Tennessee Star Newspaper, Latest State, Local, Investigative and Political News and Headlines

January 15, 2025

Clemency Request ‘Pending’ for Leaker of Trump’s and Others’ Taxes

The Biden administration is formally considering commuting the sentence of the convicted felon who stole and leaked incoming President Trump's tax records along with those of thousands of other taxpayers, in the biggest tax data heist in U.S. history. A search of...

January 15, 2025

Analysis: Nearly Half of Federal Employees in the Swamp Plan to Resist Trump, Poll Finds

A surprising number of federal government employees admit they are gearing up to act like a deep state, opposing the incoming second administration of Donald Trump.

January 15, 2025

Deaths Will Outpace Births in Eight Years, According to Dire Government Prediction

Annual deaths are expected to exceed annual births in the United States by 2033, a new report estimates. Population growth in the U.S. is expected to stagnate between 2025 and 2055 as fertility rates continue to decline, a report released Tuesday by the...

January 15, 2025

Bitter Kamala Refuses to Invite Vances to Veep’s Residence

Vice President Kamala Harris has not extended a formal invitation to JD Vance and his family for a tour or sit-down at the Naval Observatory, where they are scheduled to move on Jan. 20, multiple sources from both parties disclosed to CBS...

January 15, 2025

Youngkin Urges Virginia Department of Education to Adopt Policy to Notify Parents of School Drug Overdoses Within 24 Hours

Governor Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday urged the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to adopt a policy requiring schools to notify parents of on-campus drug overdoses within 24 hours, which would formalize a requirement the governor previously created through an executive...

January 15, 2025

Governor Katie Hobbs’ State of the State Speech Provokes Strong Rebuttal from Republican Legislative Leaders

Governor Katie Hobbs gave the annual State of the State speech on Monday at the opening of the 2025 legislative session. Her speech contained a considerable amount of vague statements, including conservative sounding rhetoric, attacks on the Republican-controlled legislature, and...

January 15, 2025

Commentary: If You Care About Healthy Food, Confirm RFK Jr.

As a vegan chef turned regenerative cattle rancher, I’ve traversed the narrow divides between two worlds: the health-conscious, progressive enclaves of Los Angeles and the rugged, often misunderstood landscapes of rural Texas. For years, I lived and breathed the principles...

January 15, 2025

Music Spotlight: Noah Thompson

The one word that came to mind when I heard Noah Thompson for the first time was “unexpected.” And I believe that is part of why Thompson won American Idol in 2022. No one, including himself, expected that he could...

January 15, 2025

Commentary: Intifada in America

On the same day that an ISIS-inspired terrorist killed 15 civilians in a deadly car attack in New Orleans, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protestors marched in Times Square chanting, “There is only one solution: intifada revolution.” After a year of such...

January 14, 2025

Tennessee House Republicans Urge NCAA to End ‘Unfair’ Transgender Policies Allowing Biological Men to Compete Against Women

A letter from the Tennessee House Republican Caucus to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was published Tuesday, showing the House Republicans urged the NCAA to drop its rules allowing biological males who identify as transgender females to compete in...

January 14, 2025

House Speaker Announces Flags at U.S. Capitol to Fly at Full-Staff During Trump Inauguration

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday announced that U.S. flags on Capitol Hill will fly at full-staff next week, during President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, but will be returned to half-staff the next day.

January 14, 2025

‘Kicked Their A**es’: CNN Firebrand Says Dems’ Strategy for Hegseth Hearing Totally Blew Up in Their Faces

CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings said Democratic senators’ “mudslinging” strategy backfired at President-elect Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s Tuesday confirmation hearing.

January 14, 2025

Minnesota House Republicans Elect Speaker as DFL Members Boycott First Day of Session

The incoming lot of 66 DFL House members made good on their threat to boycott the first day of the 2025 legislative session on Tuesday. And the 67 Republican House members who showed up to work equally made good on their promise to elect...

January 14, 2025

Steve Bannon Extends Open Invite to Event in D.C. to Celebrate Trump Inauguration

Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist and host of the popular show War Room, is extending an invite to the public to join him at an event in Washington D.C. on Thursday to celebrate President-elect Donald Trump’s forthcoming inauguration...

January 14, 2025

Tennessee Voters Could Recall Local Officials Under Proposed Legislation

Legislation proposed last week could allow some Tennessee voters to organize recall elections for local elected officials, should two-thirds of voters be willing to sign a petition after a city or county government adopts a policy allowing the recalls. The...

January 14, 2025

Senate Majority Leader John Thune Names U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn to Republican Leadership Team

Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) was among a group of four senators selected by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to advise him and be part of his unofficial cabinet, according to a report by Fox News.

January 14, 2025

DOD Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth Escorted to Confirmation Hearing by Tennessee U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty

Tennessee U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) escorted fellow Tennessean Pete Hegseth, who was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense, to his confirmation hearing in front of the...

January 14, 2025

Federal Appeals Court Allows Protect Tennessee Minors Act to Go Into Effect

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled on Monday to allow a Tennessee state law aimed at protecting minors on the internet to take effect.

January 14, 2025

Bill Would Empower Tennessee AG Skrmetti to Investigate, Prosecute Lawbreaking Judges and District Attorneys

New legislation filed Monday in the Tennessee General Assembly would empower Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti to launch nepotism investigations against judges, magistrates, elected judicial officials, and district attorneys, then launch criminal action if warranted.

January 14, 2025

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears Release Statements Backing Federal Cuts Under DOGE

While Democrats in Virginia have suggested the incoming Trump administration's proposed cuts to the federal government will be a political liability among voters in the Old Dominion, both Governor Glenn Youngkin and Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears made statements last week...