Tennessee Set to Raise Unemployment Pay, Lower Weeks Eligible from 26 to 12

Unemployment line

Tennessee unemployment benefits will soon be rising to a maximum $325 per week while standard eligibility will move from 26 to 12 weeks.

New Tennessee laws passed over the past three years are set to go into place Dec. 1. The standard eligibility across the country is 26 weeks with Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Missouri the states that have lower than 26 weeks, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

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Tennessee U.S. Rep. John Rose Delivers Remarks at Hearing Exposing the Iranian Regime’s Sponsorship of Terrorism

Tennessee U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) delivered remarks at a recent House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing entitled, “Moving the Money: Understanding the Iranian Regime’s Access to Money Around the World and How They Use It to Support Terrorism.”

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Tennessee Reps. Slam the USDA for Efforts to ‘Decimate’ the Tennessee Walking Horse Industry

Tennessee U.S. Representatives John Rose (R-TN-06) and Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) released statements Friday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) refused to expand its public comment period for a proposed rule that threatens to “decimate” the entire Tennessee Walking Horse industry.

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Far-Left Tennessee Democrat State Rep. Justin Jones Reveals Pro-Hamas Sentiment, Calls for Ceasefire in Israel-Gaza War

Progressive Democrat activist-turned-State Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) called for a ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists in an early Saturday post on X – formerly Twitter.

On October 7, thousands of Hamas terrorists left their base in Gaza and launched a barbaric surprise attack inside Israel, where they killed more than 1,400 Israeli citizens, the vast majority of whom were civilians.

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Beacon Center Poll: Donald Trump Leading Biden by 31 Points in Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn Up 20 Points over Democrat Gloria Johnson

The Nashville-based Beacon Center of Tennessee published results of its poll this week revealing how registered Tennessee voters would vote in the 2024 presidential and senate races.

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Tennessee AG Skrmetti Sues Biden Administration Over Withheld Federal Funds During Abortion Battle

After the Biden Administration bypassed the state of Tennessee completely and decided to give the state’s Title X funding directly to Planned Parenthood in September, Tennessee’s attorney general is taking action. 

“We are suing to stop the federal government from playing politics with the health of Tennessee women,” Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter. “Our lawsuit is necessary to ensure that Tennessee can continue its 50-year track record of successfully providing these public health services to its neediest populations.”

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Tennessee Representative Slams the FBI’s Five-Month Delayed Response to Letter Regarding the Covenant School Shooting

Tennessee U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) released a statement this week after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) responded to his April 26 letter in regards to the Covenant School shooting in Nashville.

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Tennessee Representatives Congratulate the New Speaker of the House

All eight Republican U.S. Representatives serving Tennessee congratulated Louisiana U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) after he was elected the 56th Speaker of the House on Wednesday.

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Voluntary Recall of Kroger Collard Greens Announced After Tennessee Department of Agriculture Investigation

A company from Georgia is voluntarily recalling collard greens sold in Kroger supermarkets in Tennessee after the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Consumer and Industry Services Division (CIS) found possible contaminants during a routine investigation. 

“Baker Farms of Norman Park, GA is voluntarily recalling a single production run of Kroger 16-ounce bagged Collard Greens, due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination,” according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

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ACLU Suing Tennessee over Law That Punishes People Who Knowingly Spreading HIV

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said on X, formerly Twitter, that it is suing the State of Tennessee over a law meant to prevent people from knowingly spreading HIV.

“BREAKING: We’re suing Tennessee for their ‘aggravated prostitution’ statute that targets people with HIV with harsh punishment and lifetime sex offender registration. This law is unconstitutional and disproportionately affects Black and transgender women,” the group said Tuesday afternoon. “The law elevates engaging in sex work from a misdemeanor to a felony based on someone’s HIV status – a protected disability.”

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Tennessee Department of Children’s Services Highlights New Anti-Human Trafficking Unit

Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services (DCS) is highlighting a new anti-human trafficking team, which was formed as part of the state’s ongoing effort to combat the practice. 

“We’ve had over 500 reports since the beginning of the year,” Kate Greer, the Director of the Human Trafficking Response Team, which is part of DCS, reportedly said. 

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Tennessee U.S. Reps. Mark Green and Chuck Fleischmann End Bids for Speaker, Pledge Support for Speaker-Designate Mike Johnson

Tennessee U.S. Representatives Mark Green (R-TN-07) and Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03) released statements Tuesday night pledging their support for Louisiana U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA-04), who was elected the Republican speaker nominee by a vote within the GOP conference.

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Tennessee Republicans: Far-Left’s Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza ‘Embarrassment,’ ‘Abhorrent’

Members of Tennessee’s federal congressional delegation Monday slammed some of their Democrat counterparts who have called for a ceasefire in Gaza after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel.

“The fact that some of our leaders are calling for a ceasefire instead of supporting our ally Israel is an embarrassment,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) told The Tennessee Star Monday. “There is no compromising with the animals who brutally murdered innocent civilians and targeted women and children. Hamas is a terror group, and we should treat them like one.”

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Tennessee Offering Robust Opportunities for Disabled Workers During Awareness Month

During October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Tennessee is working hard to provide opportunities for disabled residents who are looking for work. 

The state is touting its “Employment First Task Force” to help those with physical and mental disabilities obtain jobs. 

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Tennessee Congressional Delegation Members Push Back on President Biden’s Lump Funding Request for Israel, Ukraine, and Border Security

A group of Tennessee congressional lawmakers have criticized President Joe Biden’s budget request for Congress to fund an aid package for both Ukraine and Israel.

On Friday, the White House announced the details of Biden’s $105 billion funding request, with the majority of the funding – $61.4 billion – intended for Ukraine. Further, under Biden’s request, Israel would receive $14.3 billion. The rest of the requested funds would go towards humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and other places and fund various initiatives geared toward the Indo-Pacific.

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Annual Eagle Forum Foundation Event on Saturday Features All-Star Lineup

Tennessee Eagle Forum president Bobbie Patray joined the The Tennessee Star Report newsmaker line Wednesday morning to share with listeners the latest lineup for the much-anticipated 2023 On Eagles Wings event set to begin Saturday morning.

Among the all-star speakers set to appear are former Trump administration officials, ambassadors, Tennessee policy experts, and much more.

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Tennessee AG Skrmetti Pushes Back Against Department of Energy Proposal Targeting Consumer Boilers

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti led a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in drafting a comment letter in opposition to a new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposal regarding consumer boilers.

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Tennessee U.S. Representatives Rally Behind Jim Jordan for House Speaker

A group of GOP U.S. Representatives from Tennessee have issued statements affirming their support for Ohio U.S. Representative Jim Jordan’s (R-OH-04) bid for Speaker of the House.

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Tennessee’s Public Charter School Commission Overturns Five Local Charter School Application Denials

At this year’s annual charter school appeals hearing, the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission (TPCSC) heard from eight proposed charter schools. State law permits charter authorizers who have been denied by the local authorizer to ask for reconsideration.

Established in 2022, as a means for those appeals to be heard, the commission has the power to overturn local decisions.

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Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition Issues Statement Condemning Anti-Semitic Marxist Groups That Oppose Israel

The Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition (TNFFC) released a statement on Friday condemning the rhetoric and actions of multiple left-wing groups in support of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

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Iconic ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Stars Set to Reunite at 2023 Gallatin Comic Con

Prepare to take a nostalgic trip down to Hazzard County as the beloved stars of the iconic TV series, Dukes of Hazzard, are reuniting at the 2023 Gallatin Comic Con. Tom Wopat, known to fans as Luke Duke, will be joined by his former co-stars John Schneider (Bo Duke) and Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke) for a weekend filled with old fashion Southern charm and entertainment. The event is set to kick off on November 11th and continue through the 12th, starting at 10 am CT at the Gallatin Civic Center.

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Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn Calls for the Immediate Removal of Jake Sullivan as National Security Advisor

Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Friday demanding the “immediate removal” of Jake Sullivan as his National Security Advisor.

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State Lawmaker Plans to Introduce Bill to Help Math Retention Rates for Tennessee Students

State House Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) told The Tennessee Star that he plans to introduce a new bill that closely resembles Temnnessee’s existing third-grade retention bill for literacy.

Tennessee implemented new policies last year to address low literacy rates among third-graders. This coming year, Tennessee lawmakers intend to turn their focus to mathematics.

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Tennessee GOP State Lawmakers Sign Joint Proclamation Expressing Unwavering Support of Israel

GOP lawmakers in the Tennessee General Assembly have signed a joint proclamation expressing their unwavering support of Israel following Hamas’ attack on the country over the Yom Kippur holiday weekend.

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Tennessee Appeals Court to Hear Oral Arguments in Covenant Killer Records Case

The Tennessee Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear oral arguments Monday afternoon in The Tennessee Star’s lawsuit demanding the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County release the Covenant School killer’s manifesto and related records.

The court is weighing whether to overturn Davidson County Judge I’Ashea Myles’ ruling to allow Covenant Presbyterian School parents, staff and others to intervene in the lawsuit and argue why the manifesto should remain locked away from the public.

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Tennessee State Rep and Far Left U.S. Senate Candidate Gloria Johnson Calls for Cease-Fire Following Brutal Hamas Terrorist Attack on Israel

Tennessee State Representative and liberal U.S. Senate candidate Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) has been relatively quiet on terrorist group Hamas’ horrifying attack on innocent Israeli civilians, but the Tennessee leftist’s first response was to call for a cease-fire.

Johnson (pictured above), who gained national attention as a member of the so-called “Tennessee Three” disorderly Democrat state lawmakers, fired off a message on her X account as Hamas members were systematically raping and murdering Jews.

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Tennessee AG Skrmetti Leads Letter Urging the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to Scrap Abortion Rule

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti led a coalition of 19 states in sending a letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) expressing opposition to a proposed rule regarding workplace abortion accommodations.

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Tennessee ACLU Files Lawsuit Against ‘Unconstitutional’ Murfreesboro LGBT Policies

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU) filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of LGBT activists who say Murfreesboro discriminates against them.

Tennessee Equality Project (TEP), founder and host of the annual BoroPride Festival, is the plaintiff in the case, which says that a city ordinance designed to keep drag shows out of public places violates the First and 14th Amendments.

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Tennessee Department of Education Presents Updates on School A-F Grades to State Board of Education Ahead of November Rollout

The Tennessee State Department of Education(TDOE) updated the State Board of Education(SBE) last week on progress toward implementing the state’s A-F school grading system.

Lawmakers passed legislation in 2016 requiring the TDOE to release school letter grades annually. Grades were intended to be implemented during the 2017/18 school year, but state testing issues and COVID-19 prevented the release of those scores until this year. In anticipation of releasing individual school grades, the Department of Education is revising the grading formula to give parents greater clarity. 

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Aaron’s Analysis: The Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition Stands with Israel

Official guest host and executive director of the Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition takes a moment to confront the false land ownership claims underpinning the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas an Tuesday’s episode of The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy.

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Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn Leads Colleagues in Demanding President Joe Biden Rescind $6 Billion Ransom Payment to Iran

Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) led 19 Senate Republicans in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging his administration to freeze a recent $6 billion ransom payment to Iran amid Hamas’ attack on Israel.

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Tennessee Supreme Court Calls on the General Assembly to Increase its Budget to Raise Compensation for Court-Appointed Attorneys

Tennessee Star - Constitution Series

The Tennessee Supreme Court is urging the Tennessee General Assembly to increase the state’s judicial system’s budget in order for it to increase the compensation rate for court-appointed attorneys.

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Appellate Court Upholds Ruling on Tennessee Absentee Ballot Request Distribution Law

A court ruling saying that absentee ballot requests in Tennessee can only be distributed by qualified elections officials has been upheld by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. 

In 2020, Tennessee’s Secretary of State Tre Hargett was sued in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee by activists including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the AFL-CIO labor union, who claimed that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, anyone should be able to fill out and return to county election officials an absentee ballot request form on behalf of another person, as long as the form is signed by the would-be absentee voter. 

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Smith & Wesson Cited Support for Second Amendment, Cost of Living as Reasons for Move to Tennessee

Gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson held a weekend ribbon cutting ceremony at its new $160 million headquarters in Maryville, leaving its former home in Massachusetts behind. 

“From where I stand, the next 170 years of Smith & Wesson are looking pretty good,” said the company’s CEO and President Mark Smith at the ceremony. “It is something special here in Tennessee.”’

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Brown University to Start Interrogating Ph.D. Applicants on How They Will Advance ‘Diversity’

An Ivy League university will now be requiring doctoral applicants to submit a 300-word diversity statement, according to the Brown Daily Herald.

Brown University administrators announced changes to Brown University’s Ph.D. admissions process Tuesday in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling banning race-based admissions, as well as changes to their Title IX policies, according to the Brown Daily Herald. Brown’s new Ph. D. admissions process will now include a diversity statement that questions ways in which applicants will “advance diversity.”

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Members of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation Send Letter to President Biden amid Hamas’ Attack on Israel

Nine members of the Tennessee Congressional Delegation sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Sunday urging his administration to support Israel “however possible” and “punish the terrorists” responsible for the attacks on the country that began Saturday morning.

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Starbucks Shutters Seven Stores in Crime-Ridden Parts of San Francisco

Starbucks plans to close seven stores located in downtown San Francisco in October, a spokesperson for the company confirmed.

The corporation looked into “several factors” when it decided to close the seven locations, and added that it would continue to invest in San Francisco through its 40 other company-owned locations in the city, a Starbucks spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation. Although the company declined to comment on whether crime was a factor that led to its decision, all seven of the closing locations — Mission & Main, Geary & Taylor, 425 Battery, 398 Market St, 4th & Market, 555 California and Bush & Van Ness — are situated in or near the city’s troubledTenderloin district, a Starbucks store map showed.

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Flags to Fly at Half-Staff over Tennessee Capitol Friday in Honor of Fallen Knox County Deputy

At the direction of Gov. Bill Lee (R), flags will be flown at half-staff at the Tennessee Capitol Friday in order to honor a Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) deputy who was killed in the line of duty earlier this week. 

“Every day, our men & women of law enforcement walk the thin line between order & chaos to keep Tennesseans safe. Deputy Blakely made the ultimate sacrifice, & we can never fully express our deep gratitude,” Lee said on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

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Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn Blasts Biden Administration for Pushing Deportation of Morristown Christian Family

Since President Joe Biden took office, there have been some 6 million illegal immigrant crossings on the U.S. southern border — more than 1.5 million so-called “gotaways.”

The same administration that has allowed millions of illegal immigrants refuge in the United States is working feverishly to deport a Tennessee evangelical Christian family that fled religious persecution in Germany 15 years ago.

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Boat Manufacturer Announces $75 Million Investment Project in East Tennessee

Malibu Boats officials recently announced the company will invest $75 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Lenoir City.

The company’s expansion project will mark its second plant located outside of its headquarters in Loudon. The new plant will be located at an existing facility in the Roane Regional Business and Technology Park.

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Fiscal Conservatives from Arizona and Tennessee Helped Depose Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House

U.S. Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) laid it all on the line Tuesday afternoon in supporting a motion to vacate to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23) from the post he has tenuously held for less than a year.

“Speaker McCarthy has failed to demonstrate himself as an effective leader who will change the status quo. He has gone against many of the promises he made in January and can no longer be trusted at the helm,” Biggs said.

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Attorney General Skrmetti Files Complaint Against DHS and ICE After the Agencies Failed to Provide Information on Illegal Migrants Being Bussed to Tennessee

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti filed an official complaint against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday, alleging the two entities have failed to produce documents regarding the release of immigrant detainees into Tennessee.

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Tennessee U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett Tells Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to ‘Stay in Your Lane’ Amid Criticism of Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz

Tennessee U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) responded to a tweet by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich criticizing Florida U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL-01) “suicidal efforts to cripple the House GOP.”

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