Tennessee U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07), who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, was among those who delivered two articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
Read the full storyCategory: The South
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee Joins Group of Governors in Opposing UAW’s Unionization Campaign
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee joined the governors of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas in issuing a joint statement in opposition of the United Auto Workers’ (UAW) unionization campaign.
The coalition of governors said it is “highly concerned” about the unionization campaign, adding such efforts are “driven by misinformation and scare tactics.”
Read the full storyMetro Nashville Police Admit Release of Parts of Covenant Killer Manifesto with Limited Redactions Would Not Hurt Investigation
Metro Nashville attorney Lora Fox confirmed on Tuesday there is no objection to the release of the manifesto written by Covenant School shooter Audrey Hale with limited redactions.
Fox told Chancery Court Judge I’Ashea L. Myles the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) maintains the position previously articulated by Assistant Chief Mike Hagar in an affidavit which declared a redacted version of the manifesto could be released without harming MNPD investigations.
Read the full storyColumnist Roger Simon: The U.S. Government Paying for Iran’s Attack on Israel Is the ‘Single Greatest Disgusting Thing in American History’
Roger Simon, the co-founder of PJMedia and current columnist for The Epoch Times, said the U.S. government paid for Iran’s Saturday attack on Israel, which saw 300 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles launched at the country.
Simon said the money trail could be traced back to the Obama administration when billions of dollars were sent to the Mullahs.
Read the full storyVanderbilt Hosts HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine to Lead Seminar on ‘Transgender Health and Policy’
Vanderbilt University hosted Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Admiral Rachel L. Levine last week to headline a talk on “transgender health and policy in Tennessee, the South, and the United States.”
Read the full storyNashville Police Say Man Behind Nightclub Shooting Was Previously Released on $50,000 Bond
The man who allegedly shot six outside a Nashville nightclub on Sunday was previously released from jail on a $50,000 bond, the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) confirmed.
Williams is accused of injuring six in a shooting near the Soho Lounge in South Nashville, with MNPD reporting officers were initially responding to a call about “persons with guns fighting.”
Read the full storyAlleged Eliza Fletcher Killer Convicted on Rape Charges
The man accused of kidnapping and murdering Eliza Fletcher in a high profile 2022 case was convicted late last week for raping another woman a year before Fletcher’s murder, according to several reports.
Cleotha Abston was reportedly convicted in Memphis of three counts of aggravated rape, especially aggravated kidnapping and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Read the full storyCourtney Johnston Sponsored Transgender Day of Remembrance Resolution Ahead of ‘Conservative’ Challenge to Rep. Andy Ogles
Metro Councilwoman Courtney Johnston, who is challenging Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) in the Republican primary for the 5th Congressional district, previously cosponsored a resolution in to set an official day for Nashville to recognize the Transgender Day of Remembrance in 2023.
Johnston is listed among the 29 sponsors of RS 2023-99, which was titled, “A Resolution recognizing November 20, 2023, as Transgender Day of Remembrance in Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee.”
Read the full storyAtlanta Public Safety Training Center Slated to Open January 2025 Despite Opposition
The Atlanta Police Department (APD) confirmed on Monday that the controversial Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is slated to open in January 2025 despite years of protests, demonstrations and violence aimed at preventing its construction.
A video posted to the social media platform X by APD on Monday showed former Chief Rodney Bryant and former Assitant Chief Todd Coyt viewing the site of the safety training center. Bryant was previously instrumental in pushing for the center.
Read the full storyTennessee General Assembly Passes Bill Preventing Credit Card Companies from Spying on Gun Purchasers
A bill passed by the Tennessee General Assembly prevents credit card companies from monitoring and tracking gun purchasers through merchant category codes (MCCs).
HB 2762, also known as the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, was sent to Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s desk last week.
Read the full storyVirginia Hospital PSA Asks Patients to Behave Appropriately Amid Rising Violence for Healthcare Workers
A new public service announcement by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) asks patients to behave appropriately while receiving treatment or otherwise in healthcare settings. It was released amid rising workplace violence for health workers in hospitals.
The VHHA press release explains the “Help Us, Help You” campaign “draws attention to the heightened risk of workplace violence faced by health care professionals.”
Read the full storyTennessee House Set to Discuss Conceal Carry for School Employees
A bill that would allow qualified employees to concealed carry firearms in a school is scheduled to be discussed by the Tennessee House on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 1325 includes a list of requirements before an employee – which includes teachers, administrators and other staff – is approved for concealed carry.
Read the full storyAuthor Geoff Shepard Explains His Role in the Nixon Administration During Watergate and How the Scandal Was ‘Misinterpreted’ for 40 Years
Geoff Shepard, former staffer in the Nixon Administration and author of The Nixon Conspiracy: Watergate and the Plot to Remove the President, explained in an exclusive interview with The Michael Patrick Leahy Show how he came to the conclusion that the Watergate scandal had been misinterpreted for nearly 40 years.
Read the full storyFormer U.S. Special Envoy for Haiti Dan Foote Says Haitians Must Have a ‘National Dialogue,’ ‘Govern Themselves’ to Reform Country
Former U.S. Special Envoy for Haiti Dan Foote said in an exclusive interview on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show that the people of Haiti must have a “national dialogue” to begin the process of reforming the country and reclaiming it from violent gangs.
Read the full storyTennessee U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles Breaks Records Upon Introducing 100th Piece of Legislation
Tennessee U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) made history on Thursday upon introducing his 100th piece of legislation since being sworn into Congress last year.
Read the full storyMetro Nashville Councilwoman Courtney Johnston Demanded Special Session for New Gun Laws in 2022
Metro Councilwoman Courtney Johnston, who recently announced a primary challenge to Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), previously urged Governor Bill Lee to call a special session to pass legislation targeting firearms in a 2022 open letter.
Johnston argued in her letter that “thoughts and prayers are no longer enough” and urged Lee to “take a hard look at our policies and what we can and should do differently.”
Read the full storyTennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition Announces 2024 Senate and House Conservative Champions
The Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition (TNFFC) announced Friday that two members of the Tennessee General Assembly have been honored as the Senate and House Conservative Champions this legislative session.
According to the organization, TNFFC’s Conservative Champion awards are given to legislators in the General Assembly who “most ardently defend the Constitution, rights and freedoms” of the Volunteer State citizens.
Read the full storyRepublican Challenges Reelection Signatures by State Rep. Justin Jones in Move to Possibly Strike Democrat from Ballot
Republican candidate Laura Nelson challenged the qualifying signatures submitted by State Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) on Friday, which if successful, would remove the controversial Tennessee Three member from the ballot.
With 25 signatures required to qualify for reelection, Jones reportedly turned in 26 signatures to election officials. One was then disqualified, with WSMV 4 reporting the signer was determined not to live in the district, which current leaves Jones with just the 25 signatures required.
Read the full storyVirginia A.G. Jason Miyares Joins 20-State Coalition Against Biden Admin’s Decision to Abandon Immigration Law
Attorney General Jason Miyares announced Virginia’s decision to join a 20-state coalition of attorneys general who seek to compel the Biden administration to defend an illegal immigration law on Wednesday.
The coalition of attorney generals, led by Kansas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and West Virginia, seek to intervene in a lawsuit brought by those advocating on behalf of illegal immigrants against President Joe Biden’s Department of State.
Read the full storyGeorgia Democrats Call for Probe of $1.1 Billion Contract
Georgia Democrats want an investigation after they said a state audit surfaced questions about whether Gov. Brian Kemp’s administration circumvented state contracting requirements, potentially for political gain.
It’s not immediately clear which state or federal agencies might lead the probe, and Democrats said they haven’t formally requested an investigation.
Read the full storyFISA Opponents Announce Final Vote to Kill Warrantless Spying Program After Amendment Fails
A number of Republicans in the House of Representatives forced a second vote on the legislation to renew the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that is scheduled for Monday.
Among them are Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), who said Friday that he asked former President Donald Trump to help with the effort.
Read the full storyThoughts Mixed on Impact of Potential Super Bowl in Tennessee
A bill that would allow Tennessee Department of Tourism to keep mega-event contracts hidden for up to 10 years headed to the desk of Gov. Bill Lee this week, where it’s expected to be signed.
The department currently has $25 million in a mega-event fund to use to lure events such as a push to hold the 2028, 2029 or 2030 Super Bowl to the new Nissan Stadium.
Read the full storyEducation Secretary Miguel Cardona Refuses to Define What a Woman Is When Asked by Georgia Representative
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona refused to define what a woman is during a committee meeting this week.
“I’m here to talk about the budget and if you’d have a question about the budget, I’d be happy to respond,” he said, in part.
Read the full storyFeds Send $1.2 Million to South Carolina for Transit Development Study
The federal government has awarded a $1.2 million grant to a three-county planning council in the Charleston area to study transit-oriented development tied to a bus rapid transit line slated to open in five years.
The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments will use the federal tax dollars for the third phase of a TOD study. The study will focus on implementing affordable housing strategies along the proposed 21.3-mile-long Lowcountry Rapid Transit line.
Read the full storyU.S. Rep. David Kustoff Is the Sole Tennessee Republican House Member to Vote Against Ending Warrantless Spying Under FISA
U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-TN-08) was the sole member of Tennessee’s congressional delegation to vote on Friday against an amendment that would have ended the warrantless spying on United States citizens allowed under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
Kustoff was among the 86 Republicans who joined 126 Democrats in a vote against a FISA amendment proposed by Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07) that would have required intelligence agencies to obtain a warrant before spying on American citizens.
Read the full storyFlorida Governor Signs Five Bills Designed to Protect Children from Predators
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed five bills on Wednesday designed to protect children from sexual predators.
The new legislation ranges from House Bill 1545, which protects children from grooming activities and other sexual offenses to Senate Bill 1224 which strengthens the role of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office while implementing training requirements for law enforcement to assess a domestic violence situation properly.
Read the full storyFederal Judge Dismisses Challenge to Georgia’s Citizenship Verification Process
A federal judge has granted a motion to dismiss a challenge to Georgia’s citizenship verification process, state officials said.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross granted Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s motion to dismiss.
Read the full storyReporter Tom Pappert: U.S. Rep. David Kustoff Is ‘Ripe for a Challenge’ in Tennessee’s 8th Congressional District Following FISA Vote
Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, said he believes Tennessee U.S. Representative David Kustoff’s (R-TN-08) vote on Friday against an amendment that would have ended the warrantless spying on United States citizens allowed under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) makes the congressman “ripe for a challenge” this election cycle.
Kustoff and Democrat Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) were the sole members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation to vote against the amendment on Friday, Pappert previously reported.
Read the full storyMan Accused of Memphis Cop Killing Previously Released on Own Recognizance Despite Police Requesting $150,000 Bond
The man police say was responsible for the Friday shooting that claimed the life of a Memphis police officer and left two more wounded was previously arrested in March on theft and gun charges.
Memphis Police Department (MPD) arrest and bail records obtained by The Tennessee Star reveal that 18-year-old Jaylen Lobley, who died in the Friday shooting with police, was previously arrested on March 5 after police responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle.
Read the full storyTreasurer of Tennessee Anti-MAGA Super PAC Donated to Democrat Opponent of Sen. Marsha Blackburn
The treasurer for The Best of Tennessee Action Fund, the super PAC wing of the “moderate” political group founded by fundraiser Kim Kaegi and Democratic pro-abortion lawyer Chloe Akers, donated to to the former Democratic political opponent of Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) last year.
Treasurer James C. Seabury III donated $1,000 to the political campaign of Joanne Sowell, a Nashville-based attorney who announced an exploratory committee to consider seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for U.S. Senate to challenge Blackburn last year, according to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).
Read the full storyOne Memphis Police Officer Killed, Two Others Shot While Responding to Suspicious Vehicle Occupied by Known Criminal
Reactions have poured in after Memphis police officer Joseph McKinney was shot and killed early Friday morning while he and other officers were responding to a suspicious vehicle call.
On Friday approximately 2:00 a.m., officers responded to a suspicious vehicle call at Horn Lake Road and Charter Avenue, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).
Read the full storyRep. John Rose Applauds Possible Reduced FISA Reauthorization
U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06) applauded a possible change to a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) reauthorization bill, shrinking the period of reauthorization from five years to two, according to a Thursday release.
After several Republican legislators blocked a plan to reauthorize FISA on Wednesday, it was reported the next day that House leaders are considering a plan that would limit the bill’s authority to two years. Such a plan resembles an amendment originally proposed by Rose.
Read the full storyTennessee Senate Passes Term Limits on Congress Resolution
The Tennessee Senate voted 18-11 on Thursday to pass a resolution applying for a national convention to propose term limits on Congress.
The resolution, HJR5, will now be counted towards the 34 state applications required to call a term limits convention as the Tennessee House of Representatives passed the measure last year.
Read the full storyRep. Burchett: ‘FISA Needs to Die’
A U.S. Congressman from Tennessee had some strong words after he joined 19 of his Republican counterparts in voting against the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) on Wednesday.
“FISA, of course, is what they use to spy, literally, on America citizens,” said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) in a video posted to his X account. “So what happens, very literally, say you have somebody working on your house, on your roof, what have you, [who is] not an American citizen, and then they contact you on their cell phone and basically because of that [the U.S. government] can follow you or investigate you or what have you, without a search warrant. And when I was told by the State Department that in fact it was problematic to have search warrants on these cases, they obviously have a problem with our Constitution. So, tough day for democracy today folks. And FISA needs to die.”
Read the full storyDr. Carol Swain: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ‘Artificially Contrived,’ ‘Divides Groups’
Dr. Carol M. Swain, author of The Adversity of Diversity, said the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) standards being pushed today are not the same type of diversity Americans rallied around during the Civil Rights Movement.
Swain said her book points out “everything wrong” with today’s DEI standards and how they violate the U.S. Constitution and Equal Protections Protection Clause.
Read the full story‘Family Friendly’ Furry Convention to Be Held This Weekend in Tennessee State Park
Members of the “furry” community will host what they describe as a family friendly convention in a Tennessee state park beginning Friday and ending Saturday.
“If you enjoy spending time in nature AND the furry fandom, this is the trip for you! Woods Flock is a a community that holds our annual Spring mini-con at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee (USA),” says an event invitation by a group called Woods Flock. “Participants will have a plethora of outdoor, crafty, and fun activities to choose from during their stay at our family-friendly camp.”
Read the full storyNashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell Shares New Bus Lines Proposed in Transit Referendum
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell on Thursday provided details of how his proposed transit referendum would expand lines and services for the city’s bus system.
O’Connell posted the details to the social media platform X, where he wrote the bus transit improvements are “a key element” of his referendum. The mayor confirmed, “We’ll have local, frequent, new, and express service updates.”
Read the full storyJudge Scott McAfee Under ‘Tremendous Amount of Pressure’ in Georgia Trump Case, Argues Democrat Seeking His Judgeship
The Democrat challenging Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee claimed the incumbent is under “tremendous” pressure due to the Georgia case against former President Donald Trump brought by District Attorney Fani Willis.
Robert Patillo, the former executive director of the Rainbow PUSH social justice group started by Reverend Jessee Jackson who is now challenging McAfee, made the remarks in a Wednesday interview with WSB-TV.
Read the full storyYoungkin Confirms He Removed Tax Cuts from Virginia Budget as Olive Branch to Democrats
Governor Glenn Youngkin confirmed in comments made Wednesday that he dropped his request for tax cuts as an olive branch to Virginia’s Democratic lawmakers, who the governor hopes will similarly drop their requests for tax hikes.
Youngkin maintained that Virginia does not “need to raise taxes” and has “plenty of money in the system” during an interview with WTOP News. He told the outlet that Virginia lawmakers should “press forward with an agreement that we won’t raise taxes, and I will stop advocating to reduce them.”
Read the full storyCarol Swain and Neil W. McCabe Explain Why Pro-Life Organizations, Fake Christians ‘Talk the Talk’ but Have ‘No Interest in Ending Abortion’
Dr. Carol M. Swain and national political reporter Neil W. McCabe, while discussing the politics surrounding the topic of abortion, identified how some seemingly pro-life groups and individuals who claim to be Christians “talk the talk and not walk the walk” when it comes to protecting the unborn.
Read the full storyJason Snead on Why Democrats Promote Ranked-Choice Voting: ‘It’s About Pushing Politics to the Left’
Jason Snead, the director of the Honest Elections Project Action Fund, said the practice of Ranked-Choice Voting is a tool used by the Left to “push politics to the left” and “give more power to the left-wing mega-donors.”
Ranked-Choice Voting, an election process where voters can rank multiple candidates for a single office, is currently used statewide in the states of Alaska and Maine, cities including New York City, and other jurisdictions across the nation.
Read the full storyTom Guarente Drops TN-5 Primary Challenge to MAGA Rep. Andy Ogles
Businessman Tom Guarente confirmed to The Tennessee Star that he dropped his candidacy for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District on Thursday, leaving just one Republican challenger to Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05).
Guarente confirmed via text message to The Star on Thursday afternoon, “I dropped off the ballot today.”
Read the full storyTennessee Senate Passes Abortion Trafficking Bill Called ‘Cruelty’ by California Governor Gavin Newsom
The Tennessee State Senate on Wednesday passed legislation that would impose criminal penalties for adults who provide transportation to minors seeking to circumvent the state’s abortion laws.
SB 1971 passed with 26 votes in favor and just three votes against. If passed by the House and signed by the governor, the legislation would create the criminal offense of abortion trafficking of a minor.
Read the full storyTennessee Senate Passes Bill Making Child Rape Punishable by Death
A bill that would make child rape punishable by the death penalty has passed the Tennessee Senate.
SB 1834, sponsored by State Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston), “authorizes the death penalty as a punishment for rape of a child, aggravated rape of a child, or especially aggravated rape of a child.”
Read the full storyGavin Newsom Blasted After Criticizing Tennessee Bill to Arm Teachers
Conservative commentators blasted California’s governor after he took to X to comment on the Tennessee Senate’s passage of a bill that would allow some teachers to carry guns in the classroom.
“Tennessee Republicans have decided their solution to gun violence in schools is…. MORE GUNS IN SCHOOLS,” said Governor Gavin Newsom (D).
Read the full storyTennessee GOP Congressional Candidate George Flinn Says U.S. Rep. David Kustoff ‘Should Not Go Unchallenged’
Shelby County resident Dr. George Flinn, a Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in West Tennessee’s 8th District, said he is running because incumbent U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-TN-08) needs to be “challenged.”
Flinn, who has run as a Republican and Independent candidate in U.S. Senate and primary races for Tennessee’s 8th and 9th Congressional districts, said he believes Kustoff “should not go unchallenged” considering the incumbent’s recent voting record on bills, particularly spending packages.
Read the full storyTennessee U.S. Rep Andy Ogles Among 19 Republicans Who Voted to Kill FISA, Warrantless Surveillance
U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) joined 18 other Republicans in voting against reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) on Wednesday. He told The Tennessee Star his vote would protect Tennesseans from “unreasonable searches and seizures by the federal government.”
Ogles explained his decision to break with the majority of Republicans and vote against reauthorizing FISA came after House leadership “chose to keep the doors closed and did not allow an open amendment process.” He noted he had six amendments that were all ignored by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04).
Read the full storyBiden DOJ Confirms ‘Inconsistencies’ in How Fani Willis Spent Federal Grant Money
A Wednesday report reveals the Department of Justice (DOJ) admitted to “inconsistencies” in how Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis used federal grant money.
A DOJ official admitted this to The Washington Free Beacon regarding a $448,000 federal grant dispersed to Willis’ office.
Read the full storyConservatives Applaud Youngkin in New Ad for Amending Bill Critics Claim Provides Free Healthcare to Illegal Immigrants
Governor Glenn Youngkin received praise on Wednesday in a commercial celebrating his decision to amend a bill critics argue would have allowed illegal immigrants to receive free healthcare by expanding a federal program.
As passed by lawmakers, SB 119 would expand the federal 340B program that was designed to for hospitals to buy drugs at discounted prices in order to provide healthcare to low-income individuals.
Read the full storyBeacon Center Poll: Donald Trump Leading Biden by 25 Points in Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn Up 16 Points over Democrat Gloria Johnson
The Nashville-based Beacon Center of Tennessee published results of its poll on Wednesday revealing how registered Tennessee voters would vote in the 2024 presidential and senate general election races.
Read the full story