she saw a video in which a “Kurdish-American citizen” was “being stopped and questioned by an ICE official for no apparent reason.” Barry took issue with the word “Police” on the officer’s vest. “Our Metro Nashville Police Department has gone to great lengths in building relationships with our New American community in order to promote public safety,” Barry wrote. “This effort can be undermined when ICE agents…

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Motlow State Community College President Tony Kinkel Resigns Amid Complaints About His Leadership

June 16, 2017June 16, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Motlow State Community College President Tony Kinkel resigned this week before the release of a report highly critical of his job performance. The report included the findings of an investigation that the Tennessee Board of Regents undertook because of complaints about Kinkel, who was appointed president just two years ago after serving as president of a technical college in Kansas. Released Wednesday, the report found that “the tone being set at the top reflects autocratic management, negativity, and undue pressure, causing long-term employees to seek other employment.” Motlow State has campuses in Smyrna, Moore County/Tullahoma, McMinnville and Fayatteville. In his resignation letter Tuesday, Kinkel didn’t refer directly to the investigation and expressed “deep anguish” over his decision to resign. “With legislation changing the Board of Regents, the resignation of Chancellor John Morgan, and the departure of the Vice Chancellors, I respect that the Board is moving in a new direction,” he wrote. “We all work at the pleasure of the Board and I support their right to chart a different course for a system that is changing.” His resignation is effective Sept. 30 and he is on annual and administrative leave until then. In his letter, Kinkel listed Motlow’s accomplishments under…

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Atheist Group Objects To Graduation Prayers At Alabama High School

June 15, 2017 Wendy Wilson

An atheist group has objected to a high school in a small southern Alabama town including prayers and references to God at graduation events, reports AL.com. But a conservative group is coming to the school’s defense. The Freedom From Religious Foundation sent a letter dated June 5 to Opp City Schools finding fault with the May 21 baccalaureate service at the Opp High School auditorium, and also the graduation ceremony held at a later date at the football stadium. The letter noted that the school principal led students in prayer at the baccalaureate service, and that administrators scheduled a student prayer at the graduation ceremony, where the principal’s speech included references to God and prayer. “We ask that you cease sponsorship and hosting of future baccalaureate services occurring in the District, that you ensure that no prayers are scheduled for future high school graduation ceremonies or any other school-sponsored events occurring in the District and that you inform us in writing of the steps the District is taking to respect the right of conscience of each of its students,” said the letter from the atheist group, which is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Opp City Schools Superintendent Michael Smithart told AL.com that…

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NASA Astronaut Jeff Williams To Speak at Brentwood Baptist on Friday

June 15, 2017June 15, 2017 Wendy Wilson

NASA Astronaut Jeff Williams will speak Friday evening at Brentwood Baptist Church to close a week of Vacation Bible School featuring a galactic theme. The event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend his presentation. Williams, a native of Wisconsin, has spent 534 days in space on four separate missions, including nearly 32 hours in five spacewalks. After returning from the International Space Station in September, Williams briefly held the record for most days in space, a record he also held earlier in his career. But Williams’ most recent record was broken in April by astronaut Peggy Whitson, a biochemist currently on a mission. She is expected to have more than 650 days in space at the end of her mission this fall. Williams is a committed Christian who chronicled his adventures in space and his faith in his 2010 book, The Work of His Hands: A View of God’s Creation from Space. The book features photos he took while on board the International Space Station. Williams said that he came to know God through Scripture, but that being an astronaut helped him reflect on God in a new way. “The experience did have an…

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Tennessee Congressman Chuck Fleischmann At Scene of Wednesday’s Shooting But Unhurt

June 14, 2017June 14, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee congressman Chuck Fleischmann was at the park early Wednesday morning in Alexandria, Virginia, where a man opened fire on a top GOP lawmaker and others who were there to play baseball. Rep. Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana who is House Majority Whip, was injured in the attack. A congressional staffer and two congressional police officers were also wounded. Fleischmann was not harmed. The shooter was killed by police. Fleischmann, who represents Tennessee’s 3rd congressional district and is based out of Chattanooga, told CNN: I’m shook up. Thank God. I’m a little bit bloodied from jumping in the dugout when we were under fire, but there were several other people shot and hurt a lot worse. Just a horrible, horrible morning for us all and a sad day for America. The fear factor was horrific because by the time I got into the dugout, I saw several other members bleeding. I saw one gentleman who had been shot in the leg. There was blood all over and it was horrible, but we did not know when it was going to end. It’s my understanding that the Capitol Police only had pistols at that time, so the calls for help went…

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Bavarian Bierhaus In Nashville Prepares For Grand Opening Celebrations

June 13, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Bavarian Bierhaus at Opry Mills opened in April, but this week the restaurant marks its official opening with four days of festivities that kick off Thursday. The cavernous restaurant was built to resemble a Munich beer hall, with room for more than 500 people inside and seating for 120 outside. The restaurant includes a large bar area and also a small market with food products, beer steins and clothing items. Thursday’s festivities include a ribbon cutting at 3:30 p.m. and a keg tapping at 6 p.m. with an appearance by former Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell, who competed as Miss Georgia. There also will be a free pig roast buffet. At 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, there will be a beer stein lifting competition and traditional dancing by the Orlando Trachtenverein Schuhplatters. On Sunday for Father’s Day, there will be free beer for dads and live music. Business manager Brian Kehl said he’s been getting good feedback and already has repeat customers, some coming three times a week. One adjustment he’s had to make is fixing the sound system, as there were problems with having conversations when a band was playing. “We’ve redone the stage area,” Kehl said. “We’ll…

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Franklin Pastor Pressures Southern Baptists To Affirm LGBT Movement

June 13, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Nashville area pastor Stan Mitchell is among those at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix this week to try to persuade Southern Baptists to embrace LGBT activism. Mitchell is the founding pastor of GracePointe, a nondenominational evangelical church in Franklin that made national news in 2015 when it began to offer gays all the privileges of membership, including marriage. The church touts itself as “a progressive Christian community.” Mitchell is involved with Faith in America, an advocacy group that believes that “LGBT people should be removed from the sin list,” according to a May 31 news release. The group claims that conservative Christians are harming LGBT youth by making them feel bad about their sexual orientation, which the group says has led some young people to kill themselves. “Southern Baptists Must Change (and they are not the only ones),” Mitchell posted on his Facebook page June 9. Group organizers asked Southern Baptist leaders to meet with them before or during the convention, but that could not be arranged because of a busy schedule, Southern Baptist Convention spokesman Roger Oldham told The Tennessee Star. The group is welcome to meet with Southern Baptist leaders at their Nashville headquarters another time,…

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Experience Community Church Holds Worship Event On Murfreesboro Square

June 10, 2017June 11, 2017 Wendy Wilson

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee–Christians flocked to Murfreesboro Square Friday evening to sing along with favorite contemporary Christian songs led by the worship team from Experience Community Church. With arms in the air in praise, concert-goers sang and swayed along with the music. The “No Other Name Worship Night” featured communion and even baptisms at the end of the evening in two pools set up by the stage. “I just wanted to be with like-minded people praising the Lord in the middle of our city,” said Jaymie Seay, who attends Experience and was at Friday’s event with other members of the Murfreesboro (35+) Christian Singles Meetup group. The Murfreesboro nondenominational church, started in 2009, has periodic worship nights, and to involve the community, aims to hold one a year at an outdoor location. Last year’s was held at a park. This year the church was excited to be able to hold the event on the Square. Church member Patty Carpenter, who was helping hand out free bottled water, said the church has been praying for the city and more opportunities to share the gospel. Friday’s event started with Mayor Shane McFarland giving an opening prayer. The crowd totaled around 4,000 people or…

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City of Memphis To Help Pay Employees’ Student Loan Debt

June 10, 2017June 10, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

Memphis city officials announced this week that the city will start helping employees pay off their student loans. “We’re proud to announce today that we’re the first city in the country to add a student debt repayment assistance program to our employee benefits package!” read a post Thursday morning on the city government’s Facebook page. By Friday afternoon, the post had received around 100 reactions, with many giving the announcement hearts and thumbs-ups. One person commenting applauded the city for “evolving.” But not everyone was pleased “It’s always a great idea to some when the taxpayers [foot] the bill,” wrote one commenter. The city set aside $400,000 in the budget for the 2018 fiscal year to help pay off its employees’ student loan debt, according to the Memphis Business Journal. Memphis has a contract with Tuition.io., a student loan management company in Santa Monica, California. The company will direct the money from the city to student loan companies. The city will contribute $50 a month to participants’ student loan principal payments and an additional $7 per member monthly fee that will go to Tuition.io. A one-time set-up fee under the two-year agreement cost $50,000. “Individuals will still need to make monthly…

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Southern Baptist Leader Russell Moore Slams Bernie Sanders For Attacking Christian Beliefs Of Trump Nominee

June 9, 2017June 9, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Russell Moore, head of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), criticized Bernie Sanders this week for opposing President Trump’s budget nominee because of his Christian religious beliefs. The Vermont senator attacked Russell Vought on Wednesday in questioning him about his theological convictions. Vought is Trump’s nominee for deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. Sanders accused Vought of being “Islamophobic” and “hateful” because of Vought’s 2016 blog post about a controversy at his alma mater Wheaton College regarding whether Christians and Muslims worship the same god. Vought wrote, “Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned.” Sanders, who last year made an unsuccessful bid to be the Democratic nominee for president, said that he will vote against Vought’s nomination and that Vought “is not someone who is what this country is supposed to be about.” In an ERLC press release, Moore said: Senator Sanders’ comments are breathtakingly audacious and shockingly ignorant—both of the Constitution and of basic Christian doctrine. Even if one were to excuse Senator Sanders for not realizing that all Christians of every age have insisted that faith in…

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State Rep. Andy Holt Considering Run For Bob Corker’s U.S. Senate Seat

June 9, 2017June 9, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

State Rep. Andy Holt is considering running for Bob Corker’s U.S. Senate seat next year. Corker has not said yet whether he will seek a third term, but Holt believes that if Corker does run as expected, there should be “a more conservative option.” “Somebody’s got to do it,” Holt told The Tennessee Star on Thursday. And that somebody – or one of them – might be Holt, though he’s still in the early stages of deciding whether to enter the race. Corker is vulnerable, according to a new poll released by The Star and conducted by Triton Polling and Research. Only 41 percent of likely Tennessee Republican primary voters said Corker “deserves re-election.” Corker, who sometimes supports President Trump and is at other times critical, recently said Trump is “out of control” and the “White House is in a downward spiral.” The poll showed that only 20 percent of likely Republican primary voters agreed. Holt (R-Dresden) pointed to Corker’s key role in pushing former President Obama’s Iran nuclear deal through Congress as one reason why Corker must go. But he said a lot of the problems with Corker stem not from what he is doing, but what he’s not doing. Corker, along…

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City And School Officials Work To Combat Crime Near Middle Tennessee State University

June 9, 2017June 9, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

Officials with the city of Murfreesboro and Middle Tennessee State University are working on ways to combat crime in areas around campus. Recent violent crimes at nearby apartments, including murder, have caused alarm. Drugs appear to be a factor, reports WKRN News 2. While the shootings and other crimes aren’t random, they have raised concerns about safety. More than a dozen apartment complex managers have met with officials to help work on solutions. “We are pleased with the level of cooperation and support from the apartment complex managers and owners,” said city manager Rob Lyons in a June 1 news release. “The city, MTSU, and privately-owned apartment complexes are united in implementing strategies, sharing data and increasing shared police-apartment approaches to ensure the safety of residents and students who live in off-campus housing.” Several complexes have already responded by investing in third-party security and establishing other safety measures, and city and university officials are developing a public awareness webpage to share data on police calls. Other strategies discussed include adopting a credentialing program to inform the public about safety practices at complexes, such as third-party security, gated access, monitored parking and visitor registration. Complexes that meet certain criteria would received…

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Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore Names Campaign Chairman For Senate Race

June 8, 2017June 8, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is running for the U.S. Senate and this week announced that a former chairman of the Alabama Republican Party will lead his campaign. Moore, a conservative Christian known for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses and for promoting courthouse displays of the Ten Commandments, is running for Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ former Senate seat. Bill Armistead was state GOP chairman from 2011 to 2015 and served two terms in the state Senate starting in 1994. Armistead shares Moore’s conservative values and is a vocal opponent of gay marriage, reports AL.com. “Bill will help us engage the real people of Alabama who are frustrated by establishment politics in Washington and want a senator who will be their voice,” Moore said in a press release. Moore was suspended as chief justice last year after he told probate judges they had to uphold the state’s ban on gay marriage. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2015 struck down laws banning same-sex marriage in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. Moore has maintained that the federal government does not have constitutional authority to redefine marriage. In April, Moore resigned as chief justice to run for the Senate in a special election…

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Public Meetings On I-65 Congestion To Be Held This Month

June 8, 2017June 7, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

Tired of getting stuck in traffic on I-65? The Tennessee Department of Transportation wants to hear about your problems. Last year, the department launched a study to determine the biggest problem areas along the I-65 corridor stretching 120 miles from Alabama to Kentucky. After collecting data and feedback, the department will develop a list of project ideas and costs to make improvements. The study is expected to be completed this summer. There are three public meetings this month at which the public can offer input: June 12, 2017 5:30-7:00 p.m. Delmas Long Community Center – Meeting Room 2 200 Memorial Drive Goodlettsville, TN 37072 June 20, 2017 5:30-7:00 p.m. Brentwood Library – Meeting Room A 8109 Concord Road Brentwood, TN 37027 June 22, 2017 5:30-7:00 p.m. Spring Hill City Hall – Courtroom 199 Town Center Pkwy. Spring Hill, TN 37174 For more information on the I-65 Multimodal Corridor Study, visit https://www.tn.gov/tdot/article/i65study.

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Wayne Gretzky Visits Ford Ice Center in Antioch

June 8, 2017June 7, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Wayne Gretzky visited the Ford Ice Center in Antioch on Tuesday to see the inaugural Gretzky Hockey School in action. More than 90 kids are participating in the summer training camp, run by Gretzky’s son, Ty. The National Hockey League Hall of Famer, known as “The Great One,” signed autographs and had his photo taken with fans, reports WKRN News 2. “We would like to give a big thank you to Wayne Gretzky for stopping by to meet the boys and girls attending the Gretzky Hockey School! It was an experience of a lifetime,” the Ford Ice Center posted on Facebook. The Canadian-born star, now 56, retired in 1999 after twenty seasons playing on four teams in the NHL. Ty Gretzky told WKRN he’s impressed with the enthusiasm of the kids in the program, which he attributed in part to the hype surrounding the Nashville Predators vying for the Stanley Cup. “It is very special for them to be able to feel this right now as it is going on,” he said. Ty is one of Wayne Gretzky’s five children with his wife Janet. “Gretzky’s proudest role is as a father and a husband,” his website says.

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Bill Lee Raises $1.3 Million At First Major Fundraiser For Campaign For Governor

June 7, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Republican businessman Bill Lee raised $1.3 million at his first major fundraising event Tuesday for his campaign for governor. The event was held at singer Michael W. Smith’s barn in Franklin, according to a campaign press release. “We are extremely grateful to the voters in Tennessee who are inspired by Bill’s leadership and vision and are feeling compelled to invest in him,” said Stuart McWhorter, Lee’s campaign finance chairman.“We know that Bill’s message is resonating with people across Tennessee, and this is just the beginning of our efforts. I am excited to see what lies ahead for this campaign.” The Lee campaign also announced that Anna McDonald has joined the campaign as finance director. McDonald is a former finance director for the Tennessee Republican Party. With no prior experience in elected office, Lee has been dogged about getting his name out, meeting people and speaking on the issues. After officially declaring his candidacy April 24, he immediately began touring the state in his campaign RV. He was one of four announced and likely candidates who appeared at a Rutherford County GOP event May 25. A devout Christian who admires former president Ronald Reagan, Lee is casting himself as a conservative…

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Christian Leaders Oppose New Policy In Illinois Mandating Foster Care Workers and Families Comply With LGBT Agenda

June 7, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Southern Baptist leader Al Mohler and other Christians are speaking out against a new government policy in Illinois that requires foster care workers and families to endorse LGBT ideology. Workers with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services could be fired if they don’t comply, according to the policy approved last month and found in Appendix K of the department’s procedures manual. The policy states that anyone involved with children served by the department “will complete mandatory training in LGBTQ competency.” Staff and foster parents should “understand that when children and youth (including DCFS children and youth) explore/express a sexual orientation other than heterosexual and/or a gender identity that is different from the child/youth’s sex assigned at birth, those children and youth are to be supported and respected without any effort to direct or guide them to any specific outcome for their exploration,” the policy says. Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, said the policy excludes participation of orthodox Christians in Illinois’ foster care system, reports Baptist Press. Mohler made his comments on The Briefing, his daily podcast offering opinions on current events. “This development in Illinois also serves as a very brutal reminder…

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Trump’s Health Secretary Tom Price Promotes Plan for Reform In Nashville

June 7, 2017June 6, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Politicians in Washington, D.C., didn’t learn from the mistakes of TennCare when they approved Obamacare, but Congress today has an opportunity to create a “a patient-centered, community-driven health care system,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said in Nashville on Tuesday. Price, who was in town for the first-ever Health Summit organized by Healthy Tennessee, said President Trump backs reform. “The president cares deeply about this,” Price said. “He’s talked often with me about the conversations that he had on the campaign trail.” Price recounted how TennCare spiraled out of control in the 1990s with skyrocketing costs and reduced access to care and quality of care. But lessons were learned and Tennessee succeeded in restructuring the program to target those most in need, transforming it into one of the strongest state Medicaid programs in the country, Price said. But politicians considering former President Obama’s Affordable Care Act in 2009 didn’t analyze what initially went wrong with TennCare. “It turned those mistakes into a national program,” Price said. The House last month approved a measure to repeal and replace Obamacare and a bill is now before the Senate. Price is an orthopaedic surgeon who served as a state…

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Memphis Principal Resigns, Citing Grades Scandal and Chaos at Trezevant High School

June 7, 2017June 6, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

The principal of a Memphis high school has resigned, saying he faced retaliation for drawing attention to a pattern of grades being changed, which has led to an investigation by an independent auditor of all high school records in the district. In a lengthy and revealing resignation letter dated June 1 and published by WREG News Channel 3, Ronnie Mackin said parents demanded that he be fired and that a district official told him he didn’t understand the students at Trezevant High School or the community because he is white. Trezevant is part of the Innovation Zone (iZone) program in Shelby County Schools designed to turn around troubled schools. Trezevant is one of the lowest-performing high schools in Tennessee. Mackin was brought on board at the start of the 2016-2017 school year to help get the school in shape. Mackin said in his resignation letter that he and others “discovered inaccuracies and inconsistencies in historical transcripts and report cards,” especially for football players, when he and his staff early in the school year were making sure seniors were on track to graduate. In September, the district announced that the football season was on hold because of an internal investigation into the…

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Tennessee Department of Education Runs Into Another Glitch In Delivering Standardized Test Results

June 6, 2017June 6, 2017 Wendy Wilson

The Tennessee Department of Education has hit yet another snag in getting spring standardized test results to school districts. Questar, the vendor for TNReady tests, is having problems with its scanning software used to grade paper exams. The state was already having problems with delivering raw scores, partly because some districts missed the deadline to turn in completed tests. As a result, some districts are not using test scores to calculate final grades for report cards. This is the fourth year that the state has had some type of issue with standardized testing. Last year, there were so many problems with the testing itself that the state terminated its contract with Measurement, Inc. and signed a contract with Questar. “We understand the importance of having the raw scores to communicate information to educators, students, and families, and we apologize for the inconvenience our delays have caused TDOE and our district partners in getting this information on the timeline we committed to months ago,” Brad Baumgartner, chief partner officer for Questar, said in a statement. Education commissioner Candice McQueen said in an email to school superintendents on Thursday that nearly all scores for high school EOC exams were available, but that…

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Peyton Manning Plays Golf With President Trump and Sen. Bob Corker

June 6, 2017June 6, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

Football star Peyton Manning reportedly played golf with President Trump and Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker on Sunday. CBS Sports, citing various sources, published a story online Monday with video and photos of the three men outside the White House, on the golf course and sitting around a table at what appears to be the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. “Manning has long been someone who was rumored to have interest in getting into politics, primarily because of his immense popularity in the state of Tennessee,” the story said. “This latest encounter is hardly an indication that is happening, but it probably won’t stop people from speculating.” In March, rumors swirled that the University of Tennessee alumnus might run for Senate in 2020 to replace Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, who is said to be considering retiring. But Manning downplayed those rumors, according to the Denver 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 at the time. “I have no interest in the political world, but would like to continue serving communities.” Manning, 41, retired…

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Michigan Farmer Banned From Selling At Local Farmers’ Market For Belief In Traditional Marriage

June 5, 2017June 7, 2018 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

Alliance Defending Freedom filed a federal lawsuit last week on behalf of a Catholic organic farmer in Michigan who was told he could no longer sell his produce at an East Lansing farmers’ market because of his belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman. “At issue is an unconstitutional, unlawful, and complex ‘sexual orientation’ policy that city officials adopted specifically to shut out Steve Tennes and Country Mill Farms—his family’s fruit orchard—purely because he posted on Facebook his belief in biblical marriage,” said an Alliance Defending Freedom news release. Tennes explained his family’s position on marriage on the Facebook page for Country Mill Farms in August and December. After having stopped booking weddings on the farm to allow time for a policy review, Tennes wrote in December that he would only book ceremonies for heterosexual couples. “Country Mill reserves the right to deny a request for services that would require it to communicate, engage in, or host expression that violates the owners’ sincerely held religious beliefs and conscience,” Tennes wrote. As a result of the Facebook statements, East Lansing began taking steps to kick the family out of the farmers’ market. Efforts led to the adoption of…

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Video Appears To Show Former NFL Coaches Rex and Rob Ryan in Nashville Bar Fight

June 5, 2017June 5, 2017 Wendy Wilson

A video making national news shows what appears to be former NFL coaches Rex Ryan, who was fired in December as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, and his twin brother Rob Ryan, a long time defensive coordinator in the league who was fired along with his brother by the Bills, getting into a fight with another patron at a downtown Nashville restaurant on Sunday, Fox 17 News reports. The video was taken at Margaritaville by a couple visiting for the CMA Fest, which starts Thursday. The scuffle happened after the patron allegedly threw a margarita at Rex Ryan’s face. The Tennessee Star contacted Margaritaville and was told the restaurant has no comment. The Metro Nashville Police Department does not have an incident report on the scuffle. Bleacher Report, citing the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, said the Ryan brothers were interacting with fans at Margaritaville earlier in the day and were in town to celebrate the Predators being in the Stanley Cup Final. “On Saturday, the Ryans took part in pregame festivities ahead of the Nashville Predators’ Game 3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final,” Bleacher Report said. “NHL on NBC posted a video of Rex smashing a…

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Visitors Celebrate Tennessee’s Birthday Saturday At Tennessee State Library And Archives

June 4, 2017June 5, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Hundreds of people came to the Tennessee State Library and Archives on Saturday afternoon to wish Tennessee a happy birthday and take a look at three original versions of the state constitution. Organizers initially made plans to accommodate 500 people, but expanded the free registration to 800 when interest was greater than anticipated. “We’ve had a wonderful turnout,” said Chuck Sherrill, state librarian and archivist. Sherrill said this was the first year the state library held a celebration like this, and given its success, organizers are considering making it an annual tradition. Tennessee turned 221 years old on Thursday. Visitors at Saturday’s event were given a tour of the building, located in downtown Nashville near the Capitol, and learned about the library’s collections and services. Along the way, historians in period clothing told about events in the past. The constitutions were in the lobby in special display cases made for Saturday’s event. The first constitution was from 1796, when Tennessee became a state – officially on June 1 of that year. The other two were revisions adopted in 1834 and 1870. Outside, children were invited to play early American games on the lawn, create birthday cards for Tennessee and get temporary…

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Both Shrewd And Sweet, Mae Beavers Has Adoring Fans In Her Bid For Governor

June 4, 2017June 4, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

MT. JULIET, Tennessee–State Sen. Mae Beavers may be nicknamed the Iron Lady, but she’s not without her soft side. “She and her husband are sweet, loving, caring people,” said Mike Dunn, who attended her rally Saturday afternoon at which the Mt. Juliet Republican formally announced that she will run for Tennessee governor. Dunn told The Tennessee Star that he has known the Beavers for years and used to attend church with them. He was at Saturday’s event at Mt. Juliet’s Charlie Daniels Park with his two sons, 12-year-old Brennan and 11-year-old Jackson. Dunn also likes it that Beavers is tough-minded and won’t back down from positions she believes in. “She’s never afraid to go against the grain,” he said. Beavers gave a speech at the rally in which she said she would fight to repeal the gas tax and strengthen vetting for refugees coming into the state. She also said she would push to maintain school bathrooms based on biological sex and support pro-life causes and the definition of marriage as one man and one woman per the Tennessee Constitution. Supporters waved American flags and snacked on refreshments that included Mae Sugar Cookies shaped in the letter M. Her three…

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Montreat College Defends Asking Faculty To Commit To Being Pro-Life And Pro-Traditional Marriage

June 3, 2017June 2, 2017 Wendy Wilson

A small Christian college in North Carolina long supported by the family of evangelist Billy Graham is defending a new requirement that faculty and staff sign a pledge saying they are pro-life and for traditional marriage. The Montreat College statement says that faculty and staff will “uphold the God-given worth of every human being, from conception to death, as unique image-bearers of God” and “affirm chastity among the unmarried and the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman.” The statement also addresses aspects of personal character, such as being a person of integrity and avoiding immodesty, and expects signers to regard the Bible as “the infallible Word of God, completely inspired and authoritative, and is to govern Christians in every aspect of life and conduct.” Located in the town of Montreat near Asheville, the college has only 876 students. It was run for many years by an association affiliated with the mainline Presbyterian Church (USA) but became nondenominational more than a decade ago. The school is a member of the conservative Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Billy Graham and his late wife Ruth were married in the college’s chapel, which now bears their name, according to the Charlotte Observer.…

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Alabama Mayor Working On Solution So Lawn-Mowing Teens Don’t Have to Pay $110 for a Business License

June 2, 2017 Wendy Wilson

An Alabama mayor is working to clear up misunderstandings after national news outlets picked up on a local TV news report about teens in the Birmingham suburb needing a business license to cut grass. While technically you need a license to operate a business in Gardendale, the ordinance was never meant to include teens trying to earn a little money by mowing lawns, says Mayor Stan Hogeland. “Our business license ordinance was put in effect back in 2007,” he wrote in a comment on his Facebook page on Thursday. “There was never any intent to license kids mowing grass during the summer (common sense). I’m confident that we will get this behind us Monday night at council meeting.” A business license in Gardendale costs $110. A man recently told a news crew from the local ABC affiliate that his granddaughter felt pressured to get a license. “One of the men that cuts several yards made a remark to one of our neighbors, ‘that if he saw her cutting grass again that he was going to call Gardendale because she didn’t have a business license,” Elton Campbell told ABC 33/40. Alainna Parris, Campbell’s granddaughter, said the man is “coming after a kid when a…

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New Jersey Township To Pay Mosque $3.25 Million To Settle Lawsuits That Raised Controversy Among Southern Baptists

June 2, 2017June 1, 2017 Wendy Wilson

A New Jersey township must pay a mosque $3.25 million and submit to diversity and inclusion training to settle lawsuits alleging religious discrimination. Last year the case led to turmoil within the Southern Baptist Convention after the denomination’s International Mission Board (IMB) and Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) filed friend-of-the-court briefs on behalf of the mosque in an effort to promote religious freedom. The National Association of Evangelicals also supported the mosque with an amicus brief. The settlement agreements Tuesday resulted from lawsuits filed against Bernards Township last year by the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge and the U.S. Department of Justice. The Islamic organization had purchased a four-acre plot of land for the mosque in 2011, according to the Washington Post. But in 2013, the township changed its zoning ordinance, raising its minimum acreage for houses of worship to six acres. The township also said the mosque wouldn’t have enough parking spaces to accommodate its worship schedule, especially for Friday afternoon prayers drawing people arriving separately from work. The lawsuits said the requirements placed an undue burden on the Islamic Society and that the group was being unfairly targeted because of its religion. A federal judge ruled in December that the…

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Attorneys General From Ten States–But Not Tennessee–Formally Endorsed Trump’s Withdrawal From Paris Climate Accord

June 1, 2017 Wendy Wilson

President Trump announced Thursday that his administration is withdrawing from the Paris climate accord, a move backed by 10 state attorneys general who wrote a letter to Trump last week asking him to step away. The attorneys general represent the states of West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Jeff Landry, the attorney general for Louisiana, celebrated Thursday afternoon with the following tweet: The #ParisAccord is environmental welfare at an international level. Thank you @POTUS for getting us out of this America Last Agreement! — Attorney General Liz Murrill (@AGLizMurrill) June 1, 2017 In their letter dated May 23, the attorneys general said even though the U.S. is not legally bound by the Paris agreement, it poses obstacles to Trump’s promises to reduce regulatory burdens. “Though we believe that the Paris agreement does not legally require the United States to take any action, we nevertheless believe there are many important reasons for withdrawing formally from the agreement,” the letter said. “Among those reasons are: the potential for legal actions seeking to enforce the agreement; the use of the agreement to challenge your administration’s efforts to revise or rescind unlawful or unnecessary regulations issued under President…

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Crawfish Boils Back In Business At Mobile, Alabama Bars After Crackdown By Public Health Officials

June 1, 2017June 1, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Folks in Mobile, Alabama, like their crawfish boils and thanks to a new law signed by their governor, they can continue to enjoy them at local bars. The Mobile County Health Department began cracking down on the informal sidewalk boils last year, saying they didn’t comply with food handling regulations and posed a danger to public health, according to WPMI Local 15. The bill sponsored by Rep. Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile) allows an exemption for establishments that occasionally serve food. Passed by both the House and the Senate, the bill was sent to Gov. Kay Ivey on May 19. But crawfish boil organizers will still have to jump through some hoops by registering their events with the health department and meeting certain requirements, including having a food handler’s card, handwashing facility and a plan for adequate disposal. The health department, which helped craft the legislation, approved of the final version of the bill. “As always, our aim is to promote, improve and protect the health of those who live, work and play in Mobile County, Alabama,” the department said in a May 19 statement, according to AL.com. “We believe this legislation does not disrupt our ability to achieve that mission. Our sincere thanks…

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Tennessee State Library and Archives To Hold Birthday Bash for Tennessee on Saturday

June 1, 2017May 31, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

History buffs who want to know more about the history of Tennessee will have their chance Saturday, when the Tennessee State Library and Archives holds a “Tennessee Celebrates Statehood” birthday celebration. “Part of our mission is to make our state’s history accessible to a wider audience beyond scholars and researchers,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said in a news release. “This event will be fun and educational for the whole family.” The Library and Archives building is located in downtown Nashville near the Capitol. Tennessee became a state on June 1, 1796, when only about 77,000 people lived here. The country’s 16th state, Tennessee was the first to be created from territory that had been under federal jurisdiction. Visitors at Saturday’s event will be able to view all three of the state’s original constitutions, hear presentations by historians in period clothing and listen to music from the 1700s. Activities for children will include early American games on the lawn and also stations where kids can get temporary tattoos of the state flag or make birthday cards for Tennessee. And since it’s a birthday celebration, cake will be served. The Library and Archives will be open for normal business from…

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Memphis Grassroots Conservative Champion Heidi Shafer Aspires To Seat In State Legislature

June 1, 2017May 31, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

When Heidi Shafer moved to Memphis in 1987, she couldn’t tell local politicians apart. Everyone, Republican and Democrat, was against crime and for the children and for education. Their campaign literature did little to distinguish one from the other. “Everybody sounded the same,” she recalled in an interview Wednesday with The Tennessee Star. Her frustration would one day motivate her to get involved to find out what was really going on. She began helping out with grassroots conservative campaigns, charting a path that eventually led to her bid to serve as a Shelby County commissioner. First elected to the county commission in 2010 and re-elected in 2014, Shafer is currently the only woman on the 13-member board and also is among a conservative minority. Her second four-year term ends next year and Shafer, bound by the commission’s term limits, is thinking about what she wants to do next. She is seriously considering running for the Tennessee General Assembly. Her fellow commissioner Terry Roland, also a fellow conservative, hopes that Shafer makes it to the Capitol. “If I were in a foxhole, I’d want her with me,” he said. Shafer, 51, has become known for fighting for lower taxes and…

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Gov. Haslam Signs Gun Bill Opposed By Nashville Mayor Megan Barry

May 31, 2017May 31, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a law requiring cities to spend more on security or allow people to carry handguns at parks, fairs, auditoriums and other public venues. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry had asked Haslam to veto the bill. The city of Knoxville was also opposed, as were gun control advocates, including the Safe Tennessee Project and Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America. The National Rifle Association supports the measure. According to a May 12 press release, the Tennessee Firearms Association said of the law signed by Gov. Haslam that it “could have been a good bill but that may have been intentionally amended to make the situation worse for gun owners. This bill significantly changes Tennessee law for the worse and we suspect most legislators who voted on it were not even aware of the problem in the bill.” The law provides lawful gun owners with a private cause of action to challenge local gun control policies that run counter to state law. The new Tennessee law “leaves to local governments the ultimate decision of whether to prohibit firearms in local government buildings, and the new provisions in this bill give local governments and their permittees more…

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University of Tennessee-Knoxville To Decide How To Use Restored State Diversity Funding

May 31, 2017May 30, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

A year after the state legislature diverted its diversity funding, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville will see the funding come back July 1, but school officials have yet to decide how to spend it, reports the Knoxville News Sentinel. The school will receive $445,882 in state funding for diversity, an allocation that was used in the past to support the Office for Diversity and Inclusion. Lawmakers voted last year to divert funding to minority engineering scholarships for one year after outcry over Sex Week and the school’s promotion of gender neutral pronouns and discouragement of winter holiday celebrations that include any type of reference to Christmas. The school is still prohibited from using state funds on those particular efforts even though the funding is restored. Earlier this year, some lawmakers tried unsuccessfully to pass a measure that would encourage intellectual diversity on campus and make conservative views more welcome. State Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) told the News Sentinel that he wishes the university would continue to use the state funding on minority scholarships. Gardenhire sponsored the Senate version of the bill last year. Gardenhire said the Office for Diversity and Inclusion was “giving a horrible reputation to the University of Tennessee and the state.” “I…

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‘Veritas Populi’ Brings Conservative Perspective To Community Access TV In Middle Tennessee

May 30, 2017May 30, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Dan Meredith is doing his part to counter the steady stream of news from a liberal perspective. Meredith produces a TV show in Nashville on community access television that covers topics from a conservative angle. The show is called Veritas Populi, a Latin phrase meaning “Truth for the People.” “It’s getting more popular and I hope it’s doing some good,” said Meredith, a registered nurse and former minister. Meredith and his four-member volunteer crew began producing the show late last year and so far have made 16 episodes. This past Saturday, they taped three episodes featuring Richard Archie talking about the Tennessee Constitution. Archie is a board member and the West Tennessee director of the Tennessee Firearms Association. Veritas Populi tackles a wide range of political, cultural, social and spiritual topics. Past shows have featured discussions on the American family in crisis and children with Down syndrome. Past guests have included state Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) and Joni Bryan, executive director of the 917 Society, a Nashville area group that educates young people about the U.S. Constitution. The show is produced at a studio at Nashville State Community College used by Nashville Education, Community and Arts Television (NECAT). Meredith and…

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WWII Veteran Stops By Memorial At Nashville’s Bicentennial Mall Monday

May 30, 2017 Wendy Wilson

A 97-year-old WWII veteran from Florida visited the Bicentennial Mall in downtown Nashville on Monday. The mall, which includes a WWII memorial, attracted numerous visitors for Memorial Day. “I did not know about this place,” Quentin Brelsford told WKRN News 2. “It’s beautiful. It’s really nice.” Brelsford, who is originally from Michigan, was in a wheelchair and wore a WWII veteran cap. He told WKRN that he worked in aviation maintenance and worked on engines to keep planes flying on the North African and Italian fronts during the war. Others at the memorial came up to the former Army corporal to thank him for his service and some took his photo. Brelsford was at the memorial with his son and daughter-in-law. The WWII memorial was dedicated on November 11, 1997. It includes large granite markers giving a brief history of historic events during the war, such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the Battle of the Bulge. The memorial also includes a large granite globe that features a small map of Tennessee with lines showing the mileage to different theatres of war.

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School Districts Across State Experiencing Delays In Getting Student Test Results

May 27, 2017May 26, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

A delay in getting standardized test results is frustrating school officials across Tennessee as they get ready to send out report cards and wrap up the year. As a result, many districts are opting not to factor in TNReady test scores for final grades. The problems come a year after a much larger debacle prompted the state Department of Education to find a new testing vendor, and is the fourth year in a row in which there has been some type of issue. Complications this year stem in part from some districts not meeting the state deadline to turn in completed tests for grading, forcing state officials to scramble to send back results. But the state could perhaps manage things better by enforcing fixed, staggered testing windows, said JC Bowman, executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee (ProEd). The state typically sets one testing window for the entire state, which risks having numerous districts simultaneously waiting to the last minute, or past the last minute, to package up the paper tests and send them off for grading. “Calendar flexibility allowed for smoother administration of the test, but hampered the return of results,” Bowman told The Tennessee Star. In an email…

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U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais Rips Mainstream Media At Rutherford County GOP Event

May 27, 2017May 26, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais slammed the mainstream media Thursday in delivering his welcoming remarks at the Rutherford County GOP Reagan Day Dinner. “These folks are not even trying to be neutral and impartial anymore,” he said, describing how he believes coverage has become even more slanted since President Trump was elected. DesJarlais, who represents the 4th district which includes Rutherford County, said news stories are full of “complete and utter nonsense” and cautioned attendees to be wary of what they see and read. “The president is doing everything we elected him to do but you won’t hear about that on TV,” he said. Four announced and expected candidates for Tennessee governor spoke at Thursday’s event at the Stones River County Club in Murfreesboro. They included state Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville), Congresswoman Diana Black, and businessmen Randy Boyd and Bill Lee. Only Boyd and Lee have officially announced that they are running. DesJarlais encouraged state and local Republicans to stick together, saying that Democrats’ only chance of putting forward a winning gubernatorial candidate is if Republicans divide among themselves. In Washington, D.C., things are going better than some Republicans realize, he said. “Border crossings are dramatically down and that’s without…

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Nashville Symphony To Give Performance With Fireworks Saturday

May 26, 2017May 26, 2017 Wendy Wilson

If you’re still looking for something to do over Memorial Day weekend, the Nashville Symphony will give a performance with fireworks Saturday evening at the Ascend Amphitheater. The “Tchaikovsky Spectacular” will feature the symphony as well as dancers with the Nashville Ballet and Joyce Yang on piano. Vinay Parameswaran will conduct. A performance of the 1812 Overture will accompany the fireworks display. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. General admission lawn seats are $20. Reserved and and premium box seats are also available. Tickets can be purchased by calling 615-687-6400 or visiting the Schermerhorn box office at One Symphony Place downtown. To buy tickets online, click here. The Ascend Amphitheater is located at 310 First Ave. S.

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Republicans Eyeing Job As Tennessee Governor Respond To Timely Questions At Event Thursday

May 26, 2017 Wendy Wilson

While announced and expected Republican candidates for Tennessee governor differed little in their comments at a Rutherford County GOP event on Thursday, they handled questions about tough and timely issues. Businessmen Randy Boyd and Bill Lee spoke at at the annual Reagan Day Dinner, as did state Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) and Congresswoman Diane Black. Boyd, who formerly served as Gov. Bill Haslam’s economic commissioner, and Lee are the only two who have officially announced their candidacies for the 2018 race. On sanctuary cities, all four in attendance said they were strongly against Tennessee cities refusing to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. There are no cities in the state that have technically refused to cooperate with ICE, though Nashville Mayor Megan Barry is seen as sympathetic toward illegal immigrants. Moreover, lax immigration enforcement nationwide under previous presidents has meant ongoing problems with criminal illegal immigrants who continue to commit crimes. “No city in Tennessee will be a sanctuary city under my watch,” said Boyd, who is regarded as an establishment Republican and who last year gave a large donation to Conexión Américas for its culinary entrepreneurship program. Renata Soto, the founder and director of the Nashville group, is…

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No Fireworks in Gubernatorial Primary as Diane Black, Randy Boyd, Mark Green and Bill Lee Make Their Pitches at Rutherford County GOP Reagan Day Dinner

May 26, 2017May 26, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — Four announced and expected Republican candidates for Tennessee governor spoke at Thursday evening’s Reagan Day Dinner sponsored by the Rutherford County GOP. Participants included businessmen Randy Boyd and Bill Lee, Congresswoman Diane Black and State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville). State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) said Wednesday she had to back out because of a scheduling conflict. At Thursday’s event, it was announced that State Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) and House Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) were also unable to attend as planned. Norris, like Beavers, cited a scheduling conflict and Harwell had to go to Colorado to be with her sister, who broke her back. Boyd and Lee are the only two who have officially launched campaigns for the 2018 race. The four candidates who spoke Thursday at the Stones River Country Club in Murfreesboro answered questions about federal encroachment on states’ rights, school vouchers, sanctuary cities and Medicaid. All four gave responses that reflected few substantial differences. There were no questions about Gov. Bill Haslam’s IMPROVE Act, which he recently signed into law after it passed in the state legislature, but not without fierce debate. The legislation raises the gas tax and allows municipalities to hold…

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