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Former Congressman Stephen Fincher Stops in Johnson City on ‘Listening Tour’ as He Considers U.S. Senate Run

October 13, 2017October 12, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Former Congressman Stephen Fincher (R-TN-8) told the Johnson City Press this week that he is seriously thinking about running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Bob Corker. Johnson City was one of the first stops in what Fincher says is a listening tour of the state designed to help him decide whether to run. The tour is expected to last several weeks. The West Tennessee farmer would be vying for the Republican nomination against the formidable U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-7) and conservative activist Andy Ogles. Fincher, who lives in Frog Jump, said in an interview with the Johnson City Press that he is being encouraged by supporters to run and has been praying about it and discussing it with his family. He is currently traveling the state to get input from voters. Fincher was first elected to Congress in 2010 and was re-elected twice to consecutive terms. In 2016, he decided not to run again because of the illness of a family member. He has more than $2 million remaining in his congressional election account. In August, he became a campaign co-chairman for U.S. Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-6) in her run for Tennessee governor. Fincher told the Johnson City Press…

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Blackburn: I’ve Fought ‘Against the Establishment All of My Political Life’

October 12, 2017October 11, 2017 Admin

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said that President Donald Trump “would win” against his outgoing critic, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), in a hypothetical 2020 presidential primary, during an interview Wednesday on “The Laura Ingraham Show.” Blackburn announced Thursday that she will be running for Corker’s seat after he announced he would not be running for re-election in…

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Citizens United Endorses Marsha Blackburn for U. S. Senate

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017 Admin

The political action arm of the powerful and influential group, Citizens United, delivered a full-throated endorsement Tuesday of Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) to fill the open Senate seat left behind by the retiring Bob Corker: Citizens United Political Victory Fund (CUPVF), the affiliated PAC of Citizens United, issued the following statement endorsing conservative Congressman Marsha Blackburn for U.S. Senate. “CUPVF is proud to support conservative change agent Marsha Blackburn for U.S. Senator from Tennessee. Congressman Blackburn is a longtime friend of Citizens United and the conservative movement,” said Citizens United President David N. Bossie. “I’m proud to say that Congressman Blackburn spoke at all of our Freedom Summits advocating for our shared principles and values.” “We support Marsha Blackburn for Senate because she understands that you can’t just talk about a conservative agenda, you have to fight for it and get it enacted,” added Bossie, who served as President Donald J. Trump’s Deputy Campaign Manager. “Marsha Blackburn is a full spectrum conservative who fought the Obama agenda every step of the way and fully supports President Trump’s agenda of repealing and replacing Obamacare, tax reform, and border security. I look forward to working with Marsha Blackburn in the Senate and I…

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Gov. Haslam Has Not Kept Campaign Promises to Curb Illegal Immigration in Tennessee

October 1, 2017October 1, 2017 Chris Alto

Broken promises from Bill Haslam’s 2010 campaign could figure prominently in any run for Bob Corker’s Senate seat. While campaigning for governor, Haslam repeatedly raised the issue of illegal immigration and how he, as governor, would work to insulate Tennessee from the negative fiscal effects of illegal immigration and from becoming a magnet for illegal immigrants. In his “Jobs4TN” written campaign materials Haslam tied job development and employment for Tennesseans to the problem of illegal immigration and promised: In order to keep Tennessee a great state, we must also work to provide more and better job opportunities for Tennessee residents. An important part of that effort must be making sure that available jobs are only going to individuals who are legally resident in the state. Tennessee is paying a price for the failure of the federal government to effectively secure our nation’s borders and enforce our immigration laws. As governor, I will enforce the state laws on the books and do everything within my authority to be sure that Tennessee does not attract illegal activity. After he was elected, however, Haslam began to incrementally retreat from considering illegal immigration a negative fiscal and/or employment issue. In 2009, during the Bredesen administration, Managing…

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State Senator Mark Green To Speak Tuesday At First Tuesday Event

September 29, 2017 Wendy Wilson

State Sen. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) will speak Tuesday at Tim Skow’s First Tuesday event. A Republican activist, Skow in an email to First Tuesday fans mentioned the “political earthquake centered in Alabama,” where Roy Moore this week won the state’s GOP Senate primary runoff. Wondering what this might mean for Tennessee politics, Skow called Green “the man who will be in the eye of the storm.” Green had announced plans to run for governor, but then was nominated by President Trump to be Army secretary. He withdrew from consideration after leftists protested past statements he had made about LGBT activism and Islam. He decided against rejoining the governor’s race, leading to speculation about what other race he might join, if any. U.S. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) on Tuesday announced he will not seek re-election. His announcement came on the same day the anti-establishment Moore was cruising to victory in Alabama. Green’s name has come up as a possible candidate for Corker’s seat. So far, Andy Ogles, the former head of Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee, is the only announced candidate for the Republican nomination. Green has also been mentioned as a possible candidate to replace U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-7) should she…

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Haslam Considering Senate Run

September 29, 2017September 29, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Tennesse Star

On Thursday Gov. Bill Haslam said he is considering a run for the U.S. Senate. Earlier in the week, Haslam’s good friend and his brother’s college roommate, Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), shocked the political world when he said he would not be running for a third term in 2018. The ever cautious Haslam couched his comments about a potential run in his comments to the local Tennessee press, as WBIR reported: “It merits spending some time thinking about it and praying about it,” Haslam told reporters. The governor said he’s talked to Corker about the idea in recent days, adding that he had fully expected the U.S. senator to run for a third term. “I’ve heard from a lot of folks on the national political scene and a lot of people around Tennessee,” Haslam said. “But at the end of the day it’s more of a personal decision about what you want to do with your life. And it’s a question about can I be helpful in this role?” Haslam did not give a timetable as to when he will reach a decision, noting he won’t draw the process out for a month. Haslam added that Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)…

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Ogles: ‘It’s Going to Be a Tough Year For Incumbents’

September 27, 2017September 26, 2017 Admin

News of Bob Corker’s retirement from the U.S. Senate on the heels of Alabama incumbent Senator Luther Strange’s likely ouster from his short time in office could be a sign of the continuing anti-incumbent, grassroots-powered sea change that has gripped elective politics since the launch of the Tea Party movement in 2009. Senate hopeful Andy Ogles – himself a long-time grassroots conservative activist before becoming the state director of American for Prosperity – released a statement thanking Senator Corker for his twelve years in Washington D.C., adding: We need new faces in Washington who share President Trump’s mission to drain the swamp. Grassroots activists across Tennessee have had my ear for years telling me how Tennessee needs someone who will stand up for Tennesseans and hold true to their promises. People across the country feel the same way – What we are doing in D.C. is not working for the majority of Americans and electing the same batch of folks over and over who haven’t produced any results won’t change a thing. Although rumors of additional candidates have been swirling for months, Ogles is the sole Republican vying for the now-open U.S. Senate seat. “It’s going to be a tough year…

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Conservative Roy Moore Leads Establishment’s Luther Strange by 10 in Alabama GOP Senate Runoff As Voters Go to the Polls

September 26, 2017September 26, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Conservative grassroots champion Judge Roy Moore leads establishment pick Senator Luther Strange (R-AL) in the Alabama U.S. Senate Republican primary runoff election by ten points in the Real Clear Politics average of polls as voters cast their ballots today in the Yellowhammer State. On Monday night, an all-star gallery of conservative grassroots leaders gathered in Fairhope, Alabama to lend their vocal support at a rally headlined by Moore on the eve of the election. Breitbart News Executive Chairman Steve Bannon, United Kingdom Brexit leader Nigel Farage, former head of the independent UKIP party, and Duck Dynasty reality TV star Phil Robertson all joined in to tell the enthusiastic crowd of Judge Moore’s supporters why they have endorsed the West Point graduate and man who championed the Ten Commandments in today’s election to select the Republican nominee who will take on Democrat Doug Jones in the December 12 general election. The winner of that election will be seated in the United States Senate as the replacement for former Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), now Attorney General. You can watch the complete video recording of that rally here: One regular reader of The Tennessee Star made the trek down to Fairhope on…

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Talk Show Host Michael DelGiorno Endorses Andy Ogles for U. S. Senate

September 16, 2017September 15, 2017 Admin

On Thursday, WTN 99.7 FM talk radio host Michael DelGiorno endorsed Andy Ogles for the Republican nomination to United States Senate for the seat currently held by Senator Bob Corker (R-TN). “I wholeheartedly support your candidacy, and there is nobody who could announce in the future who could woo me away from my confidence that you are the right person, at the right time, to fill this seat,” DelGiorno told Ogles on his morning program. DelGiorno told his listeners he hoped they would “extend all favor you hold for me to Andy Ogles. This is the time to start praying, this is the time to start giving, and this is the time to start volunteering if you want this Senate seat to be ours again. I encourage you to get behind him.” DelGiorno hosts his program on WTN every Monday through Friday from 9 am to noon. Senator Corker has come under criticism from Republicans in Tennessee for his relentless criticism of President Trump, who remains very popular in the state. Recent polls show the president’s approval rating among likely Republican primary voters remains above 80 percent. Corker has yet to announce whether he will seek a third term. First elected…

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Judge Jeanine Wows Crowd at T-Bones and Politics

September 15, 2017September 15, 2017 Wendy Wilson

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — Judge Jeanine Pirro railed against corruption in Washington, D.C., before an enthusiastic crowd Thursday at the ninth annual T-Bones and Politics fundraiser at the Mid-TN Expo. The fiery Fox News host, who is a former judge and district attorney, directed most of her outrage at liberal political figures who she said aren’t being held accountable by the deep state and feckless Republicans. Pirro slammed the State Department and Department of Justice for not pursuing a case against Hillary Clinton for her secret emails and pay-to-play schemes during her tenure as Secretary of State. “No one is above the law, not even Hillary Clinton,” said Pirro, describing the failed presidential candidate as someone who “needs a lobotomy.” Pirro also bemoaned former IRS official Lois Lerner getting a pass by the Department of Justice, which announced last week that prosecutors would not pursue a case against her for harassing conservative groups. In addition, Pirro mentioned the controversy four years ago surrounding former Attorney General Eric Holder, who was accused of lying under oath about the Obama administration’s surveillance of reporters. “The Democrats go for blood,” Pirro said, referring to their tactics to bring down political opponents. Republicans, by contrast,…

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Commentary: Tennessee Attorney General Abuses His Position to Offer Political and Not Legal Opinion

September 14, 2017September 13, 2017 Chris Alto

Disregarding the Constitution, foundational principles of federalism, immigration law and his statutorily prescribed duties, Tennessee’s Attorney General Herbert Slatery III, the state’s chief legal advisor, has used his position and office to advance a political agenda on behalf of illegal aliens in the state. Forty-three states elect their Attorney General unlike in Tennessee whose state Constitution directs the State Supreme Court to make the appointment for a term of eight years. Elected Attorney Generals are viewed as more accountable to the public and more independent from the governor. Elected AGs are also viewed as having more credibility should a situation arise requiring investigating wrongdoing by any state official including the governor. Prior to his appointment as Tennessee’s Attorney General, from 2011 – 2014, Slatery, also from Knoxville, served as counsel to Governor Haslam. “In addition to providing legal advice to the Governor, he oversaw the process for judicial appointments, coordinated the legal affairs of the executive branch for the Governor, assisted in the development and implementation of legislation, and reviewed requests for executive clemency and extradition.” Using his official letterhead, Slatery informed Sens. Alexander and Corker that Tennessee would not challenge the DACA program despite admitting the likelihood of prevailing. Slatery’s…

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Tennessee Attorney General Slatery Pushes Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants On Advice From Soros Funded Organization

September 12, 2017September 12, 2017 Chris Alto

Tennessee Star

Prior to withdrawing Tennessee from the coalition of state Attorneys General challenging the 2012 DACA program Attorney General Herbert Slatery, III, met with Stephanie Teatro, a co-Director of the TN Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), who convinced Slatery to ignore the Constitution and the entire body of U.S. immigration law and advocate instead for illegal aliens in Tennessee. After meeting with Teatro, Slatery reneged on his commitment to the coalition of Attorneys General challenging DACA. Even though there was no statutory or Constitutional authority for Obama’s unilateral action on DACA, or the fact that DACA does not alter anyone’s illegal immigration status, Slatery chose instead, to join TIRRC’s push for passage of the “DREAM Act of 2017” which would grant amnesty and a path to citizenship for the DACA eligible. Slatery’s push for amnesty is also in line with the campaign being led by the New American Economy. In 2013, this same organization then called the Partnership for a New American Economy (PNAE), was championing the “Gang of Eight” immigration reform bill which included amnesty and was supported by Sens. Alexander and Corker. GOP gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd is a named member of the PNAE. In his letter to Sens. Alexander…

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Gubernatorial Candidate Mae Beavers Says Tennessee GOP ‘Losing Its Way in Nashville’

August 24, 2017August 23, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

MT. JULIET, Tennessee — In traveling across the state to campaign for governor, Mae Beavers has encountered “an increasing anxiety” about Republicans not governing based on conservative principles, she told reporters Wednesday. Despite the dominance of Tennessee Republicans in the governor’s office and both chambers of the state legislature, the GOP is “losing its way in Nashville,” Beavers said. Beavers was at Mt. Juliet City Hall Wednesday afternoon to announce that she will not serve the remainder of her term as state senator so that she can give full attention to her gubernatorial campaign. Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) used the opportunity to also talk about the “discontent” and “skepticism” in the state about Republicans campaigning as conservatives but then going against conservative principles once in office. “Many citizens feel they’re strangers in their own state, that their values, their way of life, their history and heritage and home are under assault,” said Beavers, a strong supporter of President Trump who has said in the past that she hopes to pull off an underdog win just like he did. “But I can tell you that there’s also a mighty wind of cheerful determination to hold the line on taxes and regulations,…

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Conexion Americas Led Coalition, With Randy Boyd’s Non-Profit as a ‘State Partner,’ Says Students Here Illegally Deserve ‘Educational Equity’

August 10, 2017August 10, 2017 Chris Alto

Conexion Americas, the convener and leading member of the Tennessee Educational Equity Coalition (TEEC), has issued a letter to Sens. Alexander and Corker asking them to continue Obama’s administrative bypass of Congress that unilaterally created the questionable DACA program. Gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd’s education non-profit Complete Tennessee, on which Conexion Americas’ founder and executive director Renata Soto serves as a board member, is listed as a State Partner on the TEEC website. TEEC was established in March 2016. Complete Tennessee was established in September 2016, about the same time that Randy Boyd and his wife Jenny Boyd donated $250,000 to Conexion Americas. TEEC says that students who arrived in Tennessee in violation of U.S. immigration law deserve “educational equity:” As members of the Tennessee Educational Equity Coalition, we write you to express our support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Tennessee Educational Equity Coalition is a diverse group of civil rights and education advocacy organizations whose goal is to build a shared advocacy agenda to address achievement and opportunity gaps for students across the state. We write you to respectfully request that you support the DACA program and that you urge President Trump to keep the DACA program intact until…

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Conexion Americas, Recipient of $250k From Randy Boyd, and TIRRC Are Defending Obama’s DACA Program for Illegal Aliens

August 9, 2017August 9, 2017 Chris Alto

Tennessee Star

Conexion Americas and TIRRC (Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition) are taking action this Friday to defend recipients of Obama’s unilateral 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program who are euphemistically referred to as “dreamers.” After the “Dream Act” failed in 2010, the Obama administration used an administrative bypass of Congress to execute unilateral executive amnesty in the form of the DACA program. On Friday, Conexion Americas, a Nashville Latino advocacy organization and recipient of a $250,000 donation from Randy and Jenny Boyd, is offering a popsicle to anyone who stops by and sends a postcard to Tennessee’s D.C. legislators requesting support for the newest “Dream Act.” Recently introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democrat Dick Durbin, the bill provides even greater protection for the DACA eligible by offering a path to citizenship. Boyd is one of five announced candidates for the Republican nomination for governor of Tennessee. Conexion is taking a subtle approach to undermine the rule of law and preserve an unconstitutional action by the Obama administration, whereas TIRRC’s approach is more direct – they are asking Tennessee teachers to take their politics into the classroom. TIRRC’s Friday “Educator Day of Action” in defense of DACA…

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Steve Gill Analysis: For Election 2018, You’re Going to Need a Bigger Mailbox

August 7, 2017May 13, 2018 Admin

Tennessee Star

by: Steve Gill The August, 2018 Republican primary is now less than one year away and the field of candidates for Governor seems to be firming up. For Republicans the choices will apparently be between Mae Beavers, Diane Black, Randy Boyd, Bill Lee, and Beth Harwell. With numerous “self funders” in the game, the primary season will almost certainly see spending in the GOP Governor’s race exceed $50 million. As the late night commercials say: “But wait, there’s more!” Tennessee is also likely to see a contested Republican Senate Primary battle as Bob Corker faces reelection at a time when voter anger at Washington D.C. is clearly on the rise. President Trump remains extremely popular among his Tennessee voter base, and potential candidates like Mark Green, Andy Ogles, and others continue to gauge their prospects. A contested Senate GOP primary could easily mean another $10-15 million is spending next spring and summer. Black’s decision to run for Governor and vacate her Congressional seat has opened up Middle Tennessee’s 6th District. Likewise, the decision of Congressman Jimmy Duncan to retire after serving for three decades in the Knoxville-area 2nd District seat leaves a once in two generations opportunity available. Tim…

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Economist Stephen Moore Blasts Senator Lamar Alexander and ‘Turncoat’ Republicans During Nashville Visit

August 6, 2017August 6, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Free-market economist Stephen Moore slammed U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) in a speech Saturday when talking about “turncoat” Republicans who did not support a recent Republican-led Senate effort to repeal Obamacare. He said the Tennessee senator is “leading the charge” to preserve Obamacare in some form. Last month, Alexander was one of seven Republicans to vote against a strong repeal amendment sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). “What he is doing right now behind the scenes is a betrayal,” said Moore, the senior economic contributor for FreedomWorks and a fellow at the Heritage Foundation. Moore is a frequent commentator on TV and a former Wall Street Journal editorial board member. Moore spoke at a breakfast hosted by the Tennessee Republican Assembly at Glenwood Baptist Church in Nashville. The meeting was to be held at Dairy King next door, but had to be moved because of rain damage at the restaurant. Business leader Andrew Puzder, who was at one point President Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, also spoke at the event. “This is a very dangerous moment right now,” Moore said. “If Lamar has his way, we will permanently enshrine Obamacare into the budget. We will never get rid of…

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BREAKING: Diane Black Enters Race for Governor

August 2, 2017August 2, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Rep. Diane Black (R-TN-06) has entered the race for the Republican nomination for governor of Tennessee. Black posted the announcement that she is a candidate for the office on her Facebook page at about 3 a. m. on Wednesday morning. You can see the video of her announcement here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxCuaxf0K4M Black becomes the fifth major announced candidate for governor seeking the Republican nomination in 2018. The other candidates include Knoxville businessman Randy Boyd, Williamson County businessman Bill Lee, State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) and Tennessee Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R-Nashville). Former Nashville mayor Karl Dean is the only announced candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor so far. With her significant financial resources, Black immediately joins the front of the pack. “Diane Black’s entry into the Governor’s race is certainly not a surprise, although the timing and method of announcement is intriguing. The already crowded geography in Middle Tennessee now has four players while Randy Boyd has the Eastern third of the state to himself and West Tennessee is wide open. Although geographic considerations may not be as strong as in decades past, the relationships that each candidate brings from their home area is a factor,”…

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State Senator Doug Overbey Nominated To Be U.S. Attorney In East Tennessee

July 25, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

President Trump has nominated state Sen. Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) to be the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Announced Friday, the nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. Overbey is a three-term state senator and chair of the state ethics committee. A senior partner and co-founder of the Robertson Overbey law firm in Knoxville, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Carson-Newman College in 1976 and a law degree from the University of Tennessee in 1979. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) released a statement via Facebook calling Overbey “one of the most valuable and respected members of the General Assembly for many years.” “He has shown true leadership on some of the most important issues that confront our legislature,” McNally said. “His commitment to representing his constituents and producing quality legislation is unwavering.” Tennessee’s two Republican U.S. senators, Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, also issued statements praising Overbey. In his 38 years of practicing law, Overbey has handled a variety of legal matters, including antitrust and commercial litigation. He also has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Tennessee law school. In the Tennessee General Assembly, he represents Blount and Sevier counties.

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The Tennessee Star Celebrates Its TWO MILLIONTH Visit

July 13, 2017July 19, 2017 Admin

Tennessee Star

The Tennessee Star announced via Twitter Tuesday its online news site has been visited a whopping TWO MILLION times since its launch earlier this year. Today we had our TWO MILLIONTH visit to the https://t.co/CucY9Mxgrh since our launch Feb 6. Thank you, Tennessee – you're the BEST! pic.twitter.com/XOn5IM0Aui — Tennessee Star (@TheTNStar) July 11, 2017 The Tennessee Star went live on Monday, February 6 and by the end of the month – just 22 days later – The Star was visited over 175,000 times. “Tennesseans tell us that have wanted a fact-based news site with a conservative worldview for many years. That’s what we offer, and I believe that is the reason we have seen such a steep growth curve with no end in sight,” said Managing Editor Christina Botteri. The news media upstart experienced growing pains almost immediately, requiring them to upgrade their servers months ahead of schedule. After a strong inaugural month, visitors returned regularly and in growing numbers throughout March to stay current with the breaking developments surrounding Governor Haslam’s unpopular gas tax hike. Readership soared to over 285,000 within that 31-day period. “In April, we kicked off our ‘Constitution Series,’ and saw another uptick in readership with about 370,000 for the month,” Botteri recalled. The…

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Report Congressman Duncan Paid Son Over $300,000 Through Campaign Fuels Talk of Burchett Challenge

July 9, 2017July 10, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Tennessee Star

If Rep. John J. “Jimmy” Duncan (R-TN-02) is looking over his shoulder, he may see Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett gaining ground. A recent report by The Nashville Post that “Over the past decade Rep. Duncan has doled out hundreds of thousands of dollars to his two sons, his niece, his son-in-law, his daughter-in-law and his sister for campaign work,” is fueling talks of a primary challenge to the 15 term Republican Congressman by Burchett, who is term limited at his current job as Knox County Mayor. Over $300,000 of those funds have been paid to a firm called “American Public Strategies.” “If you look at the FEC filings, you won’t see any salary payments made out to John Duncan III after 2013. That’s because since November 2013, the younger Duncan has been getting paid under the aegis of ‘American Public Strategies.’ However, no business entity named American Public Strategies is registered with the state. The address for payments to the entity has been consistent with Rep. Duncan’s two campaign offices during the past four years, and currently payments are addressed to a house on Nubbin Ridge Road in Knoxville — the only house owned by the younger Duncan,”…

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Conexion Americas Community Event in Nashville Focused on Progressive Activism And Food From Randy Boyd Funded Kitchen Incubator

July 2, 2017July 7, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Michael Gilbert has worked in the restaurant industry for 15 years, but he’s only had his own business for about a year. The South Carolina native turned to Conexión Américas for help in getting his food truck off the ground. He is a member of the nonprofit’s culinary entrepreneurship program that offers people like him training in marketing and other skills they will need. Most importantly, it offers them use of a commercial kitchen. Gilbert said he values the chance to interact with other chefs in the program. “It’s a good learning experience,” he said Friday as he served breakfast fare from his City Kitchen food truck parked outside Casa Azafrán, where Conexión Américas held an Independence Day celebration. While Gilbert is an American citizen, the help he has received has come from an organization that promotes relief programs for illegal immigrants and provides services for them, as well as for legal immigrants. Conexión Américas co-founder Renata Soto is chair of National Council of La Raza, a national organization that has protested counterterrorism measures on grounds they violate immigrants’ rights. Conexión Américas’ progressive stances have created a problem for Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd, who last year donated $250,000 to help…

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Knox County Sheriff’s Office Now Part of 287(g) Program to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement

June 30, 2017June 29, 2017 Wendy Wilson

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has formally entered into an agreement with federal immigration officials that will allow deputies to perform some of the duties of immigration officers after undergoing training. The agreement is part of the 287(g) program, which is strongly opposed by activist groups such as the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC). Knox County is the only agency in Tennessee currently participating in the program, which was authorized by a 1996 federal statute. President Trump supports the program and has revived it after it was scaled back under former President Obama. The number of participating agencies has been growing. Currently, 45 law enforcement agencies in 18 states are involved. Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones signed the Knox County agreement June 13 and an official with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) signed June 15. The agreement is good through June 2019. Acting on a request from ICE, Jones had asked for, and received, letters of recommendation from Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. After completing their training, deputies in Knox County chosen for the program will have the delegated authority to interrogate suspected illegal immigrants detained by law enforcement, collect evidence and process paperwork. They…

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The Tennessee Star Announces Blockbuster Month with Over a Half-Million Visits

June 22, 2017June 22, 2017 Admin

Tennessee Star

FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE (Wednesday, June 21) — In another stunning announcement, The Tennessee Star released updated web traffic reports in a tweet Wednesday that shows the online news, information, and opinion website surpassed 500,000 visits in the last thirty days. WOW! Thank you, Tennessee!!30days (5/20-6/20): 526,841 visits 290,288 visitorsAll time (2/06-6/20): 1,536,671 visits 712,233 visitors pic.twitter.com/HBxgV2CKnf — Tennessee Star (@TheTNStar) June 22, 2017 “In three months and two weeks we went from zero at our launch to over one million visits. Now, in just the last thirty days – a quarter of that time – we have been visited more than five hundred and twenty-five thousand times,” said managing editor Christina Botteri. “If there was a Moore’s Law for journalism and readership, we’d be doubling it right now!” Botteri said, referencing Intel founder Gordan Moore’s observation that computer processing speed doubles every 18 months. The explosion in traffic can be traced directly to The Star’s coverage of the top three areas of most concern for Middle Tennesseans, as reported in the Tennessee Star-Triton Poll released ten days ago, together with a fundamental understanding of the algorithms that drive social media traffic. “The poll results reflect what we observe personally, which is that there…

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Tennessee Star Poll: 57 Percent of GOP Primary Voters Support Constitutional Carry

June 10, 2017June 9, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Tennessee Star

A significant majority of likely Republican primary voters in Tennessee support constitutional carry, according to results of The Tennessee Star Poll released this week. When asked, “In 2018, the Tennessee General Assembly is also expected to reconsider a bill that would allow Tennesseans to carry firearms without obtaining a state issued permit, which is commonly known as ‘Constitutional Carry.’ Do you support or oppose Constitutional Carry in Tennessee? ” 57 percent of likely Republican primary voters said they favored it, while only 32 percent said they opposed it: 38.5% strongly support 19.1% somewhat support 11.9% somewhat oppose 20.8% strongly oppose 9.8% Don’t know/unsure The poll of 1,007 likely Republican primary voters was conducted by Triton Polling and Research in an automated (IVR) telephone survey between May 31 and June 5 and has a margin of error of 3.1 percent. “Based on my experience talking to people and explaining constitutional carry, I think 57 percent understates the support for constitutional carry in Tennessee,” John Harris, executive director of the Tennessee Firearms Association, tells The Tennessee Star. “This is because people think constitutional carry will eliminate the possibility to get handgun permits for reciprocity purposes in other states,” he adds. “Even with…

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Tennessee Star Poll: GOP Primary Voters More Likely to Support Gubernatorial Candidate Who Will Repeal Gas Tax Increase, 48 Percent to 29 Percent

June 8, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

The Tennessee Star Poll of 1,007 likely Republican primary voters shows that by a wide margin, 48 percent to 29 percent, they are “more likely to support” a gubernatorial candidate who supports a repeal of the 6 cents per gallon gas tax increase and 10 cents per gallon diesel tax increased passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed by Gov. Haslam last month. When asked “Are you more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate for governor who promises to repeal this gas tax increase if elected?” 48.1 percent of likely Republican primary voters said they were more likely to support such a candidate while 29.8 percent said they were less likely to support that candidate: 24.3% Much more likely to support 23.8% Somewhat more likely to support 16.5% Somewhat less likely to support 13.3% Much less likely to support 22.1% Not sure/don’t know That is good news for State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet), the only one of the three announced candidates who supports repeal of the gas tax increase. In fact, at her announcement on Saturday, Beavers declared repeal of the gas tax increase will be one of her top priorities, if she is elected…

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The Tennessee Star Poll: GOP Gubernatorial Primary Race is Wide Open, No Candidate Over 10 Percent

June 6, 2017June 6, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Tennessee Star

FRANKLIN, Tennessee – A new poll released by The Tennessee Star conducted by Triton Polling and Research of 1,007 likely Tennessee Republican primary voters shows that the party’s nomination for governor in 2018 is wide open, as no announced or likely candidate has the support of more than 10 percent of likely voters. More than 60 percent are undecided. When asked “If the election was held today, who would you vote for governor of Tennessee,” and given seven possible candidates–State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) Congresswoman Diane Black, Knoxville businessman Randy Boyd, State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville), Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell (R-Nashville), Williamson County businessman Bill Lee, and State Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville)–the likely Tennessee Republican primary voters surveyed in the poll responded as follows: 60.9% — Don’t Know Undecided 9.9% — Diane Black 8.1% — Randy Boyd 6.3% — Mark Green 4.3% — Beth Harwell 4.1% — Bill Lee 3.9% — Mae Beavers 2.5% — Mark Norris Since the poll has a margin of error of 3.1 percent, six of the seven candidates included in the poll are in a virtual tie for the lead. Mark Norris is the only candidate not in the statistical tie,…

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BREAKING: Mark Green Says ‘I Will Not Be Resuming My Campaign for Governor’

June 2, 2017June 2, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Tennessee Star

State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville) released a statement on his Facebook page Friday afternoon that he will not be running for Governor of Tennessee in 2018. “I will not be resuming my campaign for governor. I will instead look to Washington DC to help serve our country and provide real help to President Trump,” Green said in the statement, which you can read below. “Since withdrawing my name from nomination for Secretary of The Army, so many friends, family, and fellow Tennesseans have voiced unbelievable, and overwhelming support for Camie and me. We appreciate the calls, texts, and messages,” Green said in the statement. “I saw firsthand,” Green continued “what President Trump calls the swamp over the past few months, and what I saw was shocking.” Green then explained his decision not to get back in the race for governor. “Many Tennesseans are asking me to return to my campaign for governor. Camie and I would love nothing more,” he said in the statement. “Being the Governor of Tennessee would be an honor like none I have yet attained. Leading our great state to the next level would please us very much. And, Tennesseans would get to know the best…

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Mark Green Tells WWTN’s Pamela Furr He ‘Will Be Making an Announcement in the Next Day or So’ About Possible Campaign

June 1, 2017June 2, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

State Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville) told WWTN 99.7 FM’s Pamela Furr, sitting in as host of the Dan Mandis Show on Thursday, that he will “be making an announcement in the next day or so” about his political future. Furr also asked Green about his plans after his announcement last month that he was withdrawing as a candidate for the Secretary of the Army. Green has been widely mentioned as a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Tennessee in 2018. Furr also noted that there were rumors that he might instead challenge Senator Bob Corker, who is also up for re-election in 2018. “Now what are you going to do?” Furr asked. “We have pretty much settled on a decision and are looking to probably make an announcement in the next day or so on what’s next for us. There are lots of options out there. We’ll be making an announcement in the next day or so,” Green said. Furr pressed Green to respond to some of his critics. “There are those that think you backed down pretty quickly. What would you say to those who would be critical of you?” Furr asked. “The issue of pulling my…

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EXCLUSIVE: Mark Green Says Army Secretary Nomination Derailed by Partisan Smear Campaign and Single Democrat Senator

May 31, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Tennessee Star

Tennessee State Senator Mark Green was selected by President Trump to serve as the next Secretary of the Army with the full support of Secretary of Defense James Mattis, and from Tennessee’s two Republican U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. At the time President Trump announced his intention to nominate Green in April, it appeared the conservative Tennessean had all the political boxes checked to ensure his confirmation by the Senate. As a West Point graduate and former combat infantry officer, and special operations combat veteran, the military establishment was excited about the prospects of “one of their own” being named to the top direct civilian oversight position for the Army. As a businessman who had built and sold a healthcare company, he even had the bonus appeal to the Trump team’s preference for those who had achieved private sector business success. A relatively easy confirmation was expected by those close to the process. Then, the left wing media establishment initiated a smear campaign against Green that was designed to “take out” another Trump nominee with nothing more than misquotes and comments taken out of context, innuendo, and completely false information. With the spurious claims against him amplified…

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The Smearing Of Mark Green And What It Means For Christians

May 13, 2017May 24, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee Star

In today’s climate, the vitriol that Tennessee state Senator Mark Green faced for his orthodox Christian beliefs while being considered for Army secretary would surprise few. But there also was a conspicuous lack of a vigorous defense from his fellow Republicans and even his fellow Southern Baptists. With few exceptions, there was little in the way of significant pushback against the torrent of rage against Green’s past statements on LGBT issues, Islam and other topics of concern to biblically-minded Christians and other conservatives. Under intense pressure, Green withdrew his name from consideration May 5. “Green’s nomination drew immediate backlash from Democrats, and even some Republicans,” reported McClatchy DC Bureau. “His support was lukewarm at best, and few in Washington showed an appetite to defend his controversial comments.” Raymond Baker, a Franklin resident and retired Republican political consultant, told The Tennessee Star that what really hurt Green was that Tennessee’s two Republican U.S. senators, Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, did not fight hard enough on his behalf when the going got tough. Corker and Alexander, along with other “so-called Republican leaders” long ago sold their soul to liberal interest groups, Baker said. After President Trump nominated Green for the post,…

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Federal Lawmakers Back Knox County Sheriff In Efforts To Run 287(g) Immigration Enforcement Program

April 20, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee federal lawmakers are backing the sheriff of Knox County in his efforts to get approval to run the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 287(g) program. The program allows state and local police officers to collaborate with the federal government in enforcing immigration laws. President Trump in his executive orders on immigration said he would revitalize the program. The program is named for Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and became law in 1996. President Obama scaled back the program. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office would become the only law enforcement agency in the state to be part of the 287(g) program. The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office participated in the program for several years before ending its involvement in 2012. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that ICE asked Knox County Sheriff Jimmy “J.J.” Jones to get letters of recommendation from Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., who all complied with the request. The newspaper quotes Jones as saying that currently when people are arrested, their immigration status is run to see if the crime is deportable. The process can take up to three weeks at $100 a day. The 287(g) program would streamline the process…

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Commentary: Gorsuch Swearing-In Finally Makes Supreme Court Whole Again

April 11, 2017April 10, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

By Jeffrey A. Rendall Considering the huge amount of effort that was expended by both sides of the Supreme Court confirmation fight since he was officially nominated by President Donald Trump at the end of January, Judge Neil Gorsuch’s final senate vote went off without much exertion on Friday. Ryan Lovelace of the Washington Examiner reported, “The Senate confirmed Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday. “The Republican majority was joined in the 54-45 vote by a few Democrats in confirming the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals judge to the high court. Gorsuch’s success comes after the Senate killed the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations on Thursday, effectively paving the way for Gorsuch to join the high court.” Democrats technically could have dragged out the process until early evening on Friday, but it wouldn’t have made any difference in the outcome. For once it looked like the minority party simply capitulated. Or maybe they just wanted to commiserate with their leftist interest groups or start their Easter recess early. Whatever the reason, Judge Neil Gorsuch will become Justice Neil Gorsuch today. I doubt Chuck Schumer will be there to iron the robe, however. Again, Lovelace reported,…

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Tennessee’s Congressional Delegation Backs Syrian Airstrikes

April 7, 2017April 7, 2017 Wendy Wilson

Tennessee’s Congressional delegation is supporting the airstrikes in Syria ordered by President Trump and carried out on Thursday. Both United States Senators from Tennessee and all nine members of the delegation from the Volunteer State in the U.S. House of Representatives–seven Republicans and two Democrats– in public statements late Thursday and early Friday gave Trump’s actions their support. The airstrikes are in response to a chemical weapons attack carried out by the Syrian government against its own people in a rebel-controlled area. Sen. Bob Corker, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a news release that he approves of Trump’s “decisive action.” “The U.S. and world community stood by as Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad brutally tortured and murdered more than 500,000 of his own people, and I applaud President Trump for taking decisive action following the latest chemical weapons attack,” Corker said. “It is critical that Assad knows he will no longer enjoy impunity for his horrific crimes against his own citizens, and this proportional step was appropriate. As we move forward, it will be important for the administration to engage with Congress and clearly communicate its full strategy to the American people.” Sen. Lamar Alexander…

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United States Launches 59 Tomahawk Missiles at Syrian Chemical Weapons Base

April 6, 2017April 7, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

“The United States launched dozens of cruise missiles Thursday night at a Syrian airfield in response to what it believes was Syria’s use of banned chemical weapons that killed at least 100 people, U.S. military officials told NBC News,” the network reported late Thursday: Two U.S. warships in the Mediterranean Sea fired 59 Tomahawk missiles intended for a single target — Ash Sha’irat in Homs province in western Syria, the officials said. That’s the airfield from which the United States believes the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fired the banned weapons. There was no immediate word on casualties. U.S. officials told NBC News that people were not targeted and that aircraft and infrastructure at the site were hit, including the runway and gas fuel pumps. You can watch President Trump’s statement delivered moments ago about the attack here: Reaction from Congress was quick. “The U.S. and world community stood by as Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad brutally tortured and murdered more than 500,000 of his own people, and I applaud President Trump for taking decisive action following the latest chemical weapons attack,” Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) , the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, told CBS News. “It…

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Senator Lamar Alexander Responds to Threatened Democrat Filibuster of SCOTUS Nominee Gorsuch: ‘One Way Or the Other I’ll Vote for Him’

April 6, 2017April 6, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

“The Democrats have once again gone into a room and convinced themselves to do something that’s never been done before in the 230 year history of the Senate and that is to require more than 51 votes to confirm a Supreme Court nominee,” Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) tells The Tennessee Star in an emailed statement received late Wednesday. “I have spoken on the Senate floor twice in recent weeks to try to convince Democrats not to filibuster Judge Gorsuch’s nomination because it will be damaging to the Senate and to the country,” Alexander adds. “When I was in the minority, I opposed President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, but I did not support a filibuster of her nomination – I believed she was entitled to a majority vote – and Judge Gorsuch is also entitled to a majority vote,” the Volunteer State’s senior senator notes. “I also wanted to point to a statement that the senator told a reporter this week,” a spokesperson for Alexander adds in that same email to The Star: “One way or the other I’ll vote for him.” “Finally, here is the senator’s floor speech, from where he talked about how filibustering to death the Gorsuch…

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